[ the added value of the "e" ]

the d.brief with b.dunn

2009-12-18T00:50:00.000-08:00

Blogging has become an incredibly important social media tool. Used by professionals to directly engage consumers, it provides an informal forum for high-level executives to provide a more casual, "off the record" opinion and insight into their company. While some use it effectively, others do not.

Below, a recently developed social media campaign from Best Buy is a prime example of to maintain a successful corporate blog...take a look:
** analysis dictated by principles of PESTLE, SWOT, and POST

the D.Brief

Brian Dunn, Chief Operating Officer of Best Buy, provides consumers with an excellent example of effective blogging from an executive perspective. His blog is creatively titled “the D.Brief”.

He updates the blog frequently and presents it in a creative and unique format.

Each entry is concise and captures the readers attention for the entire duration.

His most recent entry is titled “Give a Little and Get Back”. It is a prime example of his most effective tactics of communication. The post's strengths include:

Personally relatable
Promotes product
Engages consumers

Dunn begins the blog with a personal anecdote. He makes reference to his own family which immediately engages viewers, places him on their level, and verify that he is actually the one writing the blog.

Dunn uses the anecdote with his son to segway into a subtle mentioning of one of Best Buy’s social responsibility campaigns. This is a very effective way to show the practicality of Best Buy products and engage consumers to contribute.

Dunn’s blog is also a strong example of 2-way communication. There is an application where readers can anonymously input their questions and comments.

** This is a direct channel to the CEO of a large company and unique chance for readers to provide their feedback.

Dunn also poses a question at the bottom of the blog to provoke debate and discussion. He is using this opportunity engaging consumers and making them feel as if he cares which is a brilliant strategic move.

The D-Brief is a prime example of extremely effective blogging—it is relevant, engaging, and informative.

Well done Brian!

the graffiti cannot be erased.

2009-12-07T22:15:00.000-08:00

It feels like just yesterday that Chris Brown and Rihanna mysteriously pulled out of the Grammys, mere hours before their hyped performance.
I, for one, was crushed.
Rumours immediately swarmed about an incident of abuse but I refused to believe it.
It couldn’t be. They were the golden couple of pop music. Beautiful. Talented. But more than anything, international role models.

When the picture of Rihanna’s bruised and battered face surfaced, it was official. Chris Brown had pleaded guilty to assaulting his beloved and was hit with many hours of community service.

His camp was immediately concerned with how his career would be affected. The public was furious but Rihanna kept her silence

Kudos to Brown’s PR team for effectively dealing with what seemed to be an impossible situation. He was kept from the limelight, openly accepted responsibility and pledged to get help.
On one hand, what more could you ask. On the other, would the public ever forgive him? I cannot.
Today is an important day in the life of Chris Brown, as it marks the release of his new album Graffiti. The looming question is, can he make a comeback?

I feel guilty every time I find myself humming along to his hits. I cannot reconcile the handsome popstar on television with the abuser picking up garbage on the side of the highway.

But the public has been known to forgive worse. Bill came back after Monica, MJ is immortalized as an icon, and R.Kelly is popping out chart toppers like it’s nobody’s business.

81% of people polled said that they would not be adding copies of Graffiti to their music collections but the album currently sits comfortably at #2 on the Billboard Charts. Reconcile that.

wanna be startin' something.

2009-12-01T11:00:00.000-08:00

Well, it's safe to say the legend lives on. On every billboard, radio station and movie theatre, a glimpse of the glove and a thurst of moonwalk is evident.

When I first heard this song as a bat-mitzvah girl drowning in taffeta, I couldn't resist running to the dance floor. The talent of Michael Jackson lives on in his music and the many ways in which it is interpreted. Though his style is imitated by many, his talent is surpassed by no one. Pushing all his quirks and scandals aside, the man is, and will forever be an American icon. In tribute to his talent, here are two interpretations of one of his greatest hits.

I simply can't decide which one I like better...

X FACTOR

AKON

"Lift Your Head Up High

And Scream Out To The World

I Know I Am Someone

And Let The Truth Unfurl

Wanna be startin' something..."

and you thought online dating was progressive!?!

2009-11-13T09:34:00.000-08:00

So this is a good one. As I'm sure you've heard, actress Emmy Rossum and the lead singer of the Counting Crows are dating. What you may not have heard is how this little love affair began...

Of places...twitter.

"I was on tour with the band this summer. They invited me actually on Twitter," Rossum said Thursday on the radio show Valentine in the Morning. "That's how we met – on a dare. They dared me to come sing with them a song that I'd never sung before ... So I ended up on tour with the band, and it was very, very fun."

I was just beginning to wrap my mind around online dating but this has reached a whole new level. Is that what our generation is turning to?

Twitter is interesting in that you can direct access to anyone on the network. Whether this power will be used for good evil or even romance is up to us.

Choose wisely...and start looking out for Cupid's tweets!

staggering statistics.

2009-11-12T19:06:00.000-08:00

Social media maven and established entrepreneur Mark Walmsley put together a really impressive slideshow on the evolution of our means of communication. Took a look, it's amazing:

Social Media, Social Influence Marketing and Super Peers

View more presentations from Mark Walmsley.

a hilarious hoax.

2009-11-11T08:26:00.000-08:00

Amidst all the buzz about the ultimate Twilight couple, there is one photo that has set the rumor mill on fire. Spotted leaving the Charles De Gaulle airport, superstars Robert "R.Patz" Pattinson and Kristen "K.Stew" Stewart were...wait for it....holding hands. It has now been confirmed, from this photo alone, that they are in fact a couple.

As a result of the many means of social media, this picture has been seen by the masses. It has been re-posted and dissected down to how many fingers are intertwined. Comments have been made and hearts have been broken [myself included].

To highlight the absurdity of the conclusions drawn, two other Twilight superstars made a statement of their own and publicized it via Twitter. Instantly, the picture received a ton of media attention and landed its own article on people.com.

This is PR at its finest. Instead of making formal statements to respond to all the rumors, the cast has embraced it and shown the world how ridiculous they are without outright saying it. PR requires creativity and at times, a little bit of humor.

Well done boys.

back to basics.

