Mark Your Calendar – April 7
Speaker: Dhani Jones, Bengals NFL Linebacker
Grab your bowtie and come listen to Dhani Jones, NFL linebacker, entrepreneur, environmental philanthropist, community volunteer and TV host share what it takes to create a sustainable cause-marketing program. Dhani is best-known for his career in the NFL where, over the past eight years, he has played for the New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans Saints and, currently, our hometown Cincinnati Bengals. But off the field, Dhani is just as well known. He is a world-class philanthropist working on projects such as Al Gore's Climate Change initiative and serving on Feeding America's entertainment council to end hunger. His most recent project, Bow Ties for a Cause, is a signature line of bow ties aimed to increase awareness and funds for non-profit organizations around the country. Dhani has the insight and passion to help make change a reality.
Date: Thursday, April 7th, 2011
Place: The Phoenix
812 Race St.
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Time: 11:30 a.m. - Check-in, Networking
12:00 p.m. - Lunch and Program
Cost: $23 PRSA Cincinnati Chapter Members
$35 Non-members
SPONSORED BY:
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PRSA Members Earn Rewards
New Members: Join PRSA in April 2011 and receive a free Professional Development Webinar. Join online now (any member type, including associate) and a special promotion code will be emailed to you for access to a premium PRSA webinar (a $150.00 value).
Existing PRSA members: Enjoy a 50 percent discount on any of the following four webinars in April:
Learn more on the PRSA website.
Jill Dunne
Membership Chair
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Have you been considering earning your APR?
There are special opportunities this month (and in May) to help you learn more and make progress on your accreditation journey.
APR Open House
A free PRSA webinar for potential candidates
Tuesday, April 12, 3-4 p.m., EDT
This session provides an overview of the APR Online Study Course available from PRSA.
Click here to register.
Accelerate Your Career in Public Relations
A free PRSA webinar for anyone interested in growing their career
Thursday, April 28, 3-4 p.m., EDT
Communications strategist Jenny Schade shares steps you can take now to prepare for your future. She will share the core qualities of hardy achievers she recognized across various industries and change situations. Schade will then lead a discussion with a panel of Accredited professionals who will discuss how becoming Accredited in Public Relations (APR) helped them become accomplished public relations practitioners.
Click here to register.
The APR Process and Preparing for the Readiness Review
A free webinar offered by the Cincinnati PRSA Chapter
APR Chair Debbie Copeland-Bloom provides an overview of what is involved in earning your APR and how to begin preparing for the Readiness Review.
Wednesday, April 20, Noon-1 p.m., EDT
Tuesday, April 26, Noon-1 p.m., EDT
Email Debbie at least two days before a webinar to receive webinar registration information.
Getting Ready for the APR Readiness Review: Increase Your Chances of being Advanced
A webinar conducted by PRSA in February
A pre-recorded, 60-minute webinar that is available through June 8
Cost: $50 for members
Michael Tullier, APR, director of external relations, Auburn University College of Education, provides guidance on preparing for your Readiness Review. Successful newly Accredited professionals and Readiness Review panelists offer insights and suggestions.
Click here for more information.
APR Open House
A free webinar for candidates
Tuesday, May 24, 3-4 p.m., EDT
Click here to register.
Questions about earning your APR?
Contact APR Chair Debbie Copeland-Bloom if you have any questions. Also, be sure to check out PRSA’s Accreditation module…it explains the APR process and offers a free study guide.
APR Maintenance Tip
Chapter meetings that focus on professional development (which is usually the case) count as one APR Maintenance point.
Debbie Copeland-Bloom, APR
APR Chair
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Blacksmith Awards Highlights
Each month leading up to the annual Blacksmith Awards Ceremony, we’ll highlight one of last year’s winners and share a tip from the entrant that can help you with your 2011 entries.
Blacksmith Best of Show for special project:
Research Strategic Analysis of the Greater Cincinnati Health Council (GCHC) Communications by the Gilchrist Group
The Greater Cincinnati Health Council’s board of directors sought to evaluate the organization’s communications with its more than 900 members and obtain a benchmark for future measurement by engaging the Gilchrist Group to research the quality and quantity of GCHC’s current communications activities. The Gilchrist Group was then able to provide recommendations for improving the organization’s communications outreach to create more effective messaging to target GCHC’s diverse audiences. The research project included a full communications audit, in-depth interviews, an online member survey and complete budget and resource analysis. The Gilchrist Group partnered with fellow PRSA member R.L. Repass and Partners, Inc. which offers MindField™, a proprietary internet-based platform, for the online survey.
