McDonald's Transparency Campaign: The Truth Behind the McNugget, Big Mac, and More

(Photo from v3con.com)

Have you ever wondered what's really in a Big Mac? If you have, you'll be happy to know that it is possible to find out.

Recently, McDonald’s has developed a campaign to increase its customer relations.The campaign, which features various videos and FAQ sheets regarding many popular menu items, is aimed at increasing the transparency of the company in regards to the ingredients that it uses in its food.

Over the last few years, McDonald’s has taken many hits for rumors regarding pink slime used in its food. From photos of the aforementioned slime to articles that tell of horror stories from the chain’s workers, hundreds of individuals have taken it upon themselves to fight against the company’s brand.

However, McDonald’s chose to fight back.

As any PR practitioner knows, good public relations requires a high level of transparency. In order to gain respect and trust from consumers, a company or organization needs to be honest about their products, business dealings, and more.

By allowing the public to see the beginning to end process of making McDonald’s signature items, those that were lost through the pink slime craze may see a new side of the company and decide to give it a second chance.

Also, through this campaign, McDonald’s addresses the rumors that have been plaguing its name for years. Not one stone is left unturned in this campaign, and that allows for the company to lead way for a new, more simplistic menu that is rumored to be rolled out within the next year.

If you would like to see this campaign for yourself, visit www.mcdonalds.com/us/en/your_questions/our_food.html. From there, find the videos and FAQ pages that correspond with the menu items that you are curious about, and see the difference between the interenet buzz and the actual happenings behind the scenes of Ronald McDonald’s home base.

What do you think about McDonald’s transparency campaign? Let us know in the comments!

How To Stay Motivated For The Spring Semester

For many PRowlers, this is their last semester of their undergraduate college career at Temple University. Senioritis may have already kicked in for some, and for others, not quite yet.

All of the students who are not graduating this semester and not yet job hunting, are probably most looking forward to summer vacation; taking a break from school work and internships and most of all, being home enjoying home-cooked meals and sleeping in so late that half the day has passed them by.  

With just four months left of the semester, below is a list of different ways to stay motivated and finish strong. 

Say no to social media, say yes to the job search

Social media has become a part of many college students’ routines. They wake up, check their email, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat all before they get out of bed and fully open their eyes.

Instead of checking out other people reaching their goals and having the time of their lives (and not being afraid to show it), switch up your social media obsession to a job search obsession. Through job searching, you will become motivated by realizing you are finally ready to take on everything the real world has to offer, and more. 

Reach out to PRSSA and PRowl alumni

There are many advantages to knowing and staying connected to Temple alumni. At the top of that list falls relatable experience. Alumni have been in your shoes before and know exactly what you are going through, whether you are feeling stuck, lost, or unmotivated. Take advantage of the connections you have to learn what these alumni did to overcome that lethargic feeling you have wanted to overcome recently.

Write everything down

College is something that can’t be described by many.  The definition is an “educational institution”; but I think we all know it is so much more than that. It is an indescribable experience, and one that can’t be lived twice (as an undergraduate).

For this reason, it is extremely important to write in a journal of everything you are going through. This could include day-to-day activities, accomplishments, hardships, or just your simple thoughts. Through writing you will learn more about yourself and delve into your own world of discovering your dreams. After each journal entry you should feel more determined to make these dreams into a reality. The hardest part is picking up that pencil and filling up that blank space in front of your face.  

Take a group fitness class

I say “fitness class” instead of “go to the gym” for a reason. A fitness class has a variety of perks. People who go to a class are required to keep up with the instructor and class, whereas people who go to the gym could simply run on the treadmill for 30-60 minutes and call it a day. Fitness groups make you push and surround yourself with motivated individuals wanting and craving to get in shape.

It is important to surround yourself with these types of motivated individuals. There is also a set time for fitness classes so you will have no excuse not to make the class. If it worked for your schedule one week, it could definitely work a second and third week.  Spring group classes will begin January 19. Learn more about group fitness at Temple’s Independence Blue Cross Recreation Center here.

Create a bucket list

Write down everything you want to accomplish before your college career ends—and no, I don’t just mean acing all of your exams, or finally having the guts to call that cute guy that gave you his number the other night.  

Choose activities that will make your heart race, make you feel alive and truly make you ask yourself “Why did I ever sign up for this?” It is in these moments where you realize you are truly living. Self-motivation is the only way to cross everything off your bucket list. Accomplishing your list will give you a sense of gratitude and self-satisfaction— a feeling no one can give, or take away from you.

So, what are you waiting for? Get up and get moving. It is time to make this semester your best yet.

What are some ways you stay motivated? 

This guest blog post was written by PRowl staff member Amanda White.

