Someone outside the PR/journalism world might think removing a space and an uppercase isn’t that big a deal. But oh they are so wrong, the AP Stylebook is bible-like to public relations and journalists alike.

How the “Web site” to “website” change will affect my life:

1) When I see someone type “website” in e-mails, on Twitter, on Facebook etc., I won’t internally cringe anymore because it will be AP-OK.

2) Because I am trained to think in AP Style all the time… Typing on my Blackberry, responding to work and personal emails will be a little faster/easier.

3) The style guide is finally fully accepting that this World Wide Web is more than a place where some people go. It’s a common noun that can be typed in lowercase!

4) I got to happily and satisfyingly cross out and write the newly correct version of how to type “website” in my physical 2009 copy of the stylebook. And good for the Associate Press, due to all the changes they’ve made, us PR/Journalists might actually have to buy updated versions more than once every ten years. More of a profit I guess.

5) This is a bridge to a new media writing style. At the AP conference, discussion centered around changing how to write months (April vs. Apr.), and changing “e-mail” to “email”. This major change will be the beginning of I think many changes to institutional styles.

I am extremely excited to report that as of Friday, March 5, Ashley got offered a job at the Minnesota State Fair as a sponsorship assistant.

As awful as the job market was in 2009, 2010 seems to be a bit more promising for PR, and job seekers alike.

Congrats to Ashley, and to all you PR job seekers out there, this is a good sign. Agencies, corporations, organizations are starting to hire again! Be patient, keep networking, and try your best!

My favorite part about the new gig… I am already extremely busy and have a lot to do. Which is exactly how I like to be! C’est parfait!

I took business head shots (left) and I’m somewhat satisfied with the results. Not crazy about the hair, but what can you do?

RSS Feeds are saving my life

Before this week I really didn’t use RSS feeds. I’ve used Google Reader in the past, but I wasn’t extremely fluent in it and I mostly used Twitter to follow my favorite bloggers.

I’ve been thrown into work on clients from industries I know NOTHING about. This week RSS feeds have been saving my life. I’ve easily gathered feeds from media outlets in the industries and I’ve been able to stay on top of what is going on and slowly learn the jargon.

I set my RSS feed up in Outlook and Google Reader for when I’m at home and I already sense they are going to be a great part of my day. Does anyone have any tips/tricks/recommendations for an RSS newbie?

Attracting reality TV lovers and aired right after the season finale of Keeping up with the Kardashians, I’m sure people found it entertaining. I however, along with many other PR practitioners, found it a bit insulting and a disgrace to the PR industry.

Why?

1) Commad PR admits they don’t even do PR… according to MediaBistro:

A rep from Command PR told PRNewser today that the firm doesn’t represent any talent, but does focus on “celebrity branding,” which means they connect celebrities with brands.

Meaning, they don’t have client representation, and only play the middle man in a marketing effort. But of course they still call themselves public relations. They should really be called “Command Branding”?

2) SPINdustry portrays PR girls as stripper bimbos… one of the first scenes has Kate, a first year associate, open her hotel room in a bra and short mini-skirt and then complain that she is fat when it looks like she hasn’t had carbs in about five years. Kate later uses her “experience” to hand out water to paparazzi and demands praise.

Huck brings in an extra hand, Lauren, who strips down to change her dress in the middle of the office because we all do that right? and later refuses to help out at the event because she demands to run the place and be in charge instead, even though she hardly has any experience and just got hired.

As a 22-year-old PRo hopefully, I was a bit insulted after this show because I, and my female colleagues, have 500 times more class and professionalism than all four of these girls on the show combined. For people who don’t know much about PR, this is a misrepresentation.

3) The name SPINdustry…. Okay if this firm was really PR, they would NOT approve a reality show based on their public relations company with the name SPINdustry. HELLO! The PR industry has been fighting to prove that we aren’t just spin doctors twisting the truth and publishing propaganda for decades!

SPINdustry doesn’t represent the PR industry at all. By putting “industry” at the end of SPIN, viewers might make the false assumption that Command PR and the show accurately represents public relations.

One step forward for Command PR with all the attention, but two steps backwards for real PR firms and practitioners, who are somewhat associated to this disgrace… thanks E!

I first met Ashley when I was 12 at Falcon Ridge Middle School. We were instant friends as seventh-graders and although our lives parted ways, with going to different high schools and colleges, we’ve stayed good friends for over ten years and now share our love for the PR industry.

Ashley has one of the most kind and genuine hearts around, not to mention a great sense of humor. With strong drive and passion for PR/Communications, I truly believe she would be a fit for anything thrown her way.

