PRSA-NCC Workshop: Tips for Submitting a Winning Thoth on May 11

PRSA-NCC's Tips for Submitting a Winning Entry on Monday, May 11, 2009 from 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
8:00-8:30 a.m.: Networking, registration and continental breakfast
8:30-10:00 a.m.: Program U.S. Navy Memorial & Heritage Center701 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Washington, DC 20005
Metro: Navy Memorial/Archives (green/yellow lines) Cost: $20 PRSA members/$25 non-members
To register, visit https://secure.kinsail.com/results.asp?p=prsancc&pt=store&groupid=12802

The T.E.M.P. Report 2.0™ for MAY 2009~ Exclusive to The Capital Buzz

A brief update on the current Washington area PR employment scene based on the view from PRofessional Solutions, LLC, the Washington market’s only PR temporary staffing agency.

Last month (April’09): Bust
Last year (April’08): Fair

Ratings:
Bust - virtually no hiring for jobs, freelancers or temps
Slow - a few, mostly low-level, positions being filled; fewer jobs for freelancers or temps
Fair - existing jobs are being filled and moderate work for freelancers and temps
Strong - organizations are hiring at all levels and good work for freelancers and temps
Boom! - virtually everyone who wants work is finding it

Kate’s Overview: Where we are seeing more layoffs are among associations, including the very largest who were previously well staffed in communications. And while area PR agencies mostly continue to do well, some are being burdened by pressure to compensate for losses in offices elsewhere in the country.

Applications to become PR temps are up, running at roughly three times the numbers of last year, but assignments are down as organizations continue to do without when at all possible.

Frequently people say to me that we must be getting lots of work because organizations have cut staff, but this is never the way it works. It has been clear in 15 years of providing PR staffing that when organizations are forced to let people go it’s because they can’t afford them; they aren’t spending money on staff of any kind unless absolutely compelled to.

You may have seen a piece in the Jobs section of the Sunday, April 19 Washington Post titled “Temp Jobs Can Be Your Ticket to a Full-Time Gig”. It highlighted temping as a way to gain new experiences and also demonstrate the skills and personality fit to be valuable in a roll permanently. We have seen it often in the temporary PR positions we fill.

But the article also points out that, “many temp jobs have evaporated in recent months, with a 27 percent reduction, or 644,000 jobs nationwide lost from March 2008 to 2009”, and “you need to have a great resume. The resume is your door-opener.” And while we’ve seen applications increase, the quality of most resumes does not reflect well on the majority of these professional communicators.

Whether you’re in the market for a job or not, work on creating a resume that is always ready to go and shows your skills, successes and accomplishments without boasting and in succinct language. It can open doors.

Today’s Capital Communicators Group (CCG) lunch at the EPA on environmental communications (because April is Earth month) had a switch in the line up of speakers but a great turnout of about 50 people anxious to learn more about the topic.

As it turned out, one speaker provided more of a rallying cry about the need for total global change in our approach the environment and the economy, while the other did focus on the communication strategies of an organization involved in environmental issues.

Earth Day Network's Raquel Garcia provided a lot of enthusiasm for the cause, but over the course of the program shared more passion than details about communications strategies and programs. She said that when Earth Day began in 1971 it was more about clean water, preserving the earth but now it is now more inclusive and about environmental social justice and the interrelated issues of energy, food production, health and global warming.

Although Garcia said that now their emphasis is on including everyone in “the Green Generation” and extending outreach to populations who in the past felt the movement was exclusively for white, educated and affluent people, she didn’t provide detail on what form the new outreach to Hispanic, African American and religious communities were. And there was a subtext of racism as the root of health problems in some poor segments of minority populations who lived near plants or other polluting sites.

In contrast, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Press Secretary Adora Andy, while only two months in the job, talked more about communications strategies, finding ways to communicate that made language and action steps understandable and accessible to the public. She noted that research shows the American public is still more concerned about water and water quality than climate change, while also explaining that the term “global warming” creates more confusion and misunderstanding. Her office now refers to climate change when discussing related issues.

One interesting example she outlined of a response to public concern that involves both research and a communication initiative focused on concern about unhealthy environments in American schools. After a nationwide review 60 schools have been selected for monitoring. Community specific letters were provided to go to parents of students in these schools that not only go into more depth about what selection and monitoring mean, but offer parents an explanation of what that means for their child, and steps they can incorporate immediately in response. Public meetings at each school were also scheduled to communicate with families and community. Andy emphasized the need to always include action items for the public so they can be both interested and involved.

