Monthly Archives: July 2011

Social Media News Release on the Rise

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                  The last decade or so society has slowly become known as the digital world. Firms are finally recognized this and have jumped on the social media bandwagon. Firms are now able to have a direct line of communication with their audience like never before. However, aspects of public relations, a key aspect in marketing now need to be tinkered in order to keep up with the social media craze. Welcome to the ‘World of Social Media News Release!’

                   Focusing on a particluar element of public relations, press releases, they have what some have described as dead, useless. However, Social Media News Release has become the solution to the problem. Social Media News Release (SMNR) is online template Public Relations specialist and alike to create press releases based on an online media platform.  SMNR generates a press release that allows the media to format for a wide variety essentially the online community. When using SMNR, you are given the option of a ‘traditional’ press release or a DIY template that allows you to add elements such as boiler-plates and quotes. SMNR are great for beginners who are not exactly sure how to write social media press releases. Luckily, there are plenty of generators floating on the big wide web (there are two linked below J). SMNR seem to be the future of press releases being that were living in a digital world. Hellllooo social media! There are advantages and disadvantages to this solution for press releases.
                    A few advantages of SMNR are navagation links, social media capabilities, searching, conversation, sharing, illustrating through words and multimedia, provide context for complicated stories. SMNR allow you hyperlinks to certain websites and help with inbound links and be able to stay in contact through RSS feeds, twitter, etc. Some disadvantages are lack of intellegence and actually how to perfect a news release, it creates this idea that anyone can do it, which personally I think takes away from those who spent time in school to learn the craft (but isn’t that is how today’s PR is?) and the ability to separate facts from fiction. So when should a PR practitiner use SMNR? SMNR are necessary to target a wide variety therefore a PR practioner should use it when they are trying to reach a large scale.
Heres a few links that provide SMNR:
SMNR example:
 Below is a link to my first SMNR, check it out!
Synopsis of my SMNR: Its a press release that talks about Georgia Southern University’s first regional PRSSA conference. Its goal was to inform people about the regional conference and its purpose was to get students and business owners to come out and support and gain knowledge about social media.
Tips for SMNR:
  1. Use links- its creates a cycle for the audience(being able to click to different site) and helps with visuals.
  2. Exercise sites like Youtube and Flickr
  3. Tag. It helps with searching
  4. Know your audience
  5. Encourage communication
  6. Don’t forget the essentials of the ‘traditional’ press release
References:

Twitter(Tweet)

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After this week of tweeting, I’ve seen a glimpse of how Twitter really works. During spring semester, I tweeted for extra credit and it was an okay experience. I was able to stay updated with my favorite YouTube gurus, but also annoyed at the consistent and constant updating. However, this go around was a little different experience.

Before this week, I only used twitter to stay updated with my favorite YouTube gurus and more recently my favorite blogs. Before twitter, I would have to go to either YouTube or WordPress to see if their were any updates, but twitter has definitely become a gateway for me to stay updated. It definitely makes it easier when bloggers tweet the link to their most recent post. I now keep my tab windows to a bare minimum.  This time on twitter, I actually talked with people using twitter.

Up until this week, I always thought it was kind of weird when people would talk to people on twitter as if they were texting them from their personal phones. Since we required to talk with classmates, it was really interesting to see this aspect of what I am use to with Facebook with twitter.  Whenever, I posed a question e.g. question about capital punishment I got so many responses something I’m not use to with twitter it was interesting. I was able to connect with my classmates even though we hadn’t actually had class together. Also, to see what my classmates deemed as an important topic was interesting. Certain links I would tweet about would get no response but others would. I think this is an aspect a lot of businesses use with twitter. If they notice a trend in the responses they get from consumers on certain topics/ ideas they know what the consumers want.

Overall, my experience with twitter was great (way better than the first time). I definitely planned to keep using my Twitter and maybe even “talk” to people :)

http://twitter.com/#!/YasmineHorton

Bringing Back Good Memories through Movies :)

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Top 10 (in no particular order)

1. Matilda- I’m a kid at heart and it doesn’t matter wherever and whenever the movie comes on I watch it and yes I do have it on dvd at home :)

2. Taken- love love love this movie. The action is amazing, story line was great, and it has great cinematography.

3. Gardens of the Night- A-MA-ZING! one of the best underrated movies to me. Seriously, go watch it, like right now.

3. Crash- Everyone knows this is an amazing film. self explanatory

4. Transamerica- great movie starring Felicity Huffman from Desperate Housewives. Modern day Thelma and Louise, but father turned mother and son twist.

