Spotify Stays Creative with Statement after WWDC

On Monday, Apple announced at the Apple Worldwide Development Conference that it would be stepping back into the music scene. Not as far back as the days of Limewire, but not as recently as Touch Tunes, Apple did play a major role in the way that downloading music has developed. Apple Music is the company's new music service that ultimately serves the same needs as Spotify, iTunes, and Pandora. 

Innovations like these in the business world affect marketers because it immediately means competitors. Before announcing the big idea, Apple's communications team had to research and strategically plan how it would compare to the leading streaming services for music.

Spotify Chief Executive Officer, Daniel Ek, did not have much to say about the announcement initially, sharing only two words via Twitter:

Since then, Spotify posted a statement on their website sharing powerful statistics that they have reached 20 million paying subscribers. Not to mention, 75 million active streaming users. Basically - hey Apple, this is what we're working with - Spotify is getting personal with their audience and spreading the love to their fanbase in case they were thinking about turning.

In the statement, "The Spotify Team" include graphs to give users the inside scoop on how the numbers work behind the scenes. This type of reference makes the public think that Spotify thinks we are important even to know ourselves!

You haven't even heard the best part yet - as per any occasion, Spotify has come through and made us a playlist. "20 Million Thank Yous" is 17 popular, upbeat, happy-go-lucky songs, ranging from Zedd to Queen. It was a great idea for Spotify to take a creative approach when addressing the announcement of Apple Music. Spotify doesn't have to act or innovate now, but the PR team has to plan one way for the brand to publicly say something.

I decided to put "20 Million Thank Yous" on while I wrote this post. I couldn't be happier I did.

PRowl's Newest Members

Welcome PRowl's newest members into the firm!

Isabella Abiuso 
Isabella is currently a junior at Temple University studying Strategic Communications with a focus in public relations. She is also pursuing a Corporate Social Responsibility Minor and Event Leadership Certificate. Isabella has done professional social media for an ice cream company and sustainable catering business. In her free time, Isabella loves to cook and explore the city of brotherly love.   

Taylor Carnard
Taylor is a sophomore studying Advertising and Public Relations. She is from Norristown, PA. When not studying, Taylor enjoys going to the city and exploring new things. Taylor hopes to work for Ogilvy and Mather in the future. 

Jason Conaway

Jason is currently a junior at Temple and a Public Relations Intern at Jenna Communications. He works part-time for both the Philadelphia Phillies and Rita's Water Ice.When he is not working, he can be found hanging out with his roommates or watching all his favorite Philadelphia sports teams. 

Samantha Cox

Samantha is a senior Political Science and Strategic Communication double major with concentrations in Public Relations and International Communication. She is also working on a minor in Digital Media Technologies with hopes that this will help her find a PR career in the tech startup industry. Her dream job would take her to San Francisco where she could eat all the In-N-Out Burger her heart desires.

Clarissa Ford

Clarissa is a sophomore from New Jersey studying Strategic Communications with a concentration in PR and a minor in Adult and Organizational Leadership. One of her favorite hobbies developing her sports blog, She Knows The Rules. She hopes to one day make a career by combining herlove for sports and her love for media. You can find her cheering on her favorite team, painting her nails, or catching up on the latest reality television.  

Victoria Goins 

Victoria is a sophomore at Temple University majoring in Strategic Communications with a concentration in Public Relations. In the fall of 2015 she will begin serving as the Political Action chair for Progressive NAACP as well as the Press and Publicity chair for the National Society of Leadership and Success. You can also catch her in Temple’s production of the choreopoem For Colored Girls this fall. When she’s not at a rehearsal or an executive board meeting, you’ll be sure to find her at home, sporting mismatch pajamas, and catching up on all her favorite television shows.  

Su Rei Khoo

Su Rei is currently a third-year undergraduate student at Temple University with a focus in Strategic Communication and Public Relations. A social media enthusiast, she is a strong advocate for personal branding and effective communication. She has demonstrated solid analytical, organizational, and interpersonal skills through her work experience as a tutor and conversational coach. 

Joshua Ortiz
Josh serves as an Off Campus Co-Chair for Main Campus Program Board. He is currently a freshman, majoring in Strategic Communication and minoring in Spanish. Joshua also serves as Vice President of Johnson and Hardwick community council and is a member of Intervarsity Christian Fellowship.