PRSA-NCC's Workshop "Getting Your Message Out: Creating a Successful Blog"

On Tuesday, April 28th at PRSA-NCC's monthly workshop, panelists did a great job of exploring the ins and outs of blogs. Personally, I still have a hard time justifying the time that many people put into blogging -- reading them, writing them and twittering about them. Maybe it is just because I have not been 100% committed to the idea of adding something else to my daily schedule. But, today's panelists (listed below) are committed and enthusiastic, and in turn, I think I turned a corner on their value.

Brendan Hurley from Goodwill of Greater Washington explained bloggers should be passionate about your subject matter, and a good writer. Hurley mentioned that combination is hard to find. Our own Denise Graveline has master the art of blogging through her journalism background and her passion for her blogs. Chris White, one of the originals for the TSA blog, explained the process of how TSA's blog came to be, and how you must have 100% leadership buy in to make a blog work.

Gone are the days when the primary way an organization got its message out was through traditional, mainstream media relations. Hurley's concluding thought was "Integrate, don't eliminate" when talking about the use of new media.

Panelists:
Brendan Hurley is senior vice president of marketing & communications for Goodwill of Greater Washington, creator of the highly popular and successful DC Goodwill Fashionista blog, which has received national prominence
Chris White is director of PR for AirTran Airways and former acting assistant administrator for the Transportation Security Administration, where he launched the groundbreaking Evolution of Security blog and the agency’s innovative Got Feedback? Passenger contact program
Denise Graveline is president of don’t get caught, an independent communications consultancy and author of two blogs, don't get caught news & info and The Eloquent Woman
Rachelle LaCroix, account supervisor at Fleishman-Hillard, is one of the agency’s experts on social media and blogging and maintains relationships with many of the world’s most influential bloggers for clients ranging from AT&T to the YWCA.
Moderator: Heathere Evans-Keenan, APR, past PRSA-NCC president and president of Keenan PR, Inc.

Budgets are Tight. Here’s Some Free Stuff.

Maybe you can’t attend the conferences you hoped or buy some of the latest resources. There are some freebies out there that can help you make the case for resources in your budget and others that might give your work planning and execution a boost and help show value to your organization.

VOCUS ~ Every organization needs to know who is talking about us and what they're saying. Download a copy of their latest free white paper "Monitoring the Social Media Conversation: From Twitter to Facebook".

According to Nielsen Online, social networks and blogs have surpassed even email in global popularity, and are growing at a rate of more than three times as fast as overall internet growth. But while recent reports claim that Twitter use has surged to 19 million visitors, it is not as ubiquitous in usage as some coverage would have us believe.

A recent survey by Harris Interactive found that 51 percent of Americans do not use Twitter, Facebook or MySpace. The survey said 48 percent of Web users in the U.S. have either Facebook or MySpace pages, while a mere five percent of Americans use Twitter.

CISION ~ You can access a sampling of contacts at top TV news stations with Cision’s free briefing book: Pitching Profiles for Television Broadcast Contacts. I have taken advantage of this myself and think it would be a great tool for showing and convincing your CFO of how much more effective your pitches would be if you had access to the full set of contacts.

The guide, powered by the Bacon’s Media Database, provides insight into producers' needs, how to create an effective pitch for them, pet peeves and preferred contact methods and more. I loved finding that there are still a few members of the media who want to be contacted by mail!
Sign up to download this freebie.

BUSINESS WIRE ~ The press release distribution folks are offering a range of free webinars on all things press release oriented. Industry professionals take you through interactive discussions and discuss the latest trends in the business, as well as questions about press release strategy.

Upcoming free webinars:

Thursday, April 30 - To Tweet or Not to Tweet Your Press Release? And Other Frequently Asked Questions

Tuesday, May 5 - Press Release Optimization: Build Your Press Release Like a Pro

Thursday, May 14 - Building Better Press Releases

Thursday, May 21 - How to Pitch Feature Stories

For more free Business Wire webinars, visit BusinessWire.com.

Choose the Right Professional Group for Your Purposes and Pocket Book

Every week at PRofessional Solutions, LLC we interview communications professionals looking for permanent positions or temporary assignments to supplement their freelance work. We always tell them that an important part of their networking is finding and joining a professional society that they’ll enjoy as a permanent part of their career.

In the Washington area we are rich in variety when it comes to such groups, so no matter what your area of specialization – and even without an employer picking up the tab! – you can and should find the group or groups that work for you.
Check out a group a few times before joining and match it against your own criteria:

• Does it have the right mix of colleagues, clients and potential friends?Are the location and schedule of programs convenient so you’ll attend more than once a year?
• Is it the kind of well-organized or casual or business-like or friendly operation in which you thrive?
• When you consider all the costs – dues, programs and parking – can you afford it?
• Will you feel the organization spends your dues and program dollars well?
• Is it a good value and return on your money?