2009-11-11T07:30:00.000-08:00

When reading one of my favourite PR blogs, I came across this posting-- 9 rules that a kindergarten class compiled. It really struck a chord within me. Incorporating these fundamental messages into our daily practices will help as both public relations professionals and human beings. I miss the days of scheduled napping and the times when I would carelessly eat as many cookies as I could digest for snack. We are so easily swept into the 21st century monster but in taking a step back, my perspective has been refreshed. I'll have to thank Mrs. Weisberg...take a look and pay tribute to story time, play-doh, and macaroni necklaces.

9 PR Rules Learned in Kindergarten:

Say please
Say I'm sorry
Be friendly
Share
Play fair
Don't litter
Never hurt others
Say excuse me
Listen to others

1. Say please - This rule speaks to a sense of decency and politeness. Some days we get so caught up in our work and we forget to be thoughtful with our co-workers, clients, and unfortunately, other members in our community. Forgetting this rule can cause tragic disconnections that are sometimes difficult to mend.

2. Say I'm sorry - If you screw up, own up to it. The sooner, the better. This is true for individuals as well as organizations when things go wrong. Your community will be more likely to forgive mistakes and missteps if you can express honest remorse when needed.

3. Be friendly - Public relations professionals had better like people. I don't mean the "I'm a people-person" platitudes that so easily get thrown around. I mean PR people need to have others' interests in mind when planning, preparing, and implementing in order to be the stewards of information and counsel our community expects us to be.

4. Share - I appreciate this rule for the facets it represents in the professional life of a PR person. Sharing is another word for communicating. Being effective communicators is in my opinion the basis for the work we do. The share rule can be the difference in being a part of a community and being apart from the community.

5. Play fair - The PRSA Code of Ethics includes fairness as part of the core values: "We deal fairly with clients, employers, competitors, peers, vendors, the media, and the general public. We respect all opinions and support the right of free expression."

6. Don't Litter - I'll be honest, I wasn't exactly sure at first how I was going to fit in this rule as a relevant rule for public relations. However, then I thought about what litter was: trash. So for PR people, this rule is simply to not leave your garbage lying around. Clean up after yourselves. If you make a mess of things, clean it up. Not every idea is a winner. That's ok. If your idea gets turned down, learn from it. That's how we grow.

7. Never hurt others - You might think that this is just an extension of being friendly and saying your sorry. In reality, this rule is different. Hurting others takes a certain level of intention. What this rule is saying is never proceed with plans that you know will do widespread harm.

8. Say excuse me - In addition to fairness, PR people should be held to a standard of advocacy: "We serve the public interest by acting as responsible advocates for those we represent. We provide a voice in the marketplace of ideas, facts, and viewpoints to aid informed public debate." Sometimes I think we need to add the word polite to this notion of public debate. Being civil is never out of style.

9. Listen to others - There is an interesting duality to this rule.
A.) You don't know all there is to know about public relations. You need to continue to learn and hone your skills through discussion, research, and professional development. PR is an ever-evolving field and being able to adapt and change is what will make you stand out.
B.) You don't know all there is to know about your organization or clients. Active listening within your work environment, on behalf of your organization and through monitoring will mean the difference between taking shots in the dark and making educated and informed communication decisions.

[By: Richie Escovedo
http://nextcommunications.blogspot.com/2009/09/9-pr-rules-my-daughter-learned-in.html]

tomorrow's child.

2009-11-10T21:51:00.001-08:00

Ray Anderson on Sustainability:

Show 'em how it's done.

2009-11-08T22:00:00.000-08:00

Now this is how you go out there and turn what could have been a PR nightmare right around. She laughed at herself, addressed the salacious rumors while remaining composed, hilarious, and adorable.
Atta girl T.Swift. Touche.

Shalom Chaver, שלום חבר

2009-11-07T15:00:00.000-08:00

Well if anything, the man has a way with words. Though this may just be another way in which Obama is encouraging support from the Israeli public, his words stand accurate, emotional, and poignant

To me, the assassination of Rabin was one of the lowest points in Israeli history. He was a military legend and a true visionary-- for once, peace felt within reach. 14 years later, I can barely wrap my mind around what that even felt like. In looking a little deeper, our aspirations were premature. I still cannot get over the irony of him being shot just after singing "a song for peace."

Today we reflect on his passing of one of Israel's greatest heroes.

His legacy will be honored when his dreams are achieved.

using the media to mediate-- my personal brand.

2009-11-06T12:54:00.000-08:00

Using Media, to Mediate

View more presentations from LeahWalters.

15 Words.

2009-11-05T12:51:00.000-08:00

The Cinderella Story 2.0-- hot topic

2009-11-04T22:11:00.000-08:00

Ever since lead singer Steve Perry injured his hip in 1996, legendary '80s rock band Journey just hasn't been the same. Singers Steve Augeri and Jeff Scott Soto tried filling Perry's big shoes (and tight jeans), but the band's success never reached its previous heights and Journey was reduced to a feel-good nostalgia act.

In December, however, their luck changed.
Enter the magic of social media....

The Fairy Tale

Journey signed on new lead vocalist Arnel Pineda, an unknown Filipino singer, who they found leading a Manila cover band on YouTube. He was flown to the United states for the very first time and instantly signed. Six months later, the band has kicked off a tour of Europe and the U.S. and released Revelation, a new album featuring original songs and re-recorded classics that has already shot up to the fifth highest-selling album in the U.S. since its debut two weeks ago.

Hold on a minute...how did this happen?

After the band fired their replacement lead singer, guitarist Neal Schon turned to the Web in search of talent. After two days of surfing on YouTube, he came upon clips of Pineda singing with his band, The Zoo, and nailing all the right notes in the toughest Survivor, Queen and Journey power ballads. "I heard his voice and my eyes got big," says Schon, who has been with Journey since its inception in 1975. "I thought, he can't be that good." Schon left his house, took a spin on his motorcycle to clear his head, and then contacted Pineda. At first, the singer thought the email was a hoax. "I didn't think the real Neal Schon would call a guy like me," says Pineda. "I'm just a guy from the Philippines." Four months later, Pineda signed on as Journey's new lead singer. "I've been waiting for this moment to come for 25 years," he says. "It's like shooting to the moon."

Well that's an incredible story, but how does it pertain to social media?

In using different means of social media including YouTube, blogging, twitter, and facebook, Journey was able to completely re-establish themselves. Journey garnered an incredible amount of publicity regarding the unconventional way in which they found their new lead singer but more than that, attracted the attention of a much younger demographic. YouTube gave them access to international talent that they never would have discovered otherwise and gave Arnel the opportunity of a lifetime. Journey capitalized on this new-found attention and subsequently developed different means of social media. They have thousands of members in their facebook group and consistently update their twitter account.