Build Your Confidence In Conversation

As a public relations student, throughout classes, student organizations and internships we have all been taught the “secrets” to becoming a successful public relation specialist. Time and time again we have heard that one of the most successful tools we need to optimize is networking. Networking is basically building personalized and beneficial relationships with other professionals.

Obviously, networking is extremely important and seems pretty simple. One of the first steps on the road to success is making a good and memorable first impression and building new relationships. Therefore, having a more outgoing and personable personality can be an asset to an aspiring PR professional. But, even the shyest PR student can learn to be confident in their conversational skills and eventually a confident networker. But first, these students should focus on feeling comfortable meeting and making conversation with new people.

Here are some tips for those quieter PR students:

1. Read

Obviously, as a quieter individual, meeting new people and making small talk can seem awkward. However, if you learn to feel confident in your conversational skills, this task won’t seem as daunting. For example, reading is an enjoyable way to learn more about a variety of different topics. You never know when something you learned while reading could come up and provide you with easy conversation.  Obviously, not everyone likes to read but there are hundreds of ways to expand your general knowledge. For instance, watch the news or play lots of Trivia Crack (which you probably already do).

2.  Be Curious

Sometimes, being shy or introverted makes one feel uncomfortable talking about themselves. However, developing a genuine curiosity about others and learning to ask questions can easily solve this problem. Being interested in others and what they have to say is a great way to deflect the conversation from you and allow others to talk about himself or herself. This also has the added benefit of making someone else feel appreciated!

3. Smile 

Smiling is an excellent way to begin building relationships because it signals you are open to one. By smiling more, you make yourself seem friendly and approachable to others. Also, smiling will allow others to feel more comfortable and relaxed around you, which will create a relaxing atmosphere. 

This guest blog post was written by PRowl staff member Emily Charles.

PR Resolutions and How to Keep Them

The dreaded New Year’s Resolution. Each January, we choose a goal to focus on for the next 12 months only to see our efforts fizzle out in weeks. We often focus on resolutions that affect us personally like changing out diet, exercise schedule or saving/spending habits. This year, instead try some simple but beneficial professional resolutions that are easy to keep.

• Keep up with local and national news. Sitting down with a cup of coffee and skimming The Inquirer may seem like an impossible task, plus we all know PR pros drink their coffee on the go. But it doesn't have to be that way. Download a variation of news outlets’ apps onto your smartphone and check them throughout the day. Changing your apps’ settings will allow you to receive live updates when big stories are posted.  This lets you to stay up to date with local stories, national news and international affairs.
• Stay in touch with contacts. You've spent the last year networking with PR pros and students alike. Now it’s time to do some work to maintain those relationships. This can be done easier than you think. Send a simple personalized email to the members of your network wishing them all the best this year or even a personalized Tweet just to say hello.  This will not only help foster these relationships but will keep you fresh in their mind if any opportunities may arise in the upcoming year.
• Write more. We all known writing is a key skill to have in PR and, as the old saying goes, practice makes perfect. Joining PRSSA’s newsletter committee offers an opportunity to work on your writing while getting your article published in the newsletter. Another great way to both practice your writing and add to your portfolio is to volunteer to write posts for PRowl's blog. You can also create a blog of your own focusing on personal or professional interests. Check out PRowl Firm Director Amber Burns’ blog or Assistant Firm Director JordanWashington’s for inspiration.

We want to hear from you, what’s your PR New Year’s Resolution? 

Four PRo Tips For Job-Hunting Seniors

The holidays are over, the start of the semester is around the corner and reality is becoming more real. For seniors everywhere, the next few months will be filled with interviewing, resume critiques and (hopefully) receiving the perfect job offer to commemorate four years of hard work.

Entering the "real world" can be a looming thought, and is one that many seniors have tried to put off having to face for many months now. Searching for the perfect job (or any job, for that matter) can be quite the overwhelming task. When you have the same end goal as the rest of your graduating class, it's easy to feel like a small fish in a huge pond.

Despite the pressures and concerns, we should all take comfort in the fact that this happens every semester. Seniors graduate, search for jobs and end up just fine. And you will, too!

Here are four tips to help you kick off your job hunt like a PRo, giving you the chance to start early in the semester.

1. Evaluate Your Network

Who do you know, and how can they help you? Take some time to consider if past mentors, professors, bosses or internship colleagues may be able to help make your search a little less stressful. Send emails or handwritten notes to check and and re-spark conversations (that you've hopefully been keeping up with all along). Really beef up your LinkedIn profile and make those connections more than just meaningless digital data.

2. Visit the University Career Center

This may seem a bit cliche, but considering you've been paying for your education for 4 years now, it's best to use every resource at your disposal. Ask for advice on your resume, cover letter and interviewing techniques. Does your university offer any assistance with connecting you with local alumni who you may want to network with? These are all valuable questions that can lighten the load of your job-searching burden.