Here are some organizations with which I’m personally acquainted and some of my thoughts and experiences with each. But there are MANY more, and I invite Capital Buzz readers to share thoughts on my groups and to add comments and suggestions about others.

ALWAYS AFFORDABLE
Capital Communicators Group (CCG) ~ This group is free. No dues, no commitment. Just ask to get on the mailing list (CapitalCommunicator@gmail.com) and each month you'll find out what the program is, where it is and what it costs. And the cost is low -- between $20 and $25 dollars for lunch and program.

Making it more fun, the programs are often on site with the speakers from whom you're hearing about topics from podcasting (at NIH) to the Supreme Court's PR activities (lunch at the Supreme Court!) to the National Zoo.

At right below is the panel of zoo staff speakers under the tent where we had lunch and that's Tammy Lemley of North American Network bravely taking the snake (!!!) from a docent during a behind-the-scenes tour available after the program.

There are hundreds of people on the CCG list and you'll meet someone new everytime you go and communicators from all walks of the business. Check out the CCG blog at http://capitalcommunicatorsgroup.blogspot.com/

Washington Women in Public Relations (WWPR) ~ While it may not be free to join once you do most programs are free for members. Dues are $85 a year, which puts it in reach for those without an employer subsidy, and then most programs are brown bag lunches in conference rooms around the area and also have been on location (the Spy Museum and the National Museum of the American Indian, and tours of local media facilities).

Don't let the name stop you guys: there are always a few gentlemen in the crowd because men are welcome to attend programs and to join (a great way to meet women).

I've been a member for more than 20 years, and although most of the members are younger it is always a friendly, inclusive and welcoming group. It's pro bono committee and the chance to work on the PR Woman of the Year awards luncheon event both provide terrific networking and learning opportunities around significant contributions. Check them out at http://www.wwpr.org/.

PRICIER OPTIONS

Unlike the two above, these next three groups are part of national organizations and therefore charge dues that has to help cover headquarter staff and other national or international costs.

Association for Women in Communications (AWC-DC)~ To join as a new member will set you back $219, (visit http://www.womcom.org/membership/join.asp) and then luncheon, evening and special programs cost an average of $35 to $40 each. The local chapter is about the size of WWPR in membership, but this group will probably appeal less to men because some of the programs, like the very elegant annual networking tea, are more traditionally female in format.

AWC is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year -- congratulations! -- and the chapter also participates in awarding an annual Matrix Foundation scholarship to a female student attending an area college or university.

International Association of Business Communicators (IABC DC) ~ The DC area chapter is the biggest in the US and includes Northern Virginia up through the Baltimore area. It meets on a regular schedule -- the second Thursday of each month -- for a formal speaker or panel format dinner program ($45 for members) at the Arlington Hilton. You can take advantage of a special 3-month trial chapter membership that costs $55 and lets you attend all programs, volunteer and use the chapter job bank. Considering that international and chapter dues total $312 a year, plus a $40 application fee, it makes good sense to be sure before joining. Check with the office for details.

IABC includes a number of special interest groups (SIGs), including the Senior Communicators Council and an independents group. For many members who find the dinner programs hard on the schedule or budget, these are a way to focus on topics tailored to their interests with more peer-to-peer contact. However, each year these SIGs have different levels of success depending upon who chairs them. Sometimes one will simply disappear for months -- or even years -- at a time with no communication to members.

Years ago I took advantage of a great offer when IABC's headquarters lost a major sum in a failed re-do of the web site. Now I'm a member of The 500 Club and only pay chapter dues each year. For $1,000 up to 500 members could join the 500 Club, which provided IABC with a quick infusion of funds and those of us who joined with a good deal if we anticipated being members for more than five years.

Public Relations Society of American (PRSA-NCC) ~ I confess -- I'm not a member of PRSA. However, for years I attended many of its programs and for the past several years my firm has been a Gold sponsor. Based on this relationship I can say that this PRSA chapter -- huge in numbers -- is extremely well run and treats all of its sponsor like gold.

Like IABC, PRSA has monthly programs, usually breakfast programs, though, making it easier for many people to attend and then get to the office by mid-morning and not disrupt family commitments at night. These are generally downtown DC, convenient to Metro, with buffet breakfast and networking, but cost about the same as the IABC dinner programs.

And membership is as expensive as IABC (details at http://www.prsa.org/membership/joinlandingpage.html). It has a higher application fee ($75) and chapter and national dues together currently come to $300.

Both IABC and PRSA also offer products like publications, workshops, annual conferences, webinars and accreditation. All of these cost plenty. It is one of my pet peeves that each of these organizations requires membership to become and to maintain accreditation, which I consider unfair gouging and an indication that it isn't really about certifying professional competency but about filling the coffers. And since employers generally don't know about, understand or care about accreditation, professionals should only go through the time and expense for personal reward -- measuring their knowledge, networking with other professionals, etc.

