Employers Do Look At Your Profile Online!

The Infographic below shows the different social networks that employers turn to receive additional information on prospective employees. The exact same way we use these networks to connect to different business and job hunt, employers use it as a form of way to get to know you "better." Check out the infographic, Mashable created. 

Twitter Action News

With national and local news outlets posting up-to-the-minute updates on breaking stories using Twitter, it's no secret that many people rely on the website as a source for their news updates. While getting information through tweets can be quick and convenient, it can also be inaccurate. Unlike television news coverage where reporters can take the time to get more information as it comes, Twitter is instantaneous. Being able to provide accurate information immediately can become tricky.

On Monday, when the tragic shooting occurred at the Washington, DC Navy Yard, I happened to be in classes all day. Being a DC native, I was extremely concerned for my family back home. Seeing that there is no way to watch the news during class, I turned to Twitter for updates on the progression of the shooting and the investigation. While initially I found the constant feed updates helpful for keeping me informed, I realized that most of the information I was receiving (and admittedly sharing) became more inaccurate as the story developed. I relied primarily on @nbcwashington, @washingtonpost, and surprisingly, @nbcphiladelphia. Both the number of victims and shooters fluctuated between every station and with every tweet they sent out.

All of the news feeds served their purpose of keeping me in the loop when I couldn't get to a television for live coverage, but I've learned that Twitter still is not a reliable source for news, even if it's coming from a reputable news station. Twitter should be used for quick updates only, hence the 140 character limit. However, every tweet should be taken with a grain of salt and fact checked before you believe it or share it.

Do you utilize Twitter to receive information? Let us know about your experiences!

Innovation and PR

When people hear the word innovation they most likely think about product innovation.  While that is a large facet of the term, idea innovation is equally as important.  This is something that is key in fields like entrepreneurship but that I think can tie nicely into public relations.

We are often involved in brainstorming sessions with clients and with coworkers.  This is the perfect time to be innovative.  Bringing new ideas to the table is crucial but it's also something that can be difficult. Innovation can be loosely defined with three terms:

1. New. There isn't a lot out there that hasn't been thought of, but if you can come up with a completely new idea, you're in the gold as far as innovation is concerned.

2. Different. We live in a society that's always changing and looking for the new cool thing.  If your innovation is different than what came before it, you'll have a good concept on your hands.

3. Better. This is probably the most reasonable quality of an innovation.  We are always looking for ways to improve and an innovation that makes things easier or better is always great.

The key to a good innovation, in addition to these three things is value. If you don't bring value to your client or the audience then your innovation isn't going to work.

Keep these things in mind next time you're attending a brainstorming session!

Don’t Miss A Stitch!

This year’s New York City Fashion Week prompted new abstract methods of updating fashion followers. The yesteryears of pre-writing stories weeks in advance to run during Fashion Week, then waiting for collections to arrive in stores to cover them are now replaced with play-by-play coverage. Listed below are some of the ways PR professionals have put a spin on giving onlookers the sense of truly taking part in the Mercedes Benz NYFW. 

1.     Facesofnyfw.com- Behind The Scenes
Faces of NYFW gives a behind the scenes look of who showed up and what it really looks like backstage. Those in attendance can submit pictures via Twitter, Instagram or Tumblr to Faces of NYFW.

2.     Style.com- Serious Innovative
Style.com created “The In Cloud” which ranks the most influential people in the fashion industry for viewers’ discretion. They also developed the “Fashion Tracker” which locates attendees on a NYC map from their social media updates on the shows.

3.     Pinterest- Targeting the Fashion Market
Pinterest is now making it easier to find related posts on their Fashion Week hub- http://pinterest.com/fashionweek/. This hub features designer brands and style experts’ boards with the latest and greatest of NYFW.

4.     Instagram- Instant Pictures, Instant Interest
Plugging in common hash tags will lead you to endless posts on NYFW by designers, fashion magazines/bloggers and news channels. Some include #NYFW, #MBFW, #SS14, #fashioninmotion, #behindthefashion, etc. Instagram provides eye-catching images captioned with descriptive details on the designer, model, photographer, etc.

