Ohio University ImPRessions

March 1, 2013 · 10:18 AM

Madonna Pushes Instagram Over the ‘Borderline’

By: Kiley Landusky

PR Daily recently posted an article on Instagram’s action toward Madonna’s racy pictures posted on its site. In an effort to tame her wild side it created more attention to the star’s account including her flagrant photographs. Madonna posted a screen shot of the email she received from Instagram on its own site. The email told Madonna that her account had violated Instagram’s community guidelines. This generated over 9,000 likes and unleashed over 2,000 comments criticizing how the site handled the situation. A few of the comments read: “Instagram people….really?” “Stupid @instagram,” and “and Rihanna’s photos are not violating?? Give me a break Instagram Team!”. It would appear that these comments were a negative for Instagram, but were actually only adding more attention to the already booming social media.

Was Instagram simply enforcing its community guidelines or just trying to spark attention? It seems to be the latter. The popular page of Instagram seldom lacks photos of girls posing with cleavage out and/or in minuscule bikinis. The fact that they chose to enforce their rules on a multi-decade sex symbol seems quite odd. The Instagram team may have successfully developed a way to build talk of the site and talk of its photos.

We all know that public relations can get sleazy by use of questionable tactics, such as MTV’s decision to “hack” its own Twitter account. If Instagram is merely attempting to boost its popularity as MTV did, it is doing so in a much cleaner manner. No lies, no posing, no ridiculous scandal; simply enforcing its own rules. Sure, this causes a stir but not the kind of stir that ruins a reputation, just enough to get a few thousand more viewers and to prod its users to generate a lot of comments. With this success story, perhaps Instagram will crack down on celebrity icons breaking their rules more often.

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Tagged as Instagram, Journalism, Madonna, Pictures, Policy, PRSA, PRSSA, public relations, social media

February 21, 2013 · 3:32 PM

The Latest in Social Media Fashion: Hacking

By: Kiley Landusky

Reently, mutiple twitter accounts have been hacked, but some are choosing to go faux. MTV chose to falsely hack their own Twitter account in response to the recent hackings of Jeep and Burger King Twitter accounts. Is this a smooth move in the public relations world? Most think not. Although it picked up attention, MTV’s wild idea weakened their trust with the public.

Its perhaps “immature” reaction to the situation was quite contrary to the other powerful businesses seriously involved with social media. A laughing matter to MTV was a serious crisis for others. The fear of trademark symbols being replaced with their competition and a loss of precious customers and followers set in and caused a rapid change in security for many companies.

Following the media crisis, PR Daily reposted a previous article from their site giving tips on how to keep social media secure. The best and most obvious solution PR Daily gave was to create complex passwords including a combination of capital letters, multiple characters and numbers. It also suggested purchasing password managers or utilizing free password managers to aide in creating unique passwords.

Using the same password is convenient to the individual and takes little memory capacity but is a serious risk when considered in public relations and big name companies. Extra security measures are a must and are held in high regard only when crises like Burger King’s and Jeep’s occurs. May this be a lesson to all handling social media for a sacred brand; take the extra step and protect your image!

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Tagged as Burger King, Hack, Hacking, Jeep, MTV, PR, social media, Twitter

February 14, 2013 · 2:13 PM

Tips for the Career Fair

By: Whitney Hatano

If the warm weather and sunshine hasn’t been enough of a clue that spring is among us, then maybe the Spring Career & Internship Fair will be. The fair will be held on Tuesday, February 19, 2013 from 10:00am-3:00pm in Baker Ballroom. Most college students attend at least one career fair in their years at school. At first the concept of a career fair may seem extremely nerve racking and stressful but in the end it is a worthwhile experience. Try not to fret too much; here are a few tips for success at this year’s career fair!

A common piece of advice is to dress professionally! It doesn’t matter whether one is searching for a life long career or just attending the fair for the first time. Chances of a business taking you seriously while you’re still in your PJs are slim to none. First impressions are very crucial and you never know whom you’re going to meet. Being overdressed is more forgivable than being underdressed. The dressed up also does not mean putting on your going out outfit, make sure to clean up and look appropriate.

One of the most important tips is to do your research before the event. With long lines and packed rooms, it’s hard to scope out the entire fair without feeling even more overwhelmed than you probably already are. You also need to take into consideration that not every booth is suitable for you. Researching the companies present beforehand will make it easier for you to filter out which booths are worth stopping at. On the same note, be careful not to rule out any options because you may just be surprised about what a company has to offer. Research different companies by visiting their websites and reading their values and option positions to get a feel for their business. Social media is also becoming a great tool for companies, so try checking out their Twitter or like their Facebook page, too!

Maintaining a positive attitude throughout the day can be tiresome, but keep that smile and handshake firm. If you show you’re genuinely interested in the employer, then they’re going to be just as enthusiastic to give you more information about themselves. Bringing your resume is only half of the battle; you have to have an impressive personality too. Potential employers are not going to want to hire someone who isn’t going to add to their company rapport. Try not to sell yourself too much though, employers want to hear about the real you, not a pitch you’ve repeated to every other booth.