So, what's YOUR favorite group?

It's Earth Day -- And IABC's Pinnacle Winner Works in Conservation!

The IABC/Washington chapter has announced that Courtney Jill Sakai, senior campaign director for Oceana, is their 2009 Pinnacle Award winner.

Pinnacle recognizes a senior-level business communicator in the Greater Washington region for a consistent record of exceptional results and exemplifying the highest standards of professional excellence and ethics.

Sakai has fewer than 20 years experience but was selected for “meaningful contributions to diversity, health care and conservation”. For the last eight years, she has worked for Oceana, an international organization focused on ocean conservation.

This is the fourth year for the Pinnacle Award and the first year that it has been integrated into the chapter’s monthly dinner programming schedule. Previously, the event was a breakfast award ceremony at the Willard Hotel. Board members have debated the impact of Pinnacle as a separate event on members’ choice of which program to attend in a single month and decided it made sense to make the remarks of the winner the May professional development opportunity at the regularly scheduled time and place.

Thursday, May 7th, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m. ~ cocktail attire
Hilton Arlington ~950 North Stafford Street (Metro stop: Ballston; $8. parking at hotel), Arlington, VA

Register by May 5 for the following prices: $50 for students, $55 for IABC/Washington members, $60 for guests accompanying members, $65 for nonmembers

Talk is Cheap – Or Maybe It's Just Treated That Way

Last week I had the privilege and pleasure of delivering the keynote address at Towson University’s annual Mass Communication and Communication Studies Networking Fair. The fair was hosted by The Public Relations Group, comprised of student chapters of IABC and PRSA.

Although it was a horribly rainy day, which made it almost a two-hour drive there and again home, I ended the day feeling happy I’d been invited and very positive about Towson and its students.

I don’t always feel this way after a speaking engagement, even with other receptive and responsive audiences. Frankly, it all comes down to good manners and careful guest speaker handling, both of which are increasingly rare among professional societies that depend on industry professionals to donate considerable time and effort on their behalf.

What did Towson do that made them stand out?
· The invitation outlined why I would be the right person for this engagement, exactly what was involved, and suggested what would be helpful to include in my remarks.
· After I accepted two students were assigned to be my contacts. They got in touch, provided me with directions and instructions on parking and told me how much they appreciated my coming.
· When I arrived one of my student contacts was waiting (in the chilly rain!) to greet me at the garage, handle my guest parking and escort me to the correct location.
· They had an assortment of refreshments, both healthy and “treats”, available.
· After my address my contacts were waiting with a lovely gift bag. (I will use my new university fleece throw at Wolf Trap picnics!)
· Within 48 hours I received a hand written thank you note.

Several years ago when I was invited to speak at IABC, PRSA and WWPR they had small thank-you gifts for their speakers of gourmet chocolates or an engraved pencil cup or such. In more recent years this seems to have disappeared. Some of these are still good about a follow up thank-you email.

Shouldn't organizers -- who expect you to take time to travel back and forth and spend time preparing a presentation -- at least ask what you’d like for a refreshment when it's an early morning or brown bag lunch program?

In January I had to be at Johns Hopkins Rockville campus at 8:30 a.m. for a speaking engagement. I had already had to ask for the correct address twice so I could research directions, and when I arrived the breakfast buffet was coffee and sugary muffins. I am a tea drinker, and was rescued by an attendee with whom I chatted who surprised me with tea she tracked down at a campus snack bar when it opened. As the presentation ended there was a perfunctory thank you from the organizer at the podium. No follow up by email, phone or mail.

(photo at right of me clutching that special tea, with fellow presenter Aaron Altscher)

The worst example was a couple of years ago. A lovely young women who has been both a client and a temp in the past asked me to deliver the opening address on networking for her professional society’s first evening program of a series. After agreeing (I rarely say no to a colleague) the organizer let me know I needed to prepare a 90-minute program and also write an article for their magazine! I spent many hours of my work time preparing both. Then I had to pay my own parking, had difficulty finding the right room and "dinner" was bagels.

However, I did receive a thank-you gift in the mail: a gift certificate to attend one of their future meetings! Plus it took several calls and emails over the course of six months to get copies of the magazine with my article.

So thank you, Towson, for showing how it's done and making it a special day for me. I only hope I made it worthwhile for the students attending. And GO TIGERS!

2009 Matrix Award to Kate Perrin!

Our own Kate Perrin, CEO of public relations temp firm PRofessional Solutions and Capital Buzz blogger, will receive one of two Matrix Awards for Professional Achievement from the Washington, DC, chapter of the Association for Women in Communications at a special luncheon May 14. (Go here to see the announcement and find details on registering for the awards luncheon.) Nationally syndicated columnist and author Michelle Singletary of the Washington Post also receives the award this year, and journalist Eleanor Clift will emcee the luncheon.

