Monday, November 30, 2009

Sunday, November 29, 2009

How LinkedIn can benefit YOU!



*LinkedIn is an online service mainly used for professional networking.


The purpose of the website is to allow registered users to maintain a list of contact details of people they know and trust in business. The people in the list are called Connections. Users can invite anyone (whether a site user or not) to become a connection.



How to Use LinkedIn to Find a Job



1. First create a profile. Create a detailed profile on LinkedIn, including employment (current and past), education, industry, and web sites.

2. Add a picture. You can add a photo (a headshot is recommended or upload a larger photo and edit it) to your LinkedIn profile. Note that it must be a small photo - no larger than 80x80 pixels.

3. Keywords and Skills. Include all your resume keywords and skills in your profile, so your profile will be found.

4. Build Your Network. Connect with other members and build your network. The more connections you have, the more opportunities you have, with one caveat from Kay Luo, "Connect to people you know and trust or have a business relationship with, no need to go crazy and connect with everyone." (More information below)

5. Get Recommendations.

6. Search Jobs. Use the job search section to find job listings.

7. Use Answers. The Answers section of LinkedIn is a good way to increase your visibility. Respond to questions, and ask a question if you need information or assistance.

8. Stay Connected. Use LinkedIn Mobile (m.linkedin.com) to view profiles, invite new connections, and access to LinkedIn Answers from your phone.

~By Alison Doyle
This list of connections can then be used in a number of ways:

  • A contact network is built up consisting of their direct connections, the connections of each of their connections (termed second-degree connections) and also the connections of second-degree connections (termed third-degree connections). This can be used to gain an introduction to someone a person wishes to know through a mutual, trusted contact.

  • It can then be used to find jobs, people and business opportunities recommended by someone in one's contact network.

  • Employers can list jobs and search for potential candidates.

  • Job seekers can review the profile of hiring managers and discover which of their existing contacts can introduce them

Author Lewis Howes gives consise detail about bettering yourself through his book "Linkedin Master Strategies"

Designing a Newsletter

When creating a newsletter remember to keep the audience in mind. If you are designing a newsletter for the Army, dark bold colors and strong lines should be considered, but if you audience is a Daycare, soft pastels and more pictures would be added.

*You may not think colors and design are as important as the information, but when someone picks up your newsletter the design is what keeps them reading or not. Make sure your newsletter is easy to read and navigate, with a goal of a clean, user-friendly format.

Most newsletters will have at least a nameplate, body text, and headlines, however there are many more parts to a newsletter design. Below are the elements contained in newsletters:

1. Nameplate - Name, Date, Logo

2. Body - Everything you want your audience to know

3. Table of Contents- If your newsletter exceeds four pages this should be considered

4. Masthead - Information about who the publisher is

5. Heads, Titles - Introduces different topics, usually bold and larger font
   a. Running Head - On the top corners of every page
   b. Kicker - Above the subhead
   c. Subhead - Breaks up the articles for an easier read

6. Page numbers - Use if you have 3 or more pages

7. Bylines - Title of a person which gives credit to who wrote which article

8. Continuation lines - helps the reader find the rest of the article
   a. Jumplines - Added at the bottom of article
   b. Continuation Heads - Added to the next part of the article at the top

9. End signs - Symbol stating the end of the story

10. Pull Quotes - Taking a quote out of the article and using it in design

11. Photos - Used to balance words and add appeal

12. Mailing panel - If you would like audience to send something back


For more information about Newsletter Design Elements!

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Georgia Southern's Eagle Print Shop

After visiting my University's Print Shop I realized the first and most important step you can take before getting materials printed is establishing a relationship with your fellow print shop employees.