The trend of "YouTube" celebrities will absolutely continue to grow as its effectiveness is apparent. The topic will continue to be hot and hopefully, talent around the world can be given the platform it deserves.

Just goes to show...don't ever stop believing.

overlapping identities.

2009-11-04T18:18:00.000-08:00

a little bit of inspiration.

2009-10-28T18:51:00.000-07:00

So I am still trying to figure out personal branding-- or my own personal brand rather. How do I want to be perceived? Is my professional identity distinct from my everyday self? Is there room to evolve? I am coming to the realization that there really isn't an absolute answer. I am going to represent who I am at this moment. Tomorrow that may be someone different. I will share with you what speaks to me in hopes that maybe it speaks to you too. I intend on pushing boundaries. Sharing my view and likely verging on risque...
Consider yourself warned.

One thing I know for certain is that no matter which stage I'm at, I will always be looking for advice or words of inspiration. Aren't we all?

I came across a blogpost that really made me think. smile. and reflect. Though it isn't "professional" or deeply profound per say, it's an incredible example of the scope of social media. There is a girl across the world that may not have a single thing in common with me other than the fact that we're 20somethings growing up in the same world. She compiled a list of wisdoms that she wish she knew then. I'm glad I know it now.
[ **Please excuse any inappropriate langauge.]

Take a look.

To me, it really sums up life in the big city when you’re a girl becoming a woman. And as Lily sings, what society thinks or does with a woman who’s “past her prime”—in this case, thirty. I know I’ve felt past my use-by date, even as young as twenty, and I wonder what that says about the messages and images we’re bombarded with as girls and women? I’ve been that drunken girl in front of the bathroom mirror, touching up her face and wondering what was going to come next that could possibly save me from a sometimes lonely and empty existence. You go out feeling fabulous in a new dress and come home with either a one-night stand or, more likely, the start of a raging hangover—and hope against hope that someone will someday come along and take you away from all of it. As women, what does it mean to have triumphed in society? Landing the rich husband, the fab career, having a baby or two? Funny how our options, though supposedly endless, seem to fall within the same narrow confines of women centuries ago. Even Sex and the City shows women who haven’t really “made it” until they’ve married their Mr. Big .

If I could give some advice to all the lovely young things out there who think it’s all over: 1) It’s not and don’t believe those fools who tell you it is. 2) The man of your dreams, soulmates, partners—they do exist. But it takes really knowing and loving yourself to find that person. When you don’t need someone to take you away from it all, you’ll find the one who will (if that’s what you still want!) 3) Define your own success. Define your own happiness. It’s yours, no one else’s. 4) Evolve! If it hasn’t been working for you, change it up, because no one and nothing else will do it for you. Realize that what you wanted and are looking for at 20 probably won't be the same as when you’re 30. So stop behaving the same way. 5) That probably means less clubbing and [feeding your body chemicals] Trust me, you won’t find Mr. Right in the bathroom of a bar. (Seriously, I’ve tried. Many times.) 6) You are young and beautiful. Really enjoy your perfect skin and your thick hair and your endless energy. You have it, so flaunt it. Collagen and Botox will never make you look 25 (or 30) again! 7) If you really want to hold onto your looks, don’t smoke, don't do too many drugs or drink too much and (it has to be said), avoid too much sun. 8) Don’t waste your time, energy and youth on guys who always have excuses for why they can’t commit to you. 9) Editors Note: You're going to have to check the real deal for this one...I had to draw the line somewhere. 10) Never, ever be afraid to ask for what you want, whether it comes to love, money, understanding, anything! You’ll most likely get what you ask for, in one way or another. BONUS: 11) Don’t take my advice (or anyone else’s) if you disagree. You’re a smart cookie who can and will figure it out for yourself.

And don't you forget it.

SOCIAL MEDIA MIDTERM--

2009-10-22T05:03:00.000-07:00

Question 1.

In Deirdre Breakenridge's article PR 2.0, Brian Cross discusses how changes in technology will change the function of PR practitioners. In what ways do you think public relations will change and what role will PR professional's play in these changes?

Constantly adapting. Keeping up with the latest trends. Writing. Speaking. Communicating. Connecting. Relating…publically. Each of these things contribute to the field of Public Relations professionals, and always will. As the media continues to develop and we are forced to adapt concurrently, we can rely on the fundamentals being the same. However, with the advent of PR 2.0 as described in Breakenridge’s article, which includes the integration of social media, is revolutionizing the very way in which we communicate.

“PR 2.0 puts the “public” back in public relations with the ability to speak to more people. The concept is driven by technology [the Web 2.0 platform and social media applications] and 21st century consumer behavior.” -- Breakenridge

A primary as a result of PR 2.0 is that brands are able to have conversations directly with their consumers. Dialogue is direct, immediate and informal. Brian Cross, head Director of Fleishman-Hillard’s Digital Group in Saint Louis points out a key trend:

“I think the consumer is going to gain more and more control, but not control in a bad way, control in a way that they’re going to ask for exactly what they want. This will definitely help the brand.”

As PR professionals, though scary at first, we are only being given more tools to do an even better job. The essence of PR will not change, simply the way in which it’s practiced. The dialogue is evolving into two-way communication rather than one (i.e. print journalism, television, etc.) PR 2.0 shrinks the gap between us and our audience. We are given authority and a platform to share our message with the world. When used effectively, the world is truly our oyster. As the technology changes, we must change with it. Cross is reassuring in saying that companies will always need help communicating effectively albeit to the consumer directly or to the entire consumer base via mediums such as twitter or blogging.

Stick with it guys. We can do this.

And in case you need a little bit more of an explanation, this clip offers great insight into how social media works... (and involves ice cream!)

And here is an explanation of PR 2.0 from another corner of the earth [an example of how the 2.0 world can aid us!]

Question 2.

In Wikipedia: The Truth in Numbers the message seems to be: no longer do the victors write the history books, we do: you, me, and everyone else. How is social media (twitter, blogs) forwarding this idea? What gives someone authority to "write history"?

I walked into grade 9 history class excited about the ancient centuries staring me in the face. It was my first high school class and at the ripe age of 13, I was still under the impression that history was “grown-up”, fascinating, and mysterious. My [very handsome] teacher began the class by writing the following statement on the board:

“There is no such thing as a fact.”

