PR News

I might be alone in my opinion but this year's World Series seemed like a joke to me. I didn't even realize the Phillies had won until reading it in the paper the next morning (in a very small section I might add). It seemed like both teams came out of nowhere. I would have thought that both of these teams, who had gone pretty much unrecognized, would have taken the chance of competing for the World Series to get a little more press time. Either the teams were too blown away by the fact that they were in the championship or their PR departments are sorely lacking.

PR News

I love the recent post on PR News Blog titled "Anti-Social Media." It brings up the question of whether our online networking and socializing is helping or hindering real world communication. I personally believe that it's hindering it. Often times too much or too little thought goes into what we are desperately trying to communicate, when a simple phone call or face-to-face would clear up most issues in 10 seconds flat.

PR News

Reading a post by Diane Schwartz today, I was struck by her insight on celebrity relations with their public. Schwartz references Brett Favre’s supposed sharing of sacred football insider information and the fact that if this were anyone else no one would have even given it a second thought, let alone would it be a top sports story. Her main point however is that of perception. It doesn’t matter if Favre really did share the secret insider information, it appears like he did and in the media world perception is reality.

Final Press Release 4

Utah State University
Rachel Brighton
SAAVI Coordinator
saaviinfo@cc.usu.edu
435-797-1510

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 21, 2008

SELF DEFENSE AND FUN
Utah State University Offers Self Defense Class on Campus

LOGAN, Utah – Utah State University is offering a way for female students to learn self defense and gain awareness.

The PE class offered on campus, officially called Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.), is a ladies only course taught by USU campus police officers.

R.A.D. is designed to help the average woman develop and enhance self defense options. It is the only program with a free lifetime return and practice policy.

Former R.A.D. student Mary Ince said, “I would definitely recommend the class. It’s a lot of fun, you get to meet new people and it’s a good step in learning self defense.”

The final for the class consists of an optional simulation where students can test the skills learned throughout the semester in “real world” scenarios.

In addition to learning self defense techniques the class also consists of lectures that teach the students how to avoid potentially dangerous situations, what emotional reactions could occur and what the options are if attacked.

Rachel Brighton, the coordinator for Utah State University’s Sexual Assault and Anti-Violence Information (SAAVI) office, teaches a lecture each semester for the R.A.D. class about the SAAVI program.

“The R.A.D. class is fun and it builds awareness,” Brighton said. The key thing is that women often believe they are not powerful, but when they walk out of the class they have a better understanding of how powerful they really are, she added.

SAAVI works to promote awareness through events they hold throughout the year. One of the main events is the “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes,” in which male students race a one mile course around campus in high heeled shoes.

SAAVI offers information about sexual assault, relationships, stalking, and sexual harassment. They also offer help, counseling and resources to victims on and off campus.

We are here for anyone who has experienced some kind of violence, Brighton said. “We want them to know that they don’t have to do it alone.”

For more information on the SAAVI program visit their Web site at http://www.usu.edu/saavi/ or call 435-797-1510 for the office or 435-797-RAPE (7273) for the SAAVI Hotline.

R.A.D. Systems was founded in 1989 by Larry Nadeau, a former United States Marine. It is a nationwide program that has educated over 300,000 women on self-defense.

Contact:
Sarah Miller
Public Relations Representative
435-665-2245
sarah.m@aggiemail.usu.edu

PR News

I think the fact that a fake person who makes their livelihood by blogging is being featured on Utah’s Public Radio shows you just how far technology has seeped into our lives. She’s not even real and yet enough people follow her that she is able to “pay for pedis” with the ads on her site. Though I am sure they pay for a little bit more than that. I am interested to see just what “TAMN” thinks about the world of blogging.

PR News

I wonder how the presidential nominee’s PR people are dealing with the fact that the candidates spent oh, about 15 minutes of the debate last night on the rules of polite campaigning (Because that’s what keeps me up at night). I for one would rather watch the two of them duke it out and get some real answers, rather than focusing on the proper etiquette and unspoken (well I guess now they are spoken) rules of campaigning.

Final Media Pitch

Local Association Works to Promote Financial Independence

Ms. Emilie Wheeler:

Hi, my name is Sarah Miller and I am the public relations representative for the Cache Valley Area Investors Association (CVAIA). The CVAIA is actively helping locals achieve financial independence and I believe it is something the community would be interested in learning about. The group focuses on creating and building passive income (investments). By building passive income the person is able to have a steady income they don't have to think about. This allows them to focus on what they enjoy doing rather than having a job just to provide an income.

The CVAIA membership is free. Great financial advice is offered at no cost to you in a friendly, non-threatening environment. If actively involved a person can become financially independent in as little as three years.

The CVAIA started meeting October 2 and will continue to meet every-other Thursday. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. in the Cache Chamber of Commerce building at 160 N. Main Street.

The CVAIA is a great asset to the community. Logan locals should be aware of CVAIA and take advantage of what they have to offer. If you have any other questions please let me know. I would be more than happy to answer them for you and provide you with more information.

