PPRA Annual Meeting Recap

Wednesday evening at the PPRA Annual Meeting, the Philadelphia Public Relations Association honored past Temple University PRSSA President, Mackenzie Krott, with the PPRA Dr. Jean Brodey Award. This award honors a student for outstanding interest and professional promise in the field of public relations, academic excellence and community contribution. With a warm welcoming of applause from PPRA members, Mackenzie thanked everyone for their continued support to PRSSA as well as to us eager PR students, whether it be as a mentor, an informational interview or sending us internship openings, they continue to motivate and help us in any way. 

I was lucky enough to join Mackenzie at the event and was reassured once again of the importance and necessity of joining PPRA and their role in PR in the area. We were able to network with familiar faces, esteemed alumni, as well as new faces that we cannot wait to make further connections with. 

The evening started with Tom McGrath, editor of Philadelphia Magazine, as the keynote speaker, followed by the induction of the incoming president and Board of Directors. Tom McGrath spoke about the future of Philadelphia Magazine in print as well as the ever-expanding need for online content. He also mentioned the controversial topics that the magazine covers and how they deal with reactions and potential backlash. We were all excited to hear his positive attitude and confidence about the future of publishing and the magazine, and pleasantly shocked that the number of subscriptions has not changed, even with the presence of multiple online ways of receiving news. Seeing the new Board of Directors inducted was exciting, with multiple Temple and PRSSA alumni serving on the board, it furthered our determination to work hard so that these positions could be in our future. 

A professional association event that took time to award and focus on Mackenzie was incredible to see. All of her hard work has paid off and the award summarizes her qualities. No one was more deserving! 

This guest blog post was written by PRSSA President Brianna Rooney. 

Social Media’s Growing Role in Crises

Monday’s terrible and startling Boston Marathon bombings undoubtedly put the nation in a state of shock. Among the fear and utter devastation in the wake of the event, social media has allowed for stories of inspiration and true compassion to emerge.

During the height Monday’s events, certain groups and individuals used social media to their fullest advantage with one shared goal: helping those in need.

The Boston Police Department did an excellent job keeping the public and the media up to speed on what was happening. Among the many rumors and false tweets that circulated, they constantly set the record straight.  

Just hours after the bombing, The American Red Cross tweeted the following, showing how quickly people had responded to help:

Another inspirational moment came when a Google Doc began circulating via Twitter. The document was created by Boston residents who had space to offer up in their homes for those affected by the bombings. Soon after, the document grew to include thousands of listings. Take a look at the document here. 

Finally, one of the most moving tweets of the day came from the NBC Sports Network. If you need a small reminder that there is still good in the world, read this tweet and remember it:

Did you see any other inspirational posts on social media? Be sure to share them with us. 

A Night of Networking with PPRA

Last night, Temple PRSSA and PRowl members enjoyed an evening of networking at The Philadelphia Public Relations Association’s annual event, Careers 101. The event, which was targeted toward students and young professionals, turned out a great crowd at Drexel University. 

Approximately 20 Temple PR students were in attendance. They networked with professionals from a variety of fields in PR, listened to a panel of experienced speakers, won great raffle prizes and received critiques on their resumes and cover letters. 

The event was great, especially for younger members. Sophomore PRSSA member Tyler Cameron reflects on the event by saying:

 “The panelists gave us real life examples of what kind of person is successful in the current PR world. Listening to the PR professionals instruct us on interviews, work ethic, resume building  and general facts on how to make it in the public relations world really inspired me to do my best to be as successful as each of them. The interactive networking session really excited me about my future in the public relations industry, and confirmed I’m in the right major.”

You can check out tweets from last night’s event by searching the hashtag, #PPRACareers101 on Twitter. Also, be sure to follow @PPRA for updates on their future events! 

This post was written by Temple PRSSA President Mackenzie Krott.

