By Kelley Brackett

Anticipation is building across the state, as the countdown to the reopening of the North Carolina Museum of Art (NCMA) nears.  Upon its reopening, NCMA will be the nation’s largest art museum park at a sprawling 164-acres! As the museum nears its 60th birthday and its reopening on the weekend of April 24-25, art lovers young and old will be able to reunite in its newly renovated and expanded location on Blue Ridge Road.

The expansion has given NCMA the opportunity to redefine itself, a PR move that is often necessary, and prepare for another 60 years.  NCMA’s new, modern logo brings the museum into a new decade.  Designed by Pentagram Designs, Inc, the logo is reportedly inspired by the 362 signature coffers enclosing the new building.

The transformation will reveal a 127,000-square-foot building that will house the NCMA’s permanent collection and will include a larger exhibition space, complete with day lit galleries.  The museum is also “going green” as it will be surrounded by extraordinary outdoor gardens filled with large-scale sculptures.

NCMA is not only staying young by redefining itself, but also by showcasing its new branding in multiple facets of social media.   Follow along with 2,000 others @ncartmuseum, become one of its fans on Facebook, check out its newest pictures on Flickr, or read their blog Untitled.  As NCMA’s countdown to the opening celebration continues, social media fans can constantly be in the know, proving that an older establishment can change with the times.

NCMA receives a final nod for good PR in its efforts to reach out to the community. NCMA is requesting  North Carolinian’s photos of what makes the state home by sharing your favorite destinations and faces for an exhibit on display opening weekend.  Join the celebration April 24-25, and celebrate a cultural treasure of our fine state!

Photo: Everlasting Gallery

By Preston Kelly

After a season of football victories, losses and upsets, the waiting period is over and the time has finally come.  Super Bowl XLIV is here!

As a rookie to the sport of football, I enjoy the Super Bowl for all the wrong reasons (and, in my own defense, two out of five Super Bowl watchers are not football fans).  Besides, what other night of the year is it socially acceptable to chow down on junk food and stare at the television for four straight hours?

Others, however, enjoy it for more than the opportunity to eat an obscene amount of chips and critique the long-awaited million-dollar advertisements.  Whether pulling for the Saints or the Colts, these sports fanatics view it as a night of beers, bets and football bedlam.

It’s not much to assume that, with an estimated audience of one billion, many of these fans choose a sports bar to watch the big game.  And what better opportunity to grab some attention to your own restaurant than through Super Bowl specials?

Local restaurants have jumped on this bandwagon by hosting Super Bowl parties of their own, including the Downtown Sports Bar & Grill, Michael Dean’s Seafood Grill & Oyster Bar (yeah, they’re an MMI client), Woody’s @ City Market, Tobacco Road Sports Cafe and more.  Whether hosting a party, radio show, drink specials or a buffet, these restaurants are getting a quick PR boost through the upcoming Super Bowl Sunday events.

I found that in making Super Bowl plans myself, deciding what to eat and where to watch the game was the easy part.  Now I just have to decide who to pull for!

Photo Source: RMTip21

By Mallory Pfeffer

The anticipation around the Triangle was unmistakable this past Friday as people began preparing for the snow. Grocery store shelves were stripped of milk, eggs, bread and batteries, salt caked the highways, and people raced home from work to beat the oncoming storm.  We all awoke Saturday morning to a winter wonderland — children frolicked, couples went on walks, and families relaxed in the warm sanctuary of their homes.  Now, fast forward. The fun is over, and cabin fever is certainly setting in for Wake County students.

While most have returned to work and college co-eds are attending classes, Wake County has issued its third snow day for public schools. With yet another day of cancellations, fingers point towards the N.C. Department of Transportation (DOT). On Monday, ABC11 Eyewitness News anchor Barbara Gibbs reported that the DOT is being both “criticized and praised for their response” to the storm, and an N&O article released Tuesday stated that “there were varying degrees of success in how well streets were cleared of ice and snow.” Clearly, the DOT can’t please everyone.

I am certainly one of the disgruntled citizens scrutinizing the DOT for failing to venture into roads surrounding my house. The plows reached hundreds of other secondary streets, so why couldn’t they turn down mine when neighboring streets received attention? Jon Nance, chief engineer for the DOT, was interviewed by ABC11 Eyewitness News stating that, “some of the state’s smaller roads have taken a back seat to bigger roads, but…all the major thoroughfares were clear Monday and for some that’s good enough.” He also stated that at night “it was too cold and there was nothing on the roads but unplowable ice,” suggesting that at times there was little crews could do to improve the situation.