I was shocked and appalled. How could that be?
He explained that any history book or event is written through the writers interpretations and in our studies, we must always remember that. As humans, we cannot escape bias or inaccuracy—even the most educated historian has his own opinion. Instead of writing books, we now write online.
In applying this ground-breaking lesson to the message perpetrated through “In Wikipedia: The Truth in Numbers”, I would argue that social media does not increase the already endangered accuracy of history, only expands the breadth of our reach. Our tweets, facebook status, ning profile or blog, gives the average Joe the ability to write his own history but it will always lack legitimacy. Universities and academic institutions will never accept “wikipedia” as an acceptable resource. As PR practioners, we must be careful not to make this mistake too. Leave history to the professionals, let us spread the word.
We must now sort through fiction from reality but what the documentary fails to understand is this challenge always existed. We do not have the authority to “write history” but a greater audience to share our [often unaccredited] opinions with. Beware researchers.

Editors Note:

A wise adviser recently told me that blogging is slowly disintegrating... Instead of using blogging as the social media application of choice, online mavens are now relying on twitter and facebook. In such an instance, this alleged “rewriting of history” will slowly be reduced to 140 characters. That’s absurd. Facts are distorted, the separation between opinion and reality only blurred further. Or is it clarified? Twitter is best utilized when we share links to legitimate sources. This enhances the knowledge of the general public. It poses an interesting question however, and in my opinion, an even greater threat to the validity of this new form of “history”. On one hand, we can receive news instantaneously. On the other, no true message can be accurately relayed in such a condensed space. There is no room for context, detailed description or even basic facts. Are we only diluting history further? Maybe. But maybe not...


Question 3. 

McLuhan used a model with four elements surrounding the term MEDIUM. Touching on the four elements, describe how this model can help us in interpreting social media...
ENHANCE.REVERSE.RETRIEVE. OBSOLESCE. 
Marshall McLuhan is known as one of the founding fathers of media theory. Though social media did not exist in his time, his theories remain relevant and help us determine the lasting effect social media will have. McLuhan said that “a medium” afcts society by the content delivered via the medium itself but also by the characteristics of the medium. This makes each medium of media unique.

In an attempt to quantify his media theory, McLuhan and his son developed the Laws of Media. McLuhan concluded that four things happen to all media; the phenomenon was both inevitable and applied universally. Though they take years to manifest, McLuhan insisted that hey occurred simultaneously nonetheless.
The principles are as follows [with their corresponding questions] :
ENHANCE--  what does the new media improve or enhance, make possible or accelerate?
REVERSE-- when pushed to its limits, the new form will reverse what was its original. what is the potential reversal for the new form?
RETRIEVE -- what earlier action or service is brought back into play by the new form? What older, previously obsolesced ground is brought back and becomes an essential part of the new form?
OBSOLESCE-- what is obsolesced or pushed back by the new media?

In this particular situation, social media will be substituted for “new media.”
Social media enhances communication. It expedites the dissemination of a message and expands that audience to which one can reach.
If used improperly, social media will reverse its effectiveness and become defective—messages will not be shared, their validity will be lost, and it will no longer be an effective means of communication.
With the new form of social media, the previously obsolesced practice of direct communication will be retrieved. With television, broadcasting and radio, global audiences were restricted to one-way communication. Global two-way communication is retrieved as it was used when only the telephone existed.
With the inception of social media, print journalism is obsolesced. The mass audience no longer relies on the newspaper or magazine to retrieve information. Social media delivers instantaneously and effectively. 



Question 4. 

Who is Jamie Zawinski? How are the roles he played and the design principals he helped spread important to you?
First and foremost, Jamie Zawinski has a wicked head of hair. I find this design principle most inspiring and am contemplating doing it myself…
I suppose the traditional answer to this question revolves around the creation of the browsing powerhouse, Netscape Navigator 1.0. After Marc Andreessen and Jim Clark founded the Netscape Communications Corporation in the mid 90s, Zawinski was brought on board to further develop the product. Internet became instantly accessible in the common household and as a "google addict", this is certainly important to me. Zawinski had a crucial role in focusing the Mozilla community, organization and technology on a single goal: making the Internet better for everyone .  I respect that and heap benefits from his work. However, as a student of social media and a future PR practioner, Zawinski has inspired me in a completely different way.
I came across this:
“Jamie Zawinski is a duct-tape programmer. And I say that with a great deal of respect. He is the kind of programmer who is hard at work building the future, and making useful things so that people can do stuff. Duct tape programmers have to have a lot of talent to pull off this shtick. They have to be good enough programmers to ship code, and we’ll forgive them if they never write a unit test because they’re pretty enough, and smart enough, to pull it off.”
I learned that the key quality of a “duct tape programmers” is being pragmatic. Zawinski understands the benefit of getting the product to the client for immediate use is of more value than perfecting the minute technicalities of it. 
He is a doer. He’s creative, brilliant, and confident in his work. He uses his abilities to drastically improve the world of technology and does not get caught up in formalities. These are his “design principles” that I admire most. In the field of Public Relations, the value is in what you produce.  Your abilities are measured in result, not attempt. Your number of tweets does not indicate the success of your work. Their effect does. 
Whether or not Zawinski has the proper education or form does not matter as long as his product works and according to the millions around the world that use it, that isn't an issue. He is a living example of "worse is better". Though it is a unique design principle, it is abundantly effective.
“Duct tape programmers don’t care what you think about them. They stick to simple basic and easy to use tools and use the extra brainpower that these tools leave them to write more useful features for their customers and look damn good along the way.” 


Question 5. 
What kind of conversational patterns can you expect to encounter using social media as a PR professional? What will consumers of your content expect? How can you level these expectations?

Social media certainly affects the way in which we communicate and converse. It is becoming a staple in Public Relations and will only integrate itself further as it continues to develop and catch on. As up-and-coming professionals in this field, bar is being raised at an astounding pace, to an astounding audience.  How do we keep up? 
An in depth evaluation of this can be found in Clay Shirky’s “Here Comes Everybody: the power of organizing without organizations.” He examines the wildfire-like spread of social media and the ever-evolving results of the communication revolution. Such long-term effects are precisely the patterns we must face as PR professionals.