Dylan Rhudd
Dylan is a sophomore, currently studying Marketing in Fox School of Business. He was born and raised in Newark, DE, and recently transferred to Temple in the fall. Outside of PRowl, Dylan works as a salesman at Journeys and interns for tech start-up company Instamour as a Social Media Ambassador. During his free time, Dylan likes to spend with friends and family, listen to hip hop, and explore Philadelphia.

Kristen VanLeer
Kristen is a Junior Media Studies and Production major with a minor in Public Relations. As an active member of PRSSA, she enjoys working events with the Community Service committee. While Kristen has an interest in non-profit PR, music is also a major part of her life, and she hopes to work in Marketing or Booking for the Music Industry. During her free time, she enjoys shopping and going out to eat in the city, watching Netflix with her cat, and seeing local Philadelphia bands with her friends on weekends.

Say Hello to PRowl's New Leaders

Over the weekend, PRowl Public Relations held a leadership retreat for all of our newly selected leaders. The incoming Firm Director, current Firm Director, and current Executive Board led a presentation on PRowl's policies and future. 

Leadership retreat is important for the transition and understanding of one's new role in the firm. Additionally, the retreat is an excellent way for our firm to receive feedback from those who are members, and efficiently execute the ideas they have for the growth of the firm.

(Source:Tiny HR)

PRowl's 2015-2016 Executive Board:

Alyssa Guckin, Firm Director

Rute Barkai, Assistant Firm Director

Faiz Mandviwalla, Assistant Firm Director

Maggie Wurst, Assistant Firm Director

Helena Wilcox, Director of Public Relations

Gabrielle Lacherza, Director of Finance

Shaun Luberski, Secretary

PRowl's 2015-2016 Account Executives:

Kelly Armstrong

Christina Clemence

Rene Cosides

Janelle Grace

Megan Healy

Hannah Litchfield, Junior AE

Olivia Noble

The new Executive Board will have its first task in two weeks - interviewing and hiring new staff members for the Fall semester! Email prowlsecretary@gmail.com to set up an interview on April 27, 28, or 29. Applicants will need to provide a resume and writing sample upon interviewing.

Starbucks' 'Race Together' Ends After One Short Week

Starbucks recently began and ended a marketing campaign called 'Race Together' that was intended to open discussion between baristas and customers about race in our current society. 

Source: (CNBC)

Chances are you've had an immediate reaction to this initiative. Customers (and most likely part-time baristas) are wondering: why? After talking about the campaign details with peers, it seemed like the majority were only interested in being handed a grande Pike Place first thing in the morning.

Starbucks' latest campaign stirred up a lot of conversation, nonetheless; just not the type of conversation the company had expected. The public took to social media and blogs to express their distaste for the forced 'Race Together' discussions. Only a week after the campaign's birth did Starbucks CEO, Howard Schultz, formally announced the end of 'Race Together':

"While there has been criticism of the initiative -- and I know this hasn't been easy for any of you -- let me assure you that we didn’t expect universal praise."  

Schultz insists that the initiative was scheduled to end on March 23, 2015 to begin with, and that the criticism received has nothing to do with its removal. Schultz also mentions that this is not the end of the long-term discussion Starbucks' is looking to start with its customers - more campaigns are to be anticipated and more goals have been added to the company's to-do list.

What would you do as one of the PR professional for Starbucks? Take Starbucks Senior VP of Global Communications Corey duBrowa as an example of what NOT to do. After receiving negative feedback on social media about the campaign's obvious flaws, duBrowa decided to delete his Twitter account.

"I was personally attacked through my Twitter account around midnight last night and the tweets represented a distraction from the respectful conversation we are trying to start around Race Together. I’ll be back on Twitter soon," duBrowa told Business Insider.

The PR issue is that the SVP of Global Communications should not delete a personal form of communication during a communications dilemma. If the campaign is focused on starting conversation on race relations, then the communications team should be prepared to share, too.

Management: Avoiding First Impressions

We've thought long and hard on how to master the first impression. Some of us still reign better than others. But while we're stressing out over our showing our future employers our best appearance, we stay blind to what it's like to be on the other side of the interview. First impressions influence the way we continue to view a person, but there are ways to push these initial thoughts aside.

(Source: Desired Haven)

• Stay open-minded: According to best-selling management author, Dr. Stephen P. Robbins, "think of any early impression as a working hypothesis that you're constantly testing for its accuracy." Instead of immediately deciding on whether or not you feel a job candidate fits, allow yourself more time to come to a conclusion. By leaving your mind open, you will be able to assess more accurately without the bias of your first impression.