ASHLEY’S BACKGROUND

Ashley Houle currently has over two years experience in the PR/communications field. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire in May 2009 with a degree in Public Relations. There she gained relevant experience by participating in her school’s PRSSA, BluGold Pro (a student-run PR firm serving clients from the Eau Claire community), and interning at the Eau Claire Jazz Festival (building her media relations skills).

Since graduation, Ashley has kept busy and added to her experience by volunteering her time in various PR/marketing internships. She currently is a marketing-PR intern for BellaGalla (a wedding services organization) and for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities.

WHY YOU SHOULD HIRE ASHLEY

Ashley is a detail-oriented person who is an expert in AP style, social media, and multitasking. Her greatest strengths lie in her writing and listening skills, media relations and creativity. Ashley stands out with her determination to succeed in everything she does, and her willingness to learn. She isn’t afraid to ask questions or express her ideas, and she always seems to bring a unique perspective to a discussion.

WHY ASHLEY IS PURSUING PR

Ashley has an outgoing, bubbly personality and has always loved to write. Naturally, the communications field sparked her interest. Her favorite aspect about PR is the variety in the work, the event planning side, and storytelling.

WHAT ASHLEY IS LOOKING FOR

Ashley’s passion is in non-profit organizations and would love to work for one someday. She is open to an entry-level opportunity in any organization that would compliment and add to her experience. She is looking for a position that she can learn from and that will push her.

LEARN MORE ABOUT ASHLEY

Email: houleas@live.com

Follow on Twitter: @Houlee

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashleyhoule

Read her blog: Life in the City

Visit her Web site: Flavors.me

Full portfolio is available upon request

Two days before the opening ceremonies, and there hasn’t been one trending topic on Twitter that refers to the Olympics. Granted the winter games  aren’t as popular as the Summer Olympics, but c’mon man, pretty sure in 2008, everyone was talking about the China Olympics in July, a month before the summer games started!

The Olympic PR team isn’t the only party feeling the pain… NBC might lose over $200 million due to ad sales after securing the rights to air the 2010 Winter Olympics in 2003. Since NBC will feel that loss, they might lose the bid for the 2014 games... NBC has been exclusively (in the US) covering  the Olympics since 2000.

I personally haven’t forgotten about the Vancouver Olympics… I will definitely be tuning into the opening ceremonies on Friday at 6:30 p.m. central time. I can’t wait for Ice Skating, Sean White, and Lindsay Vonn!

2) Next week is an exciting week to be a PR/Comm person in the Twin Cities… a couple great networking opportunities!!!

• The second Young Professional Communicators-Twin Cities is Wednesday, Feb. 17. I am bringing three newbies to the event and can’t wait to mingle again with everyone! Visit the Facebook page for more info!
• Twin Cities Thursday Happy Hours is Thursday, Feb. 18. I have heard so much about this event and can’t wait to experience it for the first time!

3) Next Friday, Feb. 19th from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., is Help A PR Pro Out event- organized by Arik Hanson and Valerie Simon, designed to help connect PR job seekers with employers looking for top talent. PR bloggers, agency leaders, and PR professionals from across the country will donate their time and talents to help fellow PR pros connect with employers.

This is so amazing and monumental… I’m not searching for a position at the moment, but I have so many friends and colleagues that are… so to participate, I will feature my long-time friend Ashley Houle, follow her on Twitter for now and next Friday, look for my post about her!

4) Man oh man Toyota is getting hit hard with their third, fourth?, or fifth? recall this year… I would not want to be on their crisis communications right now… I read a great article about what their PR department should do.

5) LASTLY – Via. PRSarahEvans … watch this video of maybe the worst PR spokesperson I have ever seen. It might give you a little chuckle. Keep it for future reference of what NOT TO DO!

an internship at a PR firm!

I will be starting at Weber Shandwick in their Corporate, Community and Public Affairs group in March, and I couldn’t be more thrilled/up for the challenge, even if it is my sixth internship.

I’ve made it my TOP PRIORITY to avoid gaps in experience coming out of college — making sure that I’m  adding to my resumé with each passing month. The fact is, if you don’t have the experience, your resumé doesn’t even get looked at.

My internship life has been an emotional roller coaster ride. Many positions were only three or four months long. I was constantly on the job search, looking for the next opportunity.

I’ve had to take unpaid internships, leaving my checking account with scary balances, and bored on the weekends. But I will do whatever it takes to pursue a PR career.

I’m so grateful for all the opportunities I’ve had. Each internship has helped me get the next one, and my now six internships give me a diverse background — from health care to media to agriculture.

Landing a permanent job still hasn’t happened for me, but I believe I’m on a strong path to one… and it’s only because I’ve been so persistent in finding internships.

