Founding Facebook

If you're interested in the history and founding of Facebook, you might want to check out this article with Time.com interviewing Ben Mezrich, author of Bringing Down the House and Accidental Billionaires — The Founding of Facebook: A Tale of Sex, Money, Genius and Betrayal. He talks about how Facebook really came to be, as well as, how Facebook is evolving and changing business.

Ecofont

Interning at a marketing and communications firm this summer, I have gained some insight into the business side of PR. One thing that surprised me was the amount of paper and ink we go through everyday. And we are a small house; I can only imagine the amount of supplies that larger firms must consume.

This can be both expensive and costly to the environment. I was really intrigued when, while reading National Geographic, I came across a story about a new font type that can save ink. The new Ecofont, called Bitstream Vera, was designed by a Dutch marketing firm called Spranq.

The company found that "if it used rounded holes [in the letters]...a fifth of a 10-point, Verdana-like letter could be removed without ruining readability." The savings with using this font would be optimized at smaller-sized fonts, as the holes in the font are more noticeable at larger sizes.

Though some in the business are skeptical, co-owner Alexander Kraaij has said that the new font could save a company of 5,000 employees up to $125,000 a year from printing costs.

Pretty cool! Click here to learn more and to download the new font for free!

Big News on a Friday Afternoon?

Sarah Palin announced on the afternoon of Friday July 3, 2009 that she would be stepping down from her position as Governor of Alaska later on this month.

There are various reasons floating around as to the basis for Palin's decision. Members of the Palin camp claim that she has decided to step down so that she can 'take the fight for her issues elsewhere' or so that she can focus on her bid for the presidency in 2012. On another level, there are also rumors circulating that there are ethical concerns relating to Palin's involvement with the Wasilla Sports Complex, including the idea that she may have personally benefitted from this deal.

But back up a minute. Sarah Palin made a big announcement on a Friday afternoon? One of the first lessons we learned in my News Writing and Media Relations class was that it is highly strategic to hold a press conference on a Friday; many newsrooms are reduced in numbers at this point in the week, and it is often difficult for them to arrange coverage in time for deadline. Holding a conference on a Friday afternoon allows one to appear transparent and available without having to fully engage with the press. Palin would know this too, as her background is in journalism.

Politics aside, from a PR standpoint, Palin's decision seems pretty fishy...

Edelman's PR Myths

Richard Edelman recently took issue with an article run in the New York Times, titled "Spinning the Web: PR in Silicon Valley." This article, he said, "reinforces every stereotype about our industry and undermines our ability to make the case for our role as a serious advisor on both policy and communications."

Here are five myths about the industry Edelman outlined:

1. The best PR campaigns are done without media of all sorts (in favor of discussions with a few influential people on social networking sites). Contrarily, "the fact is smart PR people work at the intersection of social and mainstream media to create a continuing engagement with stakeholders," he said.
2. The job is all about relationships, with reporters, investors and celebrities. In reality, "we forge connections through substance, not show, as a reliable partner to media and to opinion formers, as well as the public at large."
3. We are now beyond PR and media relations. 'we're connecting people at the highest level, getting deals done.' In actuality, "We are consultants, not decision makers," Edelman points out.
4. It is a distinct advantage to be an attractive female in PR.
5. We do what the client asks, based on 'gut' feeling at the moment. "In fact," he points out, "the best PR programs are based on listening to the community, whether it's public opinion research or on-line audits. We do not discriminate against reporters or bloggers because they are too tough."

What other myths and stereotypes exist about our industry? What can we do to break these down?

Back to the Basics

I came across this Public Relations Best Practices Tip Sheet online and found it very helpful. After all, even the pros can sometimes use a little brushing up on the basics. Check out these ten tips:

1. Know what "news" is.
2. Let the media know about your news in a timely and concise fashion.
3. The editor's job is to report on what readers want to read, so let them do what they do best. "Present your strengths, your best story, then let it go...don't be a needler."
4. For product stuff it's sometimes easier best to send the gear out first and ask questions later. "a box full of fresh gear is always more appealing than a fuzzy jpeg."
5. Build relationships. Be "a resource that is quick to respond, easy to deal with, and delivers on time."
6. Plan, plan, plan.
7. Editors are always busy and sometimes lazy. If you can make their job easier, you'll get farther.
8. E-mail is the best way to communicate.
9. Consider your storyline.
10. Even big newspapers these days are desperate to build page views online. Consider sending e-mails directly to online writers ,"many of whom are eager to meet story quotas."

What tips would you add to this list? Do you disagree with any?

"Web Site Story"

Since it's Friday and we've all had a long week, I thought I'd share this short and funny video from CollegeHumor.com. The video is a parody of the Broadway musical West Side Story, where the characters Maria and Tony meet online and mention popular sites like Facebook, Twitter, eHarmony and more.

Enjoy and have a great weekend!

Thank You, Magic Johnson!

Since it hasn’t been mentioned yet this week on the blog, I wanted to take a minute to note how unbelievably ecstatic Kentucky Fried Chicken’s PR team must be right now.

On Monday, over 31 million viewers tuned in to watch the final goodbyes to Michael Jackson. It was a ceremony filled with joy, celebrating the King of Pop’s life and accomplishments, and of sadness.

One memorable speech came from NBA-great, Magic Johnson. Although his speech was full of sentiment, there was one specific part that made viewers laugh and KFC rich- or so they hope. Magic Johnson informed the world that Michael Jackson loved his Kentucky Fried Chicken (cue the lines and cash register sounds). Talk about great product placement! Some skeptics say the chain paid for this mention, but I don’t agree. I think it was just a friend looking back on great times and the many surprises Michael Jackson had to offer. In case you haven’t seen it, watch the speech here.