I've said for years that if you're in PR in Washington and don't know Kate Perrin, you're one of a very few. Kate puts employers and PR temps together and has a unique perspective--and wide network--in Washington public relations circles. She's also generous with her volunteer time and sponsorship of Washington PR organizations; in fact, PRofessional Solutions is sponsoring this year's AWC-DC Matrix Scholarship. You can read Kate's bio here to see her many accomplishments and contributions to the profession. I invite you to leave a comment here congratulating her on this signal achievement. Well done and well deserved!

Don't Give Up Trade Shows to Relieve Budget ~ Tips From Boscobel

Our colleague Joyce Bosc of Boscobel Marketing Communications once again has good suggestions to share, this time about how to keep getting results from trade shows even as your budget is being squeezed.

Joyce says, "the value of trade shows shouldn't be overlooked. Before removing them from your marketing program, consider the fact that they are a great place to network and learn about clients, partners and competitors." She also points out that there's no substitute for face-to-face contact.

Some of her suggestions as you plan for your next trade show include:
Share the Costs. Are any of your larger partners planning a booth presence at the show? Consider "subletting" space in their booth or combining your budgets on a larger booth to save money and strengthen your partner relationships.

Be More Interactive by running an online survey from your booth, with incentives to participate. And see if the show organizers will share your results as part of the show-floor news. You'll gain valuable data and boost your lead capture rate at the same time.

Measure ROI. Plan ahead and set goals you can measure. Track things such as the prospect capture rate and partnership development opportunities during and after the show. Remember, most of the tangible results happen post-event. Have a good follow-up strategy, and you'll get a better sense of how to budget for future events.

Walk It Out. Sponsorships or booths may just be cost prohibitive for some shows. In those cases, consider just attending the show -- you may accomplish some of your goals just by having feet on the floor. You still have a presence at an event that would otherwise be out of financial reach.

It's Not Easy Being Green: Capital Communicators Talk About Environmental Communications

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29

NOON ~ 1:30 p.m.

It's Not Easy Being Green: The World of Environmental Communications
With all the "buzz" about global warming, pollution, the melting of polar ice caps, and carbon emissions, you might think it would be easy to engage in communications and public relations about environmental topics. You might be right. Or you might be wrong. Find out at this month's Capital Communicators Group (CCG) lunch.

Speakers:
Allyn Brooks-LaSure, Deputy Associate Administrator, Office of Public Affairs, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Second speaker: TBD

RSVP Required to capitalcommunicator[at]gmail[dot]com: $20 to $22 (final cost will be sent with confirmation email); pay by cash only

Location: United States Environmental Protection Agency

Ariel Rios Building ~ 1200 Pennsylvania Ave, NW

Closest Metro Stop: Federal Triangle/blue and orange lines

Please bring ID and be ready to go through security.

Change of Time for Next Week's Washington Network Group Panel

If you were planning to attend the Washington Network Group's (WNG) special media panel on Thursday next week (see earlier post) you better check your calendar to be sure it still fits your schedule.

The start time for this event has been changed from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., and a light buffet will be served.

PRSA Offers WWPR Members Discount for Blogging Program

As I always tell people, it pays to join a professional society. And sometimes it pays even when you are a member of a different one!

The PRSA-NCC chapter's upcoming program on Creating a Successful Blog on Tuesday morning, April 28 (see earlier post) is now available at the member price ($35) to members of Washington Women in Public Relations.

ASAE Event -- When Your Members Meet the Press

When Your Members Meet the Press: Media Training Best Practices
Join the Greater Washington Network for an Idea Swap! In May, join Scott Krugman, VP Public Relations, National Retail Federation and your peers for a discussion on media training. Your spokespeople were not born with the ability to deal effectively with the media. Be ready to share your media training success stories, and to learn from others.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. at the Marriott Learning Complex (Federal Triangle Metro), event is free.
To register, visit: https://www.asaecenter.org/applications/registration/register.cfm?ItemNumber=38320

Podcast available for PRSA-NCC's Tips for Showing Value in 2009

PRSA-NCC's is offering a free a podcast of the professional development workshop which was held on March 25, 2009 at the U.S. Navy Memorial and Heritage Center. The session was "Tips for Showing Value in 2009" and panelists included were:

• Steve Grant, APR, manager of public relations, National Education Association


• Dave Groobert, general manager, Environics Communications – USA


• Lucien Salvant, managing director, public affairs, National Association of Realtors


• Moderator Heathere Evans-Keenan, APR, president, Keenan PR, Inc.
  