Sarah Miller
Public Relations Representative
CVAIA
435-655-2245
sarah.m@aggiemail.usu.edu

PR News

As I read Jeremy Potters recent post on the etiquette of twitter I had to ask myself: Seriously? Do we really need another way to “communicate” with one another? Cause it seems to me the more ways there are to communicate or “follow” someone online, the more ways there are to become so separated from the real world and real communication. Do we really need 12 different applications that allow us to “keep in touch” with people we’ve never even met? When was the last time you had a real conversation with the person sitting right next to you?

PR News

I had the opportunity to attend a lecture given today by Tim Brown the executive VP and public relations representative from Richter 7, a PR firm in Salt Lake. The lecture was interesting and inspiring.

Brown’s lecture dealt mostly with the most important aspects of PR. It was interesting to have a professionals take on what the most central features are of PR day-in and day-out. One of the most essential skills he said to develop is that of writing. Whether you’re in event planning or advertising, writing will always be an important skill.

Brown said that it is also important to work in a creative environment and to have a good work ethic. I think the most vital thing I took away from his presentation was to put your own personality into everything you do and to not be afraid of it.

Draft Media Pitch

Local association works to promote financial independence

Mr. Jones:

The Cache Valley Area Investors Association (CVAIA) is actively helping locals achieve financial independence. The group focuses on creating and building passive income (investments). The CVAIA advises to first invest in yourself and then move on to real estate, commodities, securities, businesses, and intellectual property. By building passive income the person is able to have a steady income they don't have to think about. This allows them to focus on what they enjoy doing rather than having a job just to provide an income.

The CVAIA membership is free. Great financial advice is offered at no cost to you in a friendly, non-threatening environment. The association has no other focus/ aim than to help locals become financially independent. If actively involved a person can become financially independent in as little as three years.

The CVAIA started meeting October 2 and will continue to meet every-other Thursday. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. in the Cache Chamber of Commerce building at 160 N. Main Street. The group currently has 50 members, 10 of which are regularly active.

The CVAIA is a great asset to the community. Logan locals should be aware of CVAIA and take advantage of what they can offer. If you have any other questions please let me know. I would be more than happy to answer them for you and provide you with more information.

Sarah Miller
Public Relations
435-556-9989
sarah.m@aggiemail.usu.edu

Draft Press Release 4

Utah State University Police Department
Jessica Sorensen
Detective USU Police
435-797-1967
jessica.sorensen@usu.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 8, 2008

SELF DEFENSE AND FUN
Utah State University offers self defense class on campus

Logan, Utah – Utah State University is offering a way for female students to learn self defense.

The PE class offered on campus is called Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.). R.A.D. is a ladies only course taught by USU campus police officers.

According to the R.A.D. Web site the course is focused on developing and enhancing self defense options, so that women will know what their choices are if attacked.

Former R.A.D. student Mary Ince said, “I would definitely recommend the class. It’s a lot of fun, you get to meet new people and it’s a good step in learning self defense.” She also added that the class teaches you to think about how you would react different circumstances.

In addition to learning self defense techniques the class also consists of lectures that teach the students how to avoid potentially dangerous situations, what emotional reactions could occur and what the options are if attacked, among other things.

The final for the class consists of an optional simulation where students can test the skills learned throughout the semester in “real world” scenarios.

The Sexual Assault & Anti-Violence Information (SAAVI) office on campus is directly associated with this program. SAAVI offers information about sexual assault, relationships, stalking, and sexual harassment. They also offer help, counseling and recourses to victims on and off campus. For more information visit http://www.usu.edu/saavi/ or call 435-797-1510.

RAD was founded by Larry Nadeau, a former United States Marine, in 1989. It is a nationwide program that has educated over 250,000 women.

Contact:
Sarah Miller
Public Relations
435-665-2245
sarah.m@aggiemail.usu.edu

-END-

PR News

I honestly feel bad for the PR people caught up in the never ending mess that is our economy. I mean I realize it’s their job to “spin” what is going on with the market right now but really what are you going to tell people?

Take for example Wachovia’s recent merger with Wells Fargo. Released from Wachovia was a statement basically saying that they are “extremely pleased to join forces with this outstanding company (Wells Fargo)” and “Today's announcement creates one of the strongest financial firms in the world.” Honestly, in my mind that is not saying a whole lot. And really how can they claim to be one of the strongest financial firms in the world when they just had to be bought out by a competitor to even stay afloat?

PR News

I recently read a post titled “The Drudge, The Grunge, Oprah … and Me” by Mark Stevens. Basically the post was about Oprah snubbing Palin, and yet claiming to be a neutral media source. I feel most news sources have developed some type of bias, and it’s typically not hard to figure out which way they lean. I find this a little disconcerting that the sources we so readily rely on for factual, non-biased, hard news are turning into nothing more than a masquerading opinion.

Another good point Stevens makes is that PR is not just a profession. Oprah acted unintentionally (or maybe it was intentionally) as a representative for Obama. With the following that Oprah has this makes me even more nervous. She has the power to turn a book into an instant best seller just by adding it to her "book club." This causes me to wonder if millions of American women are thinking for themselves or just watching Oprah.