I recently read this article in Toronto Life Magazine, http://www.torontolife.com/features/froth/, which discusses how coffee is quickly becoming the new wine.  It has attracted the same type of following, a group of individuals always seeking the newest, purest and thus increasingly more expensive, cup of coffee.  This leads me to ask, would you pay $15 for a cup of coffee?  The cleanest, most delicious cup of coffee you will ever have?  I bet you would.  At least once.  I know I would.  I also happened upon the website, Postcards from Yo Momma (postcardsfromyourmomma.com), after reading about it in The Globe and Mail this morning.  The site allows individuals to send in all the crazy, cute and nagging e-mails they’ve received from their lovely mothers.  As a 23, my Mum still insists on calling me Wee One, so I really see the humor in the site.  The e-mails range from inappropriate and hilarious to just darn cute.  Worth checking out!

As my program at Centennial is coming to an end, I think my blog is going to begin to take a more personal side.  While I will continue to discuss the PR aspect of my life, I will discuss many other fantastic things!  I am just not quite sure what- yet.  Stay tuned.  It could get interesting.

So, today the majority of my classmates are beginning their internships.  Unfortunately I am not.  I am still interviewing, looking and emailing WAY too many resumes.  I know something will come up.  Karma has to play out at some point, right?  Nonetheless it’s a stressful situation/humbling experience.  I am quickly learning that things don’t always work out how you want them to or how you plan.  However, I am trying (TRYING!) to take it all in stride.  And I have discovered that I have a lot more time to do things, while the rest of the world is at work.  Like spend embarrassingly large amounts of time on Facebook, watch ridiculously hilarious clips on You Tube and catch up on Perez, TMZ and X17.  Don’t judge though (says the Queen of judging), it’s only day one.  I have high hopes and ambitions for tomorrow, I may try and leave the house, before 3 pm! I will keep you all, loyal and sporadic readers, updated on my internship hunt.  Send me good vibes and comments Centennial CC and PR classmates; I hope you are all having a fantastic first day at your internships.  Best of luck to you all!

         Social networking websites have become a vital aspect of the lives of many.  As a budding PR professional, I realize that many future contacts ann consumers will arise from one of the three social networking sites I am a part of: LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

         I will admit that I am partial to Facebook.  I have been a member since my young and carefree university days aka back in 2004.  LinkedIn and Twitter have been added to my roster since I began the PR and Corp Comm program at Centennial.

         As a social networking site Facebook is the holy grail.  Millions of users are members, free of charge, with Toronto being ‘Facebook City’, more registered members than any other city, worldwide.

         On the surface, Facebook seems like an ideal way for public relations practitioners to voice their views and opinions to a broad range of public audiences.

         The blog, PR Squared (http://www.pr-squared.com/) directly discusses the pros of logging onto Facebook as a PR professional and the benefits.  A number of Facebook groups are mentioned, these are directed to PR professionals and a way which they can share their knowledge.  The one I am a member of it “The Official Facebook Public Relations Group.”  I am yet to see the benefits but once I actively participate I am sure some will become apparent. 

         PR Squared writes, that from a journalistic perspective a number of US newspapers such as the New York Times, USA Today and the Associated Press have networks and thus a presence on Facebook.  Furthermore a broad range of reporters are also registered users.  PR Squared is wise to caution PR practicioners that not any reporter can be added as a Facebook ‘friend’.  To play devil’s advocate, this will not help a PR practicioner pitch their story or idea.

         To reach consumers, PR Squared suggests that appropriate groups for the cause are identified and researched.  Will the group be open to all registered members of Facebook, or will it be invitation only?  Once a group is established is must remain active and updated.  Otherwise your PR cause will quickly die.

          Saul Hansell, of the New York Times BITS Blog, presents a very different side of Facebook and the PR professional.  Hansell admits that he does not accept ‘friend’ requests from individuals he has never met.  This is understandable, there are lots of different people in the world.  However, he goes on to state that he also does not accept friend invitations from individuals in the public relations business.  In particular those who work at agencies.  Hansell believes that the relationship between a journalist and PR professional is complex and works better at their distance. 

