5 great movies related to PR

A few weeks ago, I asked the Facebook fans of PR firm Arment Dietrich about their favorite PR movie.

We narrowed down the responses to what we think are the top five, plus one honorable mention.

Yes, we know we missed a few goodies such as “Wag the Dog” and “Jerry McGuire,” but those are on everyone’s list; I wanted to highlight a few others in their place.

“Thank You for Smoking” – Nick Naylor portrays a smooth talking tobacco lobbyist, but he seems to be more of a publicist. He doesn’t deny the health risks of smoking, but still defends the cigarette industry. It’s a great illustration of the work of spin, which (as we all know) sucks.

“The Social Network” – Who doesn’t like a drama about the guy who created the world’s largest social network with more than 900 million users? (For those living under a rock, I’m talking about Facebook.) This movie tells a great business story encompassing both digital media and traditional public relations.

“The Queen” – After Princess Diana died in a car crash in 1997, Prime Minister Tony Blair and the Royal Family disagree over how to address her death to the public. The Royal PR team attempts to distance themselves from Princess Diana after the messy divorce from Prince Charles. All the while, Blair tries to convince Queen Elizabeth to make affectionate comments about her grandchildren’s mother, or a PR nightmare will ensue. It’s a great example of compromise and what to do to avoid a PR crisis.

“Roman Holiday” – If you aren’t familiar with the plot of this classic film, Princess Ann (played by Audrey Hepburn) derails her public relations tour across Europe when her handlers give her a sedative and she sneaks out to enjoy Rome on her own terms. She must decide whether to sell her secrets and unhappiness to the world or keep her friendship with reporter Joe hush-hush. This movie shows how much power the reporter has over the story.

“Frost/Nixon” – After staying quiet for three years, former U.S. President Richard Nixon attempts to save face, and his legacy, with a historic interview with British TV personality David Frost. Here’s a clip from the actual 1977 interview. PR pros are portrayed on both sides preparing their subjects for the interview and attempting to control the outcomes.

“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” – We all know the story. Willy Wonka needs a successor for his empire so he looks to buzz marketing, PR, and media relations. His Golden Ticket stunt is one for the PR ages. He converts his eccentricity into positive publicity for his brand. I’m a fan of the most recent version—and it has everything to do with Johnny Depp.

And a bonus, one of my favorite television shows:

“Mad Men” – It didn’t win an Emmy this year, but it’s still a great show. I know it features an advertising firm; however, it does offer relatable scenarios such as client-worker interactions, innovative and new company pitches, and agency dynamics.

There aren’t many movies that depict public relations accurately, but I think these movies do a pretty good job either featuring public relations as a core issue or referring to it in a passing way.

What are some of your favorites?

Yvette Pistorio is an account executive at Arment Dietrich. A version of this story first appeared on the Spin Sucks blog.

source:
http://www.prdaily.com/Main/Articles/5_great_movies_related_to_PR_12774.aspx

The 3 questions you’ll be asked during a job interview

Job interviews can be nerve-wracking, and part of the anxiety is due to uncertainty over which questions you’ll be asked. Will the recruiter or hiring manager stick to run-of-the-mill questions? Or will the discussion take a more unconventional approach?

Although it’s impossible to predict the exact questions during an interview, you can go into it prepared. That includes thinking through your answers to what top executive recruiters agree are the three true job interview questions, as reported by Forbes.com.

Here’s a look at those questions, plus some tips to help you prepare your responses.

Can you do the job?

It’s hard to get a sense of how well you’ll tackle your new responsibilities by simply reading your resume and cover letter. That’s why a job interview is a critical opportunity to highlight various skills and professional anecdotes that demonstrate what you’re able to do.

Have some examples ready so that you can help the recruiter get a vivid picture of what you bring to the job—and how you’ll likely handle the position.

Will you love the job?

Employee morale and company culture are important for any business. Happy, satisfied employees tend to be more motivated and productive, meaning they’re more valuable.

Be prepared to demonstrate your motivation and why you want the job. Give the recruiter examples of what makes you happy, and connect those things to the position and workplace.