This research fully and accurately assessed member's perceptions as understanding of GCHC's communications. It documented member satisfaction and set benchmarks for the future. It identified focus areas and key messages; then compared them to awareness and understanding.
Results: Results of this extensive study will help guide ongoing and future communication strategy to solidify member loyalty, achieve cost and time savings where feasible, and enhance member value. By tracking member engagement, GCHC will now be able to correlate engagement levels to understanding. Members are clearly ready (95 percent) to adopt new communications and technologies.
Blacksmith Award Winner Tip:
Never underestimate the power and importance of research in every entry.
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Call for Excalibur Awards Judges
Call for Judges for PRSA Excalibur Awards
The Houston PRSA Chapter needs your help judging their Excalibur Awards. Judging will take place from April 22 through May 15. If you are willing to help, please contact Shara Clark at smclark@gafri.com or Barbara Flick at Barbara.flick@strata-g.com. The Houston chapter will be judging our Blacksmith Awards this fall.
Co-Blacksmith Committee Chairs
Shara Clark & Barbara Flick
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Creative Director- The Eisen Agency
The Eisen Agency, named a Best Places to Work finalist by the Business Courier in 2009 and 2010, is seeking an experienced creative/art director for its Newport office. The creative director will report to the agency president, and provide expertise and guidance in the overall creative development of both the agency and its varied clientele.
Part-Time Writer/Marketing Intern (paid) – Trivantis Corporation
Trivantis Corporation is the leader in eLearning software and services and has thousands of top name clients around the globe. Trivantis is looking for a technology savvy Writer/Marketing Intern who is organized, driven, and possesses superior writing and communication skills. Trivantis is seeking someone who shares its "work hard, play hard" mentality and is eager to learn about a professional career in a fun, fast paced environment.
For more details on these positions and other career opportunities, please visit the PRSA Job Bank at: http://www.cincinnatiprsa.org/jobBank/index.php.
Are You a NEW HIRE?
Soapbox Media seeks to profile new hires who have recently started careers in the Cincinnati area. Please email maureen.richmond@firstgroup.com if you have a cool new job, are working Downtown or in the general downtown area, and would like to showcase your skills! Don't be shy! Let's stack Soapbox with communications folks!
Maureen Richmond, APR
Job Bank Chair
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I confess, my digital recorder is one of my favorite tools. I use it often to record meetings and interviews to assure that I get the best information. I find that it allows me to concentrate on the conversation without focusing on making sure I take good notes. Most clients and interviewees are fine with it, and I don’t record without permission.
Here’s what PRSA’s summary of the latest standards advisory says about recording. “You must first consider applicable state and federal laws that govern when you may legally record another individual. Recording telephone calls or in-person conversations without proper consent may expose you not only to the risk of criminal prosecution, but also potentially give an injured party a civil claim for monetary damages against the individual doing the recording. As a rule of thumb, you must receive consent from at least one, if not all, of the parties participating in the conversation. It would be prudent to ask for permission prior to recording and repeat the fact you are recording after you have turned on the recording device.”
According to the advisory, “Federal law allows recording of phone calls and other electronic communications with the consent of at least one party to the call. It is almost always illegal to record a conversation to which you are not participating, do not have consent from at least one of the parties involved to make a recording and could not naturally overhear the conversation.” I did some superficial online research, which states that Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana are all “one-party consent” states, meaning that if one party consents to a conversation being recorded, it is legal. Please don’t take this as legal advice, however; and review the law yourself if you plan to regularly record conversations. Here’s a link to the advisory in its entirety:
Gail Myers
Ethics Chair
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Name: Tammy Monroe
Position: Vice President, Director of Public Relations
Company: Northlich
Twitter handle: @PRTammy
What social media outlets do you use? Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Quora
How long have you been a Cincinnati PRSA member? 15 years
What do you find the most beneficial about Cincinnati PRSA? The chapter has always helped me stay connected to the talented people in town. I feel fortunate to have learned so much throughout my career from the people and the programming.
