So you want to break into public relations?

This is a difficult and confusing time to break into the public relations business.  As  traditional media continues to disappear at unprecedented speed, and the acceptance and use of social media increases exponentially, the PR landscape becomes radically altered.  How do you promote a service, product or person in 2009 when the rules of engagement have shifted so far that nobody can say for certain what they are? How do you judge success when you have no verifiable way to measure it? Why on earth would anybody want to break into this business now when there are no jobs and nobody can agree what public relations is anymore?

I faced a room full of mass communications students last weekend at VCU and tried to answer these questions. The short answer is:  Uncertainty brings opportunity and this is a thrilling time to be in the communications field.  It begins at the top, as Barack Obama re-defines how government communicates with and interacts with its constituents.  And it comes down to us - never before have the methods of communication - the ability to package and distribute news and information on a mass scale - been in the hands of ‘the people.’

All the news and info distribution sources we now have at our disposal - including web sites, blogs, Twitter, Flickr (or any web photo platform), YouTube (or any web video platform), RSS, widgets - are absolutely free. All it takes is imagination and time and you can shout to the world. 

The PR business still treats social media as a curiosity, an add-on. They generally still don’t get that  PR needs to lead the communications mix (PR/marketing/advertising) and PR needs to follow media into an Internet-based, digital distribution system. Instead of pitching the media we become the media.

Writing has always been an important, and sorely under served, element of public relations. Now that we can’t complain about lack of avenues for publishing, writing is even more important.  Check out Emily Valentine’s blog Cultural Anthropologist. Emily was one of the 50 or students from the 10 colleges and universities at the VCU PRSSA event last weekend.  There are also links to writing samples on Emily’s blog, including Microfinance: social networking meets social enterprise on the Young Professionals in Foreign Policy web site. Coming into the ‘new PR’ landscape, Emily is honing her writing and social media skills, and engaging in socially optimized PR. It make take some time for PR employers to understand the value of writing, blogging, and social media literacy - but the smart ones will soon enough.

See The Future of PR (SlideShow) | Mark Rose LinkedIn

Rockumockumentary Premieres on VH1

Bex Schwartz wrote and directed her first documentary that’s sort of one part “Meet the Rutles,” one part “Behind the Music” and many, many parts of kickawesomeness - says Bex. It’s a mock-documentary, and it rocks. It’s a rockumockumentary. It’s about the most legendary band ever to rock out on plastic instruments. They’re not just any band … They’re ROCK BAND BAND.

The world premiere of ROCK BAND COMETH: THE ROCK BAND BAND STORY was yesterday on VH1. Narrated by Kurt Loder and featuring many rock and roll luminaries like Dave Mustaine, Dee Snider, Amy Lee, Mark Goodman (from MTV!), Anthony DeCurtis, Tesla, KT Tunstall, Andrew WK and many more, ROCK BAND COMETH chronicles the rise and fall and the subsequent additional risings and fallings of ROCK BAND BAND.  Check it out. VH1 air times:

   11/12/2007 04:00:00 P Monday
   11/12/2007 12:30:00 A Monday
   11/13/2007 06:30:00 P Tuesday
   11/18/2007 11:30:00 A Sunday
   11/19/2007 11:00:00 P Monday
   11/19/2007 02:30:00 A Monday
   11/20/2007 06:30:00 P Tuesday
   11/25/2007 10:30:00 P Sunday

PodCampNYC2 Announced - It’s in Bklyn!

PodCamp NYC Wows The Masses , April 9, 2007, was a revelation for me. In one location teeming with idealists and raw talent I saw the personification of all that was wrong with the public relations business and why PR would fail at social media. Among the 1,000 or so scraggly masses I ran into at PodCampNYC there was only one other PR person and he was purely ‘underground’ - his day job was with a big agency in Washington D.C. If PR could recognize and harness this Podcast/Blogging/Video talent we would have a real revolution on our hands.