Whether or not the DOT is to blame for the snow and ice that is still on the roads and for the kids that are still out of school remains unsettled. Representatives continue to assert that every effort is being made to get the roads cleared, but it appears some roads are still unsafe. With a weekend forecast calling for a possibility of more freezing rain and snow can we trust the DOT to respond to our needs, or will see the same results? Looks like we will just have to wait and see.

Photo Source: Flickr

By Kelley Brackett

In today’s economic funk, many companies are searching for new ways to reinvent themselves to avoid losing business or even worse closing their doors.  Just last week, local nightclub, Buckhead Saloon, was forced to close after losing clientele to neighboring competitors.  In an area with many restaurants and bars its important to find your niche and stick to it.  If one approach isn’t working, try, try again (that can get expensive though).

That’s exactly what local eatery Fins and its renowned chef William D’Auvray did.  Fins, located at 110 East Davie Street, has gotten a face lift recently to compete with other downtown restaurants.  Formerly known for their exquisite seafood dishes with an Asian fusion, Fins is now reopening under the name Bu.ku.

In a sea of many, Fins has reinvented itself to compete with the hundreds of dining options in the Triangle.  The name Bu.ku originates from a French-Asian twist on the phrase “merci beaucoup,” meaning “thank you, very much.” D’Auvray aims to present global street fare from the four corners of the globe in an exotic, yet simple way.

Niche Marketing enables companies to identify a highly targeted audience, creating a unique business concept that allows you to emerge from the masses. As a former seafood restaurant, Fins had a target audience.  But by creating a unique concept, Bu.ku will attract a target audience that is open to ditching normal American fare and exploring cross-cultural cuisine.

Photo Source: viZZZual.com

By James Schlegelmilch

The continuing saga of disgraced governor  Mike Easley and his affiliates seems to be far from over.  Just hours before the indictment of former Easley aide, Charles Ruffin Poole, Lanny Wilson announced he will step down from the North Carolina Board of Transportation.

Wilson said in a letter to Gov. Bev Perdue, that he has “become a distraction” and will remove himself from the board.  Wilson was appointed to the board by former N.C. Gov. Easley in 2001, and again in 2005.  Wilson had testified before the State Board of Elections about Easley’s campaign finance violations.

Just this past Monday, Wilson announced that he will also be removing himself from the board of the N.C. Turnpike Authority.  This announcement comes as those involved in all aspects of the Easley debacle are pointing to Lanny Wilson as one of the “key money men.”

Indictments continue to roll in, and one has to wonder if traditional crisis PR tactics are going to be enough to restore the face of North Carolina politics.  As this situation continues to unravel, more and more of our state leaders are attempting to right their wrongs.  Crisis PR was created to handle these types of situations.  But with honesty and responsibility falling to the wayside, are PR strategies enough to restore North Carolinians confidence in our state leaders?

Photo Source: whoohoo120

By Audrey Beckett

As I read the News and Observer online this afternoon, I noticed the large headline GlaxoSmithKline Gives $1.5M to Morehead Planetarium. This grabbed my attention for a couple of reasons. First, $1.5 million is an impressive financial donation, especially during an economic slump. Second, as an aspiring public relations professional, I notice such acts of corporate social responsibility as examples of good PR.

GSK’s donation will go towards the conversion of the planetarium’s Star Theater from analog to digital technology. In the article, GSK explained it has a commitment to “making positive contributions to the communities where employees live and work and to invest in health and education programs.”

Under this criteria, the donation to Morehead Planetarium is certainly fitting. The planetarium is a frequent field trip destination for North Carolina students and offers a number of scientific programs and experiences for the community, such as the “Science in the Summer” program, also sponsored by GSK.

Following the article, I noticed a comment criticizing GSK for not pouring that $1.5 million into Haiti relief. I was bothered that the company’s good deed was being met with such criticism. After all, individuals should be grateful for the socially responsible corporations in our community.

This comment sparked my curiosity so I went to GSK’s Web site and found the following press release. Sure enough, the company has already given $1.4 million of medicinal aid to a number of organizations that are providing relief in Haiti. It has also committed $408,000 to the British Red Cross to aid in water and sanitation efforts in Haiti and is currently assessing requests from its partners to determine how much additional medicine it can donate to the cause.

The truth is that GSK is providing important aid around the world AND enriching the community around it.

From a public relations standpoint, an act of corporate social responsibility as the target of criticism is an extremely interesting situation. It emphasizes the importance of the PR professional’s adaptability to any given situation. GSK’s consistent communication and commitment to social responsibility is a good example of how unexpected challenges should be handled.

