By Nicole Monge

Humans communicate through body language on a daily basis, but very few actually know what they are saying with their bodies. Being able to acknowledge your own body language, and read the body language of others will offer you a great advantage as a communicator. These are some common mishaps and tips when reading and asses your own body language.

Most people will overestimate their energy level. “When I conclude a mock interview during our media training workshops, I ask the trainee to rate on a 10-scale how much energy she thought she had during the interview. “Oh, around a seven or eight,” she’ll usually guess. I then ask the other people in the room to rate their colleagues’ energy. They usually rate it a four or five. Turns out, we’re lousy judges of how energetic we appear to others, and most people benefit from boosting their energy level 10 to 15 percent,” said Brad Phillips of PRDaily.com.

Eye contact is another huge factor. People are said to hold eye contact during a conversation only 40-60 percent of the time. This can signal nervousness, evasiveness, or like someone is trying to hide something, especially in a media interview where they are looking for the person to slip up. Maintain eye contact, it promotes credibility and assists the overall context of your conversation.

Gesturing helps a person form more clear thoughts, in turn making words sound better. It creates the illusion of every day conversation, making the topic one is speaking on more relatable. Gesturing is normal reaction to a conversation, therefore gesture the next time you are in front of an audience. Be mindful of your audience’s body language as well. Studies have shown that people who sit with their arms and legs crossed remember 38 percent less than people who have their limbs unfolded. If you see your audience in a defensive position, change your speaking tactic, and try to relate on their level, allowing them the opportunity to relate to you.

Smiling is the number one tool to make your body language appear open and inviting. When people see other people smiling, they want to smile as well. This allows for open and friendly conversation whether it is in the work place, everyday life, or a speaking engagement, a smile can change the entire tone of the conversation.

Photo Credit: Aiden Jones

By: Sierra Horn

High school juniors and seniors have anticipated the moment of heading off to college for years. After completing much research and often times visiting college campuses, the students are then able to make the final decision on where they will enroll. What should be a thrilling experience tends to become routine and boring for both students and parents. College tours are mere replicas of each other and must implement a technique to differentiate itself from other college as a way to attract new students.

What to expect on a standard college tour

Most college visits being with an information session. At this session, an admission director warms up the students and their parents. Then current students, and sometimes the student body president, will take the stage and talk about their wonderful experiences on campus. Someone on the faculty then talks about the college honor codes and standards, test scores and admission criteria.

Visitors then embark on a guided campus tour. Usually a current student—who is overly energetic and excited—takes you and other prospective students and their families on a walk to different places on campus, such as the library, student union, dorms, dining halls, and any other places on campus marked by tradition or history. Throughout these walking tours, students can ask questions about concerns, basic information about the school—number of students, male and female ratio—and advice on the best dorm to live in or any other information an experienced student would know.

Revamping the traditional campus visit

College visits tend to get boring and repetitive for students and parents. The lack of differentiation between colleges—other than sports teams—can set negative opinions in the mind of these prospective students, and especially the parents who may be funding their education. Revamping the college tour is necessary and a good proactive PR move.

Through creativity, colleges can develop new ways to differentiate themselves from other universities. During these visits, students and parents should grasp a full understanding of what they are getting for their investment in education.  I suggest four simple ways to improve the college tour.

Better training of student tour guides

Students need to undertake hours of training workshops to understand how to best meet the needs of visiting students and families. Student tour guides should make the tours more conversational and less presentation and routine. To provide visitors with the best experience, the tour guide should ask visitors if there is anywhere particular they would like to visit, and provide a few options of what tour route they can take. The tour guide should be openly honest and knowledgeable of the campus layout as well as information about its programs and organizations. It may be beneficial if students and parents were able to schedule a private tour so they could ask questions about their concerns without having to do so in front of strangers.

Virtual touring

Colleges must accommodate the students and parents who are out-of-state or unable to attend a campus visit. The virtual tour should be easy to use and provide all necessary information and at the same time be entertaining for the viewer. By creating a virtual tour and making it available on your campus webpage, students and parents will feel that they have acquired adequate information on making a college decision. Without a virtual campus tour, it is unlikely that those unable to attend an on-campus tour will attend the college, especially if they are required to invest a lot of resources into their education.