To download it, visit: http://www.prsa-ncc.org/blogcategory/new_media_downloads/

It's Blogging Month! Both IABC and PRSA Feature Programs on the Topic

As you've already read here, PRSA-NCC is featuring a program on Tuesday, April 28th on blogging (featuring The Capital Buzz' own Denise Graveline). Can't wait until then? Well sign up quick for this week's IABC Washington program "Corporate Blogging: A Revolution in Corporate Communications"

IABC Washington’s April chapter meeting speaker is Debbie Weil, author of "The Corporate Blogging Book" and a leading corporate social media consultant. She works with Global 100 and Fortune 500 companies, as well as trade associations and her corporate blogging clients include GlaxoSmithKline, the American College of Radiology and the Maryland Association of CPAs.

With millions of people reading blogs, Twittering and spending time on Facebook, LinkedIn and other social networks, your audience expects to be able to engage with you, and to do so authentically. Smart marketing and PR practices are all about building long-term relationships. So good corporate blogs are about delivering value to readers and potential future customers, not making a sale.

WHEN: Thursday, April 16 ~ 5:30 - 8:00 p.m.

WHERE: Hilton Arlington, 950 North Stafford Street
Metro-Ballston (Orange line); Parking $8 in the underground garage.

COSTS: $40 for members; $45 for guests accompanying members; $55 for nonmembers; $30 for students. As always, when you Register, note that you are accompanying member Kate Perrin to get the discount. I always encourage folks to get the best price while trying out a new professional society.

(Rates apply to registrations made online by Midnight on Tuesday, April 14 ~ that's today. Be prepared to add $10 to registrations made online April 15.)

Black Public Relations Society DC Chapter Offers Free Program on Strategic Social Media

Never been to a BPRS meeting? Now is your opportunity to attend a free program and get connected with the Black Public Relations Society's DC Chapter.

Wednesday April 15
6:30-8:00 pm.
APCO Worldwide
700 12th St., NW Suite 800 (between G & H)
Free for members and non-members if you make a reservation at bprsdc@gmail.com .

How are public relations professionals using social media to successfully convey messages? Hear from three professionals who rely heavily on social media to carry out their nuts and bolts communications every day.

Lesly Simmons, American Red Cross
James S. Walker, APCO Worldwide
Amanda Miller Littlejohn, Miller Littlejohn Media Group
Moderator: Dedra Owens, DOT Communications

PRSA-National Capital Chapter Announces 2009 Thoth Awards Call for Entries

This group is organized and ready to go, and with this much lead time to prepare terrific entries and this many categories, you have no excuse not to enter something!

EARLY BIRD FEES

Received by Friday, June 5, 2009

• PRSA-NCC Members: $75 for first entry; $55 for subsequent entries
• Non-NCC Members: $95 for first entry; $75 for subsequent entries
STANDARD FEES

Received June 6-19, 2009
• PRSA-NCC Members: $95 for first entry; $75 for subsequent entries
• Non-NCC Members: $115 for first entry; $95 for subsequent entries

Download the Entry and Fee Forms only as an MS Word document

Download the Complete Call for Entries Package as an MS Word document (also includes entri and fee forms)

Named for the Egyptian god of communication, the Thoth (pronounced “tot”) Awards recognize the most outstanding, strategic public relations programs and components developed and produced in the Greater Washington area.

Achievements are recognized in 39 categories, including 14 program categories that celebrate the very best PR campaigns and 25 component categories that highlight top accomplishments in PR tactics.

Good luck!

Creating a Successful Blog -- PRSA Panel Will Tell You How

Getting Your Message Out: Creating a Successful Blog

WHEN: Tuesday, April 28

8:00-8:30 a.m.: Networking, registration and continental breakfast

8:30-10:00 a.m.: Program

WHERE: U.S. Navy Memorial & Heritage Center (bring a sweater -- it gets cold in here!)

701 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Washington

Metro: Navy Memorial/Archives (green/yellow lines)

COST: $35 PRSA members/$55 non-members/$10 students/retirees

What exactly does it take to create an engaging blog?

How do you ensure your organization’s blog is read and that people keeping coming back?

How do you measure your blog’s effectiveness?

And, just as important, should your organization even develop a blog?

Hear case studies from several veteran PR industry experts -- including our own blogging guru Denise Graveline -- about why and how they created a blog, the obstacles they had to overcome, and their “lessons learned.”