Obama’s New ‘Gen44’ Campaign

Knowing he must once again capture the under-30 vote this election season, President Obama has launched a fund raising campaign called ‘Gen44′. Short for Generation Forty Four, this mission intends to gather young voters to mobilize and support Obama’s reelection campaign.

Take a look at the video message from President Obama that appears on the site’s homepage: 

“Because the best advocate for this campaign isn’t me, it’s you.” – perhaps the most important line in that video. Obama is calling on the young voters who got him elected in ’08 to do the same thing again. And this time he wants them to bring their friends. He knows that voter turnout will not be as strong this time around (for both parties), and knows that he must fight hard to win that demographic again.

While the message of this campaign is great, there are a few things that a lot of people may overlook. First, what exactly does Gen44 stand for? It could represent the fact Obama is our forty-fourth president, or could reference to the target audience of this campaign, which are voters under the age of 40. Regardless, it may cause some confusion among young voters. Another thing people may overlook is the fact that this campaign is a fundraising tactic. While it does give young voters the amazing opportunity to volunteer with the campaign, the first option to click on the website is to donate money. It is also framed by Obama as a fundraising initiative. While fundraising is obviously essential to any election, young voters may be slightly unaware of the real mission of this program.

What are your thoughts on this new campaign? Let us know!


This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Mackenzie Krott 

Election 2012 as a PR Learning Tool

Whether you’re a political news junkie or someone who has never really had interest in Washington, as a PR student it is important to pay close attention to this election season. So many skills we use in PR will be put to use by candidates over the next seven months, and it is important that we are able to pick up on them. Here are a few things to look out for along the campaign trail:

The Language of Persuasion

PR rhetoric and political rhetoric have a deep rooted bond when it comes to persuasion. The goal of both is to identify and capture audiences, then eventually get those captivated audiences to act on their opinions and beliefs.

Watch the next GOP debate and focus on one candidate. Get familiar with their beliefs and policies, then watch that same candidate speak at a college or at a small town hall meeting. Notice how drastically the language changes. The key ideas are the same, but the rhetoric is totally different and tailored to the specific audience.

Crisis Communication

Let’s face it--blunders, embarrassing mistakes and misused words are inevitable and expected in presidential campaigns. Every GOP candidate has been under fire for one thing or another throughout this campaign. It’s not necessarily what happens but how it gets resolved. Most slip-ups are forgotten about a week later, however if they’re handled poorly they never go away.

The next time a candidate has something negative surface from their past, watch how they handle the crisis. Do they spin the story into a new, positive idea? Do they own up to their past and move on? Think of how you would handle the situation, and how you would advise the candidate to move forward.

Get Your News from a Variety of Sources

This is the most important aspect to keep in mind during an election for everyone, not just those in PR. The only way to fully understand an issue is to hear both sides of the story. If you’re politically conservative and only watch Fox News or politically liberal and only get your information from MSNBC, you aren’t seeing the whole picture. Listen to an opposing view-- it could allow you to see an issue in a completely different light or could ultimately strengthen your own original beliefs.

What other PR tactics have you been paying attention to this election season?

This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Mackenzie Krott.

PRSA Philly hosts Twitter Chat on Crisis Communication

Have you ever browsed through your Twitter feed noticing a surge of tweets focused on one specific topic, sporting a shared hash tag? You were most likely reading the tweets of someone participating in a Twitter chat- a great tool for PR students to engage in a specific conversation with peers and professionals in their field.

The Philadelphia chapter of the Public Relations Society of America hosted its first Twitter chat last Wednesday, August 3rd, with the conversation centered on crisis communication. The chat featured insight and real-life examples from Anne Buchanan, president of Buchanan PR, as well as a number of PR practitioners from around the country. By using the hash tag #PRSAPHL, the 32 participants of the chat were able to follow and engage with each other throughout the hour-long conversation. The #PRSAPHL hash tag peaked at 250 mentions during the height of the chat, and was also a trending topic in Philadelphia.