List of the tips shared by Eagle Print Shop Manager Brenda Aytes: How to Prepare Printed Materials
  • Meet and greet your local Print Shop: If you are working in PR, you will most likely be printing many materials on a regular basis
  • Know how to speak "Print Language" (80-lb. glossy paper, 8.5×11, printed duplex in color): Working with your printer you should learn how to convey what you want in their terms 
  • Work with the printers to provide a file in the correct format (PDF, JPEG, etc)
  • Have an idea of what you want your finished publication to look like
  • Give time for your publication to be printed & allow time to fix errors
  • DO NOT copy and paste Logos off the Internet and use for a publication. These symbols are COPYRIGHTED and the consequences are greater than one could imagine
  • Images appear clearer when they are a minimum of 300 dpi dots per inch( most photos off the internet are not quality)
  • High resolution is the best quality for an Image



Something interesting that Brenda Aytes shared with my Strategic Publication class was the reason why copy and pasting pictures off the Internet do not come out so well. The orginal creators do not want these to be used. And to make sure of this, when you copy and paste a picture off the Internet and enlarge it, the pixels are spaced out. If you can enlarge it enough, there will be small messages between the pixels of the image. They most likely say " Do Not Reproduce", but you should find the secret messages on your own.


 


 
 
 
Remember the printed part is what your audience will take home and remember!

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Informational Interview Recap

Below is an interview with a Public Relations professional that I conducted over the phone. Her name is Kirsten Howard. She is the Director of Communications and Marketing for a non-profit organization in Detroit Michigan known as Business Leaders for Michigan. The company name was recently changed from Detroit Renaissance. Kirsten earned her Masters from Wayne State University in 2003 and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 2000.



Q & A

What’s a typical week like?


It varies, but some of the main things that I do is I have to read news that affects my organization such as RSS feeds. My organization is non-profit, but the board is made of CEOs of major companies. Our focus is statewide, and the main goal is to affect public policy like getting laws passed. We are in the process to get the state budget passed so I have to read all news to follow that issue. I also bring articles to my bosses attention to see if he wants to make a statement – and I have to write a draft and get his approval for the statement. I get requests for interviews from reporters – I am not a primary spokesperson but I coordinate press conferences. Sometimes I respond directly if the subject is not too controversial. We also released the Michigan Turnaround Plan. For this I look at taxes and budget reforms. The main question here is how do I increase awareness of this plan? I do interviews on the radio and write op-eds then send this to boss for reviewing.  I then contact publications to get it placed.



Tell me about a project you worked on that you are especially proud of?

The announcement of our new organization and Turnaround Plan- I had to organize the press conference. The message leaked and I was scared I was not going to get anyone at the press conference. I had to figure out what I was going to say and acknowledge what had been said. I had a good turn out and many reporters.

Also, a few years ago I was working for Yavaki North America (automotive supplier) they announced they were closing the plants in GA and Texas. I was involved with engineers and executives with figuring out hwo to relay the message. This was a different audience, including the community, because since the plant was closing the jobs would be gone. This took a month to organize – I was the spokesperson and sent out the press release and responded to the media.



How important is writing in your career?

It is very important; I have to write press releases, op-eds, blogs for our websites, and articles for our newsletter. Sometimes I have to write things I have no idea about(like Yavaki automotives) You have to be able to articulate around the subject you don’t know about and I always do a little research before I write so I really known enough to be able to talk about it. The writing has to be at a certain level or else the executive will chew u apart.



What three tips would you offer someone just starting out in PR?

1. You have to understand what everyone needs. For example, what does the journalist need? They are going out of business and you need to be able to help them do their job the best. What do your clients need? Be aware to balance client’s needs and executives needs.

2. You cannot go into it thinking you know it all. Be prepared to learn and be humble and have a positive attitude. You are going to have to multi-task and not everyone is going to like what you write.

3. Perfect a skill that makes you stand out from others. (Such as social media)



What do you do to keep current in the PR industry?

Social media, I am a member of PRSA (I read their publications), search online to see what’s new in my area, recently read some books on twitter.

What do you wish you would have known before starting your career in PR?