• Do not judge a book by its cover: Appearances give us the unfortunate opportunity of judging a candidate off of their looks before hearing anything they have to say about their skills and traits. Though each candidate is preferred in business casual and presentable, their job qualifications need to have a major influence on your decision as a manager. When hiring, make sure to hear the interviewee out about their past experiences and qualifications along with their business appearance!

• Ignore bias: Studies show that positive first impressions lead interviewers to continue the interview in an agreeable manner, and negative first impressions in a negative manner. In some cases, a manager may even find him or herself asking less-stressful questions to the candidates they immediately resonated with. By ignoring your own bias, you will be able to identify which candidates are best for the position without any outside factors interfering.

Source: The Truth About Managing People (3rd Edition), Stephen P. Robbins, Ph.D.

Social Media Savvy: #SNL40

Even though we were not physically there, Saturday Night Live's 40th Anniversary event was an interactive night. @nbcsnl took to Twitter for about 5 hours during the event's red carpet and main event. Here are four different ways that SNL used social media to their advantage in gaining coverage:

Photo Booth
SNL linked all of the photos taken of their guests passing by on the SNL40 red carpet. Photo after photo was posted on the production's Twitter page while the red carpet interviews were aired on television. It was an added bonus for excited guests interested in seeing what the guests were wearing, and for most of them, acting goofy. Later on in the evening, the SNL Instagram began posting "Instabumpers," or photos of guests at the event in front of neon-colored backgrounds with the small text, SNL40. The Instabumpers colorful, creative, and of all of the guests seeming energized and happy to be there in support of SNL.

(Source: @nbcsnl Instagram)

Linked Up
SNL's tweets included the official Twitter handle of each of the celebrities featured in a post. This allows fans and followers to directly link to that guests' page, almost like a small promo. Tagging guests makes for relationship building on social media.
Graphics & Video
The team behind SNL40's social media was prepared with graphics showing the remade sketches as "now & then" photos. One side of the graphic depicted the original skit and the other side was in the skit in color happening now on television. As a marketing tactic, these graphics remind the audience of the skit and hopefully, gets them excited about the production. The account also used GIFs to highlight bits of the show in what seems like 5 seconds.

Live Tweeting 
SNL40 was an opportunity for both the social media team, guests, and audience at home live tweet! These three demographics are extremely broad and bring a wide range of people to the conversation about SNL40 online and in the media. Posts were sent from the SNL account like clockwork throughout the entire show, with photos, videos, and text. Celebrities at the event took to their personal accounts that night and this morning to express support for the production, giving them positive coverage. Lastly, the audience watching used #SNL40 to express any and all thoughts on the sketches, performances, and celebrity gossip that comes with an entertainment event like this.

Social media is a way we can bring large groups of people from all over the world into one conversation as communications professionals. Live tweeting and sharing photos are common ways to bring attention to your event through all social media platforms, not just Twitter. Stay creative, and use hashtags to get your event trending!

Chipotle's Offensive Twitter Hack

Chipotle Mexican Grill had a lot of cleaning up to do after the brand's Twitter account was hacked for two hours on Sunday morning. Hackers changed the account's avatar to a picture of a swastika, edited the bio information, and sent out multiple tweets using offensive language to attack President Obama and the government systems.

Source: Coloradan Magazine

According to Mashable, Chipotle Communications Director, Chris Arnold, immediately responded to the hacking by making a public statement:

"Our Twitter account was hijacked overnight for about two hours during which a series of offensive tweets was posted to the account. We apologize for the nature of the posts that were made during that time, and we are now conducting an investigation to try to determine what happened and who might have been involved." 

During PR issues such as these where customers and audience members are offended, it is important for the brand to come forward with a spokesperson and a statement. Sitting back in silence can often lead to assumptions that your brand or organization is backing up whatever drama has occured. Not only did Chris Arnold speak on behalf of Chipotle, but the brand also tweeted a public apology and deleted all remains of the inappropriate hack.

Chipotle is commonly associated with positive marketing. Its current "Cultivating Thought" campaign involves printed literature on the restaurant's cups and paper bags as an activity for customers while dining. The works of well-known authors, such as Malcolm Gladwell, Toni Morrison, and Michael Lewis, and even a few faces from the entertainment realm, like Bill Hader, Sarah Silverman, and Judd Apatow, are used within the series. Additionally, the brand had a successful Twitter contest the week prior to the hack; followers posted haikus about Chipotle on Twitter and shared via Facebook to be entered to win a free entree for two.

Source: Vanity Fair

In July of 2013, Chipotle actually "faked" its own Twitter hacking as a publicity stunt for their 20th anniversary, and wound up with over 4,000 new followers the next day. Let's see how much @ChipotleTweets' followership increases after a real hack.