 Consumers now expect information to constantly be available at their fingers. The exchange of information has become instantaneous and thus the conversation is exasperated. We must be constantly available, constantly informed, constantly updating. Shirky points out that those conversations had in passing, are now archived and can be infinitely revisited. A conversation can no longer be considered casual as it is accessible online and in writing.  In the world of Public Relations, we must also consider that the difference between conversational tools and broadcasting tools has become arbitrary. Social media forces what may have been a private conversation onto the global stage. We are no longer conversing with one person, or even a focused audience. Conversations are consistently held between one and the world. Consumers expect and immediate dissemination of their message.

The only way to level the rising expectations of consumers is to understand the changing trends. It is our job to be in the know and keep up. Attempting to level the evolution will only leave us in the dust. If you cannot converse, you cannot communicate. 
Therefore, we must engage, comprehend, and overcome. Here comes everybody...



Question 6. 

Who is the most successful Canadian public relations professional? What makes you say this?
The Michael Bryant Scandal plagued headlines for months and will certainly get stirred back up again once the trial commences. Essentially, the news has been citing this case as a battle won by public relations. The team at Navigator Ltd. Led by Jamie Watts came in and saved the day. Whether or not Bryant is guilty has been pushed to the back burner because of the effective use of a multitude of public relations tools, specifically social media.
 In an article entitled “Bryant’s Spin Class”, the Globe and Mail says: 
“Navigator Ltd., suddenly Toronto's highest-profile crisis-communications team, is at the sharp end of reputation management. They have a 24-hour hotline; their rates of roughly $600 an hour approach those at the top Bay Street law firms; and with the dramatic shift in the public perception of Mr. Bryant's case they are seen, for good or ill, as geniuses of media messaging.Several leading PR experts said they assumed that the story's changing tone was due at least in part to tips and sources provided to reporters by Navigator. They thought Navigator had encouraged reporters to ask about the movements of victim Darcy Allan Sheppard on the night he died. Navigator handed out press releases and generally let it be known that they were now in charge of Mr. Bryant's communications. 
“I think the rest of the PR fraternity respects them. They're very gutsy,” he said. “It's very difficult to judge how important they are in turning public opinion around. I think they've done a pretty  workmanlike job.”
They will have begun by establishing a chain of command with a single person in charge. People will have been assigned to write Mr. Bryant's statement, to arrange a soothing backdrop to deliver his statement, and come up with a strategy for avoiding the unpleasant visual of a moving scrum of television cameras. They will have decided what he should wear – the soft hues of his blue and green tie – and what emotional tone he should aim for. They will have pondered short-term and long-term goals, gathered all the facts they could from monitoring every word written and spoken in the media, as well as their inside knowledge from their client. A rapid response mechanism was set up on a website and on Twitter. And then the hard part: getting the facts and context favourable to their side into the public realm.When Mr. Bryant emerged from a night in police custody to face the media, everyone noted that he had changed into a clean, pressed suit brought by his handlers.  Navigator will prepare detailed communication strategies – anticipating what may come up, and deciding how to best frame the news for their client.  “What Bryant recognized in hiring [Navigator] is that there's a difference between a court of law and the court of public opinion,” said Mr. Tisch. “Is it good for Bryant that he got them on board? I'd say yes.”
This is an example of a PR team that is up-to-date, committed and undeniably effective. Between the use of social media and strong media skills, Navigator Ltd emerges as Canada’s most successful PR team today.


Congratulations on a job well done.

public relations at its finest.

2009-10-07T11:22:00.000-07:00

this is incredibly inspirational. aesthetically pleasing. and an astounding success. think outside the box. the world is now our stage, literally.

the sheer sound of his voice...

2009-10-02T09:52:00.000-07:00

Started as the New York Times-- standard form of paper broadcasting, one-way communication, tangible and all-encompassing. Branched into NY Magazine-- an editorial, with a touch of gloss and a smack of sass. Which then incorporated a YouTube video clip-- candid action and a handsome face. And has now made it's way onto Twitter.  Blogspot. and Facebook.

Welcome to the 21st century.

An Incomplete Story-- the aftermath of Goldstone

2009-09-29T19:07:00.000-07:00

"Goldstone's Worthless Report"

From: The National Post
What follows is a statement delivered to the United Nations Human Rights Council this week by the NGO UN Watch, in response to the Goldstone Fact-Finding Mission on Gaza.

My name is Dr. Mirela Siderer. I am a gynecologist living in Ashkelon, Israel. Judge Richard Goldstone, in July you invited me to testify. I told you my story. I am known by my patients -- including many women from Gaza. For me, every human being is equal.

On May 14, 2008, my life was changed forever. I was working in my clinic. Suddenly, the building was hit by a missile, fired from Gaza. I was terribly wounded. Blood was everywhere. My patient was also wounded, and more than 100 others. Next month will be my eighth operation. Judge Goldstone, I told you all of this, in detail. I testified in good faith. You sent me this letter, saying, "Your testimony is an essential part of the Mission's fact-finding activities." But now I see your report. I have to tell you: I am shocked.

Judge Goldstone, in a 500-page report, why did you completely ignore my story? My name appears only in passing, in brackets, in a technical context. I feel humiliated.

Why are there only two pages about Israeli victims like me, who suffered thousands of rockets over eight years? Why did you choose to focus on the period of my country's response, but not on that of the attacks that caused it? Why did you not tell me that this council judged Israel guilty in advance, in its meeting of last January? Why did you not tell me that members of your panel signed public letters judging Israel guilty in advance?

Judge Goldstone, you, too, signed such a letter, saying you were "shocked" about Gaza. But where were you when Gaza attacked my medical clinic, in violation of international human rights and humanitarian law? Where was this council? Why were you all silent?

For more information, please visit the UN Watch site at http://www.unwatch.org/
Read more:
Published: Tuesday, September 29, 2009 http://www.nationalpost.com/opinion/story.htmlid=2044597#ixzz0SXs19KGm

This story is frustrating. Devastating. Infuriating. and blatantly unjust. As an official report of the United Nations, Judge Goldstone and his team had an upstanding obligation to do due dilligence and ensure their report was comprehensive. Through the always expanding means of social media, the report has become a "hot topic" amongst twitterers and bloggers alike. The problem is, blogging and social media has provided a forum for those who do not necessarily deserve one. There is no fact-checking, no screen to escape bias, and certainly no guarantee of validity . It's naive of me to expect that though. This is life. I am happy to have a way in which to help those like Dr. Siderer. Social media has given me that.
Social media gives the world an immediate forum in which to respond. tweet, post, comment, RT. Our platforms are being expanded by the minute. I want to be challenged, pushed, and forced to justify myself. In this case though, I think the evidence speaks for itself.