I wish I would have known the politics between reporters and executives and between different publications. If u give exclusive story to one newspaper, you might get nasty messages from others. There was also a time when a reporter called to find out about our budget and where we collected the money from. I have to check with my boss before I release information like this. He said he did not want to be on record saying where the money came from so do not tell them. Because our budget is public information the reported was angry that I would not just share the information.



What has surprised you the most about working in PR?

It really is about relationship building with reporters, clients, and executives. You have to be able to connect with people, not just be a good writer or a good speaker.



Have you worked with people and found out that PR is not for them?

A woman I once worked with was English major. She did not deal well with the clients or journalists when they would get testy. I recently found out she has a completely different job at another company.



When your company is hiring for an entry-level PR position, what makes a candidate stand out?

What they are looking for is a variety of experience and ability to multi-task and work well with others. Writing is very important. I am the only PR person in the company but I do remember that in addition to giving writing samples at the interview sometimes they will ask to write a press release or a short communication plan giving you three hours.



After interviewing this person I am less likely to want a career in PR because of the politics aspect. I do not like to displease people and that is the nature of the job at some points, especially when dealing with  reporters. But I am more likely to want a career in PR because I connect well with people and would love to build lasting relationships in this line of work.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

"Language of the Image" Poynter NewsU

Below is a summary of a course that I took from the News University: Training for Journalists website......


PhototypesWhen a photographer thinks in a visual language, photos become more informational
  •    Informational- Offers nothing more than identification value and has no redeeming story telling     qualities
                  -Nothing more than a visual record of a person, place or thing

  •    Passive - People who's essential purpose is to have their photo taken for publication
                  - Can be effective story telling tools
  •   Active - Show real people involved in real events in real time
                 -Brings insight of documentary photojournalism

Single Elements The relationship between the lines, shapes, and forms produces an aesthetically pleasing
visual presentation



Multiple Elements  Utilizing more than one element to enhance the story-telling capabilities such as using light for impact

"This shutter effect creates a toy-like effect of this city"



 

  • Quality of light


  • Layering


  • Mood


  • Sense of Place


  • Emotion


 Different Approach

There are different emotions that you can capture to create two separate images of the same thing. The birth of a baby can capture the mood of the father and his expression of becoming a father OR you could capture the baby as the main element dipicting new life.

 MY PERSPECTIVE
I learned that photographers and journalists must take the time to work together to produce the best picture for a story. A picture is not something to be considered an unimportant when it comes to writing an article. Its expression can relay more than just colors, or objects, or people. Photos are also able to communicate more than one message. Photographs relay feelings, emotions, and have the ability to freeze the mood in time.


I was surprised at the number of single elements there are. Graphics, quality of light, emotion, juxtaposition, point of entry and rule of thirds are not even half of them. Before reading Language of the Image I did not know how much effect photography has. The strength of a photo is really worth more than a thousand words. I have more respect for photographers, and will be looking more closely at the pictures I see in newspapers and magazines.

I would like to know more about which types of cameras that are used to produce different quality of pictures.The layering and shutter techniques intriged me the most.





For Basic Photography Techniques click YourOwnPhotography

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Kanye & Swift Publicity Stunt????

It has recently been brought to my attention that rapper Kanye West's Publicist and Singer Taylor Swift's publicist both work in the same agency!!! This is very odd considering how much buzz this incident got after the VMA's. Was this incident fabricated to raise album sales and ratings? I believe it was. First of all, Kanye West is already known to say things that are a bit outlandish; remember what was said about former president Bush. So it would not be out of the ordinary to set him up to say something else outrageous. People would just think, " There goes Kanye again."  Second, Taylor Swift is not that known and has been on tour for the last year to get herself out there. What a great way for her to be recognized. And third, Jay Z was defending Kanye West. He just came out with his Blueprint album. How ironic...Both of these celebrities received talk show time and their names have been circulating for a while now. If this was a publicity stunt it was greatly arranged. Everyone felt for poor Taylor and everyone else always thought Kanye was rude anyways. How is that for PR

And even Beyonce was seen as a heroine, letting little Taylor finish her speech. Maybe her publicist had a part in it too. Don't we all just love B!