Fat chance. In the seven months since that seminal event social media for PR has zoomed like a rocket and fizzled like a Challenger o-ring disaster. Steve Rubel says we should try talking to human beings again. It is encouraging that Rubel is finally getting his head out of his Twitter but those of us who have heard him rant might prefer he stick to gadgets. It’s like Terminator when the circuits go haywire. What can you say? There is no ‘Second Life’ in the cutthroat PR agency business.

But now PodCampNYC2 is coming (I refuse to call it 2.0) and we have reason to rejoice.

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Few Spots Left for Fab Video 2.0 October Meetup

When:  Tuesday, October 30, 2007, 7:00 PM

Where: For Your Imagination Studios
22 West 27th Street 6th Floor
New York , NY 10001
(866) 475-6908

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NY Video 2.0 Sept. Meetup Cancelled

Due to all the video events and conferences this week, the Sept. NY Video 2.0 Meetup has been cancelled. October is already packed with a great lineup of presenters and a new sponsor. More on that later. RSVP is now open.

Location is Set
By popular vote, NY Video 2.0 will be staying at the For Your Imagination Studio on 27th St.

NewTeeVee Pier Screening Tonight
Want to watch online movies, eat popcorn and drink beer with the NY Video 2.0 community? The good people at NewTeeVee are bringing their popular Pier Screenings event from San Francisco to NYC, tonight. Event details here: http://newteevee.eventbrite.com

www.nyvideo.org NY Video 2.0 — Now 1,200 Members Strong

NYC Reporters Yuck It Up For Troops

 

PSYCHIC MADMAN AND NY MEDIA UNITE TO HELP U.S. TROOPS

New York, NY -  September 12th, 2007 – One “Psychic Madman” and six of New York’s bravest reporters will take to the stage in a stand up comedy competition that will raise money for Operation Uplink (www.operationuplink.org) – a charity that supports U.S. Troops. The 2nd Annual “New York’s Funniest Reporter”  (www.nyfunniestreporter.com)  contest will take place on October 3rd at Gotham Comedy Club (208 W. 23rd St.) at 9:30 pm.

Appearing on the show will be: Julia Allison (Star Magazine), Sean L. McCarthy (New York Daily News), Nikki Eagan (NBC), Robert George (New York Post), Tasha Harris (Stagetime Magazine), and 2006 Funniest Reporter Champion, Mandy Stadtmiller (New York Post). Headlining the event will be “Psychic Madman” Jim Karol (NBC’s the Tonight Show), a national entertainer who’s act incorporates magic, comedy, and extraordinary feats of the mind.

Judging the competition will be Laurel Touby (Founder & Senior Vice President of mediabistro.com), Emily Gould (Editor of Gawker), Jim Mendrinos (Executive Producer of the New York Underground Comedy Festival), and two surprise judges to be revealed the night of the show.

The cost of admission is $12 plus a two-drink minimum. To make a reservation, please call (212) 367-9000.

The 2nd Annual New York’s Funniest Reporter competition is part of the 5th Annual New York City Underground Comedy Festival – the first global comedy festival in history. For more information about the festival or for show tickets, visit www.nycundergroundcomedy.com or call (212) 265-5510.

About Operation Uplink:
Operation Uplink (www.operationuplink.org/) is a unique program that keeps military personnel and hospitalized veterans in touch with their families and loved ones by providing them with a free phone card. Using contributions from supporters like you, Operation Uplink purchases phone cards and distributes them to servicemen and women who are separated from those they care about.

About the New York City Underground Comedy Festival:
Produced by Sarris Productions, the New York City Underground Comedy Festival (www.nycundergroundcomedy.com) has emerged– in the space of only five years– as New York’s leading showcase for comedy. Officially recognized by New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg, the Festival has become a meeting-ground for leading comedians and industry executives from film and television. The 5th Annual NYUCF will be the first global comedy festival in history. ###

CONTACT: Ryan McCormick, New York Underground Comedy Festival, Publicity Manager, (516) 901-1103, Ryan@risingsunpr.com