Hopefully the Communications staff was able to treat themselves to a hearty burrito after what must have been one stressful social media Sunday.

Holiday Shopping in Your Inbox

Prepare for an inbox of coupons and promo codes this holiday season.

We've taken e-mail for granted. We use it most often for business purposes rather than personal purposes, but it remains a tactic for marketing professionals everywhere.  E-blasts, promotional codes, weekly updates, and blog content are all sent out as attention-grabbers via e-mail.

(Source: Here's The Thing)

According to Experian Marketing, over 90% of marketers are using e-mail in their marketing plan this holiday season. This puts e-mail in a more common place than social media. Chances are companies are using free media regardless, but their audience and focus are both factors of what channel receives the  most effort. Ultimately, we check our inboxes compulsively for the sake of business, so why do marketers reach out to us on the same outlet for the sake of consumerism?

The biggest holiday sales and shopping occur online, surpassing Black Fridays sales on Cyber Monday, the Monday following Thanksgiving. It's a virtual world for the holiday shopper, e-commerce and digital marketing staying one step ahead of the game.

As aspiring communication professionals, we understand that everyone has something to promote. Send out my e-blast, I'll send out your e-blast. Digital marketing is a perfect opportunity to differentiate marketing from public relations, and furthermore, organic promotion from that of paid advertisements.

Get Inspired by a Story

Storytelling is a part of your everyday life - more than you realize. Talking to friends, calling your parents, answering a question in an interview, we all share stories as a form of communication and reflection. First Person Arts is Philadelphia's premiere storytelling non-profit, focused on using documentary and memoir art to reflect, learn, and in some cases, heal. Fortunately, I was able to interview Becca Jennings, FPA's Marketing & Communications Coordinator, and find out the details on First Person Arts, marketing, and being a young professional. Becca is enthusiastic about her career, takes pride in her work, and has some amazing insights on self-development!

(Source:Visit Philadelphia)

Alyssa: Tell us about First Person Arts!

Becca: First Person Arts is a nonprofit arts organization committed to the power of personal storytelling. We believe that everyone has a story to tell, and that by sharing our stories, we build connections with each other and the world. 

The organization produces at least 65 live events each year including twice-monthly storytelling competitions called StorySlams, memoir and storytelling classes and workshops, applied storytelling programs, and the Annual First Person Arts Festival. 

Beyond the live events, we present storytelling content online via broadcasts, which include the weekly First Person Arts Podcast and the First Person Arts YouTube Channel.

Alyssa: As Marketing & Communications Coordinator, what are some of the projects you've worked on over the last year?

Becca: I manage the creation of all print collateral, press, online presence, and ad sales/ placement for the organization throughout the year. 

But more specifically:

-Develop organizational Marketing Plans

-Press outreach

-Write copy for all organizational promotional materials including the FPA Festival brochure, StorySlam cards, flyers, and postcards

-Write copy and upload weekly podcasts

-Manage Marketing Intern, Executive Podcast Producer, and AV Intern

-Sell ads for FPA Festival brochure

-Identify and cultivate opportunities for promo partners/group sales

-In house graphic designer

-Liaison with out of house ad agency

-Manage, build, and create the schedule for all eblast communications

-Oversee and report out on web and live audience data collection

-Manage promotional distribution

-Manage community outreach to promote fall Festival

-Develop and execute advertising plans

-Social media manager

-Develop marketing budgets

-Maintain firstpersonarts.org

-Onstage host at live events

-And much more!

Alyssa: What are some skills you look for in an intern or even Marketing co-worker?

Becca: Excellent writing skills, ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously in a fast-paced deadline driven environment. The ability to plan is key--we're a small team of three people so forward thinking is a strong and valuable skill!

Alyssa: What advice can you give students looking to work in the arts & culture industry? How about the non-profit industry?

Becca: Do what you believe in and you will find a way to make it work for you. If you dream of a 6-figure salary, arts and culture might not be the direction for you. However, if you're inspired by the mission of the organization, and care more about that, you will have a gratifying job experience. Work extra hard, be very humble and gracious in the beginning, go above and beyond, and your career path will emerge. 

I think a lot of young people starting out are simply "looking for" their career paths. The truth is that their career path doesn't exist for them yet; so how can they "see" it? You have to walk it into existence--place one foot in front of the other-- and as you go along, your path will appear. Don't hang back waiting for your path to reveal itself to you. You reveal it for yourself by engaging with your passions and goals each day--by pushing past your comfort zone and testing your endurance--by meeting new people and listening to their stories. 