PANELISTS:

• Brendan Hurley is senior vice president of marketing & communications for Goodwill of Greater Washington, creator of the highly popular and successful DC Goodwill Fashionista blog, which has received national prominence


• Chris White is director of PR for AirTran Airways and former acting assistant administrator for the Transportation Security Administration, where he launched the groundbreaking Evolution of Security blog and the agency’s innovative Got Feedback? Passenger contact program


• Denise Graveline is president of don’t get caught, an independent communications consultancy and author of two blogs, don't get caught news & info and The Eloquent Woman


• Rachelle LaCroix, account supervisor at Fleishman-Hillard, is one of the agency’s experts on social media and blogging and maintains relationships with many of the world’s most influential bloggers for clients ranging from AT&T to the YWCA.

Moderator: Heathere Evans-Keenan, APR, past PRSA-NCC president and president of Keenan PR, Inc. (Heathere is moderator extraordinaire. In fact, when she moderated the last PRSA panel on Tips for Showing Value in 2009, she was the most valuable contributor of the program.)

Register here or call the PRSA-NCC chapter office at 703.691.9212.

The Registration/cancellation deadline is 10:00 a.m. on April 27 ~ after that plan to register on-site and pay the additional fee of $10 at the door.

Ragan Communications Provides "A Twitter Primer" — in way more than 140 characters. The Surprise is the Comments Section.

I just had to read this article when I received Ragan's Daily Headlines because it seems that every day and every meeting and every professional development program I've attended lately has brought another push to Twitter.

While I try to keep current, via blogging and use of LinkedIn, I admit that I've found the cutesy language of Twitter users to be off-putting (Tweets? really?). Plus, I can't imagine spending time following anyone else's day when it's hard enough to keep up with my own.

A Twitter Primer seemed perfect for the many people asking how to get started, how to do it, etc. The piece is long but organized as a Q&A:

What is Twitter?
How much room do I have? Does 140 characters count spaces?
Can I tweet from my Web site? My cell phone?
What’s a “follower”? How do I get people to follow me? Whom should I follow?
How can I find people or companies on Twitter?
What should I tweet about?
Does everyone see my tweets? Can I make them private?
Can I delete my tweets?
How can I shorten my links on Twitter?
How can I find out what other people are tweeting about?
What’s with the “#” sign? What’s with the “@” sign?
What is retweeting? How do you do it, and why?
How do I respond to someone directly?
Which third-party applications are useful for Twitter?
Twitter manners 101:
What’s the etiquette for talking to people on Twitter?
Should I pitch people on Twitter?
Should I follow everyone who follows me? Do I have to know everyone who “follows” me?
Should I thank people for following me?

All of that seemed well framed and helpful, and in light of all the buzz and growth and interest in this form of social media I was amazed that the comments were so heavily laden with remarks of disgust, weariness and "I'm so over Twitter".

If Capital Buzzers would like to let us know if they use Twitter we'd love to share with other readers your feelings about its usefulness professionally, but also how much time you're spending "tweeting" and following personally.

AWC Clarion Awards Entry Deadline is Tuesday, April 14 ~ You Can Do Your Taxes That Night!

It will be a busy week for some communicators, but perhaps worth it if they win a Clarion from the Association for Women in Communications (AWC) ~ though maybe not as thrilling as a big tax refund would be these days! This is your last weekend to put together your winning entry.

Entry materials and payment must be postmarked by Tuesday, April 14, 2009, to be eligible.

Visit the Clarion Web site for details, categories and online entry form. You can reach AWC Headquarters at clarion@womcom.org or (703) 370-7436 with any questions.

Media Relations 2009: More than 120 speakers over two intense days: May 17-19 in NYC

Join hundreds of high-level colleagues at the largest—and most efficient—media relations conference in the communications business: Bulldog Reporter's Media Relations Summit 2009, in New York City, May 17-19. You'll hear keynotes from broadcast news veteran Dan Rather; former TV news host and media relations visionary Dan Abrams; and three New York Times superstar journalists—Tara Parker Pope, Andrew Ross Sorkin and Saul Hansell. For more information or to register, visit http://www.bulldogreporter.com/

Washington Network Group Presents Business Media Panel

Thursday, April 23 4:30 - 7:00 p.m.

Merrill Lynch Conference Center

1152 Fifteenth Street, NW DC - 5th Floor

(Located near Farragut North and McPherson Square Metro stations)

Light refreshments

Panel:
Douglas Fruehling - Washington Business Journal, Editor
Dana Hedgpeth - The Washington Post, Business Section, Reporter
Tom Kennedy - Kennedy Multimedia, Principal (former Managing Editor, Multimedia at Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive)
Steve LeVine - BusinessWeek - Washington Bureau, Correspondent
Lorelei Harloe - Ascend Communication, LLC, Principal (moderator)

Topic: What types of news and information do top Washington area media outlets want most now?

This seminar is for PR professionals, communication staff and company representatives charged with generating publicity on behalf of their clients, products, services and organizations. The panel will discuss:
· the types of stories they're looking for,
· what makes an effective pitch,
· how to integrate multimedia tools into your releases and pitches,
· how their web versions differ from their print versions,
· examples of exceptional stories and practices,
· how they're using social media and more.