For example, you may thrive in a challenging environment in which you learn new skills. Or perhaps you love interacting with people and clients, and those relationships will become an important part of your new role.

Can we tolerate working with you?

Not only is it important to demonstrate that you’ll be a good fit, but also it’s also vital that those making the hiring decision see you as a valuable addition to the team. This is when background research on the company becomes incredibly useful. During the interview, you can talk through how your preferences align with the company’s relationships, values, and environment. Help the recruiter visualize you as part of the team. Your chances at receiving a job offer will increase.

Of course, the chances are good that you get a question that comes from left field. But by preparing for these questions, you’ll be ready to give the recruiter an accurate depiction not just of your personality and skills, and how you’ll be an asset to the company and its culture.

Amber Carucci heads up the team of writers for the Burns & McDonnell corporate blog as well as the Burns & McDonnell HR blog, where a version of this story first appeared. She's also part of a team that leads the company's social media efforts.

source:
http://www.prdaily.com/Main/Articles/The_3_questions_youll_be_asked_during_a_job_interv_12828.aspx

3 ways to make your PR plans more social

Twenty years ago, businesses shared their news or messages with the media through a press release or media kit that was faxed or mailed to reporters, and followed up with a phone call.

Ten years ago the formula was much the same, with email replacing fax and mail.

Today, the landscape has changed vastly.

I had dinner last week with one of my friends who is a reporter for a local news station. She told me that she turns more and more to Twitter to reach out for interviews, find local sources, and gather information for her stories. She also said it’s her preferred method of being reached for follow-ups.

Why? Because it’s instant, convenient, and more likely to grab her attention. And despite what your PR professors may have told you, she said the phone call follow-ups are not only a waste of time, but a huge annoyance to reporters who are inundated with hundreds of emails each day and working on tight deadlines.

In my experience, the old way of pitching and distributing news releases has become less effective, and I’ve seen how it’s often easier to reach reporters through social media than phone or email. I think that’s the case for several reasons, two of them being:
1. It’s more efficient. Reporters don’t have time to read hundreds of three to five paragraph pitches every day. If you can pitch the story in 140 characters or less, reporters are more likely to read it , and your pitch is much more likely to be focused. Less really is more sometimes.

2. You’re meeting reporters where they already are. Gone are the days of thumbing through bulky media kits. More and more reporters are using social media to research stories. According to Oriella PR Network’s Global Digital Journalism study, 89 percent of journalists report using blogs as research sources; 65 percent say they use Facebook and LinkedIn, and more than half use Twitter.

What are three practical ways you can integrate social media into your PR plans?

1. Use social media to build relationships with reporters. Start conversations with reporters on Twitter, LinkedIn, or Facebook and help them by responding to their needs. For example, if you work in healthcare, you could set up healthcare related search terms on Twitter and be the first to respond when a reporter is looking for a source or quote about flu season. You could become their go-to-source for stories and information in the future.

2. Reach out to bloggers. Sharing your story through blogging can be just as effective as garnering coverage through more traditional news sources. And with nearly 90 percent of reporters using blogs for research, stories on highly trafficked blogs are likely to get picked up by other media sources. Pitch your story to industry bloggers, or offer to do a guest post.

3. Create a virtual media kit. Traditional media kits are not just outdated, they’re expensive. Create an online or PDF version that’s available on your website, blog, LinkedIn, and/or Facebook page. This gives reporters instant access to the information they need. When applicable, include a link to your media kit in press releases.

How has your PR strategy changed with the growing popularity of social media?

Erica Strother is a social media planner at queue in Raleigh, NC. This post originally appeared on the queue blog.

source:
http://www.prdaily.com/Main/Articles/3_ways_to_make_your_PR_plans_more_social_12864.aspx

How to not suck at apologizing

Let’s face it. We as humans suck at apologizing—that is, when we actually do apologize, which probably doesn’t happen as often as it should.

There is a stigma attached to it. It means that you are wrong. And you are never wrong, right?