College merchandise

Students and parents love nothing more than free products. By handing out water bottles, tee-shirts, caps, or other products with the college logo, you will make the visitors happy in the short-term, while in the long-term remind them of their experience at the campus when they use or look at the product.

Use the tools in your toolbox

Use whatever your school is known for to your advantage. If your college has a well-renowned sports program, have the school mascot or athletes make an appearance. If your school Is known for its singing groups, give the students and parents a performance after the information session to get them excited and revive their interest. If the campus is recognized by its intelligent professors, take students and parents to the class rooms where they can get a sense of what a day in the life of a student will be.

A University can significantly distinguish itself from the rest by using these four tactics. Implementing these methods into your tour will make the experience more memorable for visitors and more effective for both parties. This proactive PR move will enable the University to establish mutually beneficial relationships with some of its main stakeholders as well as enhance its reputation in the public eye.

Photo Credit: aasd

By Allie Beckett

If you are interested in pursuing a career in the Public Relations industry, then you probably know that it is essential to first learn the basics of PR through a professional internship.  Though some internships can be competitive, don’t let yourself get discouraged if it takes awhile to find one.  There are many companies that would love to have a hard-working and fast-learning intern on their team, and if you keep looking you are sure to discover one.  However, securing the internship is only half the battle if you really want to boost your professional resume.  The internship alone is not enough to help you stand out from every other PR student who has also been an intern at some point.  You will need to maintain a certain attitude, outlook and work ethic during your internship if you want to reap the benefits. Here are some tips to help any PR intern to make the most out of their internship.

Set Yourself Apart

If you want to distinguish yourself from every other intern who came before you, the best thing you can do is treat your position as if it were your permanent, full-time job.  Everyone knows that it’s important to follow directions, but anyone can just do what they are told.  The difference is in the importance you place on the quality of your work. Even a seemingly small and mundane task or assignment can be used to show your commitment to always doing your best for the company.  Some other ways to get noticed at your internship are by asking questions that show your interest in learning about the company and the PR field in general and making sure you take any opportunities to contribute your original ideas and thoughts during staff meetings.  Make sure you ALWAYS follow any professional dress codes and maintain a pleasant and professional demeanor at all times.

Improve Yourself

Whether you go into your internship with no previous PR knowledge or more than most interns, there are always opportunities to improve your knowledge and abilities. Sometimes you will be required to learn new skills throughout your internship, but other times you will need to be proactive in seeking out new information from your coworkers and supervisors. If you never feel challenged by an assignment don’t hesitate to ask if there are any other projects you can assist with or at least look on for a learning experience. If you see a coworker or supervisor working on something that particularly intrigues you, it is up to you to take the initiative and express your interest in joining in the project.

Build Connections

Sitting quietly and doing your work will make you a good intern, but it may not be the best way to benefit your career in the long run. If you are hoping your internship will transition into a career, you will need to demonstrate that you would make a good addition to the team by developing bonds with your coworkers and supervisors. Try to find out who makes or influences the hiring decisions and ask them what the requirements are for a position with the company so that you will know any areas where you need to improve. Even if you know the company has no open positions, it is important to form bonds so that you can receive a great recommendation and possibly some suggestions on other places to apply.

Photo Credit: shazwildcat

By Allie Beckett

We all know that the advent of social media has made professional networking a much easier and simpler task.  You can find and communicate with almost every company, boss, client, employee and coworker through at least one of the main social media outlets (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.).  These sites are often used by college students in an effort to create professionally beneficial relationships that may aid in their future job searches; however, with this ease of accessibility comes a lack of privacy that can be harmful to your professional career.  Many college students, young professionals and even some mature professionals are guilty of using their social media outlets in a manner that can hurt their reputations and cause permanent damage to their careers and professional opportunities.

5 Common Mistakes

1. Never rely on security settings to keep your personal content personal.  If you create lists on Facebook to limit the access of certain individuals to certain content on your site, you are making a big mistake.  Other than privacy settings being unreliable, it is never a good idea to post anything on the internet that you are not 100% comfortable to have EVERYONE see.