         As a future PR professional it is very interesting to see the two different sides a reporter and a PR blog have on the same issue.  In my opinion both make sense in their own way.  I am a firm believer that no matter how many social networking sites one belongs to, only befriend individuals you know.  If you’ve exchanged business cards, I think it is both appropriate and beneficial to add them to Facebook.  That being said, if you are rejected, accept it.

         I have always questioned the legitimacy and security which surrounds Facebook.  On February 11, 2008, Maria Aspan wrote in the New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/11/technology/11facebook.html?ei=5124&en=c4124f08081c16b4&ex=1360472400&adxnnl=1&partner=facebook&exprod=facebook&adxnnlx=1205863475-ATO9MJa9vaDjXAhufgM+Ug) about the challenges one faces when trying to leave Facebook.  To be honest, I have never considered leaving the ‘book.  However, Aspan raises a number of valid points.  Members who leave Facebook can return at any time and find their profiles untouched.  This means that the information must be stormed somewhere in Facebook’s cyberspace.  Two individuals in the article are cited as only having their personal information permanently deleted from Facebook when legal action was threatened. 

         A fellow Canadian, Steve Mansour (http://stevenmansour.com/en/tagster/facebook), took matters into his own hands and is now guiding others on how to escape the sticky situation of leaving Facebook.  As a PR practitioner one must be very cautious of the information they are leaving in the public domain of social networking sites.

         My opinion on all the various opinions that exist regarding Facebook and the pros and cons for a PR individual certainly sways on a daily basis.  I think the best approach is to keep your Facebook for personal reasons.  

I will admit that I have been an awful ‘blogger’ lately.  Like so many of us do, I started out keen and really excited about the prospect of voicing my views all over the web.  Well as you can see, distractions got the best of me.  Nonetheless I am going to try and make a committed effort to finish out the semester (two weeks!) as a keen and eager blogger.Two weeks and a day from now I will have completed the in class portion of my postgraduate degree.  I will have completed 15 years of schooling in 23 years.  After completing high school and a four year university degree I was as lost as I was going to my first day of grade one.  The pigtails were gone (thank goodness) but the same nervous feelings were present.  After beginning and now almost completing my program at Centennial I am feeling something new.  Wonder, excitement and curiosity as to what the ‘real’ world of PR is like.  Did Sex and the City have it right with Samantha Jones and her wild ways?  Let’s hope not, but nonetheless I have to admit that, while I academically feel prepared to begin working in PR, I have no idea what it will be like.  This both excites and terrifies me to no end!  Is the 9-5, corporate lifestyle for me?  I will soon find out as I plan on beginning my PR career by jumping in with both feet and getting my hands dirty.  From my internship (yet to be solidified) I am very keen to do anything and everything related to PR.  I truly believe the best way to learn is by doing.  And learning is how I plan to spend my last two weeks in class.  I need to suck up all the knowledge I can.  Soon enough it will just me and my CP style books.  Wish me luck! Cheers,Aly 

Hi everyone: 

I apologize for the lack of updates on my blog in the recent weeks.  Life has been busy, although truth be told I am not exactly sure what has been keeping me occupied.

I am currently sitting on the edge of my seat, constantly refreshing my e-mail.  In the past few weeks I have sent my resume to a number of PR agencies in the city.  Now, I wait.  It is sort of similar to when you wait for a date to call.  You try and keep your mind off it and pretend you’re not preoccupied with it but in reality it’s all you are thinking about.

While I know agency is the route I am heading down I am trying very hard not to put all my eggs in one basket.  Toronto is a big city and PR is a constantly growing industry.

Yesterday, Maggie Fox, a social media guru, came and spoke to the CC and PR students at Centennial College.  A very interesting and candid speaker, Fox informed us of the reality that career paths are not always as you plan.  Ups and downs are inevitable and its how you recover and grow from these downs that make your career.

 I am yet to experience the first up or down of my PR career but I am aware it is coming, maybe not today, maybe not this month but sometime my e-mail inbox has to give me some action!

 I wish you all luck in your career path and may you have many ups and downs.  I suppose that’s how we grow and learn.  I just hope there are more ups than downs!