So, here is some advice to those who are like me and are barely holding on to the PR world… one internship at a time:

• Live by MNPR Blog and look at all the posts on MNPR Jobs Blog — I’ve had at least three interviews from jobs I found on that blog
• If you’re a U of M student or grad, use Gold Pass — seriously there are so many PR/Comm/Marketing internships posted daily
• St. Thomas has a great job posting site open to anyone
• Network network network — follow local PReeps on Twitter, attend networking events like YPCTC, TCTHH, or SMBMSP, ask for informational interviews (people love to talk about themselves and help out!)
• Look positively on each interview, even if you don’t get the job — I’ve been rejected many a times, applying to dozens of jobs a week. From there I’ve been brought in for only a couple interviews a month and most of the interviews haven’t ended in an offer — each interview has been practice, and I’ve improved my interviewing skills because of them!

Stay positive! What I’ve learned, as cliché and corny as it is:  if you work hard and put your best foot forward, what’s meant to be WILL find its way

I obviously am not an expert yet on this 4Square business, but here are my top five observations and top five concerns after a week of using this up and coming site:

Observations:

5. Badges! I am a visual person and therefore appreciate the badge feature. Collecting them is definitely incentive to “check-in” more often

4. Marketing/Promotion! There is serious opportunity for businesses to use this medium to reach their loyal and new customers. And be creative with promotions. Consumers can then reap the benefits!

3. Be a Mayor! The idea of friendly competition to visit a place the most and become the mayor is pretty fun!

2. Reflection! I can see myself looking at my history page and thinking “I need to (insert action here i.e. work out, go out, eat that crap, be an adult) more/less.” Foursquare practically logs your lifestyle, and adjusting that lifestyle would be easy!

1. Google Maps feature rocks! Loving Google Map image on all of the locations, not only can you verify that you “checked -in” at the right place, you can see exactly where other places are that your friends recommend. Bravo!

Concerns:

5. I don’t have a smart phone (hopefully, maybe soon?). The only way to “check in” is through your phone, whether you text, access mobile internet, or have an application for your smart phone. It isn’t so user friendly yet for mobile internet – annoying.

4. I can’t easily see my friends’ activity. There isn’t a way to view all of your friend’s “check-ins” at a central place on the site (as far as I know!). I hope in the future there is a feature similar to Twitter, where you can do that.

3. So what? Should I really care where my friends go all the time? Especially when people check-in without a tip… what is the point?

2. Perception. I still don’t know… do you use this for personal or professional reasons or both? Do I check in at bars I go to on the weekend, if I do… who will judge me? (not saying I’m an alcoholic or anything but I am only 22)

1. Safety! What if a creepy person decides to stalk me? Foursquare would be the perfect opportunity for any person, with bad intentions, to figure out where I am at certain times of the day! Creepy! Unless that person is Joe Mauer… I still have serious apprehensions about broadcasting where I am all the time.

Comments, questions, answers… please feel free to educate me. I will definitely continue to experiment with Foursquare. If you want to friend me… search for AleciaPuppe.

For those of you like me who are new to 4Square, and for those who have no idea what I’m talking about… READ THIS! A great post by Tony Felice from Red Door Interactive  describing 6 marketing opportunities on Foursquare (a good explanation of what 4Square is!).

Taking in account all the advice I got (and open to more please), I created a Flavors.Me page to centralize my online presence. After a couple days of using the site and adding all of my pages, I am finding it a great way to direct potential employers, people I meet at networking events and even to show my friends and family what I’m up to. There are other sites like this such as extendr.com.

I, for now, have included my Twitter feed, LinkedIn page, Foursquare account, this blog feed, and my Flickr pics. – Check out my page here, and let me know if you have any other advice!

Grazie!

I have to say, it was a huge success and well worth my time. I actually couldn’t believe my eyes when I looked at the clock and it was already 8:30, I was having so much fun, the time flew by! Huge kudos and round of applause to Katie for putting it on and Jess (@greenmill001) from Green Mill for grabbing a great venue.

There were at least 50 people there to mingle with, meet and talk PR/Marketing/Social media. It was so fantastic to finally meet in person so many people I have been following on Twitter for months and months!

I definitely look forward to the next event, which Katie told me will be some time in Feb. In the mean time… great people I met last night for you to follow:

@kshoop
@RPMaus
@jasondouglas
@greenmill001
@andysantamaria
@Jesswolbeck
@JonasPK
@lolaredxbecca
@aimeecheek
@REMedina

@cooltot

@Lkrinke

@JulieannWarner

@aokolue

@TCTHURHAPPYHOUR

And so many more! Forgive me if I forgot yah see ya’ll at the next meeting!

View photos from the event here!