Some ideas discussed during the chat included the development of a crisis communication plan, the importance of including the legal team in crisis management, and the roles that the press and social media play in a crisis situation. Make sure to check out the chat transcript here to see what all was discussed.

The PRSA Philly chat was my first Twitter chat, and I highly recommend that other PR students get involved! There are plenty of other PR-focused chats out there for students to get involved with, and lots of helpful tools to make these chats more manageable.

Be sure to follow the @PRSAPhilly handle on Twitter for updates about future chats!

This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Mackenzie Krott.

Staying 'PR' focused while Studying Abroad

I have recently been referring to my upcoming semester in Rome as a dilemma- not because I am not looking forward to it (ask anyone, I AM!) but because it is really starting to affect my development and opportunities as a PR major. We all know that experience is key when it comes to working in the public relations field- and being out of the country taking four art history classes isn't getting me too far ahead.

However, from seeing other PR students spend time abroad, I’ve come to realize a few benefits of this time spent in another country. I’ve come up with a few ways that I (and any other communications student) can keep involved and connected while studying abroad:

1. WRITING -- I plan on keeping an in-depth blog while I learn, live, and travel in Italy. After researching different travel blogs and speaking with other students who have done the same, I've realized that this is one of the greatest benefits of studying abroad. Telling a story and captivating an audience is a key task that PR pro's must be able to master. I also hope to be able to contribute to other travel blogs and websites as well.

2. KEEPING AN ONLINE PRESENCE -- With the amount of knowledge I've learned from social media over the past year or so, it would be very hard for me to abandon it simply because I'll be out of the country. I do however, want to live 'la dolce vita' and not be consumed with my laptop and other things the entire time, but I will try my best to stay actively involved with the people I have made connections with through using social media. And with maintaining my presence online, I also strive to keep up with industry news, trends, and current events back home in America.

3. BECOMING GLOBALLY AWARE -- I haven't thought of it much before, but living on the other side of the world for four months has some hidden perks. It could give me a definite edge over those who I may be soon competing with for internships and even jobs after graduation. Understanding and living within another culture could greatly benefit me when it comes to targeting specific audiences in future jobs. I think living as an outsider in another culture will teach me not only patience, but respect and appreciation of other types of people. And that in itself has the power to help with any type of job.

This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Mackenzie Krott.

SkillShare: A New Way for Philadelphia to Learn

When most of us hear the word ‘learn’, we tend to think paper, pencil, professor, and so on and so forth. We usually don’t think of words like networking, socializing, and sharing. However, this is exactly the mission of a unique new organization that is preparing to launch within the next two weeks in Philadelphia. SkillShare is a community marketplace to learn anything from anyone. By combining the thoughts of people who are eager to learn with those who are eager to educate, the result is a connected and well-informed community of people.

I had the chance to talk with recent Temple grad, Brendan Lowry, who currently plays a huge role in the development of SkillShare Philly, and found out a lot of great information about the organization. A key idea he expressed to me was that everyone, no matter their industry or background has at least one valuable skill to contribute to their community. When you combine that idea with the thought that we all share an innate thirst for knowledge, the possibilities are endless.

Brendan said, “Skillshare’s website is a platform for individuals to seamlessly list classes and encourage interaction”. For example, a PR professional in the city who has experience with social media could post a ‘Social Media 101’ class on SkillShare. Students, professors, and any other SkillShare users interested in social media could sign up for the class. In addition to learning about social media, they would have the chance to network and interact with people from Philadelphia who share similar interests. Check out examples of some SkillShare classes here.

SkillShare Philly is very close to launching, but still needs to be ‘unlocked’ by those in the Philadelphia community. Once this happens, classes will be posted and the learning can begin!

To help launch SkillShare Philly, visit their website here to unlock the city. Also, if you are interested in joining the SkillShare team as a volunteer Community Ambassador, contact Brendan Lowry at LowryBrendan@Gmail.com.

For the latest updates on SkillShare, follow them on Twitter @SkillSharePHI and be sure to follow Brendan @Brelow.

