How to Prepare for PRSSANC

Whenever you talk about the Public Relations Student Society of America National Conference, it always seems so far away, in the distant future. Even as recently as yesterday, I assumed I had a few more weeks until conference.

BUT WAIT. It's this weekend. As in, 5 days from right now, you and I might be at the same seminar or workshop, in our nations capital, Washington, D.C. With conference coming up so soon, a million little things I needed to do came rushing into my brain, keeping me up later than I wanted to be, as I fretted about each minute detail. Here are some of the most important ones:

1. SOCIAL MEDIA. It's 2014, and the name of the game is social media. Or maybe just Twitter. Regardless, connecting with people on social media is now just as important as actual face-to-face networking. In fact, I've found that meeting someone in-person, and then waiting a day or two to connect via Twitter and LinkedIn, is a good way to stay in touch. To prepare for conference, think about some important people/groups to follow on Twitter. Think about other members from your PRSSA chapter, consider following PRSSA chapters from another school. Not biased or anything, but Temple's PRSSA chapter is definitely worth following, same goes for our PR-firm, PRowl Public Relations.

2. Business attire. Everyone's heard the age-old adage, 'Look good, feel good.' Well, let me add another part to that: 'Do good.' Plan to dress up for conference, wear a tie, wear a jacket. Ladies: wear whatever the female equivalent is. The more professional you look, the more seriously other's will treat you. Don't expect to show up in a polo and shorts and get a job.

3. Networking. I mentioned it earlier under social media, but networking is one the primary reasons for attending conference, and the activity that'll likely help you down the road. PR is, after all, about who you know. Get business cards of your own, and be ready to get a lot from people you meet. Don't be afraid to walk up to a group of strangers, stick out your hand, and introduce yourself. You'll probably be doing what they all wish they were doing. Introduce yourself, find something to connect on - ask what specific field of PR are they interested in, or what they are studying or if they are interning somewhere. Offer your business card after a few minutes, and then it's on to the next one!

4. Money. Figure out all your financials, as well as your group's financials, ahead of time! No one wants to take a long trip, only to find out that they don't actually have a hotel room, or aren't really registered for conference. Double check all your confirmations, from conference to hotel to travel arrangements, and keep printed copies for yourself! Make sure to take more money than you think'll need; you never know what might happen.

There are many more, smaller details that go into making your trip to national conference a successful one, but I think that these are the most important ones, and that they cover most of what you'll need. I look forward to my own early-morning bus ride to D.C. because I know that meeting and hearing from some of the PR industry's pros and other student organizations will all be worth it.

Think I missed anything essential to going to conference? Comment it below, we'd love to hear from you!

Stress Less

As a public relations major balancing between classes, work, internships and a social life, time can become pretty tight. We all have stressful days, and if we're being honest, they are more like stressful weeks…and I think everyone could use some help dealing with that anxiety.

I often researched how to reduce stress only to uncover vague suggestions such as, "set aside worry time", "learn to live with anxiety" and "take deep breaths". First of all, the problem is that we don't have enough days in the week so "worry time" seems a little out of reach. Also, all of the other suggestions deal with changing your mentality, which is often easier said than done.

Therefore, I set out to find some actual real-life actions that one could take to reduce stress. Apparently, drinking orange juice and its natural vitamin C aids in reducing anxiety. Additionally, listening to white noise has been proven to not only eliminate background noise but simultaneously allowing focus and reduced anxiety.

For all those pet lovers out there, studies have proven that spending time with your furry friend releases chemicals in the body that produce a feeling of tranquility.

Another quick fix: try having oatmeal for breakfast! Oatmeal, besides being good for you, has magnesium and potassium, which lowers blood pressure as well as helps reduce anxiety. Try trading out one of your many daily cups of coffee for Passion Flower tea. Passion Flower tea is an herbal remedy for anxiety. 

These simple steps won’t necessarily be life altering but hopefully they can help get you through those extra-stressful weeks!

Do you have any other unique ways of dealing with stress and anxiety?  Tell us in the comments!  

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

It's Not You, It's Me

Almost everyone has experienced the infamous “it’s not you it’s me” break up phrase in one way or another. If you weren’t listening to these spoken words, odds are you were in fact the one breaking your soon-to-be ex’s heart. But why do we say phrases like this? Is it because we are uncomfortable with a situation or that we really just don’t know what to say?

As public relations professionals one of our jobs is to simply make things understandable to the public. Fancy lingo, fluffed up words and exaggerated statements tend to be favorite tactics for ways of communication in the English language. People will constantly use jargon filled slogans when they don’t really know what to exactly say or are unsure of a topic. PR professionals need to always uphold a knowledgeable image for their reputation and their clients.

Language is key in this industry. Public Relations professionals are known for their exceptional writing skills so it is important that we constantly monitor what we were are saying when we write. The types of words and phrases that should be avoided include:

• Filler words such as "like" or "just" 
• Jargon 
• Make up words 
• Excessive use of trending words that aren't really words 
• Slang terms 
• Swear words 

PR professionals are supposed to be reliable sources, so filling up press releases and media pitches with unflattering terms will not get anyone anywhere. However, a study from Grammarly reports that people with strong writing skills tend to earn more money. Get rid of the overused words and bring in a new collection of vibrant, new, and creative terms. If you can make more money simply by cleaning up your language, why wouldn’t you drop a few slang terms and run down phrases?  