And if it doesn't happen for you right away, keep applying yourself. Fully discovering one's own career path is a lifelong journey.

Alyssa: What's your favorite part about working at First Person Arts?

Becca: I listen to stories for a living. That's pretty rad.

Dream big - chase after what makes you happy and find inspiration in your work. Interested in hearing some of these inspirational stories? The 13th First Person Arts Festival is coming up this Nov. 4 -15 and features some fantastic workshops, seminars, and stories. For more information on upcoming events, visit firstpersonarts.org.

Museums at #PRSSANC

This weekend, PRowl traveled to Washington, D.C. for the 2014 National PRSSA Conference. Starting yesterday, PRowl is recapping some of the sessions, insights, and stories shared during the conference in our country's capital.

My favorite session of the weekend was A Monumental View: What It Takes To Work in Museums and Public Places. Museums and institutions and arts & culture are more of niche industries, and one we don't particularly learn about as much as say, agency or corporate. Melinda Machado, the Marketing & Communications Coordinator at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History presented about her background and experience in this position.

(Source: Newsdesk)

When asked what advice she can give students looking to get involved in the industry, she suggested gaining experience through agency work, where the opportunities for work in different industries is endless. Once employers can see you are capable of handling multiple projects in the fast-paced world of PR, they are more confident in you bringing that back to their internal communications.

Machado prepared a helpful visual presentation breaking down all the processes and results of a few campaigns she's worked on while at the museum. She tracked media coverage and her social footprint as the Communications director. For example, the museum's Communications team organized an event acknowledging Ralph Lauren for his donations and contributions to the National Museum of American History's exhibits. Hilary Clinton presented the award to Ralph Lauren, and clearly - media outlets all over covered the event, giving the museum a ton of earned publicity.

Among many other amazing speakers, Melinda Machado shared great insight for students aspiring to work in the field of PR within not only institutions, but any other industry. Her campaigns are inspirations for future student projects.

Share A Coke, Share A Sale

Chances are you've seen Coca Cola's latest initiative, 'Share A Coke', whether it be while grocery shopping or while skimming Instagram. Soda has become a product placed in the category with things people don't necessarily feel good about buying - this puts companies in the niche industry under the same pressure as marketers of both alcohol and cigarettes. Thank you for drinking soda. The communications team at Coca-Cola needed to think outside of the box, and that, meant printing our names on their labels.

(Source: Coke Zone)

Since its release in June 2014, the 'Share A Coke' campaign has been correlated with a 2% increase in Coca Cola, Co.'s carbonated-beverage sales. The company dodged a lot of bullets towards carbonated beverages with this well-executed campaign that made buying the drink and handing it to your friends and family worth it. According to the Wall Street Journal, Coca Cola's soft-drink volumes had been decreasing for the last 11 years, and now increased in August. Over the same period, other companies in the niche industry, like PepsiCo. and Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc. remained with lower sales.

Here are a few details of the successful campaign :

• First launched in Australia in 2011
• Replaced logos on Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, and Coke Zero products
• 250 names were printed
• General nicknames, like "BFF" and "Sister" were included
• Most-stocked names: Chris, Jess, Alex

(Source: Coca-Cola)

Coca-Cola's goal was to replace their name with ours. Ultimately, they sought to include their consumers, hoping to reach them personally. Let's not forget, Coca-Cola isn't half bad at playing up our emotions through advertising. Three months until the holiday season and I'm already missing that cute polar bear drinking out of a glass bottle in the middle of winter.

Know Current Events: Political Satire

In order to understand the public, you must have a stable comprehension of what is going on in the news and what is currently surrounding the public. Current events are important in understanding the public's placement in emotional, financial, and sociocultural environments; this way you can strategize ways to approach your target audiences with this background information.

Soft news is one trending way that people are receiving their news. Soft news would be described as something that's main purpose is to entertain, while providing news on human interest topics, such as disaster and scandal, according to Matthew A. Baum in the American Political Science Review. Currently, there are a lot of news-broadcaster-types providing soft news every night. Here's a breakdown of three you've probably heard of, and may want to check out:

Jon Stewart (host of The Daily Show) Mon-Fri @ 11PM EST on Comedy Central 
Jon Stewart has always been the "funny guy", but since 1999 when he increased the ratings for The Daily Show by 400%, his humor really took off with a whole new purpose. Jon Stewart reports the news to you with a sarcastic attitude, one that makes it very clear which side he's on of any story. BUT it's okay! Because through his platform, he can get away with reporting in such a way that hard news outlets never could.