If you are wrong, then you’re not perfect. And if you’re not perfect, then you have given up some form of power or control. And if you have given up some form of power or control, then your parents probably didn’t love you or something. (I’m not sure why; I just know it always leads back to your parents.)

Well, it’s time to get over yourself. Learn not only to apologize, but also how to apologize the right way. Yes, that’s right. There is a right way and a wrong way to apologize. Chances are, when you do get around to apologizing, it’s the wrong way. Let me guess, it probably goes something like this:

“I’m sorry if I upset you. OK?”

Other variations include replacing, “OK?” with, “There!” or, “Are we done now?”

The preceding is not an apology

That is a request to shut up and change the subject. That type of apology makes matters worse. And yet, we find it acceptable. It is good enough to close the books on the problem, for now. Eventually, you are going to screw up again, at which point your crappy little apology won’t hold water, leaving you with two problems.

The big issue that I have with this type of apology is that you have somehow made the other person wrong even though it was you that screwed up. I’m sorry if I upset you? You are implying that I am too sensitive or fragile to take it. That what you did was fine. That my inability to stand up straight without a spine is the problem.

What you are really saying is, “Hey, I’m perfectly OK with what I did, but since you are being such a wimp about it, I’m going to apologize so you will drop it already and we can move on. Fair enough?”

Gee, thanks. I feel so much better.

What a real apology looks and sounds like

Apologizing is an art. And when it’s done right, it actually means something. A good apology begins the healing process. It wipes the slate clean and allows everyone to move on. Everyone, not just you. But only if it is done right.

An apology that is done right has four parts:

Part 1: “I’m sorry.”

Start by just saying you are sorry. Period. Do not add anything else. No “I’m sorry if…” or, “I’m sorry that…” or, “I’m sorry but…” Just say, “I’m sorry.” This way there is absolutely no confusing the fact that you screwed up, and you are not trying to push the blame or belittle the other person’s feelings. “I’m sorry.” That’s it. Simple enough.

Part 2: “I did not mean to …”

The second part of your apology begins, “I did not mean to”—then insert whatever crappy thing you did or said. This is already implicit in your apology, because the other person clearly knows what you did. Reiterating it ensures that you are both on the same page, that there is no doubt about what you did wrong, and that you are sorry for it.

Part 3: “What can I do to make it better?”

Once you have clearly stated what you did wrong, simply ask: “What can I do to make it better?” This is the most important part. It means that your apology is more than just a simple apology. It’s not just a bunch of words. It means that you want to make it right, that you want not only to move on from the problem, but to fix it.

Part 4: Shut up

The final part of a good apology is to stop talking. Allow the other person to speak. Be OK with the fact that they will probably air their feelings even though you just got done apologizing to them. They need some closure, too. So, listen. When they’re done, don’t defend yourself and reopen the wound. Your only choices are to either say OK or go back to step one and reiterate your apology.

I know. It sounds like a lot of work. It can be. But it’s well worth doing right.

Fortunately, I have not screwed up in several years so I don’t have to—hold on a second, my wife is yelling at me about something. OK. Apparently, I have in fact screwed up. A lot. And it sounds like I owe someone an apology.

So, Aimee, I’m really sorry if I upset you. Better?

A version of this story first appeared on MarcEnsign.com.

source:
http://www.prdaily.com/Main/Articles/How_to_not_suck_at_apologizing_12877.aspx

Why all PR pros should start their careers as servers

One of the things my wife and I love about living in Minneapolis is that we have our regular restaurant hangouts. Our favorite is a hole-in-the-wall bowling alley that serves outstanding food and has a pretty strong beer list. We are frequent visitors for brunch on the weekends, and I host business meetings there frequently.

But besides the food and ambiance, one of the biggest reasons we love it is a waitress. We are actually bummed when we go there and she’s not working. She has our coffee before we even sit down. She knows our kids’ orders. She’s fast. She’s prompt. In short: She’s great at her job.

And being a waitress is a hard job. Ask anyone who has worked in the service industry. That’s why I think everyone in PR should work as a waiter/waitress before they enter the PR business.

Crazy?