3. Compile Your Accomplishments

No, I don't mean write a resume (though you should have one of those, too). I mean physically gather all of your accomplished works in one place, and create a portfolio of sorts. Your resume will outline the work that you've done over the years, but having the physical work in front of you will spark memories about just how good you are at what you do. Go through the materials you've gathered and develop taking points about your strongest work. Then, take those talking points and pieces into interviews for an even stronger self-pitch.

4. Develop a Plan

Right now, anything is possible. Your future career may be right in front of you or a plane ride away. To help narrow down the possibilities, it's easiest to work from a strategic plan (treat your job search like a client). Decide what you'd like to do, and what you wouldn't like to do post-grad. Select companies that you could see yourself working for and set up informational interviews, face-to-face or phone meetings. Create lists of why you'd be an ideal candidate for all of the positions you're interested in. Don't walk into the job search blind --know what's out there and go for it!

Seniors, what methods are you using to make the job search easier? And to those who have already graduated and landed their jobs, what advice do you have for current seniors?

How To Keep Your Social Media Personal and PRofessional

We’ve all heard the advice “in order to get hired after graduation, do not post anything you would not want your future employer to see.” However, being Public Relations students, we have the opportunity to use social media to our advantage. Social media provides a platform for us to market ourselves, network with others and keep up-to-date on new trends. At the same time, we can still use it to keep in touch with friends and take Buzzfeed quizzes. Here are some tips and tricks for maintaining the balance between personal and professional on social media:

Be aware of what you post and repost. Social media has given us the ability to share our lives with the world, the good and bad. This general rule applies to thinking twice before posting pictures from a party, but also checking out someone’s bio before retweeting them. Also, if you’re having a bad day or have the urge to start an argument with a friend over social media, don’t. Put the phone or laptop down until you’re feeling better. Keep in mind, social media is a reflection of your life aka make your brand one that people will remember.

Interact with your audience. Commenting on others Facebook posts or recommending a blog post via Twitter are great ways to promote your own friends and followers, while building relationships. LinkedIn has also become a new form of promoting your professional self. By searching #PRSSA or “PR student” you can find people with similar interests and make more connections within your own city and around the country. To market yourself personally and professionally, create a bio on Twitter that people can relate to. Whether it’s tagging @PRowlPR if you’re a staff member or mentioning that you play a sport for your school’s team, you are guaranteed more exposure.

 Change your privacy settings (maybe). If you do plan on posting and tweeting things that could be considered inappropriate or controversial, make your security settings private. With that being said, professionals do understand you have a personal life and would probably find you boring if all you posted about was your internship or job. One way to decide whether or not you should post something is to ask yourself, “would I do or say this in real life?” or “would I want my younger sibling to see this?”

How do you balance work and play on social media? Let us know in the comments!

This guest blog post was written by PRowl staff member Merideth Ketterer. Follow Merideth on Twitter @M_Ketterer.

3 of the Best PR Moments of 2014

With 2014 behind us and 2015 officially in gear, it’s important to reflect on some of the most important moments of 2014. Every year, it seems as though there is a new batch of PR crises, scandals and campaigns that through reflection, can teach us as PR professionals for the future. Here is a batch of some of the best PR stories of 2014:

Ice Bucket Challenge

The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge took the world by storm this summer. The Internet exploded with videos of people from all around the world dumping buckets of ice on their heads in order to raise awareness for the ALS Association. Each person who participated in the challenge was asked to nominate three people to pass the challenge on to creating a viral phenomenon. Helping to raise millions of dollars for the ALS Association, the Ice Bucket Challenge succeeded in creating a campaign that individuals were excited to participate in.

CVS Caremark

CVS Caremark’s public announcement that it was going to stop selling tobacco products is an example of how brands can use campaigns and communications to build awareness of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts. Not only did this further brand them as a business that has a higher regard for the nation’s health, but it also teaches other organizations and brands that taking a chance and making a bold choice such as this one can really pay off if followed by positive action.

The NBA

While other leagues such as the NFL seemed to be stuck in a crisis communications loop, the NBA and new commissioner Adam Shiner were able to act effectively on the Donald Sterling racism crisis that happened in the midst of the 2014 playoffs. Now ex Los Angles Clippers owner Sterling was caught making racist remarks during a private phone conversation. Silver took swift action and banned Sterling from the NBA for life, fined him $2.5 million and persuaded the other owners to force him to sell the club, which he ultimately did. By taking hard and fast action, Silver demonstrated how to not let a PR crisis get out of control. 

This guest blog post was written by PRowl staff member Rute Barkai.