Whom do you suggest your fellow chapter members follow on Twitter and why? I have found value recently in finding followers using lists of some of my favorite early adopters, such as @mashable/social-media, @prsarahevans/journchat and @OSUSquire/health-care.
You're in PR which means you're interesting by default! Tell us one fun fact about you: I have been told I have a high tolerance for pain. I waited three days to go to urgent care after smashing my thumb in a car door and when the doctor drained the pressure he couldn’t believe I wasn’t in tears. Even if that is true, however, I recommend an epidural when given the choice. No one had ever told me it can wear off, and I could have done without that part of the experience.
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New Members Welcome
Name: Meghan Berneking
Current Position: Communications Assistant, Cincinnati Symphony and Pops Orchestras
Previous Experience: Prior to joining the CSO staff, I gained media experience as an editor, writer and reporter for Xavier University’s student-run newspaper, the Newswire, also assisting in the development of the Newswire’s social media platforms.
Education: BA in English from Xavier University with minors in both Music and Environmental Studies.
I currently assist the Vice President of Communications with a large variety of public relations, internal and external communications, media relations and other related tasks. I work heavily with arranging interviews between our artists and print, radio and television media outlets. I handle most of the organization’s press releases, assist in video editing, help to oversee Facebook and Twitter accounts and handle various other tasks both in and out of the concert hall. A native of Evansville, Indiana, I’ve been a proud resident of Cincinnati since my time at Xavier. In my free time I enjoy spending time with friends and family, playing piano and discovering Cincinnati’s hidden treasures.
Name: Eric Duncan
Current Position: Communications Specialist at Heidelberg Distributing
Previous Experience: Prior to joining Heidelberg, Eric worked as the Marketing/Communications Intern at the Western & Southern Open (known colloquially in Cincinnati as the “Tennis Masters”). At the tournament, he served as the editor of the program, daily drawsheets, and social media pages.
Education: Eric graduated from Xavier University in 2008 with a bachelor’s degree in Communication Arts with a specialization in Public Relations. A year later, he graduated from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications with a master’s in Public Relations.
Eric was hired at Heidelberg Distributing to research and then implement a social media strategy for the statewide beer and wine distributor. Still in the research phase, he hopes to launch the initiative this summer.
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Kissell Named Rumpke Corporate Communications Supervisor
Congratulations to Cincinnati PRSA President-Elect Jonathan Kissell on being named corporate communications supervisor at Rumpke Consolidated Companies, Inc., the nation’s third largest privately-owned waste and recycling firm.
Kissell began his career with Rumpke in May 2005 as communications coordinator. This is Kissell’s third promotion since joining the Rumpke Corporate Communications Team which was named the 2010 Communications Team of the Year by the Cincinnati Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA).
A Rapidly Spreading Outbreak of Positivity Is Being Traced to “Good Things Pledges”
Freelance public relations professional Lisa Desatnik has been busy asking people throughout Greater Cincinnati, “Are you having a Good day?” Her goal is to make Good Things a part of every day for everybody and her latest idea for making that happen is her creation, The Good Things Pledge.
It’s all part of her Good Things Going Around project – a blog, a Facebook community, a Good Things card, and now the new Good Things Pledge.
“I started Good Things Going Around as an outlet to brighten people’s days and inspire others to live for every moment, and to see and appreciate the good that is all around,” she said. “All of us have within ourselves the power to make a positive contribution. Cultivating that good through a sincere respect, caring and appreciation is one of the most important gifts we can give.”
With the Good Things Pledge, Desatnik is looking for people who are willing to help keep good things going around by making a simple promise to remind themselves every day of what is positive.
The Good Things Pledge
On this day and every day, I pledge to myself…
I will be thankful for what I have,
for people who I love and people who love me.
I will walk tall and not be afraid to fall.
I will be kind and help others just because I can.
I will brighten this day with my smile.
I will do my best to be the best me I can be.
Taking the Pledge is simple and individuals can register that they’ve taken the vow on Desatnik’s blog at http://goodthingsgoingaround.com. Once registered, everyone will receive a certificate for posting on a wall, and a graphic that they can post to their social media sites.