Photo Source: Ian Wilson

By Kelley Brackett

This morning, just as Haitians were regrouping after last Tuesday’s devastating earthquake, they were struck again with a 6.1 magnitude earthquake.  According to the Associated Press, an estimated 3 million people are in dire need of food and water.  In this time of need, the world is uniting to provide aid for Haitians.  Now is your chance to help!

Providing charitable donations to organizations and fellow human beings in need is not only the right thing to do, but also good for business.  Local organizations have stepped on board to show their support including North Carolina State University, Redress Raleigh, The Oxford, Pepsi Bottling Company, and many others.

Raising money for Haiti or donating supplies is a way to show your support in their time of need.  And like other charitable donations it can do several things to enhance your company’s image:

• Raise company awareness in the community
• Create opportunities for employee team building
• Communicate to current and future clients that charity efforts are important to you.

At the end of the day, you can rest with a good conscious, knowing that your company has contributed to a world crisis.  And don’t forget to spread the news!  Let others know the amount of money you’ve raised or the amount of supplies you’ve collected.  Your efforts won’t be soon forgotten.

Photo Source:  mulmatsherm

By Kelley Brackett

It’s official.  As of last Friday, the University of North Carolina Board of Governors unanimously elected William Randolph “Randy” Woodson as N.C. State University’s new chancellor.  Woodson, formerly serving as provost and executive vice president for academic affairs for Purdue University, is expected to serve his Wolfpack community more effectively than his predecessor-former Chancellor James Oblinger.

Oblinger was a source of constant media attention in his last days at N.C. State, as officials questioned his involvement in the hiring of former first lady Mary Easley in 2005 as well as his arranged pricey pay-out for State’s former provost.  As a public university, the scandal and its financial implications could not have come at a worse time.

The three critical steps of managing a public relations crisis are:

• Take ownership of the problem

• Tell the truth, tell it all and tell it fast

• The organization must take steps to correct the problem and publicy announce what those actions will be. 

Although, Oblinger may have tarnished his reputation as well as the university’s, he did accept responsibility for his actions.  In light of all the bad press, after a five year stint Oblinger recognized that stepping down from his role as chancellor would be the best thing for the university.

Moving forward, all eyes are on Woodson as he takes the reins. I anticipate with everyone keeping a firm grip on their wallets and an eye on state officials, Woodson will be under strict scrutiny in the months to come.

By Kelley Brackett

Greetings and welcome to a new decade!  I am MMI’s Social Media Intern for the semester.  As a college student, I am certainly no stranger to social media. But you’ll be happy to know that instead of aimlessly searching YouTube for content and constantly updating my Facebook status, the hours I spend on social media Web sites will finally serve a greater purpose!

I am in my last semester at North Carolina State University, majoring in communications-media with a minor in journalism.  I am a member of Lambda Pi Eta Communications’ Honor Society, an ambassador for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, a representative on the board of directors for  NC State Student Media, and I am in the University’s Honor Program.  I am also an avid State fan – Go Pack!

In the weeks to come, I look forward to blogging about public relations happenings in and around Raleigh.  Speaking of – did anyone else witness the extraordinary turnout for Raleigh’s First Night 2010?  Despite the rain and fog, thousands gathered to witness the historic acorn drop in Raleigh’s new city plaza.

With a new year ahead of us, and the world of social media continuing to expand by the day, I look forward to a wonderful semester at MMI Public Relations.

Photo Source: NC Genealogy

By Kathleen Mongero

To quote a recent N&O article, “it’s not close to being over for Mike Easley.”  As late October court proceeding played out, the jury and the public were showered with copies of invoices showing Mike Easley’s use of campaign funds for extras such as undocumented travel, a car and personal home repairs.  Relying heavily on hours of testimony from former aide McQueen Campbell, who provided insight into the Easley financial allegations as well as the controversial hiring oh his wife at N.C. State University, the court went so far as to discuss criminal charges that may still be in the cards for the former governor.

And the Easleys aren’t the only ones being forced to face some all-too-familiar demons.  Former N.C. State Chancellor James Oblinger, who resigned from his post this past summer of 2009, is still feeling the aftershocks of the Mary Easley debacle.  A recent article in The Round Up, a popular student newspaper at New Mexico University where Oblinger is a top-five finalist for president, reminisces on the traces of shame leftover from the recent allegations and even includes disdainful quotes from various NMU staff members on the topic of his possible hiring.

So what is next for individuals like Easley, Campbell and Oblinger? Will Campbell’s attempt to take the focus off of his own misdeeds by openly testifying against Easley ultimately come back to haunt him in the end?  Does a potential position of presidency at a new university present Oblinger with the tools to mend his career faux pas, even if it means being met with initial resistance?  And finally, will Easley ever recover from this ordeal? It may be time to call in the Blagojevich PR team.