You cannot believe everything you hear-- despite the assumed credibilty of the U.N. or any other legitimate resource...but that isn't news.

Read with a critical eye.

-- L.W

Beautiful.

2009-09-24T18:27:00.000-07:00

I am slowly beginning to realize the incredible power of these social media tools. With a simple posting, my message is immediately exposed to the entire world.
I often think back to a quote that really resonated with me:

"“Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
-Margaret Mead

The scariest part is that it's true. While this can be used for both the better and the worse, through mediums of social media, the individual is empowered more than ever.
What can you do? What will I do?

Think about it.

fromhungertohope.com

a word to the wise.

2009-09-24T17:45:00.000-07:00

In a graduate program that often feels like it's a 24 hour job, we have a lot to manage. Between 8 full courses per semester, the onslaught of assignments that come along with them, and maintaing our quickly diminishing social lives, time management has never been more important. I found a few pointers in the Globe this week. Check 'em out.

Making Time Management One of your Top Priorities -- Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009

Know Your Business Priorities

Executives are extremely focused on their priorities. Brian Fetherstonhaugh, Global CEO of OgilvyOne, has a flip chart in his office with his top priorities marked down, to remind him. Michael Cloutier, former CEO of AstraZeneca Canada, uses a technique he calls "Three Balls" to classify and handle his priorities. Glass balls must be handled in 24 hours as they are urgent - and if you drop them they break, with the direct consequence a missed opportunity. Rubber balls are the second priority level - drop them and they bounce back once, giving you a second shot. But that's all you will get: Just one more chance. The third level are lead balls, which fall to the ground and lay there if dropped; although you would like to deal with them, the reality is that their impact is usually small and often they will remain there, as you juggle the more vital glass and rubber balls of your life.

FOCUS ON ONE THING AT A TIME
Research shows that focusing on one thing at a time improves personal productivity. Mr. Fetherstonhaugh considers focus to be like a muscle, that you must keep strong. At the same time, he is alert to when he is losing focus, and switches tracks if he needs a refresher, focusing on something else. Tim Penner, president of Procter & Gamble Canada, says if he's in a meeting he maintains his focus on the discussion, not answering his BlackBerry.

MANAGE YOUR INTERRUPTIONS
CEOs, of course, have assistants to help block unwanted interruptions. Mr. Cloutier ignores all interruptions except calls from his family until he has a break in his planned schedule to address them. Mr. Fetherstonhaugh finds that when people enter his office they assume their issue is top-of-his-mind. So he coaches them to spend two minutes giving him the context and background before presenting their question, allowing him to switch gears and focus on their matter.

BE STRATEGIC ABOUT YOUR E-MAIL
Among the suggested techniques are to set aside specific times for e-mail, and to only touch an e-mail once, deleting, replying or forwarding.

RUN EFFICIENT MEETINGS
The top executives start meetings on time - in the case of Procter & Gamble's Mr. Penner by shutting the door behind him when he walks in. Jordan Banks, former managing director of eBay Canada, scheduled most meetings to start at exactly five minutes after the hour, allowing a transition time from previous sessions people might be attending. Bruce Bowser, CEO of AMJ Campbell, stresses that if a meeting is scheduled for one hour but can be wrapped up in 35 minutes, do so.

BE DECISIVE
The leaders stress the importance of making a decision with dispatch - you'll never have all the information you need - and moving on since action is better than not making a decision. Mr. Bowser makes a decision with the understanding that there is a test period and then he pulls the plug if it doesn't work.

DELEGATE
Get a strong team, and be disciplined about delegating to them, staying out of the details and letting them know they won't be second-guessed. At the same time, ensure when they deliver that you provide feedback that helps them grow.

TAKE A BREAK
All of the executives placed great importance on their lives outside work and maintaining energy levels by exercising and taking breaks during the day.

By: Harvery Schachter

So there you have it. No matter what, our lives are going to be crazy. That's just part of the game.

Live it. Love it. Embrace it...but manage it.

Hope this helped!

A Broadcast Revolution

2009-09-23T21:13:00.000-07:00

An Evaluation of a Social Media Application

If ever you wanted to witness the true meaning of an overnight, international superstar...

If you ever you wanted to see what was playing in the theatres...

If you wanted to share your special day with your family across the world...

If you want to rally immediate attention to your cause...

Or if you just need a good laugh...

You can find it within the hundreds of millions of videos posted to one of the world's top social media outlets:

Whether its for entertainment purposes, a necessary distraction from homework, an attempt at instant fame or to learn what's going on in the world around us, we have all used YouTube. In looking at its main functions, origins, development and issues, its revolutionary influence on the world of social media is apparent. Now before you go and Broadcast Yourself...take a look.

What is YouTube?
YouTube is a video sharing website on which users can upload and share videos. Whether it's a home video or a popular music clip, each user is granted the opportunity to broadcast him or herself. YouTube empowers us to become the broadcasters of tomorrow. Before the launch of YouTube in 2005, there were very few methods available for ordinary computer users to post videos online. With its user-friendly interface and multiple factors of usibilty, YouTube has made it possible for anyone with an Internet connection to post a video that millions of people could watch within a few minutes. The wide range of topics covered by YouTube has turned video sharing into one of the most important parts of Internet culture and essential part of Public Relations.

Who invented it? YouTube was founded in 2005 by Chad Hurley, Steve Chen and Jawed Karim, who were all early employees of PayPal.
Was it a happily-ever-after sort of story?
According to a story that has often been repeated in the media, Chad Hurley and Steve Chen developed the idea for YouTube during the early months of 2005, after they had experienced difficulty sharing videos that had been shot at a dinner party at Chen's apartment in San Francisco. Jawed Karim did not attend the party and denied that it had occurred, and Chad Hurley commented that the idea that YouTube was founded after a dinner party "was probably very strengthened by marketing ideas around creating a story that was very digestible."

Where does its funding come from?
YouTube received its initial funding from Sequoia Capital in November 2005 and was officially launched one month later in December. Chad Hurley and Steve Chen proceeded to become the first members of the YouTube management team and currently serve as Chief Executive Officer and Chief Technology Officer respectively. In November 2006, within a year of its launch, YouTube was purchased by Google Inc. in one of the most talked-about acquisitions to date. YouTube has struck numerous partnership deals with content providers such as CBS, BBC, Universal Music Group, Sony Music Group, Warner Music Group, NBA, The Sundance Channel and many more.