These are only a few tips that can be used to make your career fair experience successful. Just remember to look professional, do your research and bring you’re a-game. Career fairs shouldn’t be scary; they are here to assist students in meeting new people and creating a professional network for free!

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Tagged as businesses, Career fair, communications, companies, Internships, Jobs, Journalism, Ohio University, OU, PR, resumes

February 8, 2013 · 1:20 PM

Super Bowl XLVII: The Best and Worst of 2013

Briagenn Adams

Not only is the Super Bowl the biggest night for American football fanatics, but it’s also one of the biggest events for PR superstars and advertising addicts alike. During the 2013 Super Bowl this past Sunday, one 30-second advertisement went for as much as a record $4 million. Or – in other terms – about $133,333 per second of TV time. That’s almost enough money to pay for an Ohio University education seven years over. Whoa.

So, which companies spent their money wisely, and who would have done better investing elsewhere? PR daily named three of the best and three of the words advertisements this year.

Let’s start with the worst. Honestly, who didn’t cringe during the GoDaddy.com kiss commercial? For many, that camera angle was a bit too close for comfort. The now-notorious lip lock that lasted a whopping 10 seconds took up 1/3 of the entire commercial, and cost the company almost $1.4 million. Talk about an expensive date!

Also in the running for worst commercial of 2013 was Beck’s Beer Sapphire advertisement, singing beta fish and all. There might have been an inside joke hidden in the ad somewhere, but we’re not getting it. Beta luck next time, Beck’s!

Last but not necessarily least was the Wonderful Pistachios “Gangnam Style” ad. Although this song has had its share of international acclaim over the past year, people were not pleased by its reappearance during the Super Bowl XLVII.

On a more uplifting note, other companies spent their money very, very well. PR Daily has praised Audi, Best Buy and Taco Bell for having the best Super Bowl commercials of 2013.

Audi immortalized the secret dream of every teenage boy – to steal the Prom Queen’s heart and impress his entire school – during their 60-second time slot. The hashtag, #BraveryWins was tweeted over 3,000 times following the memorable commercial. Viewers couldn’t help but cheer with the boy as he drove his father’s Audi off into his own sunset of eternal high school glory.

Next on the list of best Super Bowl commercials was Best Buy’s hilarious escapade with comedian Amy Poehler. Although anything Amy does is bound to be brilliant, Best Buy’s ad provided some much-needed and appreciated comedic relief during the nail-biting Super Bowl game.

And finally, Taco Bell’s, “Viva Young” commercial was a top rated ad. We all knew this was coming! The endearing performance of senior citizens going wild and living up the night could have made even the biggest fast-food hater crave nachos.

Some other memorable ads included Budweiser’s classic reunion story of a Clydesdale horse and his loving owner, Volkswagen’s controversial “Get In, Get Happy” Jamaican ad and Doritos’ makeup-clad, “Fashionista Dad” getup.

No matter the actual outcome of Super Bowl XLVII, the advertisements were, for the most part, all winners that night.

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Tagged as Advertising, Doritos, marketing, Oreo, PR, PR Daily, Psy, public relations, Super Bowl

February 5, 2013 · 1:41 AM

Philanthropy Spotlight: College Book Store Supports Big Brothers Big Sisters

By: Klare Williamson, Account Associate, College Book Store

College Book Store will be celebrating its fourth annual Sibs Weekend philanthropy event this weekend! February 8^th – 10^th College Book Store will be donating $2 from every commemorative Sibs Weekend shirt sold to Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Big Brothers Big Sisters is a program that allows students and volunteers to mentor elementary age children in their area. In 2012 the Athens chapter served over 250 children and uses donations from sponsors like College Bookstore to fund activities, transportation and costs of matching Bigs with their Littles. Recent events for the enrolled youth include canoe trips, pumpkin carving and visits to OU basketball games.

“I’ve seen so many kids helped through this program” said Hannah Brown, a freshman who just began volunteering at the Athens chapter. “It gives them someone to look up to and events to look forward to attending.”

Students interested in being a peer mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters can visit the website at BBBSathens.org or check out the Facebook page for more information about upcoming events and interviews.

“Seventy-five percent of our current matches are Ohio University students,” said Eric Long, community program coordinator. “We recently started a program for OU students without transportation that allows them to help out at after school programs at West Elementary.

Help support this great cause by purchasing a Sibs Weekend shirt for you and your visiting sib from College Book Store!