What are some classes you would be interested in attending or teaching?

This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Mackenzie Krott.

Dove's Not-So-Clean Ad Campaign

Nothing illustrates the power of the blogosphere more perfectly than a textbook PR dilemma. The Dove soap brand recently came under fire for a national ad that many claim to be racist. Before I delve into the crisis, take a glance at the ad for yourself:


See anything questionable? The ad is for Dove’s VisibleCare Body Wash, which claims to improve the overall appearance of women’s skin in just one week. Dove’s media headache began when the blog ‘Copyranter’ posted the following about the ad: “Dove body wash turns Black women into Latino women into White women.” The post explained how the ad shows black skin as bad and white skin as good, by having the skin color get progressively lighter by the ‘after’ or better side of the ad.

This dilemma brings up the question of how PR professionals should react to negative blog or social media posts. Fight back and risk saying something offensive or let the people talk and spread rumors? In this case, Dove kept a low profile by simply replying once to the original blog saying,

“…The ad is intended to illustrate the benefits of using Dove VisibleCare Body Wash, by making skin visibly more beautiful in just one week. All three women are intended to demonstrate the ‘after’ product benefit. We do not condone any activity or imagery that intentionally insults any audience.”

Little action on Twitter has been taken by Dove, and their Facebook page has been managed by one Dove commenter to defend the company. In my opinion, Dove handled this situation very responsibly, by replying to the original blog that started the chatter and to no one else. The new world of blogging creates these new types of problems for PR professionals everyday, and crises such as these are prime examples of how to deal with them.

Personally, the ad should have never seen the light of day, because when looked at closely it does give off a negative image towards darker skinned women. Looking at the ad again, it would make much more sense to have all of the women standing under the ‘after’ sign, showing that women of all skin colors are beautiful.

This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Mackenzie Krott.

From The White House to…Facebook?

Facebook has been in dire need of a good communications team for quite a while. Who might they turn to? Most people wouldn't think a former White House press secretary would be a good fit for the job, but that just may be the case. President Obama's former press secretary Robert Gibbs may be in consideration for the job.

Facebook is on the verge of becoming a publically traded company in 2012, which will make it crucial for Facebook to clean up their act when it comes to communication. Facebook has been criticized in the past for its lack communication with users regarding changes and updates to the site. CEO Mark Zuckerberg tends to come under fire in regards to his less-than-professional business skills and techniques.

Gibbs would be responsible for communicating Facebook's message to users, investors, and the media. Skills used during his time working in the White House such as crisis communication and working with the media will most likely be used again if he were to take the position at Facebook.

A lot of things will soon be changing for Facebook. Possibly becoming a publicly-traded company in 2012 and adding more specialized features for users are sure to bring the company lots of press and attention- and they will need someone like Gibbs to get the job done correctly.

This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Mackenzie Krott.

The PR Strategy Behind Penn State’s THON

Have you heard more about Penn State’s THON this year compared to years past? This is most likely due to the fact that over $9.5 million was raised in support of the fight against pediatric cancer, which is truly inspirational. Another reason you may have been more aware of the event is due to the outstanding public relations strategies that were carried out by students to attract attention and awareness about the event and the cause.

As the largest student-run philanthropy in the world, THON already has a great reputation for its fundraising efforts. The event, which is a two-day, non-stop dance marathon, is planned and carried out solely by Penn State students. Committees and captains are set in place to oversee every aspect- from donor/alumni relations, to entertainment, and specifically public relations.

In a blog post written by Colleen Hanrahan, a student at Penn State, the different divisions of the public relations committee are explained:

Media Relations:
By contacting local, state, and national media through press releases, the media relations captains are able to keep the public up to date about THON and are able to inform people how they can get involved.

Street Teams:
This group uses guerilla marketing techniques when it comes to spreading the word about THON. Members promote events to the campus and surrounding communities through excitement and word of mouth.