How is YouTube so successfully engaging?
The YouTube website is structured in a way so that it keeps its viewers logged in for more than a single viewing. It is achieved as follows:

First, when the users are accessing the main YouTube page, they are helped in the selection of videos by visual clues incdicating what is featured, most viewed, most dicussed, and what the top videos are. After having selected a video, watching it, and upon its completion, the service provides a set of information about the video such as other related clips, more from that particular user, and complete playlists. Also, you can read about the video, its rating, the number of views, comments and whether or not it has been favorited. These maintains users’ curiosity and encourages them to jump from one movie to another.

What kind of improvements have been made to YouTube since its development?
YouTube is not only accessible via internet. In recent developments, YouTube viewers are now able to view its videos on web pages outside the site. Each YouTube video is accompanied by a piece of HTML, which can be used to embed it on a page outside the YouTube website. This function is commonly used through the embedding of YouTube videos in blogs [like this one!] and social networking pages. Also, some mobile phones are now capable of accessing YouTube videos. YouTube Mobile was launched in June 2007 and uses RTSP streaming for the video.

Since June 2007, YouTube's videos have been available for viewing on a range of Apple products as well. This required YouTube's content to be transcoded into Apple's preferred video standard, H.264, a process that took several months. [Please don't ask how!] YouTube videos can be viewed on devices including Apple TV and the iPhone. A TiVo service update in July 2008 allowed the system to search and play YouTube videos. In January 2009, YouTube launched "YouTube for TV", a version of the website developed especially for cable boxes and other TV-based media devices with web browsers. In June 2009, YouTube XL was introduced, which has a simplified interface designed for viewing on a standard television screen.

Also, in some cases, YouTube no longer restricts its videos to short clips. In November 2008, YouTube reached an agreement with MGM, Lions Gate Entertainment and CBS which allows the companies to post full-length films and television shows on the site, accompanied by advertisements. The move is intended to create competition with websites such as Hulu, which features material from NBC, Fox, and Disney.

What are the social implications of YouTube?

YouTube Celebrities-- Instant Fame

YouTube's immense popularity has led to the creation of many YouTube Internet celebrities. Individuals have garnered internation attention from their respective videos and as a result, find themselves in positions of international focus. The most subscribed YouTube member, as of September 2009, is Nigahiga with over 1.2 million subscribers. The most viewed musician as of Summer 2009, is Britney Spears with over 600 million official BritneyTV YouTube music video views. Her song Womanizer alone has 80 million views. In total adding reproductions, Spears has over 1 billion YouTube music video views, the most by any musician. Singer Damien Rice invited Amy Kuney to perform with him at two shows in Iceland after he saw her YouTube cover of his song The Blower's Daughter.
Ryan Higa and Sean Fujiyoshi, who currently have the #1 most subscribed to channel on YouTube, made a movie called Ryan and Sean's Not so Excellent Adventure, that also featured YouTube reporter Michael Buckley.

Rallying of Support-- both for or against

YouTube has changed the nature of politics, consumerism, and advertising. Instead of only being able to promote a product via television, a view can return to the same ad and watch it over and over again. Also, if a sports player [we're looking at you Serena Williams...] or politician [the worst thing to ever happen to George Bush] makes a mistake that would otherwise go unnoticed, a user can post it to YouTube for the world to see. This has also been particularly interesting lately with regards to countries that restrict media footage. A prime example of this comes from the political outroar that exploded out of Iran. Because of the cell phone footage that was posted to YouTube, Iran was exposed as tyrical and anti-Democratic. On the contrary, Iran's leader, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has been given a platform to share his anti-Semitic langauge with the world. He has garned support from others that share his views and in some sense, added "legitimacy" to his claims. This is the nature of YouTube's double-edged sword.

What are some controversial outcomes of YouTube?

Video Ranking Controversy

The viewing figures of some YouTube videos have been the subject of major controversy. There have been numerous claims that automated systems have been used to inflate the number of views received, which is forbidden by YouTube's terns of service.
In March 2008, an unofficial video of the song "Music Is My Hot Hot Sex" by the Brazilian band Cansei De Ser Sexy briefly held the number one slot for the all-time most viewed video, with around 114 million views. It was temporarily removed from YouTube after allegations of automated viewing or hacking, before being deleted by the uploader.The viewing figures for the video outnumbered the "most favorited" rating by 20 000 to 1. YouTube's terms of service state:
"You agree not to use or launch any automated system, including without limitation, "robots," "spiders," or "offline readers," that accesses the Website in a manner that sends more request messages to the YouTube servers in a given period of time than a human can reasonably produce in the same period by using a conventional on-line web browser."
The YouTube video of the Avril Lavigne song "Girlfriend" was also accused of having an exaggerated number of views. Apparently, AvrilBandAids had a link that would automatically reload the YouTube video of Girlfriend every fifteen seconds.

Copyright Issues
YouTube has been criticized for failing to ensure that its videos respect the law of copyright. At the time of uploading a video, YouTube users are always shown a screen with the following message:

"Do not upload any TV shows, music videos, music concerts or commercials without permission unless they consist entirely of content you created yourself. The Copyright Tips page and the Community Guidelines can help you determine whether your video infringes someone else's copyright."

Despite this warning, there are still many unauthorized clips from television shows, films and music videos on YouTube. YouTube does not view videos before they are posted online, and it is left to copyright holders to issue a takedown notice under the terms of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Organizations including Viacom, Mediaset and the English Premier League have filed lawsuits against YouTube, claiming that it has done too little to prevent the uploading of copyrighted material. Viacom, demanding US$1 billion in damages, said that it had found more than 150,000 unauthorized clips of its material on YouTube that had been viewed "an astounding 1.5 billion times". YouTube responded by stating that it "goes far beyond its legal obligations in assisting content owners to protect their works".
Update: Since Viacom filed its lawsuit, YouTube has introduced a system called Video ID, which checks uploaded videos against a database of copyrighted content with the aim of reducing violations. In August 2008, a U.S. court ruled that copyright holders cannot order the removal of an online file without first determining whether the posting reflected fair use of the material.