2. Never post or allow yourself to be tagged in inappropriate pictures no matter how “cute” or “cool” you look in your sexy Halloween costume or chugging your favorite beer.  More and more recruiters are using Facebook as a way to assess job candidates, and inappropriate pictures are sure to turn them away.  You should also avoid using any inappropriate or vulgar language on your social media sites.

3. Never complain about work, your boss or your coworkers on your social media sites.  Even if you are in a temporary job that doesn’t seem important at the time, your future opportunities may be impacted.  If you are perceived as someone who can’t work well with others and respect your authorities, then no employer will want you to join their company.

4. Never tweet or post a status that you wouldn’t want your boss to see.  If you call in sick, it probably isn’t a good idea to post about the concert you’re going to that night. You should also avoid having too much personal social media activity while you are at work, or you will risk seeming unfocused on your responsibilities.

5. Never tweet about private company information.  If your boss privately announces a new merger or another exciting occurrence for your company, it may be tempting to immediately share that information with all of your followers so they can be excited with you.  If you have permission to go public with the news then there is no problem with sharing your successes; however, if the press release goes out the next day, you need to wait for your company to make the first public announcement.

In summary, it is best to treat your social media sites as a kind of resume.  You should always be focused on presenting yourself in the best possible light to any current and future employers.  Don’t let a stupid picture or comment stand between you and the career you’ve always wanted!

Photo Credit: choconancy

By Sierra Horn

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will welcome new School of Journalism and Mass Communication dean at the start of the spring 2012 semester. Former dean, Jean Folkerts, served as J-School dean since 2006 and plans to remain at the school to teach courses and conduct research. Dulcie Straughan, former senior associate dean and course instructor, assumed the position of interim dean until the University completed its national search for potential dean candidates. After weeding through many well-qualified contenders, UNC-CH Chancellor Holden Thorp named Susan King as new School of Journalism and Mass Communication dean earlier in the fall 2011 semester, taking effect on January 1, 2012.

Who is Susan King?

Susan King currently holds the position of vice president, external affairs, director of Journalism Initiative, Special initiatives and Strategy at Carnegie Corporation of New York. She is responsible for maintaining corporation relations with external stakeholders, devising strategies to ensure Carnegies work impacts the society, and overseeing the corporation communications, including publications, websites, media, among other things.

Prior to Carnegie, King spent five years with the U.S. Department of Labor, serving as assistant secretary of public affairs and executive director of the Family and Medical Leave Commission. King worked her way up into these impressive and accomplishing positions through her twenty years of hard work as a journalist covering national and international issues. Specifically, she was a CBS correspondent for Walter Cronkite, a CNN and ABC independent journalist for radio news, local TV anchor for stations in Buffalo, N.Y., and Washington, D.C., and host for National Public Radio shows.

In addition to her remarkable resume, King is active in the following community and professional organizations:

• Serves on the Board of Trustees of the BBC World Service Trust
• Serves on the National Leadership Roundtable on Church Management
• Member of the Advisory Commission of the Center for International Media for Democracy
• Founder of the International Women’s Media Foundation, and currently member of the Advisory Committee
• Member of the Council on Foreign Relations

Why King for UNC-CH?

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a whole prides itself on its academic reputation. Likewise, the School of Journalism and Mass Communication is consistently recognized for its reputation, and in 2009, the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications said the school “has earned a reputation as one of the premier programs in journalism and mass communication.” To uphold its high standards, the University Chancellor was determined to find a candidate who would best train and lead the next generation of media professionals through the enhancement of educational curriculum to coincide with the ever-changing digital age.

According to Holden Thorp, “as the digital age brings swift changes to the way we communicate, the school’s curriculum is continuously updated so that our students will not only have the skills they need but also be able to lead the news industry into the future.” Based on this perspective and King’s extensive experience in the industry, University Chancellor views her as adept in preparing a new generation of communicators in the continually changing multimedia era.

What Impact will King Have?