5. Moulin Rouge- growing up (middle school) I was obessed with this film. I literally would run around the house singing my heart out to all the songs. Seriously, I know every single song in this movie and I’m not a ashamed haha.

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6. Mona Lisa Smile- Between the MLS and the Hours I can’t decide which one is my favorite feminist movie. It’s so hard to choose. I love them both. Julia Roberts did an amazing job + casting was great.

7. Cruel Intentions- call me weird but I’m a sucker for great sex scene in a movie. Most people get all weird in stuff but when you completely understand a couple’s love one another through their sex scene it completely changes the way you feel about the characters [pure abstraction ;) ]

8. The Hours- Nothing is better than having several storylines that eventually intertwine. I fell in love with this movie: two of my favorite actresses Julianne Moore & Meryl Streep two: Nicole Kidman completely did a 180 for the role especially in comparison movies like Moulin Rouge. I also have a soft spot for this movie because I recited a monologue from this movie in high school for drama class haha.

9. American Beauty- first movie I ever watched that showed me a different light of middle America. It is a great perspective of a guy trying not to conform anymore.

10.  Knocked Up- for years (high school) this was my favorite movie just great Jewish comedy ahh I love Seth.

Movies I’ve watched this summer: There is this thing called school that doesn’t allow me free time so yeah I don’t watch that many movies. However, this summer I watched The Kids Are All Right. It was nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. I love Juilanne Moore so I had to watch it (hello The Hours! haha). Great movie. A great perspective on same sex couple who are trying to live a “normal” ( I use that term loosely) American life.

Movies I want to mention because they are classically amazing:

Boys Don’t Cry. 

The Color Purple

American History X

Honestly, trying to narrow it down to just 10 was extremely hard.

Role Models

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Growing up, I never had role models jeez that sounds horrible out loud, but in my opinion your parents, school teachers, and other alike are obviously going to influence your life to a certain degree. Hence, I’ve never said, “_________ is my role model because______.” I do remember growing up if I was asked this question it always started with “if I had to choose, it would be…” obviously, it fluctuated depending on age. Because of my fluctuation, I thought it would be appropriate to choose my current role model(s). I’m currently in a lifestyle change, in translation I’m going from beer and pizza to lemon water and chicken so my role models revolve around bloggers who live healthy lifestyles so here we go:

Number 1:

This is Alissa and she is trying to drop 144 lbs through Weight Watchers and running/biking. She was one the first blogs I followed and she keeps me in line with my goal. Pretty much she reminds me that this lifestyle change is a journey.

Number 2:

This is Elizabeth and she also blogs about her journey. I respect her for her blunt honesty and determination to change the way she feels and looks.

Number 3:

This is Ali and she is a blogger/runner. Running is my new passion and its people like her that keep me from throwing in the towel. She has so much determination because she has Chron’s disease and she doesn’t let it stop her from running. So I definitely get my inspiration to continue run from her.

A lot of people have shaped the way I am today my mom, my dad, my sister, teachers, and professors. They’ve all contributed to the way I think and they way I perceive the world and thats why its hard to choose just one person who I look up to.

 

The Affects the Media has on Us

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The media is a bias system that shapes the way we feel, what we buy, and even sometimes our ideals. The media definitely plays a specific role in how people look at themselves physically. There are countless shows that are representations of the medium shaping the way you feel about yourself. For example, the NBC’s The Biggest Loser it one of the few shows that positively shapes how people view themselves. Viewers who are overweight and unhappy with the way look and feel watch this show and feel like if these people can do so can I.  Also Miss America pageants which come on NBC I believe in my opinion gives little girls this idea that what these ladies look like is what is normal and beautiful.

Everyone should think for themselves and question what they deem as right or wrong. I’m currently taking General Semantics and I am definitely learning that it is important to question things and judge the according to my own beliefs.

From a public relations standpoint, I would start a campaign about loving yourself for what you have and not for what you don’t have. I would want to spend more time trying to share awareness than trying to stop what people are watching.

 

pictue provided by: http://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/i/influence_of_the_media.asp