5.     Video- Live Streaming To The Max
As usual there are live shows streamed from newyorkfashionweeklive.com and mbfashionweek.com. Some of the newest videos covering the shows were viewed through a serious of visual diaries produced by The New York Times on interpretations of line, pattern, volume, etc. This content created interactive buzz on all things fashion- think this was the PR professionals’ purpose?
Gaining an all access pass to one of the most exclusive events of the year is no simple task. This time it was made possible and as Women’s Wear Daily put it, the ramped-up social media and live streaming led Fashion Week to become a veritable “digital spectator sport.” 

Innovative media marketing is catching fire in the PR world so stay tuned!

This guest blog post was written by PRowl Staff Member Nicole Leo.

Cherry-ing On and Off The Field

As thousands of students and fans poured in to Lincoln Financial Field this past Saturday to watch the Temple Owls take on the Houston Cougars in their first home game, a new slogan circulated around the stadium, filled Twitter feeds and became a popular Instagram hashtag. “Cherry On,” the new spirit campaign getting students and alumni amped up for the school year and football season, is helping to fuel Temple pride nationally.

The phrase “Keep Calm and Cherry On” has become tremendously popular, with many students sporting shirts with the slogan on it. Even more so, the “CherryOn” hashtag is being used by many student organizations as a way to get involved with the campaign off the field.

The quest to spread school spirit and the Temple brand across the city of Philadelphia doesn’t just include a social media presence. For the first time ever, pop up pep rallies are being held at Temple University’s Center City campus in an effort to get the whole city on board with Cherry On.

Not only does Cherry On pertain to game days, but it also is a way for students to keep the spirit of Temple alive on main campus. Students are encouraged to show their school spirit by wearing Temple gear, preferably cherry-colored, to class on Fridays. Tweets such as “On Friday, we wear Cherry #CherryOn” and “Mondays are tough, but #CherryOn TU” not only promote spirit at sporting events, but also help to create a feeling of unity and pride across campus every day.

Remember to wear your cherry to campus on Fridays and join the fun in Cherry-ing On!

This guest blog post was written by PRowl Staff Member Tessa Cohn.

Bad Internship Habits To Kick

Bad work habits. We all have them. Bringing those negative habits into your internship experience is a definite no-no. Afterall, internships are meant to be your shining moment where you should be doing your absolute best to get recognition within your company.

Here are some common ones that you should be kicking to the curb once you step foot in the office:

• Procrastination. Almost everyone is guilty of this.

• Saying “um” or “like” every other word. It’s nerves. Try to catch yourself saying these words and eliminate the from your professional vocab.

• Being quiet. In meetings or at outings. Speak up. They want to hear your voice.

• Skipping over emails. Not on purpose, just not flagging them properly.

• Being late. Time and time again. Just because you get away with it once…

• Slouching. In meetings and at our desk. Try to keep good posture.

• Venting. Co-workers and friends. Sometimes we just have to suck it up and keep our mouth shut.

• Hitting send too fast. Proofread everything. Make sure you’re sending to the right person.

• Never taking a break. Everyone needs at least 10 minutes to enjoy lunch. Take one!

• Being negative. Especially when you’re stressed. Always look at the glass half full.

The Difference Between Editing and Revising

Proofreading, editing, and revising are keywords that should be at the forefront of every PR professional's mind. In an industry that requires many different forms of writing materials, we are constantly going through each of these steps in the writing process. Depending on the area of the industry you are in, you may find that these steps happen in a team, or individually. Knowing the difference between editing and revising is key to producing high quality work for your client or portfolio.

Here is a breakdown between the two:

Editing focuses mostly on the surface level material. Are all words spelled and used correctly? Do the sentences flow and implement proper punctuation? Spelling and grammatical errors should be eliminated during the editing process. After editing, you should find that your piece is a solid foundation, but the next step is where it becomes more polished.

During the revising process, rather than look for simple grammatical errors, you should think deeper into the content of your writing. Do the points and major topics flow well together in a way that makes sense to the reader? Is the piece structured in a way that keeps readers interested in what you've written? Revising may involve switching the order of sentences or paragraphs, or even re-writing sections to better state your points or provide clarification.

Many times, the revising step is skipped completely or confused with editing. Simply editing your work isn't enough, proper revising is the best way to insure you are putting your best pen forward. To really guarantee strong writing, have someone else look over your work! Getting a different perspective may offer new insights into your work that you wouldn't have seen on your own!

Do you edit and revise your work before considering it done? How often do you let a second pair of eyes look over your work for you? Share your writing experiences with us!