Publication Management:
This group creates the “Diamond Guide,” a publication that explains all things THON. This is distributed to attendees, visitors, and participants to provide facts, pictures, and basic information about THON.

Alternative Media:
This group maintains THON’s social media, which includes Twitter, Facebook, and a newly created blog.

An organized PR effort is clearly needed to make THON a success. Raising $9.5 million for pediatric cancer and gaining a ton of national attention? I’d say they did a pretty good job.

This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Mackenzie Krott.

Is College the Right Time to Travel Abroad?

Each year, over 200,000 American students study abroad in foreign locations. Although most students would jump at the chance to learn in another country, there are a lot of factors that could weigh into that decision, especially when it comes to school.

As for me, I have known that I would be studying abroad since I was a kid. It’s always been a part of my “plan,” and I planned accordingly. But for so many, things in college can come up and prevent a student from going abroad. A sacrifice of extra-curricular activities, correct sequence of classes, and even social life can hold someone back from studying abroad- and that isn’t a bad thing!

The hardest factor in my decision was having to put all of my activities on hold, especially those that are helping me prepare for a future job. For public relations majors, experience is key and not having any public relations classes or involvement is a huge risk. One idea for public relations majors studying abroad is to obtain a foreign internship. By understanding a foreign company, one could come back to America with an even greater understanding of people and how the world communicates.

What are your thoughts on studying abroad in college?

This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Mackenzie Krott.

The Ultimate PAID Internship: Starting Your Own PR Business

Who says you can’t be your own boss in college? Recent advice from a guest speaker in class made me think long and hard about this question. This speaker, who has had jobs all over the PR spectrum, informed us of what she did in college to build her portfolio and take a break from typical internships.

By making a few business cards and handing them out to small companies around her campus, she gained a handful of clients who she did press and advertising for. She charged for the work she was doing, all while gaining important experience. Aside from getting practice on writing press releases and contacting the media, she learned how to manage finances and run her own business.

As a college student, I know finding a paid internship is like finding gold. They are rare and highly competitive, so when the time comes to start searching for one, I just may consider following this brilliant and innovative plan. Who wouldn’t want to gain experience, be their own boss, and make a few extra bucks in college?

This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Mackenzie Krott.

What I Learned from Kelly Cutrone

“When you’re following your inner voice, doors tend to eventually open for you, even if they mostly slam shut at first.”

No, these aren’t the words of an inspirational talk-show host or lines from a sappy self-help book. They are wise words from sharp-tongued PR maven Kelly Cutrone’s book, “If You Have to Cry, Go Outside.” After reading the book, I learned that there is more to her than her scenes on shows like The Hills and Kell On Earth, her all black outfits, and her brutally honest comments.

I was pleasantly surprised by the encouraging and maternal tone of the book. Cutrone offers some great advice for all Public Relations hopefuls, not just those working in Fashion PR. My PR focus is non-profit, with a strong interest in museums and art. I never thought a Fashion PR book could relate to me and motivate me to step out of my comfort zone to get what I truly want in life, but I was wrong!

Here are the best things I learned from Cutrone’s book:

Surround Yourself with the Right People
Cutrone talks a lot about surrounding yourself with people who will guide you in the right direction and help you figure out what you want to do with your life. She says, “Start by identifying people in your community you look up to and then, graciously and with their blessing, use their hard work and experience to your advantage. Pick their brains.”

Treat Internships and Early Jobs Like Gold
Cutrone treats her interns like family and expects hard work and complete dedication from them in return. She explains just how important internships and entry-level jobs are, no matter what the tasks include. Picking up dry-cleaning and going on coffee runs may not be so glamorous, but those jobs will lead to bigger and better things in the future, she says.

“Give Good Phone”
One of the most beneficial things I learned from reading Cutrone’s book is to always rely on the phone to get things done. Forget the Blackberry, Twitter, or even standard emails. In PR, communication is key, and the best and most successful communication comes from actually speaking to someone, not having them read it off a screen.

This guest blog was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Mackenzie Krott.