Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Blogging together

For today's class assignment, we were told to look around at other blogs and blog about them. So when I sat down, I thought this assignment would be a piece of cake. But after searching around for hours, I couldn't find any inspiration. Blogs are all so different, about so many different things, that I just didn't know what to say. And then it came to me - that's the whole point!

If you are interested in collecting rocks, you can probably find at least 10 other people who line up their rocks according to color; If you're into analyzing historical events, I'm sure you can find thousands of others who share your passion. Blogs are a way of connecting people from all sorts of backgrounds and sewing together the sharp corners of the world. You can learn about different cultures and even make friends with people who are just getting up when you're headed off to sleep.

We all knew that the Internet would revolutionize the way we interact and connect with each other, but this whole idea of blogs has really stressed that point. It's never been easier to find
friends who share passions and ideas. And what's even greater is finding a new talent or new product that can inspire others - and with blogs, it's just a mouse click away.

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Blogging as a tool for PR

Blogs within professional disciplines have been popping up all over the place, especially in the realm of corporate communications and public affairs. Of course, this whole field deals with communicating, so finding an entirely new way to communicate is obviously going to spark a large interest. But blogging goes beyond the field of communications which goes to show that there is more to the phenomenon than a novel way of connecting to people – it is a tool for getting ahead in a business.

I think that blogging within the corporate communications and public affairs context advances the field as a whole. Blogs can introduce new companies, new products or even new ideas to professionals across the board and offer much-needed insight into those companies, products or ideas. It’s almost like getting a review without working for it! (Some examples are Marketing Monster, The Flack or Son-of-a-Pitch.) Fast-paced technology and busy days make it easy to overlook some of the up-and-coming concepts or products circulating around the communications field, so bloggers who track the latest innovations are a great resource. And we all know that innovation is the key for progress in this business.

Naturally, some of the PR or communications blogs that I have read for our class assignment go much deeper than just finding the next new thing – some of them have specialized functions. The one that sticks out, The Bad Pitch Blog, is a website dedicated to “stop[ping] bad PR before it starts.” It is almost like a watchdog group that scans the horizon for potentially bad PR moves and exposes them before they get the best of a company or individual. This is a great new use of blogs because it truly helps communication professionals pay more attention to potentially hazardous (or ridiculous) situations.

So basically, blogs are a part of the business now, and learning how to use them will not only make you a stronger candidate in the profession, but maybe even a more intuitive trend spotter.

More than just a face?


When I was a freshman in college, The Facebook made its way onto the Internet and into the lives of college students across the nation. Now a household word, Facebook has grown from a college-only networking site to a tool used by anyone and everyone. Filled with high school students, parents, celebrities, even CEO's of organizations, this site has truly made its impact on the way we communicate. And it's not just for the United States anymore - thousands of people from every corner of the world have joined in on the fun.

The obvious (and probably intended) use of Facebook is for networking and keeping in touch with friends. It's easy to find new friends through friends you already have or meet new people and keep in touch with them, even if you don't talk every day. And everyone loves showing off how many friends they have.

In recent years, however, Facebook has evolved from this one-function website to an all-purpose communication device. It can be a great tool for keeping in touch with friends from travels abroad or for high school kids trying to figure out what college to go to. Even small things, like getting homework assignments from classmates, are easier to do now. And who can forget the pictures and personalized profiles? If you're trying to communicate your personality to the people around you, there's never been an easier way.

But the big new function of Facebook goes beyond entertainment. Employers are now using it to delve deeper into the lives of their prospective employees, to figure out if the good boy/sweetheart persona actually translates into life. Some people have even missed out on great jobs because of that Mardi Gras picture album or dirty inside joke from years ago. And it doesn't end there - they can even keep checks on their current employees to make sure professionalism is maintained beyond the workplace. On the flipside, it's a great way for employers to find college graduates that would be perfect for their company or even recruit interns. Who knew Facebook would be a career tool a few years down the road? That's the beauty of technology!

So I guess Facebook has gone from a yearbook-style information page to a revolutionary communication device used by everyone around us. It's not just about a face anymore, but more about the person behind the picture.

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

About Time..

In the past few years, blogging has gone from a computer nerd secret to the trendiest way of communicating your thoughts to anyone who will read them. And since I love reading all kinds of thoughts, blogs have made their way into my daily routine. But writing my own blog? Never really crossed my mind.

So when I enrolled in the Communication, Technology and Globalization class at Southern Methodist University and realized we'd be making our own blog, I was pretty curious. I guess this online-diary phenomenon has more to it than my daily dose of Britney Spears' antics on PerezHilton.com.

As a Corporate Communications and Public Affairs major, I guess I'll have to leave my love of celebrity gossip aside and make way for the ever-important tactic of exploring the latest trends in the communications industry. And hopefully the blog can help me in gaining more knowledge about this constantly evolving field before I set out into the professional world.

It's about time I get on the bandwagon, I guess. Check back for updates!