Book: America (The Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction by Jon Stewart & The Daily Show writers

(Source : The New York Times)

Stephen Colbert (host of The Colbert Report) Mon-Fri @ 11:30PM EST on Comedy Central
A spin-off of The Daily Show, The Colbert Report uses satire to explain, well, everything. More specifically, it's more likely to comment on the conservative. You can think of Stephen Colbert as somewhat of a "fake" anchorman.

Book find: I AM America (And So Can You!) by Stephen Colbert

(Source: zap2it)

John Oliver (host of Last Week Tonight) Sundays @ 11PM EST on HBO
Last Week Tonight comes on once a week in both the U.S. and the U.K. With a host with such a loud personality as John Oliver's, this show has a following weekly that matches the tastes of other satirical news shows, like Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart. John Oliver reports on general current events over a longer span of time.

(Source: Sesame Workshop)

Strategic Planning: Apple Inc. Event

What you will find interesting about this post is that I am not writing about what Apple has released today. That, I am not certain of. But when large companies release major news after a major lead-up - it's a great opportunity to analyze it from the PR prospective.

Each year, consumers anticipate Apple's announcement of brand new products. What once started out as an all-new PC, Apple now carries all sorts of products from laptops to iPhones to tablets. Thanks to the internet, there are a plethora of rumors regarding what new product will be announced. Will it be a bigger iPhone? The iPhone 6? Two different versions of the iPhone 6? Or the iWatch?

(Source: Exact Target / 2013 Apple Event promo)

Consider the announcement from the internal side. It's possible that all of the information about the products was leaked on purpose. It's also possible that it wasn't. Either way, strategic decisions needed to be made in order for Apple to sustain a sense of mystery until today, the day of the unveiling event. It's ironic that as PR professionals we want to hear people talking about what we're working on, while at the same time it can be a double-edged sword and lead to possible customer disappointment. After hearing so much about these products, consumers may be easily let down if what they were excited about was not released or below their expectations.

Rumor has it that the iWatch may be announced, but not put on shelves for sale until months from now. Why? The strategic plan behind this could be that Apple really does want to surprise us. A new iPhone and iPad will only be innovations on a current category, but the iWatch is the first product in a new category. Additionally, the iWatch is not considered a necessity to most. With more time, Apple (and its consumers) can figure out why the iWatch is something that we need. Showing us what we desire without even knowing we desired it is something Apple does oh-so-well.

(Source: Telegraph)

Chances are you've found out what the new Apple product if not before, but by the end of this article. What do you think about the hype and results of one of America's favorite brands?

PR at the Awards

This weekend celebrated the 31st Annual MTV Video Music Awards and the 66th Primetime Emmy Awards.The Emmy Award acknowledges those who excel in the television industry, with nominees for categories such as Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Lead Actress - Miniseries or a Movie, and more, while the VMAs recognize those who excel in music videos. Major events like these need stellar PR in order to run smoothly.

Chances are you've seen some type of post - whether it be Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram - about the Emmy Awards. There are multiple key times when actors and actresses themselves, directors, supporters, and the PR/Marketing team push the event:

• When the event date is announced
• When the nominees are released
• Short time leading up to the event
• During the event
• Day after the event

An award ceremony such as this leaves a good amount of opportunity for coverage. If you saw posts on your personal social media feeds leading up to the event, then you'll surely see a few today, being the day after (including this post you are currently reading.) One of the great things about these well-known award ceremonies is that even without social media, everyone would be talking. The show leaves so much to discuss - did your favorite show win an award? Did you see Nicki Minaj perform? Who was the best dressed and who was the worst dressed? Celebrities can slide through the red carpet unnoticed or making the biggest scene - it's up to them and the PR team.

Celebrities themselves take on their own PR with their personal social media accounts. Lena Dunham, writer of HBO's GIRLS, shared a few Emmy-related tweets over the last month or so. Fans find it exciting to hear about what their icons are up to & what better way to reach out to them then through humor.

Fashion is additionally a major part of any awards ceremony. It's certainly a time when what you're wearing actually matters. If you (or your client) show up unpresentable, it will be noticed. If you (or your client) show up in something outrageous, it will be noticed. For instance, at this year's VMAs, Katy Perry walked onto the red carpet with friend and rapper, Riff Raff, in what seemed to be a public appreciation of Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake. This kind of outfit choice is not just about getting dressed for paparazzi - it's a message!

