Blog Archives
Why “I Misspoke” Isn’t Good Enough
By now, you have heard and read the about Missouri Republican Representative Todd Akin’s infamous rape victims cannot get pregnant quote. Needless to say, it received a ton of play on television, print, and social media shortly after he said it on Sunday. His own party has even asked him to drop out of his U.S. Senate race.
As if Rep. Akin’s comments weren’t bad enough. He had this doozy of a statement after his
initial remarks later that same day.
“In reviewing my off-the-cuff remarks, it’s clear that I misspoke in this interview, and it does not reflect the deep empathy I hold for the thousands of women who are raped and abused every year.”
I read this and was baffled… and that was aside from being blown away by Rep. Akin’s initial quote. Let’s put the political fallout aside here and look at public relations lessons we can learn from this.
1) Off-the-cuff remarks- This is the kind of thing that makes me cringe as a PR pro. Having done a few media training sessions in my time, we always counsel CEO’s, etc. to not stray off message. Off-the-cuff, or off the discussed talking points, will most times get you in trouble.
2) “I misspoke”- This isn’t even something that should come out of your mouth. Saying I misspoke shows you a) didn’t bother to think about what you said in the first place and b) is an excuse that will not hold any water in the eyes of the media and the general public.
3) Media training is absolutely necessary- I mentioned this already, but I cannot stress how important media training is. It can make a CEO more comfortable in talking with the media. It also serves as a way to make sure higher-ups understand just how powerful the media can be.
4) Don’t put a CEO/representative in a position to fail- Of course, Rep. Akin’s interview probably seemed simple enough at the time. But maybe it wasn’t an interview that was necessary. A studio interview may not have been the best idea. Putting a CEO (or politician in this instance) in a position to be comfortable is paramount.
5) Understand the news cycle- The days of something going to the wire services and not getting quick play are over. Within minutes of Rep. Akin’s comment, Twitter came alive with tweets and remarks. It sounds like a broken record, but statements like these are immediately jumped on and rehashed. The cycle is meteoric and can either make or break you in seconds.
Rep. Akin’s comments will hurt him for a long time. And that’s not me misspeaking.
The Post-Internship Rules
Summer vacation is over, but it never really started if you had a PR/marketing/social media internship. Even before you packed up your dorm/apartment, you were already working at that internship.
Well, now it’s time to head back to campus and say goodbye your supervisor and co-workers from that agency, firm, or business where you (hopefully) had great learning experience. Wait, did I tell you to say goodbye? Don’t!
Now is THE MOST IMPORTANT TIME of your internship. Why? Because you need to effectively use these last days in helping you move forward for your career. Here are five things that should be part of a Post-Internship Checklist:
- Check with your internship supervisor regarding work you can use in your portfolio. You may have felt you did a bulk of the work, but review the projects you worked on with your superior(s). See if it is okay to use clients’ names, projects in a portfolio to show potential future employers or internships.
- Provide tangible results. You may have nailed a number of media placements or garnered new Facebook followers. Use statistics to show the before and after as well as the planning behind it. Potential employers love to see your planning and implementation skills.
Miranda certainly remembered Andy, right?
- Ask for a letter of recommendation and to use as a reference NOW. Don’t wait until later when a supervisor MAY not remember who you are. You are on their minds now. Ask if you can call down the road and use them as a reference. Also important: Make sure that you let that reference know you are going to use them. Nothing is more embarrassing than a potential employer calling a reference and they are caught off guard.
- Update your LinkedIn profile (if you haven’t already). Much like adjusting your resume is number one, taking the time to update LinkedIn should be 1A. It also would be a good idea to take my third point and ask for a LinkedIn recommendation.
- Make ‘em Smile- I know… students don’t always have a ton of money. Dropping off muffins and coffee is something that isn’t going to break the bank. It also shows you appreciated the time you spent there. Yes, a simple “Thank You” note is also fine. Handwritten, of course.
Think your boss may remember you in a few months? Maybe. But, take the time to make sure they WILL NOT forget. Make certain your most-recent (or first) internship helps lead you to success after you get your degree.
Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
Working with Doubt
“What’s the long face, what’s all the crying for… Didn’t you expect it when you opened your door.” – Bruce Hornsby
I’ve been a solo PR/social media marketing pro for nearly a year now. I chronicled my feelings as a new solo pro in May for Kellye Crane at SoloPRPro.com. It’s been such great ride to help clients shape their vision and put it into action. But I need to admit something and I think it can help you, too.
I doubt myself every single day.
courtesy: Wondering Fair
So, how can a solo- or any PR/SM/Marketing pro, for that matter -actually effectively work for a client to help them solve problems, create plans, and implement a campaign, if they doubt? This answer is simple. It’s the doubt that helps my creative and analytical mind.
If you, or I, thought everything was the best damn idea or plan out there, one of two things would happen: We’d be short of clients or unemployed.
I never want to be the person that just nods his head to every idea. That’s being a “yes man” and you can forget about that ever happening. I would rather jump in with, “I think we need to re-think this because I have a little doubt about it working.” Having some doubt about a specific plan or campaign is welcomed by clients and colleagues. They want your opinions. If you doubt that some figures aren’t right or that a social campaign doesn’t have enough engagement, this is great.
I’ve doubted my own plans and asked for advice from trusted colleagues. Remember, despite this social world of ninjas, Jedis, and gurus, we don’t know everything. Even in running my relatively new business, I’ve had doubts. Will it work? Will people work with me?
Self-doubt is something you can use to fuel your success and help you become the best you can be. Take a moment and focus on what has worked for you in the past. I’m sure you’ll see that you had some doubt surrounding it.
And that isn’t a bad thing.
No Curry-ing Favor on “Today”
I didn’t use to be an Ann Curry fan. When I worked in Philadelphia, I was a multimedia producer for WCAU-TV’s MSNBC on the Internet operation. Ms. Curry was an anchor on MSNBC at the time and I saw her on-air often. She seemed too dramatic.
It took me leaving Philly and after five years in NYC (with Fox News Channel/Fox News Radio) to actually watch Ann Curry again. She seemed different to me; seamlessly transitioning from a celeb interview to a serious story. Ann Curry had “it;” a rare combination of smarts, style, and substance.
When Meredith Viera left the Today Show last year, Ms. Curry was named the new co-anchor, alongside stalwart Matt Lauer. It was a solid move… or was it? Fast forward to 2012. A story by Brian Stelter in the New York Times on June 20, reported that the Peacock Network was prepared to fire Ann Curry. I was baffled. The Today Show ratings have slipped a bit (ABC’s “Good Morning America” is gaining a ton of ground) and it appears that NBC needs a scapegoat. They pointed the finger of blame at Curry.
It’s not that firings in the media are all that shocking. Keith Olbermann has been canned more times that I can count. Dan Rather was (technically) fired, too. But it the way that NBC News is handling this situation is a) wrong and b) a public relations faux paux.
Curry is known for her international reporting of major stories from places such as Baghdad, Sri Lanka, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Albania, and Darfur. Needless to say, she has faced harsher times than what NBC is doing to her. As of this posting, the network hasn’t even commented on the speculation, leaving Curry to face questions as to her future. It’s a total lack of respect for a woman who has not only worked extremely hard, but who has shown class and grace.
From a public relations standpoint, NBC is taking a big hit. The media is already speculating who will take Ms. Curry’s place. The move is a bad one, but not something NBC seems to care about. They basically did the same thing with Conan O’Brien in 2010. Secondly, NBC hasn’t said word one about this report, let alone whether Ms. Curry is actually being fired or re-assigned.
Morning television is a big business. But that doesn’t mean that when business gets slow, you remove a piece. NBC should be finding ways to make the Today Show better. Leaving Ann Curry to wave in the breeze like a tattered flag isn’t good business… or good for ratings.
Is A Journalism Degree Worthless?
(Jas’ note: I’m thrilled to welcome back Jessica Malnik to the blog for a guest post.)
*A bit of a disclaimer: I left the journalism rollercoaster world for the adventures of marketing and PR a year ago. I haven’t looked back since. That being said, there’s not a day that goes by where I don’t apply something I learned while at the University of Missouri Journalism School.