Maybe, but here are five reasons why it’s a credible claim:

1. You’ll learn to prioritize.

One thing you’ll learn quickly while working at a restaurant is that it’s all about prioritizing. There’s a customer who needs his steak cooked a little longer. Meanwhile, a couple needs a booster seat for their kid. At the same time, a manager is on your back about a wrong order.

Waiters have to constantly prioritize, and a career in PR is no different. I don’t know about you, but each day I prioritize my to-do list at least three or four times. Some days I do it even more.

2. You’ll learn to deal with negativity.

In the service industry, dealing with customer complaints is just part of the job. You learn to deal with it gracefully.

In the PR world, we sometimes forget the “gracefully” part. We face negativity a lot, from managers, clients and colleagues. They’re all customers for us.

How do you deal with them? Your answer says a lot about who you are as a PR professional.

3. You’ll learn to think on your feet.

This is a critical skill for wait staff. How do you solve problems on the fly for your customers? If you excel at thinking on your feet, you’ll be a good waitress—and PR counselor, too.

Why?

Say you’re in a pitch meeting with a new client, and they ask a question your team didn’t anticipate. Are you ready to quickly jump in with potential answers? What if your boss pulls you into her office to brainstorm for a client who needs two new ideas in half an hour? Are you ready?

This type of quick thinking is what translates into job promotions in PR.

4. You’ll learn how to anticipate needs.

One thing I love about our waitress at the bowling alley is that she always anticipates our needs. There are two cups of coffee on the table before we even get settled. There’s oatmeal divided in half, and two pieces of toast for each of our kids instead of all four on one plate (which would inevitably lead to a huge fight). She’s great at thinking one step ahead.

In PR, thinking one step ahead of clients is key to success. You need to anticipate questions clients will ask, barriers that lie ahead, and challenges your team will face on certain projects. It can mean the difference between success and failure.

5. You’ll learn to see all sides of the customer experience.

The best waitresses see all sides of the customer experience, from the minute a customer sits down (did you take her drink order?) to the order (did she get everything she needed?) to the moment she pays the check (did you get her the right change?).

A happy customer will return, and in most cases, leave a good tip.

In PR, it’s just as important to see all sides of your client’s perspective, especially in agencies where clients usually deal with more than one person on your team. Do you all give him the same level of service? Are you all on the same page in terms of responsiveness? All of this adds up to a singular customer experience for your clients.

Arik Hanson is principal of ACH Communications. He blogs at Communications Conversations, where a version of this article originally appeared.

source:
http://www.prdaily.com/Main/Articles/Why_all_PR_pros_should_start_their_careers_as_serv_12841.aspx

4 things PR pros should never say to reporters

Our business is about relationships. In order to foster the strongest relationships possible, you want to be sure to always communicate with efficiency and strategy and never utter the following statements:
1. "Did you get my press release?" As a current PR pro and former news anchor, I think I can speak for almost every person in the media and say that there are few things more annoying than the dreaded "Did you get my press release?" phone call. Nothing in the world of PR guarantees an immediate hang-up quite like this question. If you sent it, chances are good that they got it. They'll let you know if they are interested. If an outlet chooses not to run your story, picking up the phone and nagging them is not going to persuade them to change their decision.


2. "What types of articles do you run?" Watch and listen before pitching. Educate yourself about the media outlet and that particular reporter's stories before pitching them. Your story angle, pitch, and everything you do relating to your media outreach should be customized, and that includes the timing of your outreach. Know the schedule for editorial meetings and deadlines and be respectful of it. If you want the media to take the time to read and fully consider your pitch, show them that you've taken the time to read and understand their work.

3. "This is a perfect fit for you." When you say this, a reporter hears one of two negative things: desperation or bossiness. They might suspect that the story isn't a perfect fit for anyone because you're pushing too hard, or you could come across as a know-it-all. There are always internal pressures, personal preferences, and other planned stories to consider. Only the contact you are pitching knows how your idea fits into their big picture. Let them decide whether it's a "perfect fit."

