Tag: Communications

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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NCPRSA vs. RPRS

Josephine ButlerAPR, Blog, Professional Development, Public Relations, Raleigh PR Agency, , , , , , , ,

Are you a public relations or communications professional? Then you probably realize the importance of getting out and networking! If you’re located here at a Raleigh PR agency or somewhere else in the Triangle, there are two great organizations you should consider joining: the North Carolina Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (NCPRSA) or the Raleigh Public Relations Society (RPRS). While I personally recommend becoming a member of both, if you had to pick just one, here are a few tips that will help you decide which group is right for you.

For starters, let’s take a look at what is offered by both groups:

  • Luncheons are held each month, where local PR professionals and industry leaders will share ideas and case studies.
  • Each group hosts an annual awards ceremony – NCPRSA hosts the InSpire Awards and RPRS hosts the Sir Walter Raleigh Awards – recognizing successful communications campaigns and tactics.
  • Members receive discounted rates on monthly luncheons and other events.

Now, let’s hone in on what NCPRSA has to offer:

  • This group is comprised of PR professionals with a broad range of experiences and leadership positions at every level. From CEOs to entry-level employees, there’s a lot of variety.
  • Each year, the organization hosts a PR & Marketing Seminar, playing host to both local and national communications experts.
  • On the website, members have access to the NCPRSA Job Bank, where local employers frequently post new job openings and leadership opportunities.
  • The North Carolina chapter of PRSA is part of the world’s largest network of PR professionals.
  • Within PRSA, you have the option to join one of 16 professional interest sections, putting you in touch with other members who share your expertise.
  • The organization offers the industries only accreditation program, Accredited in Public Relations (APR) program.
  • When you become a member, you’ll receive periodicals, daily news updates and access to research, articles, white papers and case studies.
  • Because of the larger network, dues are pricier than other local groups. National dues are $255 annually, plus a $65 initiation fee and the local chapter fee.

Now let’s take a look at what RPRS has to offer:

  • This group also features PR professionals at every career level, but has an especially strong presence of entry-level to account supervisor-level members.
  • In addition to monthly luncheons, this group will occasionally arrange tours at local media outlets.
  • Twice a year, the organization will host free networking socials at popular Raleigh restaurants.
  • An attractive economic option for members with a smaller budget, individual dues are only $75 annually.

Now that you’ve had a chance to learn more about these wonderful organizations, feel free to ask questions. Dana and Tracy both sit on the board for NCPRSA, while I (Josie) serve as publicity chair for RPRS. We’d love to help you decide which group (or if both groups) is right for you!

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My First 30 Days at a Raleigh PR Agency: Day 18

Margot HorganBlog, Entry-Level PR Job, Raleigh PR Agency, , , , , ,

If you’re working on a team, it can be difficult staying up-to-date on what everyone is doing, what you need to be doing, when something is due, when something is completed, etc. Clairemont’s solution to this problem? A free online task manager program called Asana.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiLCmstyDdM&feature=player_embedded

Asana is a digital workspace where you and your team can share task lists, plan, organize, prioritize and stay in sync with all of your different projects. On Asana, you can create new workspaces for each client or project, create different tasks and to-dos for each workplace, assign tasks to different team members, set due dates and check items off the list upon their completion. Each team member can see exactly what she and other team members need to do. Projects can be prioritized so you always know which is the most pressing and important at that time.

With people in and out of the Clairemont office and often on different schedules, Asana has helped us communicate what needs to be done and when. Instead of clogging up email inboxes with messages reminding someone to edit a blog or send a document, the task can be added to Asana, assigned to a specific team member and flagged with a due date. This may sound like an elementary idea, but in a public relations office where you are working on a number of different assignments and clients at any given time, the ability to streamline everyone’s schedules is necessary for productivity and efficiency

Intrigued? You should be! Asana is easy, effective and, most importantly, free! It’s a great tool for a public relations agency to use, and we highly suggest it. Take a look at this “Intro to Asana” video to learn more!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liO5VbbIqIs&list=UU2BoogM0AqwOJyoSp1S4ClQ&index=7&feature=plcp

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Myrtle Monday — Power of Positive Thinking

Dana PhelpsBlog, Free Advice, Inspirational, , , , 1 Comment on Myrtle Monday — Power of Positive Thinking

I’m a believer in staying positive. It makes my days more enjoyable, and I like to think that a sunshiny attitude helps my team members and clients through their (sometimes stressful) days. Now you might be envisioning cartwheels and over-the-top enthusiasm.

While there are times that certainly call for that, I’m talking more about the every day ways to maintaining a positive outlook. Maybe it is simply a matter of tweaking how you respond to “how are you?” or how you greet participants on a conference call.

Read what Ruth wrote to Myrtle on this postcard. “Even in the rain, Venice is such a romantic city.” Imagine for a moment if she would have started with “It has rained the entire time we’ve been here,” or “If it would just stop raining…”

Creates a completely different tone, doesn’t it? Think you might need some help in positive-proofing your communications? Here are some books that might help: The Energy Bus, The No Complaining Rule and Everyday Positive Thinking.

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Myrtle Monday: Modern Girls

Dana PhelpsBlog, Inspirational, , ,

As we prepare for NAHB‘s (National Association of Home Builders) International Builders’ Show this week, we share one of Myrtle’s postcards that features a very beautiful building in Stockholm.

 

 

I love what Lela wrote. “We have seen many wonderful old buildings and Cathedrals but the girls are modern with make up and mini-skirts.” What a hoot!

 

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