King will be expected to devote a great amount of time and energy to accomplish her duties as dean. Some of her responsibilities will encompass:

• Providing vision and direction to the school
• Guiding and directing the school’s faculty
• Holding responsibility for the school’s budget
• Setting policies and procedures for the school’s departments
• Making hiring decisions for faculty
• Blending external (alums, donors) and internal (school, University) activities

So, will the new UNC-Chapel Hill School of Journalism and Mass Communication dean bring new problems or new accomplishments to the esteemed program? Although internal changes are never happily welcomed in a well-functioning unit, King’s past is a good indicator that her presence on campus–and in the journalism department specifically–will be both beneficial for faculty and students. She brings with her experience from the Initiative on the Future of Journalism Education, which should make her competent in developing curriculum that coincides with the digital age.

What about the School’s Budget?

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has made $80 million in budget cuts over the last year. The University still needs to make a $20 million budget cut, and is currently deliberating its plan of action. Will the lack of funds impact King’s plans and her length of stay at the university? With the budget cut came fewer course offerings, faculty, and faculty bonuses. Whether or not these circumstances will have an adverse impact on the dean and ultimately the journalism department at UNC-Chapel Hill is unknown at this time. However, it should not be over-looked because it could potentially serve as a prime concern to the department.

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

By Nicole Monge

We have heard terms such as “the press release is dead” and other variations regarding PR and its apparent downward spiral. Since this could not be further from the truth, here are some reasons why public relations is still a very relevant and necessary expertise that companies need, especially in this tough economic climate, according to Prdaily.com.

Since media is so integrated into everyday life, it is important now, more than ever, that the right message and image is being shown to the world for businesses. Having people who are able to tell companies when to post things, what to post, different images to use, assist in marketing efforts, and create an impression that people will remember, for the better is crucial. Marketing your brand and yourself in the best possible light is necessary. Having a reputation that people can count on is key to a successful company, and personal communicators can guide companies in the way of doing this.

When a crisis comes up, who is going to help keep the public trusting the company in question? We have all seen bad crisis PR (2010 BP oil spill), and it does nothing but harm the company when they are unprepared, and have bad representatives or unqualified representatives trying to clean up the mess. A professional is needed in that scenario, which is a major reason that public relations is not dead, but rather changing.

Since PR is about community and engagement, you cannot always count on a marketing team to cover your bases. Quality of is just as important as quantity when it comes to brand exposure. Since the media are all over a messy story, it is important that a company not become antiquated and lose its credibility by promoting their brand on a non-reliable outlet.

Public relations is a profession that is far from dead; in fact, it is more necessary in this technology dependent day in age. If a company does not have a public relations representative, their business could be what is taking the downward spiral.

Photo Credit: Bruce Clay, Inc.

By: Sierra Horn

Crises can happen to a company or organization at any time without any forewarning. Most establishments have crisis communication plans in place so when these “possible” crises become reality, they can defuse the situation in a timely and effective manner.

Some organizations, however, are ill prepared when crises hit, and turn to poor PR tactics, which have a destructive, not constructive effect.

The PR Don’ts

First things first. When facing a dilemma, it is absolutely imperative that you do not employ any of these tactics:

• Stay quiet
• Avoid responsibility
• Scapegoat
• Lie

You will find that some companies decide to handle their issues with “no comment.” When you remain silent and act as if nothing transpired or as if it is not a big deal, you will harm your relationships–which you have been working hard to build–with key stakeholders. If you don’t respond quickly, the public will make its own assumptions and rumors may spread.

When you collide head-on with a crisis, do not reject accountability. When a scandal breaks, the media and the internet’s far-fetching reach will make many speculate about your company’s involvement in the issue. If you do not accept responsibility from the beginning and are in fact deemed responsible for the crisis, it’s likely that the public will not forget or forgive.

Scapegoating is a popular tactic, used by many who want to deflect blame. The well-known Firestone and Ford crisis, for example, illustrates the detrimental impact scapegoating has on a company. Rather than managing the issue jointly and owning up to its mistakes, both companies placed blame on the other for the casualties occurring from tire blowouts. This poor crisis communication management destroyed the images of each company because customers felt alienated, ignored and of no concern to them.