Register for this Event: WNG Members: $20 advance registration (paid online) Non-Members: $40 advance registration (paid online) On-site: $10 surcharge for walk-ins at the door.

Our Own Kate Perrin Shines at WWPR Monthly Luncheon

At the March, 2009 WWPR Luncheon, our own Kate Perrin and four other panelists gave honest accounts of the job market, what to do when you are searching, how to be resourceful, and how to make yourself stand out in your job whether or not you are current employed.

Panelists at the event were Marie Gordon of Profiles, Kathleen Lischgi of Aquent, Ben Long of Travaille, Ned Lundquist of Job of the Week (JOTW), Carol Palazzo of The BOSS Group and Kate Perrin of PRofessional Solutions, LLC.

The best advice came in a list of what to do to keep your job or help you get a new job:

• Continue to add value to a company, and always bring fresh ideas
• Be passionate about what you do
• Learn new skills to make yourself more valuable
• Be extremely dependable
• Be a team player
• Don't brag too much
• Add value by always raising your own bar
• Shine in a crisis and come through
• And, always work to increase revenue, reduce cost and increase efficiency

The T.E.M.P. Report 2.0™ for April 2009~ Exclusive to The Capital Buzz

A brief update on the current Washington area PR employment scene based on the view from PRofessional Solutions, LLC, the Washington market’s only PR temporary staffing agency.

Last month (Mar’09): Bust (freelancers) ~ Slow to Fair (communications jobs at all levels are being filled)
Last year (April’08): Slow

Ratings:
Bust - virtually no hiring for jobs, freelancers or temps
Slow - a few, mostly low-level, positions being filled; fewer jobs for freelancers or temps
Fair - existing jobs are being filled and moderate work for freelancers and temps
Strong - organizations are hiring at all levels and good work for freelancers and temps
Boom! - virtually everyone who wants work is finding it

Kate’s Overview: This month saw more layoffs and continued tightening of budgets, but it also saw continued hiring and some increase in the use of temporaries to cover positions that can’t be filled due to hiring freezes.

While more people were downsized, the Washington market continues to have only small-scale, targeted reductions in staff relative to the national employment scene and it continues to be independents and freelancers as a group who are shouldering the largest cut in opportunities.

At PRofessional Solutions, LLC we are seeing many assignments shortened by clients under instructions not to spend the money in their budgets while the financial picture for the remainder of the year is still uncertain.

However, other clients are using our services more as hiring freezes leave them short staffed when current staff leave. In these cases, corporate clients are more comfortable using a staffing firm than in individual freelancer, possibly because we are the employer of record and cover all payroll taxes for the temp. If the company hired the same individual as a freelancer to work on site and under their daily direction they would be liable for full benefits (vacation, sick leave, payroll taxes, retirement contributions) after a short time because these individuals would be performing the duties of an employee in a permanent position.

Job seeker tip: Don’t limit your networking to professional societies full of your peers. Make sure your friends, neighbors and other contacts know you’re in the market and that you would appreciate an introduction at their firm or delivery of your resume to the right hiring manager.

PRSA-NCC Offers Busy Schedule for April

Thursday, April 9, 3:00–4:00 p.m.
Webinar
Accelerate Your Career in Public Relations
Communications strategist Jenny Schade will lead a panel discussion of Accredited Public Relations pros that will discuss how becoming accredited in public relations helped them become accomplished public relations practitioners and what they, as employers, now look for in their hiring processes.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009 5:30-8:00 p.m.
Networking Happy Hour
Happy Hour/Networking Event
Meet PR professionals in an informal setting at this monthly gathering.
BlackFinn, 4901 Fairmont Ave., Bethesda, MD

Thursday, April 16, 5:00-7:00 p.m.
PRSA National Event
Public Affairs Forum and Reception
"Reaffirm, Regain, Renew: Public Affairs' Role in Remaking America" it the title of a program convened by the PRSA National office. A panel discussion of PR though leaders will examine the important role PR will play in renewing our nation. Reception follows.

Panelists include:
Paul Gillin, veteran tech journalist and author of “The New Influencers: A Marketers Guide to New Social Media”
Margery Kraus, president and CEO of APCO Worldwide and past winner of the WWPR PR Woman of the Year award
Garret Graff, editor-at-large at The Washingtonian and author of “The First Campaign: Globalization, the Web, and the Race for the White House.”
Robert Hastings, APR, Principal Deputy Assistant of Defense for Public Affairs
Torod Neptune, senior vice president at Waggener Edstrom
Moderator: Patrick Cleary, senior vice president of digital public affairs at Fleishman Hillard