For more information, please visit http://goodthingsgoingaround.com, visit Good Things Going Around on Facebook, or email Lisa Desatnik at lisadesatnik@gmail.com.
(Illustrations by Linda Mitchell designs, videos by The Ohio Center for Broadcasting)
Tamekia Massaline
University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications
Public Relations Master’s Student Tamekia Massaline, is conducting research to understand how the public relations profession is changing. Consider taking 10 minutes to complete a short survey, The Influence of Personal Attributes on Public Relations Beliefs.
Not only will you be helping to redefine the profession, a $20 donation will be made for every 50 respondents to a charity of their choice. Take the survey by following this link: https://ufljour.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_0O3uUI2XGplVE7q.
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By Rachel Peterson
When Miami was rated number two in the nation for undergraduate teaching, the news was everywhere. Billboards popped up in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus, and a number of other cities declaring the university’s ranking just below Dartmouth. These billboards, of course, were no accident. They were instead the first flush of a $300,000 Miami campaign that will eventually lead into a larger project with a $1.5 million budget. The goal of this brand campaign is simple – gaining visibility for the Miami name and reputation.
It might at first seem strange to consider a brand campaign for higher education. However, education is still a product, and branding is necessary to highlight the aspects of Miami that make it different from other universities. While Miami is known as a public ivy school, it is a strong university among many.
The question, then, is simple. What makes Miami different? Tracy Hughes, director of university marketing, described the philosophy behind the campaign. “We are trying to convey the same image that has been true to Miami for years – an image of academic excellence, student success and a personalized experience.” High school students need to feel that Miami is a university to reach for, and one that will offer an impressive reputation when they enter the workforce. While Miami has been advertising for years, this new branding campaign shows that Miami has increased its efforts in hopes of rising above the competition.
According to Hughes, the early advertising campaign has accomplished everything that she wanted it to. “We were fortunate to have fabulous rankings that we wanted to tell the world about, and the opportunity to share those messages.” Hughes said she is proud that Miami broke an all-time record for applications this year with over 18,000.
More applications from high school students mean the university is allowed more selectivity, which delivers prestige. The campaign also aims to strengthen ties with alumni, reminding them of the pride they take in their alma mater. Every university relies to some extent on support from students after they graduate, and Miami is no exception.
One question that arises is how the success of the branding campaign will be measured. “The success of any campaign will be determined on a case-by-case basis,” Hughes explains. “However, overall, we ultimately will be looking at an increase in our national recognition and reputation, an increase in the number and quality of applications and an increase in alumni engagement,” she said.
The branding campaign itself has created a buzz in the market. As the number two school in undergraduate teaching and a record high in applications, it is safe to say that the Miami image is prevalent in the minds of future Miami students, and so is an excellent reputation.
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How To Align Social Media With Traditional Media To Meet Your Business Objectives
By Tim McMahon, ComPRehension, March 9, 2011
Several years ago I helped organize a symposium titled “The Golden Age of PR: How public relations is contributing to success in business.” We lined up great speakers who all made predictions to a full house. And because the skills of public relations people are perfectly suited to create a competitive advantage in the new media environment, the predictions came true. We are now entering a new Golden Age of Public Relations.
Consider the central tasks of marketing: understanding, predicting and influencing customers, delivered through four fundamental objectives:
- Informing customers of your firm’s offerings
- Showing them the relevance of your brand
- Removing the barriers to transactions
- Nurturing a trustworthy relationship to assure repeat purchases
Now consider the brave new media world, an environment dependent on a new set of media classifications: paid, rented, owned and earned. While paid ads are often the cornerstone of marketing, the other three classifications are best executed from a relationship-building mindset. Relationships are critical for success in this new environment, and relationship-building is, of course, the fundamental expertise of PR practitioners.
In PRSA’s new seminar, Strategic Integrated Communications, I will tie all of the above together and show you how these elements can work together for better results in today’s new media environment. I will teach you how to harness PR power and align traditional media and social media to leverage your firm’s investment with measurable results. You will learn about an effective integration model. So don’t miss this opportunity to fully embrace ownership of this emerging competence and participate in the new Golden Age of Public Relations!
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