The last big mistake, and perhaps the most dangerous, that management can make when attempting to resolve a crisis is lie! The whole point of public relations is to bridge the communication gap between a company and its stakeholders through open and honest communication. Lying will destroy any and all relationships because you will lose your credibility, legitimacy and trustworthiness, among many other stakeholder relationship outcomes.

The PR Do’s

Instead of hiking up the wrong path, start your crisis communication plan with the following tactics:

• Respond immediately
• Be honest and informative
• Show concern
• Maintain two-way communication
• Apologize

Rather than ignore the issue at hand, respond as soon as a crisis is discovered. By being prompt in addressing the public about the issue, the company will maintain its legitimacy, credibility, openness, and commitment to its stakeholder relationships.

When responding to a crisis, maintaining honesty and sharing informative information is fundamental in defusing the issue. The public is more likely to trust the organization if they explain the issue in enough detail to fully comprehend its involvement. You will find that your public will also be more forgiving and less likely to speculate and spread rumors, which can cause even more damage to your company than the truth.

By maintaining openness and transparency, it makes your stakeholders feel that the issue is of great concern to your organization. It is extremely vital to show that you care for the victims of the crisis because it will make your stakeholders more forgiving in the end.

Two-way communication is sometimes overlooked by companies who just want to get their messages out and not hear backlash from its stakeholders. It is, however, an important tactic because you can truly learn a great deal from listening to the public and its concerns, like the status of public opinion. By understanding where your stand in the public eye, you can start to make changes in the right direction.

The final–and in my opinion most essential—tactic is to apologize for your wrong doings. By saying sorry from the beginning, your stakeholders will sense that you are accepting responsibility and taking measures to do right. There is nothing more damaging than waiting until the crisis blows up to apologize. It will appear un-genuine and forced.

If you stick to the right tactics, your company can easily move forward from the predicament at-hand.

Photo Credit: Kobbe

By Nicole Monge

E Releases discuss in a recent article the fact that companies have been pushing the boundaries of what a press release is for years now, and rightfully so. Some releases have had videos added to them, and some are formatted to fit the different social media outlets. Companies need to change the traditional press release sometimes to reach a different type of audience.

Infographics are visual representations of information or data. Since most people on social media outlets such as Facebook and Twitter are looking for very brief summaries, or even better images, this works for a variety of reasons.

Infographs are so effective because they clearly explain issues, no matter how complicated they are. Since visually usual help explain, and help people better understand a concept, this is a really effective way of reaching out to people and making your point clear.

Infographs also help a traditional press release stand out. By sending an infograph, your image and your company stands out to those who are reading it. Press releases tend to look and sound the same, where as an infograph breaks up and better explains what you are trying to convey. Inforgraphs are easy to share and interesting to read. They make the reader more compelled to read the entire thing, or even read it at all. Since they are image based and kept brief, readers are able to take in the information quickly. With the constant on the go lifestyle that most people live these days, this is essential.

Infographs can be useful for a number of different reasons but all leading to the same goal. To have readers interested in the information you are sharing. It is easily accessible and easily shared. Since infographs are image based it is easier for a person to retain the information you are sharing, because they can associate it with a photo.

Photo Credit: Chris Heiler

In the words of one of my favorite professors, when it comes to experiencing a crisis, “It’s not if, but when.” Every company, organization and institution must always be prepared for a crisis to strike and no crisis is minor enough to be ignored.  My own dear N.C. State University recently found themselves faced with a PR crisis that had the potential to negatively impact their reputation as a place of equality, diversity and acceptance if it was not met with an appropriate response.

The Crisis

Early last week the GLBT Center at N.C. State became a target for an act of vicious and hateful vandalism.  The GLBT is an on-campus organization that is dedicated to creating, maintaining and strengthening an inclusive and safe campus environment for people of all sexualities, gender identities and gender expressions.  The Center was defaced with derogatory terms and words such as “burn” and “die” which were written in purple spray paint on the door and wall.  One of the main functions of the Center is to serve as a safe and welcoming place for GLBT students to gather, and this incident certainly had a negative effect on that function.