(Source: Daily Mail)

Crisis Communication: Community Health Systems

Computer hacks are not entirely far-fetched these days. It seems that more and more companies are finding themselves in the hands of a hack before they even realize it. The most recent major hack was within Community Health Systems, one of the United States' leading operators for 206 hospitals across the nation. Hacks are something that PR professionals need to acknowledge, as you could one day find yourself in the position of handling a similar corporate crisis.

Hackers stole data from at least 4.5 million patients. 4.5 million. Just to name a few pieces of information, this means that hackers have access to names, social security numbers, addresses, birthdays, and telephone numbers. Information regarding credit cards has not been stolen, yet this personal information alone leaves space for identity fraud.

(Source: ABCNews)

The idea of an identity theft of this majority leaves many people nervous and cautious.

How do you handle this as the PR coordinator? CHS handled it by immediately hiring experts in the cyber-security field to track down where and when the hack took place. The FBI has also been in close contact with the hospital network to bring down the perpetrators as quickly as possible.

The sticky part of CHS' situation is that patients have grounds to CHS for negligence. This takes the situation into legal matters over those regarding publicity.

Community Health Systems' effort to settle the heavy hearts of its patients includes filing with the Securites and Exchange Commission, stating that it "carries cyber/privacy liability insurance to protect it against certain losses related to matters of this nature." CHS reassures patients that hackers' malware has been removed from their systems completely and that extra precaution has been set forth to avoid this type of hack to ever happen again.

Back to the Basics

As I am currently running late on this Tuesday morning, I decided that I need to remind myself of all the basics of being professional. With so many tips on how to do this and how to do that, it's easy to get lost in all the advice and forget the backbone of making a good appearance in the office or any meeting. I've created a list of some of the most basic career building advice you just might need to be reminded of in order to get a gold star:

1. Be on time!
2. Look presentable. Don't get so comfortable in the corporate office that you're showing up in short shorts and your favorite band's t-shirt.
3. Aim your goals high.
4. Say hello to everyone you work with.
5. Be polite.
6. Speak up. Don't mumble or ramble on with your words. You're confident!
7. Introduce yourself to those you do not know.
8. Keep your business card on you.
9. Work efficiently.
10. Ask questions.
11. Follow up on your emails.
12. Proofread said emails before sending them out!
13. Meet all deadlines.
14. Be reliable.
15. Offer to help someone else with a project or task.
16. Listen carefully.
17. Pay attention and stay focused.
18.Be upfront about your mistakes - it happens!
19. Do not gossip (ever!)
20. Be a positive source of energy.

Keep on keeping on!

Skills: ????

You've mastered your resume. All of your internships, jobs, and volunteer-work are perfectly formatted and described. You even designed a brand new header for yourself! But there's still one little section at the bottom that you just can't seem to figure out: skills. You certainly have skills, but what is best to put down when looking for a job in PR/Marketing/Communications? Check out some of the skills we think are best to put you at an advantage during your next interview:

Social Media - As young adults in today's society, it seems so mundane to actually know your way around Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. But you cannot forget to mention that you do! As someone looking to work in the Communications field, it's very possible that social media will be a part of the job description. Outside of all of the social networks that you use personally, consider getting yourself familiar with a few more, like Wordpress, Pinterest, and Hootsuite.

( Source:Design Razzi )

Graphics - Though it may not be mandatory for PR Executive jobs, knowing how to use Photoshop, Adobe, or InDesign will help you stand out next to other candidates for the job. Chances are you will need to plan an initiative or promotional materials, and instead of outsourcing, you will be able to take the reigns on the project yourself. Having these graphics skills will make creating content for fliers, pamphlets, or invitations easier and just the way you imagine them for the client's needs.

Production - Just as design allows you to handle the creative side of your initiative, knowing minor production techniques will allow you work on additional types of projects. Learning about video and audio recording and editing is beneficial so that you can use these outlets to promote your client or organization. Job postings in certain industries, like entertainment, may even specify that these skills are preferred in the applicant.

Presentation - As an intern, you may be given the opportunity to sit in on business calls and client meetings, so presentation skills are always a plus. If you had to pass a public speaking course to receive your degree, make note & put down public speaking as a skill. Additionally, PowerPoint and Prezi are both presentation tools that you should be sure to mention your experience with to a future employer.

( Source: Location 180 )

Make the Most of Your Morning

Whether it's the summer and your responsibilities seem slimmer, or the fall when you have no choice but to be awake earlier than you would like - the morning is an important step towards a successful day. Before you get caught up in checking your email for 30 minutes, consider dabbling in any or all of these activities for a brighter a.m.