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January 31, 2013 · 6:44 PM

How To Network Using Social Media

Marisa Dockum

LinkedIn and Twitter serve as better networking tools than you might think. The power of networking is endless, especially now with easy access to professionals via Twitter and LinkedIn. Here are a few tips to improve your online visibility and build a network:

Never send a generic LinkedIn connection invite. In order to stand out and make things personal, you must take the time to write a nice blurb on how you know them or explain why you would like to connect with them.
Clean up your Twitter account to make sure it is appropriate before you begin attracting professionals.
Don’t have full-blown conversations on Twitter. Make an initial connection with a tweet, but then continue the conversation via email or direct messages.
Use hashtags such as #intern, #internships, #HAPPO, #PR,etc. and directly tweet at companies or people who work there about news/events that are happening at those companies. When you express interest in what that agency is actually doing, you will get noticed.
Don’t get to the point right away, start by asking about the professional’s experience or for advice. PR people love to talk about themselves and want to feel like they’re helping someone out from their expertise. So, allow them to do that and they will be more likely to then talk about a job or internship opportunity.
Join Twitter chats, ask questions and share your answers. Your questions could get noticed by a professional looking for an intern, and your active online presence will impress professionals.
Make sure your LinkedIn profile is up to date and error free at all times, especially before you connect with professionals.
Utilize the LinkedIn headline in a creative way. For example, “PR major seeking internship in NYC,” and be active in different LinkedIn groups.

As a pre-professional, it is your job to seek out professionals, companies, PRSA young professionals and alumni on Twitter and LinkedIn. Let your personality shine online, and do what we do best: communicate. Actively tweet about PR news, tweet at professionals and companies, use hashtags, and connect on LinkedIn with personal messages. These tips will allow you to network with the industry and establish a solid online presence, but most importantly it will highlight YOUR brand.

Go forth young professionals, use social media networking to your advantage!

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Tagged as HAPPO, intern, Internships, Linkedin, Networking, PR, public relations, social media, Twitter

December 5, 2012 · 3:16 PM

PR For The Holidays: The Gift of Branding and Internships Event Recap

By: Kiley Landusky, Internal Account Associate

On a cold, rainy day on December 2nd the OU ImPRessions holiday party, “PR for the Holidays: The Gift of Internships and Branding” brought together account supervisors, executives and associates from the seventeen accounts for warm holiday cheer, warm wishes from fellow members and of course, warm food. The guests were greeted with a nametag and agenda listing the speakers that would later give valuable advice and praise of the spectacular PRSSA-affiliated group.

The party was kicked off with various potluck foods provided by members of ImPRessions. An introduction by Heather Bartman, Sienna Tomko and Dan Mulvey created excitement for the student guest speakers. Heather, Sienna and Dan stressed the importance of ImPRessions, their joy of its success and their gratitude for everyone being together before the terror of final exams.

We are quite lucky to claim the PR stars Hollie Amato, Nicole Spears and Sam Tischler as our own and even luckier that they agreed to present their successes and experiences in their internships after the friendly introduction from Heather, Dan and Sienna. Sam started by sharing her PACE employment experience and tied it to her experience in ImPRessions as well as her classes at Ohio University. She took pride in being a member of ImPRessions and said “this will teach you how to work in a group setting,” similar to how you would work in an internship. She encouraged the group to value every part of our experience as OU students and said, “Everything you do should be taken as a learning experience”.

Nicole Spears took the spotlight after Sam and let us in on her experience of interning in France. She gave us advice on what to do prior to any foreign internship. A commonly overlooked process before applying to foreign internships was translating your resume to the appropriate language of the country you choose to visit. Although the language barrier was the most difficult thing for her, Nicole was firm on stating that her experience was a great one and encouraged all to travel abroad. She said “you’ll meet a lot more people with global backgrounds,” which will help greatly in the new environment students will have to embrace in internships and careers.

After Nicole, Hollie Amato spoke about her work during an internship with Akhia, a public relations and marketing communications agency. She emphasized her use of ImPRessions on her resume, stating, “definitely brag about ImPRessions because it’s worth bragging about” and ImPRessions “gave me hands-on experience and examples”. She also told her fellow ImPRessions members to archive their work as they go for use in a future portfolio.

The guest speakers gave great advice for the current ImPRessions accounts and how to translate it to a professional setting in the future.

The accounts then gave us a short summary of their accomplishments thus far as well as their goals for spring semester. Just about every account discussed their social media activity and goals to enhance and increase their social media in the upcoming semester.

Some highlights from the account summaries were, the E.W. Scripps School account has 2,842 Twitter followers and the College Bookstore upped their followers from around 120 to 220! The Athens County Humane Society also gained 182 likes on Facebook. For the most part the accounts shared a common goal of reaching out to more people via social media.

Another common activity was the use of surveys to track the progress and outreach of accounts such as the GoBus account, which received 271 survey responses, nearly reaching their goal of 300. ImPRessions accounts seriously appreciate their audience and are always looking to give back to OU students as well as the Athens community.

Listening to all of the successes of ImPRessions members and their drive to be even greater as a firm and as separate accounts secured the pride of being an OU student. Bringing everyone together for this event made for a great welcome back from Thanksgiving break and a warm goodbye and seasons greetings before traveling home for the holiday break.