Author: Tracy Lathan

NBC Loses Face in Clash With Ann Curry

Tracy LathanBlog, Professional Development, Public Relations, , 2 Comments on NBC Loses Face in Clash With Ann Curry

As a longtime Today Show viewer, I am still in shock about the manner in which Ann Curry was recently let go as co-anchor. In terms of professionalism, I believe most would agree NBC handled the situation poorly.

There is no question that Ann Curry was not the most magnetic co-host to ever sit in the chair, but who is to say if the ratings slump the show was experiencing was entirely her fault. Regardless of whether or not she was the right person for the job, after 15 years on the show she deserved more of a respectable send-off.

On the June 28th show, they gave her a few minutes at the end of the 8:00 a.m. hour to say her goodbyes. It was painful to watch and no doubt humiliating for Curry. And that was it. No week long celebration, no montage of memorable interviews, no farewell messages from old colleagues.

Of course we all understand NBC has a responsibility to put the right people in place to achieve top ratings, and this is certainly not the first time this has happened (think Conan O’Brien). But the truth is, all this latest stunt has done is make me want to tune into Good Morning America.

Always a true professional, Ann handled herself with grace and class as she delivered her farewell remarks. And on a positive note, she does have a new role at NBC that will actually enable her to cover real news stories again.

At the end of the day, it will be very interesting to see how things shake out for NBC and whether or not Savannah Guthrie can help get the show back to it’s number one ranking, or if this ordeal will have the opposite effect. We shall wait and see.

What do you think? Was the situation was handled poorly, or did NBC do what it needed to do to get back to the number one spot?

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Meet Clairemont Summer Intern Emily Tracy

Tracy LathanBlog, Professional Development, Public Relations, Raleigh PR Agency, , ,

And last but certainly not least, meet Emily Tracy, Clairemont’s third “e” summer intern! Like Erin, Emily also joins us as a rising senior at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she is a J School student. Emily has hit the ground running (no surprise as she ran cross country and track in high school) and we are excited to have her join the Clairemont team. I recently had the chance to sit down with Emily, and here are a few highlights from our conversation…

A Triangle native, Emily is from Apex and attended Middle Creek High School. She is into house music, running, blogging, and is currently pursuing a double major in journalism and political science. She is passionate about the non-profit sector. She studied abroad for the summer – not in Italy or Spain like most students – but in Kosovo, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia.

I asked Emily about other jobs, groups or organizations she is involved with. Turns out Emily is a busy girl. Prior to joining Clairemont as a summer intern, Emily also completed internships at WCHL and KnowTheMusicBiz.com. She works part-time as a barista at Cup-a-Joe in Chapel Hill and has served on the PR committee for UNC-Dance Marathon, a UNC fundraiser. She is also a campus ambassador for Procter and Gamble and helps plan events and market P&G products to students. (Best part about this is she gets tons of free samples of great new products!)

We talked about her plans for after college and she shared that she would like to join the Peace Corps and hopes to someday live in New York City. She is very interested in the non-profit sector, and women’s health issues in particular, so hopes to find a public relations job in that area.

Other fun facts about Emily:

  • She is a terrible driver – so watch out!
  • Her favorite TV show is Girls on HBO
  • She loves any kind of dip or condiment – salsa, queso, etc.
  • She has two tattoos
  • The last book she read was Everything is illuminated
  • She has a new cat named Purrito
  • She drinks a lot of caffeine – not a big surprise since she works at a coffee shop
  • She considers herself to be technologically challenged, so new phones, cameras, and computers don’t stand a chance

I’m sad to say it’s been more than a decade since I was a senior in college, but I’m quite certain I was not this civic minded or focused on my future plans at this point. It’s exciting to see the next generation of PR practitioners – we are in good hands! So, welcome to Emily and all of our Clairemont summer interns – we hope it’s a worthwhile experience for us all!

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Is the APR Really Worth it?

Tracy LathanAPR, Blog, Professional Development, , ,

As the accreditation chair for NCPRSA (North Carolina Public Relations Society of America), our local PRSA chapter, I have been asked many times whether or not getting the APR (Accreditation in Public Relations) is really worth it. My answer in a word: absolutely. This has been a hot topic of conversation as some organizations hold the APR in very high regard (even making it a requirement for employees), while others don’t place the same level of importance on the credential. Having just gone through the process myself, I can confidently say it was a worthwhile experience that has positively impacted my career.

After spending the past 11 years in an agency, I understand that the day-to-day workload demands and other responsibilities of life make the thought of pursuing an APR a bit daunting. While achieving it is certainly doable while working full time, it is a time commitment. If you are on the fence in deciding whether or not to commit to the process, here are a few arguments to help make the decision a little easier.

  • Advancing the profession – Accreditation helps boost our industry’s overall image and increases individual professionalism.
  • Setting yourself apart – I have heard from many PR professionals that they take a closer look at resumes with an APR credential, as it shows that the applicant has taken the extra step and demonstrates the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities.
  • Committing to constant improvement – Whether you are in the early stages of your career or a seasoned vet, professional development is critically important. For me, the APR process helped highlight my strengths, as well as identify areas of weakness where I needed to focus a bit more. Aside from the letters beside my name, going through the APR process made me think about things differently and ultimately made me a better counselor.
  • Who couldn’t use a little extra money – There is some research that suggests it may increase your pay grade. Anecdotally, I have heard the same thing from Raleigh PR agency owners and corporate communications professionals.

In the end, whether or not you choose to pursue an APR is a decision only you can make, but I have yet to meet someone who has been through the process and did not feel that he or she benefited from it in some way.  I encourage you to reach out to your local PRSA chapter accreditation chair for advice and support (if you are in the Raleigh area that would be me!). The APR chair can also connect you with other people in your area who are going through the process, as well, which can be a great support network.

Best of luck!

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