Why It’s Important to Respond

After an incident like this happens at a public institution like N.C. State, the response of the university, student leaders and student community are all very important, and it is equally important to make sure the responses are communicated to the rest of the community and are communicated accurately.  Though this situation may seem minor, and, sadly, these types of incidents are not uncommon, if it were ignored it could drastically alter the reputation of the campus and the kind of environment that is encourage and tolerated.

N.C. State Responds

Luckily, it didn’t take long to see that N.C. State officials and students were outraged by the vandalism and wanted to take immediate action to prove that it will not be tolerated on our campus. Since the incident occurred last week, there have been many articles printed in the campus newspaper and local media quoting outraged students and faculty, and even the Declaration of Independence.  Student leaders and staff have met together on multiple occasions to discuss ways that the university and the students can show support to the GLBT and prove that this incident is not reflective of the feelings and attitudes of NCSU.  Last Thursday, there was even a rally of students in support of the GLBT and in opposition to a proposed ban on gay marriage pushed by North Carolina lawmakers.  Hundreds rallied in the campus brickyard, writing supportive messages in chalk and handing out purple bracelets that said “ally” on them.

The controversial issue of same-sex marriage has been in the news a lot recently in North Carolina, and this incident of vandalism was sure to get media attention if just for that fact alone.  Thanks to the quick and unwaveringly supportive response of the students and university officials, the positive response of the university has been the spotlight of the media coverage which is helping to turn a bad situation into a chance for the University to reinforce their positive image and reputation to the local communities.

Photo Credit: hyku

By Allie Beckett

Do you remember the days when Facebook was only open to students, and your parents (or yourselves) thought it was a big waste of time? When I fast-forward eight years, I find my mom commenting on all my statuses and my 13-year-old brother and his friends constantly inviting me to play Farmville.  Aside from being somewhat annoying, what do these demographic changes suggest about Facebook’s ability to assist us in reaching any target audience?

Middle Schoolers

Though many long-time Facebook users may object to the presence of this younger crowd, the sheer amount of time they spend on the site makes Facebook an excellent tool through which to target them. It is important to take into account their level of education and make sure your messages are simple and can be easily comprehended. Keep the messages short and fun so your audience will be drawn to them and not lose interest.  It is also necessary to remember that this age group is still dependant on their parent’s approval and financial assistance, so keep your messages tasteful and appropriate.

High Schoolers

This age group is very likely to frequent local restaurants and shops around their town and school.  They tend to find a few favorite spots for them and their friends to go on their lunch breaks or on the weekends to hang out. Advertising your restaurant or local shop on Facebook can be a great way to target this crowd. Focus your message on any lunch deals or weekly discounts that you offer, the convenience of your location, and the appeal of your atmosphere.

College Students

As a college student, I know from personal experience that Facebook isn’t used as much for communication, as it is as a calendar.  The events application becomes the main way to publicize any organized activity that you want to encourage people to attend.  Everyone from fraternities and sororities to local bars and restaurants to the university itself uses Facebook to get the word out about their upcoming events.

Young Professionals

This age group spends a smaller amount of time on Facebook than the previously mentioned groups, but they still frequent the site to keep up with friends, family and news.  Many young professionals begin to use Facebook for business networking in addition to social networking.  This age group will particularly appreciate the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to an organization through innovation and conversation.

Baby Boomers

Though this age group was originally resistant to joining the Facebook network, they have realized the convenience of keeping up with old friends and family.  When targeting this demographic, make sure to keep the navigation as simple as possible because many in this generation are not very computer savvy. Make sure to keep your messages useful and to the point as this age group is much more purposeful with their time online. Lastly, always check your language to avoid using inappropriate slang or grammar errors that this age group would not appreciate.

Targeting a specific market on Facebook will always require a bit of research to determine the current trends and interests of each age group. Facebook and its users are constantly changing and it is important to stay aware of all the applications and how to use them effectively for your specific message and audience.  Do you have any tips on how to create messages that will appeal to all the various age groups and personalities on Facebook?

Photo Source: lizzardo