September 26, 2007
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Anyone with more than two week’s experience in PR knows the importance of timing. My employer, Kent State University, is learning this lesson the hard way. As a professor of public relations, I thought I’d seize a “teachable moment” here and share the case study with you. Hey, something good oughta come of this.
http://toughsledding.files.wordpress.com/2007/09/library-1128.jpg Flashback 2006: Lester Lefton was named KSU president after a national search to replace the highly effective and charismatic Carol Cartwright, who retired after a 15-year run. OK, it wasn’t like replacing John Wooden at UCLA, but Cartwright left some big shoes.
Instead of a high-profile search, complete with 3-day campus visits, stakeholder meetings and speeches, the search committee brought just one candidate to campus. That candidate was Lester Lefton. His visit was a hushed affair by presidential- search standards, so it raised plenty of suspicion in the ivory tower.
That’s yesterday’s news, but it sets the tone for this week’s PR lesson. Read the rest of this entry »
14 Comments | Akron Beacon Journal, Kent State, PR, PR Education, Public Relations | Permalink
Posted by Bill Sledzik
September 19, 2007
My return to the classroom this fall has been rough. But if you’ve read my last few posts, you know that, eh? Still, I won’t ask for pity from folks who work real jobs that operate 12 months a year.
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It took this story from today’s Chicago Tribune to jolt me back to serious blogging. The story tells how civil rights leaders are using blogs and social media to mobilize tens of thousands in support of those kids charged with assault in Jena, La. The case already has drawn the attention of mainstream black leaders (Sharpton, Jackson, King III), but social media are getting credit for raising $130K for legal fees and 220,000 petition signatures.
Regardless of how you view the case legally and morally, PR pros need to pay attention. It shows how a disenfranchised public is finding its voice — and its power — in Web 2.0. The civil rights movement has always been grassroots, but now the grass is digital. How will this new grassroots power affect your organization or clients?
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Can you believe what’s happening on Facebook? Membership, now open to the masses, has more than doubled in the past year. And it’s not just a place to meet and greet. Facebook is now a place for serious business networking. Read the rest of this entry »
10 Comments | Blogging, Jena, PR, PRSA, Public Relations, Social Media | Permalink
Posted by Bill Sledzik
September 12, 2007
I’ve stopped reading articles about PR’s need for “a seat at the table.” They drive me nuts images1.jpg
( arrgh). You see, I disagree with folks who think PR must operate as a fully integrated branch of management — or, God forbid — marketing. When that happens, we tend to lose our perspective, not to mention our cajones.
Sure, PR people need a seat at the table. No one’s debating that. But so many of our critics insist that PR’s greatest weakness is our inability — even our unwillingness — to see challenges from the MBA/management perspective.
Here’s a different take…
To create real value, PR needs to spend a lot more time kicking the client’s ass than kissing it. To do that, we gotta push back from “management’s table,” at least far enough to see the complete picture — to escape the group-think of mahogany row. Read the rest of this entry »
11 Comments | PR, PR Education, PR Management, Public Relations | Permalink
Posted by Bill Sledzik
September 9, 2007
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Q: What the hell’s a buckeye?
A: Just another nut from Ohio.
Ohio State’s Buckeyes used the Akron Zips for cannon fodder this weekend. OSU fans were a tad disappointed that their team scored just 20 points. But hey, a “W” is a “W,” right? Zips fans were happy their team earned a $375,000 payday for what amounts to a scrimmage and no one was killed or maimed in the process.
It seems like a classic win-win situation, but not everyone sees it that way — since many of the Buckeye faithful didn’t see the game at all!
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Fans who depend on Time Warner or ComCast to access the new Big Ten Network found themselves blacked out for the second consecutive week. Seems the cable giants are balking at the Big Ten’s demand for $1.10 per subscriber, plus a preferred position in the basic-channel tier. That position will guarantee some big revenues for the network across the 8 states it targets. Read the rest of this entry »
2 Comments | Big Ten, Ohio State Buckeyes, PR, Public Relations, Time Warner Cable | Permalink
Posted by Bill Sledzik
September 2, 2007
A little-known feature of our School’s fabulous new home, Franklin Hall, is the view from the restrooms. For example, when nature calls you to the 3rd-floor men’s room, you’re treated to an expansive view of the oak grove on front campus while you do your stand up routine. It’s awesome.
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At first, I thought it the work of architectural genius. I mean, how many people have a whizzer with a view? Then I learned that the mirror-finish windows only appear to be mirrored — an illusion created by the morning sun. In fact, on overcast mornings and dark nights, the folks outside can sometimes see inside.
As a blogger, I’m already a bit of an exhibitionist. It’s part of the job description. But I gotta draw the line when it comes to putting one’s bladder functions on public display. Read the rest of this entry »
6 Comments | Crisis management, Kent State, Public Relations | Permalink
Posted by Bill Sledzik