Click here to see an interview with Taylor after being questioned about Kanye's tactics Uneasy Taylor

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Typography

Typography : is the art and technique of arranging type, type design, and modifying type glyphs

Choosing a type a font when creating a publication involves a number of things to take into consideration.
Size?
What type of publication is it?
Brochure, Flyer, Business Card?
Formal vs. Informal
Target Market? Men, Women, Children...?
Color?

  • There are differences in  fonts, which relate to the characteristics of your audience. Legibility and readibility also come into effect when choosing a font.
  • According to an article from Click Business Cards you should choose a font for a business card which relflects your stability and security as well as think about which market you are trying to appeal to. Small fonts are preferred on business cards which are bold since business cards communicate important contact information. Brochure fonts should always be legible. If there is too much going on with the font, the reader will lost interest in reading the information. Also, you should consider the space and images on the page which relate to the font.
  •  For more information on how to chose a good font go to 15 tips to choose good text type.
  • To find free fonts that you can easily download click http://www.dafont.com/
This site is really easy to use. It has hundreds of fonts which are all catergorized so they can be easily found. It also lets you test drive the fonts before actually downloading them.




Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Segmenting Publics

The Minority Advisement Program (MAP), located in the Multicultural Student Center is a great example of segmenting publics. Much like that of a "target market" in marketing. However there is a difference.
Excellence in Public Relations and Communications Management by James E. Grunig explains that the distinctions between publics and markets is important for understanding the nature of publics. Organizations can choose their markets, but publics arise on their own and choose the organization for attention.
The MAP program is directed at minorities on campus. MAP embraces racial and cultural diversity. Though it is not limited to your ethnicity or race. MAP focuses on providing students with a strong foundation to become well rounded and accepting of diversity, not only on Georgia Southern’s campus, but in life.
  • When creating a brochure for this program it would best to insert pictures of diverse students to immediately capture the attention of many different people. The design of the brochure should also reach out to cultures, possibly the use of bold colors or even flags from different countries could be incorporated.
For more information about this topic please visit this website with articles from magazine Public Relations Quarterly Segmenting Publics

Sunday, September 13, 2009

CRAP: Contrast, Repetition, Alignment, Proximity

REPETITION REPITITION REPETITION REPETITION

When it comes to designing any publication whether it be a flyer, brochure, or leaflet, it is important to incorporate Robin Williams 4  design principles: Contrast, Repetition, Alignment, and Proximity. Each of these contribute to an effective publication which intrigues the reader. Though all elements are important, the element of repetition is overlooked for its ability to really capture the attention of your target market.

Repetition: Repeated design throughout interface which creates consistency and unity

Repeating styles throughout the page gives a more cohesive feel to your work, while making it stand out more to the reader. Even the heading of this blog was more likely to get your attention with its repetition. JFK's inaugural speech caught the attention of an entire nation showing how extremely effective his speech was. He used repetition with his sentences, for example beginning four consecutive paragraphs with "Let us". This arrangement of sentences parallels good design principles because re-using symbols or certain lettering on a page is more likely to appear as a better visual compared to a publication with noticible differences. So next time you begin to design something, rememeber the repetition element of CRAP.

An analysis of allCRAP elements by Michael Rundle "CRAP"

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

My "About Me" Page

Welcome to Diandre Usssery's Bio!

Thanks http://ow.ly/nLHM for the Bio Tips


I am a senior Public Relations student at Georgia Southern University. Being active and creative are a few of the things that keep my mind energized. I love traveling! Because my parents also love to travel I have been at least one new place every year of my life since I was one years old. However, as a college student this has become more difficult. Music is another passion of mine. Singing, dancing, and even acting. Especially broadway musicals. My favorite was Wicked starring Idina Menzel. SPORTS!!! Though I do not like running, I love to play soccer. Ironic isn't it. I have played soccer since I was 4 and even continued with intramurals in college.