( Source: Flickr )

Work out - Going on a run or heading to the gym during the first half of your day is a guaranteed source of energy. If you value fitness, then chances are going to the gym is on your to-do list anyway, so why not think about going after you wake up? Running an aesthetically-pleasing route in the morning under the sun is also a source of inspiration!

Drink up - No, no, not that kind of drinking up. Make your favorite coffee, latte, juice, or smoothie to put a little pep in your step. Think of it as treating yourself, but also something you need! Depending on your beverage, you'll receive the proper nutrients or energy boost to start your day on the right foot.

Chit chat - Personally, my favorite part of the morning is sitting down with my roommates over coffee and chit-chatting before we get the day started. Especially during the academic year, everyone has somewhere to be and it's good to remind yourself that you're not the only one with what seems like a 4-page to-do list. Sit outside and call a friend, or wish a good morning to your neighbors.

The morning hours are often associated with a living nightmare, but with the proper sleep and scheduling, you can wake up and love the morning just as much as you love your night life. Hopefully these three short & sweet activities will leave you with a smile on your face when you walk out the front door!

Have any other tips or tricks for getting the morning started off right? Let us know; we could all use them!

Dressed to Impress (In the Hot, Hot Heat)

During the summer, I think we can all agree that "business casual" begins a little more difficult. Your skirt is skinning to your skin, your blazer is completely useless, and those black men's dress shoes are attracting the sun right to you. Commutes become a nightmare as you walk into the office with your hair matted with sweat and your mascara is barely still on your eyelashes. You really do not want to waltz into work in just short shorts and a tank top, so what are you to do? Fear not - we've compiled some great tips for keeping cool in the heat!

Tip #1: Restock your closet. The pieces you would frequently wear in the fall or winter are less relevant during the summer months. Restock your closet if need be with light fabrics that won't weigh heavy on you in the heat. Layers can still exist in the summertime, but you will be more comfortable if they are lighter in weight and even color.

Tip #2: Wear it different. Say you have multiple button-down shirts that you typically sport to the office. But why can't you wear them? You love them and they look great! Here's what you can do: roll up your sleeves. Re-adjusting the style of the business casual clothes you already own allows you more opportunity in the fashion department. If a pair of your pants are on their way out anyway, consider cutting them into appropriate-length shorts for the office.

Tip #3: Know your hair. The humidity will sneak up and ruin your hair - it's a given. Looking polished and presentable is important in the workplace, and with your hair going every which way after your commute, it seems like all odds are against you. But if you know your hair and get a few more styles in your book, you'll be great to go. Ladies, look into learning a few new easy & quick up-dos, as well as incorporating headbands. Gentlemen, consider using a new product or gel to keep your locks in place.

Do you have any interesting stories about dealing with the heat on the way to office? Share with us, or post any of your own tips below!

4 Tips for Your Next Phone Interview

Some employers may make the decision to interview you over the phone before meeting with you for an in-person. In this case, it's important to prep the same as you would for an in-person interview - but with a emphasis on a few different things. By skipping all the preparations with appearance and transportation, you have more time to focus on studying your experience and the company itself!

(Source: The Macho Macho)

1. Do your research - Take the time to get to know the company/organization you are applying with. Visit their website and check out the mission, upcoming events, and blog or newsletter. As aspiring Communications professionals, your tasks as an intern or employee will most likely involve working these portions of the business. It'll be easy for you to relate your previous professional experiences to the company's events, writing, and promotions.

2. Find an appropriate place to take the call - Make sure you have an area where you can sit down and take the phone call for an extended amount of time without being interrupted or distracted. Being distracted by the things and people around you could alter the way you answer a question, or simply leave you forgetting something important you really wanted to mention to the employer. It's best to be alone when taking the phone call.

3. Listen - The heart of the interview is all about listening. Even though you are not sitting across from this employer at the moment, it's essential that you are still 100% invested in the conversation. If you do need the interviewer to a repeat a question though, do not be afraid to ask; it's better to have heard and understood the question correctly, then to answer it thinking it were a different question.

4. Articulate - Speak with the utmost interest and energy. Just as you are listening intently, the interviewer will be as well. It's possible that the connection could be bad or a surrounding sound could interfere with your conversation, so by articulating, you are already preparing to be heard clearly no matter what. Make sure to smile throughout the conversation - the interviewer will hear smiling in your voice!

Would you prefer being interviewed over the phone or in-person? Why? Let us know!