 Cheers, Aly  

Today is a very big day in my life.  I have finally become google-able and it’s really me who is the first hit.  I owe it all to blogging.  As so much of our world becomes more electronic, face to face communication has also declined. Due to the decrease in the number of interactions which occur in person I can’t help but notice and judge the lack of social tact and diplomacy many individuals have.I am anal about manners.  There I admitted it.  I think that manners are underrated and often flat-out ignored.  First impressions and courtesies are how many connections are made and also sadly broken.  Simple rules of etiquette such as standing when meeting someone, saying excuse me and even flushing toilets are often overlooked in today’s busy and electronic society. As a budding PR professional I do not only hold my own manners in high esteem but I also judge those of the people around me.  Maybe that’s unfair, but I think it’s safe to admit that I am not alone in passing these judgments. Perhaps an etiquette section should be included in the Career Management class at Centennial.  Via an electronic feed perhaps? Cheers,Aly   PS: I do believe paragraphs.  WordPress is simply not allowing me to use them. 

Agency, not for profit, corporate and government.  All are possible places for a communications graduate to work.   I have toyed with each option throughout the school year. Each has it’s pros and cons- pay, benefits, hours, corporate culture, etc.  I have realized through a lot of reasearch and thought that it is truly a personal decision. Although I sought guidance and advice from my peers, teachers, family and PR professionals I have realized that ultimately I am the only one who really knows what sort of environment I will flourish in.  I have decided that I am going to begin my career at an agency.  I have attended a number of information sessions and spoken to various professionals in this particular field.  I feel that beginning in an agency I will have the opportunity to get my feet wet in all aspects of public relations.  I will learn as I go and I hope to be challenged and taught each step of the way.Since making this decision I feel as though a large weight has been lifted off my shoulders. However, I am starting to feel the pressure and strain of the internship hunt.  It is field placement season at Centennial and all Corp Comm and PR students are searching, with the aid of our teachers, for a position in the PR field of their choice.  Graduates and teachers often remind us that our internships will not make or break our careers.  While I do not doubt that this statement is true I cannot help but feel stressed and overwhelmed that a bad decision at this stage could negatively affect my future in PR. How is everyone else feeling?  Am I alone with my anxiety?  Cheers,Aly  

Happy Monday readers-Today has just been one of those days. Perhaps the winter blues are setting in, along with the lovely -10 weather that has swept over Toronto.Nonetheless I thought I would use this post to explore Facebook which, admit it or not, is one of the leading forms of communication right now. It’s hot, hot, hot! I can still recall the day, in 2004, that I entered the vortex of social networking and become an addicted member of Facebook. At the beginning it seemed like a harmless and convenient way to connect with old friends and classmates. However, as the popularity of Facebook grew as did my number of inappropriate photos and unknown friends.Last week, in typical New Year fashion, I purged my profile on Facebook. I deleted a vast number of friends, photos and maxed up my privacy settings. I keep hearing whispers that potential employers often search and scope potential employees on Facebook. While I have no idea whether this theory is true or not I do not want test it, especially not as I am about to begin searching searching for an internship and soon enough, a job.I am beginning to realize that Facebook is not solely a giant photo album but instead an important aspect of social media. My Facebook profile is no longer reflective of my free spirit undergraduate years but instead communicates my life as it should, a future public relations professional.Readers, any comments or insight? Are any of you ‘an open book on the ‘book?’Cheers,Aly

Hello again friends-

I assume that as a new ‘blogger’ the only pseudo fans and readers which I have managed to acquire over the past few days are my loyal and dedicated friends; hence the informal greeting! To any of you lurkers- welcome .

Today I began a new challenge as a corporate communications student, day one of Client Project. Client Project is a mandatory course at Centennial College which all post-grad PR and Corp Comm students must complete. This course entails that students must volunteer their time and skills to an organization that requires assistance in their PR department. I have decided to dedicate my time and expertise (??) to Save the Children Canada (www.savethechildren.ca). A not-for-profit organization that aims to aid, educate and protect children in conflict ridden nations. Specifically I will be working on the charity’s “Rewrite the Future” campaign (http://www.savethechildren.ca/canada/resources/index.html). Please look at the Save the Children website and join the “Rewrite the Future” group on Facebook, an event will be announced soon.

I am very excited to have the opportunity to work with Save the Children; I will be able to improve my public relations skills while aiding a charity and building my resume. A double gold in the world of a PR student.

Thanks for reading- come back soon!

Cheers,

Aly