4. "You'll have to be quick; I don't have much time" Understand the time involved in a reporter's story preparation. For example, it can take several hours on multiple days for a profile piece that involves an in-depth interview and a photo shoot. Be sure that as a PR person you understand the commitment level of what you're pitching and that you can deliver if the media is interested. You can often save time by understanding the reporter's multimedia needs beforehand and mapping out photo or video ideas—or you can directly supply these assets from the start.

If you take this advice to heart, I guarantee that you'll find a much more receptive news media audience. There is a fine line between nagging and a friendly check-in that no PR pro should ever cross.

If you're worried that a story didn't get the results you expected, try pitching it in a different way. What may seem like a dead end can actually be an excellent motivator to get more creative with your conversations with the news media.

Just be sure to never let any of the aforementioned questions or statements slip out. You're better than that.


Lisa Arledge Powell is the president of MediaSource, a multimedia production and media relations company that works with hospitals, health care organizations, and other brands to get their message to the masses.

source:
http://www.prdaily.com/Main/Articles/24183a21-d885-4d37-a74d-23536cfd360d.aspx?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Benedictus Paskarunia / 090903832

Ujian Komunikasi Interpersonal

1. Analisa perilaku Non verbal mahasiswa Universitas AtmaJaya

Mahasiswa mahasiswa AtmaJaya, khususnya memiliki perilaku non-verbal yang tidak jauh berbeda dengan orang pada umumnya. Tetapi beberapa ada yang memiliki bahasa non verbal sendiri untuk kelompok atau kalangannya masing-masing, dengan bahasa isyarat maupun body language atau bahasa tubuh. Yang tampak pada umumnya, yaitu mulai dari cara memparkirkan kendaraan, contohnya sepeda motor, mahasiswa yang meletakkan sepeda motornya lebih dekat dengan kampus, menunjukkan bahwa mahasiswa tersebut adalah mahasiswa yang lebih suka praktis dan tidak suka berjalan jauh untuk menuju kampusnya, sedangkan yang meletakkan motor jauh dari arah kampus, atau di dekat pintu keluar, merupakan mahasiswa yang cuek dan lebih enjoy. Kemudian tampak pula saat bertemu dengan Dosen maupun karyawan yang berada di Universitas AtmaJaya Yogyakarta, mahasiswa yang baik atau ramah, saat bertemu dengan dosen, biasanya menganggukkan kepalanya dan sering member sedikit senyuman kepada dosen atau karyawan dari Universitas AtmaJaya Yogyakarta, sedangkan mahasiswa yang acuh tak acuh, biasanya hanya diam saja, atau mungkin memalingkan wajahnya (pura-pura tidak melihat) dosen atau karyawan yang bertemu dengannya, bahkan ada pula yang menghindar saat ketemu dengan dosen yang dibencinya. Kadang ada factor-faktor yang menyebabkan seorang mahasiswa berubah perilakunya, dari yang awalnya positif menjadi negative, atau bahkan sebaliknya, dari yang negative menjadi posirif. Contohnya seorang mahasiswa yang memiliki penilaian positif terhadap seorang dosen, kemudian berubah menjadi negative ketika mahasiswa tersebut mendapat mata kuliah yang diberikan oleh dosen tersebut, tetapi mahasiswa tersebut mendapatkan nilai yang tidak sesuai yang diinginkan, maka akan merasa sebal dan kemudian acuh tak acuh lagi dengan dosen yang awal mulanya positif di matanya, sekarang menjadi negattif. Jadi yang awalnya sering memberikan sapaan kepada dosen tersebut saat bertemu, sekarang saat bertemu hanya diam saja, atau pura-pura tidak melihat dosen tersebut. Sedangkan seorang mahasiswa yang memiliki pandangan negative terhadap seorang dosen karena mendengar dari cerita teman-temannya, tetapi ternyata ketika mendapat mata kuliah yang diajarkan oleh dosen tersebut, dan mahasiswa tersebut kemudian mendapatkan sesuatu yang berguna dan selalu mendapatkan nilai yang baik, maka perilaku mahasiswa yang awalnya negative, menjadi perilaku positif, jadi yang awalnya saat bertemu acuh tak acuh bahkan memalingkan muka saat bertemu, sekarang memberi sapaan saat bertemu dengan menganggukkan kepala atau bahkan mengulurkan tangannya untuk member salam selamat pagi, atau selamat siang.