This blog will consist of some of my opinions with what is going on in the world today! (I watch a lot of CNN- but am interested in what other reporters have to say.) Feel free to comment and let me know what you think. Also, I will discuss many useful tips for PR people which could really help you with improving design for fliers, leaflets, or any other creation. You can find me on facebook and I am new to twitter so be patient with me. You can follow me @dussery2.


Saturday, May 9, 2009

After reading a bizarre story on the internet the other day, I read that a 17 year old girl was arrested for using profanity on the phone when she called 911 to let them know her father was having a seizure. The call was recorded and the girl began to swear even before the operator talked. The operator was a police officer veteran of 20 yrs. The girl began to say, please send a **** ambulance and the officer said you need to stop swearing at an official. And she continued to swear because she was panicking. Then the officer proceeded to swear back at her calling her names and then hung up on her, without ever asking why she needed an ambulance. The girl then went down to the station and he arrested her calling her the girl with the foul mouth. However, there is no such violation. Her father ended up receiving help and was ok. The officer was only suspended without pay for 2 weeks and had to take training classes. After the news spoke with the sheriff, he said he would not fire him for something "minor" like this. I found this to be a negative image of this local police. They could have had a better statement to why they did not fire him.

Sunday, April 26, 2009

I recently read that a UGA professor killed 3 students. However, the information was micommunicated because a few days later the "real" story was revealed. The professor gunned down his ex-wife and two men outside a theater near campus Saturday and fled in his Jeep after dropping off his children with a neighbor, police said. With all of the murders that have happened in the past at colleges and schools, this is going to be a huge crisis for UGA. The prodromes should have enabled them to be prepared for something like this. Though you could not have expected this from the professor who was described as quiet, introverted and a well-respected marketing professor at the university in Athens, crime on university grounds is not uncommon. I am looking forward to seeing what UGA does to deal with this incident. As far as I know they have no released any statements concerning this. Hopefully, they will put their crisis communication plan into effect ASAP.

Sunday, April 5, 2009

Did anyone hear about those 4 pro football players who were out on their boat fishing newar Florida and disappeared? Well offcials searched for them for over a week and found one of them clinging to the rocks. He said they had a boat wreck and was unaware of what happened to the other players. After more time passed the coast guard called off the search. So three players are pronounced dead. I am not sure which teams they are from. I just heard about this so I am sure this is a terrible tradegy to be gone unheard of. Im sure the families of the players did not want media attention. They did a good job of containing this crisis.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

So yesterday I read about the incident on sunday morning in the George Anne newspaper. Apparently the Statesboro Police did not arrest anyone because people were fleeing the scene. However, they did come up with two suspects but are still investigating. Also, the police said they found bags of marijuana in the hallway of the apartment complex. All in all this was a contained crisis. Like I previously mentioned, no one knew about this unless they were first hand witnesses. And the "still investigating" comment seemed to be used to avoid further questions from journalists or other media.

Monday, March 9, 2009

So this past Saturday night my friends and I were walking to a party in Universiyt Pines, after realizing is wasn't much of a party we decided to walk home. ON our way home we passed a party that had been goin on in Cambridge. We noticed commotion and people running. The next thing we heard was a "pop"! Yes, a gun was fired. We ran across the street back to my house scared and watching police car after police car arrive on the scene. So now a few days later no one has heard of this incident, except for the people that were there. Statesboro Police have contained this incident very well. I am not sure if Cambridge Apts. put out a statement to the residents but I am waiting to hear more.

Monday, February 9, 2009

Why does it always seem that you get a ton of work to do all at the same time!?

Thursday, January 29, 2009

My Blog

So glad to have a new semester to start off the year right.