Inappropriate Content
YouTube has also faced criticism over the offensive content in some of its videos. Although YouTube's terms of service forbid the uploading of material likely to be considered inappropriate, YouTube does not check every video before it goes online. Controversial areas for videos have included Holocaust denial and the Hillsborough Disaster, in which 96 football fans from Liverpool were crushed to death in 1989, conspiracy theories and religion. YouTube relies on its users to flag the content of videos as inappropriate, and a YouTube employee will view a flagged video to determine whether it violates the site's terms of service.

Top 10 Most Popular Videos on YouTube of All Time

1. Evolution of Dance

2. Avril Lavigne - Girlfriend

3. Charlie bit my finger - again !
4. My Hot Hot Sex
5. XXX Porn
6. Lezberado: Revenge Fantasies
7. Miley Cyrus - 7 Things - Official Music Video (HQ)
8. Rihanna - Don't Stop The Music
9. Chris Brown - With You
10. Panda Disculpa los Malos Pensamientos

A Brief Overview of YouTube's Success

The Future of YouTube is... 

The future of YouTube is in our hands. As of now, it is the most popular, industry-leading technology to broadcast our messages. 

While its undoubtedly effective, YouTube is lethally dangerous...

Choose carefully.

Resources:
http://www.techcrunch.com/get-youtube-movie/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YouTube
http://news.softpedia.com/news/The-YouTube-Phenomenon-23600.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YouTube

[ the added value of the "e" ]

2009-09-23T19:36:00.000-07:00

So how then did I get here? Well, without revealing too many personal details, I can sum up my story in what I like to call [the added value of the "e"]. If you look at my blog address, you will notice that instead of just "lwalt.blogspot.com" (like j.lo, k.fed and other such trendy nicknames), there is an additional "e" on the end. While you might think that "e" is silent, it has come to represent my road to where I stand right now.

Before I began my undergrad at the University of Western Ontario [@uwo.ca], I was a frequent user of my very first hotmail account. I started the account at the ripe age of 11. Growing up, I was a happy-go-lucky sort of teenager; though like most, I was relatively lacking in self-confidence. I used the ever so popular “nickname_year of birth” e-mail address (lays_87) and I fit right in. Hotmail was my elementary school haven- a collection of e-mails from my first love, letters of recommendation from my first job, and an introduction to the world of emoticons .

Then high school hit. It grew increasingly embarrassing to give my teachers an address as juvenille as lays_87@hotmail.com. But I was locked in. My ultimate form of communication. MSN messenger relied on the existence of this account. Luckily, I didn’t have much to be e-mailing about during those four years.

Upon my graduation from high school, I was ready for a new beginning. I had grown up a lot over the past four years. I made best friends that will be with me for the rest of my life. I arrived in London, Ontario ready for life on my own. My new phase was also indicated by a new e-mail address. Though it may sound like an insignificant thing, to me it represented the important motto of “out with the old, and in with the new.”

I went to the Western Registrar’s office, confident that my address would read “lwalt@uwo.ca”. I was so excited because “Walters” condensed ever so nicely into “Walt” and the Western recipe for an e-mail address was “first initial and the first 4 letters of your last name.” Over the years I had come to be known as L.Walt, just as my brother was B.Walt, and even my father known to many as G.Walt. To have my nickname incorporated into my e-mail address was too perfect. To my dismay, the woman at the Registrar’s office had other plans for me. She handed me my form and on it was written “Welcome to Western, lwalte@uwo.ca!”

Needless to say, I was devastated. I was dreading the hassle of having to spell out my new address instead of being able to simply say lwalt@uwo.ca. I had enough difficulty with the pronunciation of my name as Leah (said LEY-a), and not LEE-a. But I didn’t have a choice. I was forced to accept my new online identity.

Little did I know, that “e” turned over a new page for me. Firstly, it sparked my new nickname. Instead of the generic “Walt”, I grew into Walt-E. No one ever forgot the added “e” because it was so peculiar. It served as an excellent conversation starter and proved to be the best e-mail address I have held to date. I began to use “lwalte” as my log-in for every site. My friends and I found ourselves frequently cracking up at the added value of the “e”. My life often follows a pattern in which it is perfectly logical that I would be that one with a 5 letter (l.w.a.l.t.e) abbreviation instead of the simple 4 (l.w.a.l.t.)

Though it was an inconsequential e-mail address, at Western I found my own voice- my individuality, a confidence in myself that I never had before. I learned to think, write, argue and articulate under the auspices of lwalte.

In the archives of that e-mail address lie the documents that led me to right here. Inside the carefully labeled folders you can find an array of life-changing moments ranging from my acceptance to my current graduate public relations program, an infinite number of essays that increasingly improve over the years, an eclectic collection of websites and forwards, an abundance of letters to my friends, boyfriends, family, and self. In looking at the first e-mail and comparing it to the last, you can track my transition as a person. I am certainly not the girl I was standing in the Registrar’s Office at seventeen and a half.

It is often said that your four years as an undergrad are the best of your life. I spent those years as “waltE” and now, when I look at “walt” written out, it is blatantly lacking a certain something.

So there it is-- an ever so fragile distinction that separated me from the masses. Its added value is a small reminder that when given the chance to be different, to grow, to surpass the bar that has been raised, we ought to take it, cherish it, and just make the most of it.

As I stand at the beginning of a brand new road, I am excited to see what this world has to offer me. I plan on exploring the world of Public Relations throughout this year and find my own place within it. I have recently been accused of having too many passions but I am beginning to discover that they just might find common ground in this all-encompassing field...
I am letting go of my past @uwo.ca and embracing my future @gmail.com.
[the added value of the “e”] is now with me wherever I go

Now eeeeeeeeeeeenough explaining, lets get to the good stuff.

Stay tuned.

who.what.where.when.why.

2009-09-23T18:55:00.000-07:00

In beginning this blog, I am embarking on quite the adventure. As a student of Public Relations, I am constantly being exposed to the world around me through a different lens. I am incredibly excited. I have fallen in love with PR. It somehow manages to mix everything I love- people and politics, reading and writing, questioning and then solving. For a girl with too many passions and an itch to travel, I finally feel comfortable staying in the same place.

Each day presents a new adventure, challenge, and of course, a brand new way to communicate with each other. In case my BBM wasn’t working, my e-mail wouldn’t log-in, if I couldn’t text, write, call, tweet or sign, the world of blogging now exists.

To combat my fears of opening myself up to the world, I'm jumping in head first. Here we gooooooooo!