Perilaku non verbal seorang mahasiswa pun dapat terlihat saat dia berada di dalam kelas atau sedang mengikuti sebuah mata kuliah. Ketika seorang mahasiswa senang dengan dosen atau mata kuliah yang diambilnya, maka mahasiswa tersebut akan focus dengan mata kuliah tersebut, perilaku yang dapat menunjukkan bahwa seorang mahasiswa focus atau tidak adalah dengan cara melihat dari gerakan matanya, gerakan tubuhnya, gerakan tangannya, atau bahkan gerakan kakinya. Seorang mahasiswa yang focus atau senang dengan mata kuliah tersebut, maka gerakan matanya tidak akan berpindah atau menatap ke depan kepada dosen yang mengajarnya atau menatap pada slide yang ditunjukkan, jika dalam bentuk presentasi mata kuliah yang sedang diajarkan. Kemudian dari postur tubuh dapat dilihat bahwa seorang mahasiswa yang focus atau memperhatikan memiliki postur tubuh yang tegak atau badannya tidak membungkuk atau menyandarkan kepalanya di atas kursinya. Kemudian dari gerakan tangan, seorang mahasiswa yang focus memperhatikan akan dapat terlihat bahwa tangannya berada pada meja atau mungkin singkap di depan badannya. Dari gerakan kaki pun dapat terlihat, seorang mahasiswa yang focus dapat terlihat bahwa kakinya ditutup rapat atau menyilangkan kakinya. Sedangkan seorang mahasiswa yang sudah bosan atau tidak menyukai mata kuliah bahkan dosennya, akan memiliki perilaku yang berbeda pula. Terlihat mulai dari gerakan bola matanya, seorang mahasiswa yang bosan atau sudah cuek dengan mata kuliah tersebut, maka akan mengalihkan pandangannya, mulai dari melihat atap, melihat bawah atau bahkan melihat mahasiswa-mahasiswa lainnya. Dari postur tubuh pun akan kelihatan bahwa seorang mahasiswa yang sudah malas akan membungkuk ke depan badannya atau mulai menyenderkan kepalanya di atas kursi, atau meletakkan kepala di mejanya, kemudian dari gerakan tangan akan terlihat mahasiwa yang sudah cuek akan memainkan pena nya, atau bahkan bermain handphone saat di dalam kelas, dan kadang juga menggaruk-garuk kepalanya atau usil mengganggu mahasiswa lainnya. Dari gerakan kakinya pun terlihat seorang mahasiswa yang sudah malas, maka akan menggerakkan kakinya, tidak bisa tenang saat di dalam kelas.

Kemudian ada pula hal-hal yang membagi perilaku-perilaku no verbal tesebut, yaitu:

Pesan proksemik disampaikan melalui pengaturan jarak dan ruang. Umumnya dengan mengatur jarak kita mengungkapkan keakraban kita dengan orang lain.

1. Pesan artifaktual diungkapkan melalui penampilan tubuh, pakaian, dan kosmetik. Walaupun bentuk tubuh relatif menetap, orang sering berperilaku dalam hubungan dengan orang lain sesuai dengan persepsinya tentang tubuhnya (body image). Erat kaitannya dengan tubuh ialah upaya kita membentuk citra tubuh dengan pakaian, dan kosmetik.

2. Pesan paralinguistik adalah pesan nonverbal yang berhubungan dengan dengan cara mengucapkan pesan verbal. Satu pesan verbal yang sama dapat menyampaikan arti yang berbeda bila diucapkan secara berbeda. Pesan ini oleh Dedy Mulyana (2005) disebutnya sebagai parabahasa.

Sumber:

Mulyana, Deddy . 2008. Ilmu Komunikasi : Suatu Pengantar. Bandung : PT. Remaja Rosdakarya.

http://www.skylandhacker.co.cc/2009/11/jenis-jenis-komunikasi-non-verbal_17.html