This guest blog was written by PRowl staff member Alissa Steele. 

Your Guide to Becoming a Self-Starter

As students in a competitive field, we’re constantly asking PR pros “how can we stand out from the competition?” Will another internship or that really great blog post you wrote make a difference? Maybe. But one thing that is sure to differentiate your from your peers- being a self-starter. According to Dictionary.com, self-starters are people “who begin work or undertake a project on his or her own initiative, without needing to be told or encouraged to do so.”

Here are a few easy steps that will turn your into a motivated self-starter! 

• First to arrive, last to leave. There’s something to this cliché adage. Believe it or not, your supervisor will notice your commitment to the overall success of the organization. It also shows your enthusiasm for the work you’re doing.
• Do your homework. Doing extra research on your agency’s newest client or their latest award shows you’re not only invested in the firm but that you go above and beyond what’s required. It shows your boss that you aren’t afraid of taking initiative. 
• Ask question. You may feel like asking questions makes you appear unsure or inexperienced. But the reality is, asking questions shows you’re willing and interested in learning more. It also lets your supervisor know you’re not too proud to admit that you don’t actually know something.
• Get out of your comfort zone. Don’t be afraid to take on complex projects or unfamiliar assignments. Seizing new opportunities will help expand your experiences and the next time the assignment comes up, you’ll be able to take it on with confidence.

After spending most of our lives in school being given strict instructions and rubrics, taking initiative without much direction can be challenging. But one of the aspects of a self-starter is that they are not afraid to make mistakes and, more importantly, they learn from them! So the next time you’re in the office, try out these self-starter tips and think "what would Leslie Knope do?"

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.

Urban Outfitters: How Far Is Too Far?

On Monday, September 15, online shoppers of UrbanOutfitters.com were shocked to see the store offering customers the chance to buy a “vintage” Kent State University sweatshirt splattered in red coloring, which looked like blood. This sweatshirt is a clear reference to the 1970 campus shootings at Kent State and the school soon released a statement saying they took “great offense” to the promotion and sale of this sweatshirt. Kent State University wasn’t the only outraged audience though.

Angry customers took to social media to express their disbelief at how once again, Urban Outfitters has gone way too far. In addition to the bloodstained appearance of the sweatshirt, it was also priced at $129.00 and there was only one available. While Urban Outfitters CEO Richard Hayne did release an apology, it was defensive in nature, apologizing for those who may have felt “offended” and defended the integrity of Urban Outfitter’s vintage line.

However, in the last several years, this is just one of many Urban Outfitters clothing scandals. A brief timeline includes the following incidents:

2012: Urban Outfitters comes under fire for selling a $100 t-shirt mimicking the design of star patches Jewish people were forced to wear during the Holocaust

2011: Urban Outfitters labels a clothing line and accessories “Navajo”

2010: Urban Outfitters debuts the “Eat Less” t-shirt

2010: Urban Outfitters sells a t-shirt in a color combination labeled “Obama/Black" 

2003: Urban Outfitters angers the African-American community with a Monolopy knock-off titled “Ghettopoly”

Over the years, these incidents have begun to pile-up and as a public relations student, I’ve begun to wonder if perhaps to Urban Outfitters, any publicity is thought of as a good publicity? While us Strategic Communication students learn early on this line of thinking is actually harmful to one’s brand reputation and message, Urban Outfitter’s actions have lead me to strongly believe they think otherwise. While most organizations seek to avoid controversy and utilize crisis communications in the event of a slip-up, it’s an interesting debate onto which side of this spectrum Urban Outfitters seems to fall. Time and time again though, they continue to seemingly provoke public controversy, but one begins to wonder: how far is too far?

As public relations students, what do you believe? Has Urban Outfitters gone too far this time? Let us know in the comments below!  

This guest blog was written by PRowl staff member Rachel Draghi. 

Eric Holder's Legacy

Eric Holder, this nation's first African-American Attorney General, announced his resignation earlier this week. However, after six years in the position Holder has been able to do a lot of good for the American people. Here are five acts documenting the legacy that Holder leaves behind (in no particular order).

• During the recent events in Ferguson, MO, Holder served as the point of contact for the federal response, ordered a civil rights investigation into the Ferguson Police Department, and assembled a team of criminal justice researchers to study racial prejudice in law enforcement. 
• In regards to terrorism, during his time in office Holder waterboarding (an interrogation method that simulates the sensation of drowning) as a form of torture and ordered a full review of current CIA interrogation efforts.
• In 2011 he declared that the Justice Department would no longer defend the constitutionality of a 1996 Defense of Marriage Act that prohibits federal recognition of same-sex marriage in an effort to advance progress for gay couples.
• He also fought heavily against discriminatory voting restrictions that made it difficult for minorities and poorer citizens to vote, demographics that typically vote Democratic. In North Carolina and Texas, two Republican-controlled legistlatures, Holder challenged restrictions such as cutbacks in voting hours and strict voter-ID policies to allow those demographics a better opportunity to cast their ballots.
• In relation, many of Holder's efforts went towards civil rights and law enforcement. He worked to ease the disproportionately harsh treatment of African-Americans in the criminal justice system saying it “isn't just unacceptable; it is shameful.”

Although not everyone may have agreed with his policies or felt that he failed to act on several other issues during his time, this article is simply to focus on the improvements that were made because of his leadership.