Is a journalism degree worthless? I’ve heard this question come up quite a bit over the last couple of months. As more and more traditional media outlets crumble or suffer massive rounds of layoffs, the skeptics come out and immediately question any college student or recent grad- like myself- who majored or is majoring in journalism. I think that’s a real shame.
It’s awful that countless numbers of high school and college students these days are being detracted and sidelined from pursuing a major in journalism. I firmly believe that a journalism degree is just as valuable today, if not more so, than it was 10 or 15 years ago. Here’s three reasons why.
1. The core journalism skills translate well for a lot of careers.
At the very core of journalism, it’s about communicating effectively. To be successful, you have to be articulate and a good writer. Both are very valuable skills at the core of dozens of jobs- from public relations and marketing to engineering and medicine.
Factor in that most journalism students today have at least a basic grasp of multimedia skills, and you have the core foundation to be successful at almost any pursuit.
2. It’s not what you major in that matters, it’s how you choose to use it.
This goes for everything from journalism majors to sociology and classics majors. So many people box themselves inside the parameters of what they decided to major in at college. When in reality, your major is just the foundation for your career. It’s how you choose to apply the core skills that you learned that really matters.
To sum it up, there’s no bad majors. Don’t be afraid to use your journalism degree- or whatever you majored in- in a different way. A journalism student doesn’t have to be a journalist. You can end up being a marketer, PR pro, engineer, lawyer, etc. The sky’s the limit.
3. Journalism breeds curiosity and solid listening skills.
Most people, who major in journalism, have one thing in common. They are all curious about the world around them. They seek out ways to ask questions and listen to the people around them to understand issues and convey messages to a larger audience.
The ability to ask tough questions as well as listen for subtle nuances and clues is an art form. It’s a skill that can take you far in whatever career path that you choose.
Jessica Malnik is a PR/marketing coordinator, social media specialist, videographer and avid blogger. Visit her blog for social media, technology, public relations and marketing ramblings.
Jobs vs. The College Student
By now, you probably have heard and read about the controversy that surrounds Apple CEO Steve Jobs and the email exchange he recently had with a New York college student. To summarize: journalism student Chelsea Kate Issacs originally called Apple’s media relations department to ask about iPads being used in an academic setting. She didn’t get a response, so she wrote Jobs. His first reply?
“Our goals do not include helping you get a good grade. Sorry.”
After another exchange between Issacs and Jobs, the Apple CEO finally said this to her:
“Please leave us alone.”
At first glance, this is a PR problem for Jobs and Apple. You have the CEO telling a young college student to basically buzz off. Then, you have Apple’s media relations office ignoring her as well. Whether you are a Fortune 500 company or a business of five people, not answering an inquiry is flat out wrong.
However, I take issue with the student as well. I don’t have a problem with her inquiring for a comment. I may seem nitpicky here, but my issue is with Ms. Issacs saying, “The completion of this article is crucial to my grade in the class, and it may potentially get published in our university’s newspaper…”
Why mention the grade part? Jobs is right. It’s not Apple’s responsibility to help her get an “A.” And it “may potentially” get published? If you are a journalism student, never say potentially. For example, say “I’m working on a story on (insert subject) for this week’s edition of the (newspaper name).”
I’ll let you read the actual emails over at Gawker.
Ms. Issacs was annoyed at the fact that Jobs was rude in his replies. She’s right. He acted like a world class jerk. And Apple’s media relations should have had a statement at the ready for inquiries like this. But, let’s be honest. We’ve all heard that Jobs isn’t exactly the warm and fuzzy type. That’s not an excuse, though.
When I read the mails from Ms. Issacs, I detected some snark and, honestly, desperation. This is a great lesson for any young journalism student. Don’t make it seem like you are begging and never get testy with a potential interviewee. The chances of getting the response you want will drop.
Of course, the media is giving Jobs the business. As a PR person, it annoys me that he wouldn’t have the sense to, at least, call his own media relations department and ask them for a short response. And who’s running Apple’s media relations?
But, Ms. Issacs should also have some criticism. Steve Jobs was rude to you. It stinks and isn’t acceptable. But going email-to-email with him solves nothing. A journalist should never make themselves the story.
What are your thoughts on Jobs’ responses? And is the student in the wrong as well? Leave your comments below.
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