Social Media

 
In class we have been learning of different ways to meet people without seeing them in person, ways to make everyone you know, and some you don't, aware what you’re doing without them experiencing it with you, ways to impress a potential employer without a meeting or interview.
     Social media is opening up miraculous and new opportunities for us. It makes our lives easier and bridging gaps in space, age and time. However, social media is taking us away from humanity.
     My twin sister and I used to do everything together. We used to talk for hours on end, watch movies and TV, and just spend quality, interactive time together. Over the past year, however, she's been getting more involved on Twitter and Facebook. Our long conversations were often interrupted by a great tweet or a subtle beep, which indicated a new wall post she'd received. The only tradition we kept up were movie nights once a week. The other night we were watching a movie together as she was glued to both her laptop and her Blackberry, and when I laughed, she lifted her head and said, "What?" I looked at her and asked, "Have you even been watching the movie?" and as she looked back down at her screens, she said "Uh-huh." Social media had done it. It had taken away the last bit of quality time we spent together.
     It's such a shame that in order to be successful, we have to be gifted in communication through social media - when all I want is for it to go away. I miss the days when quality time meant enjoying another person’s presence and not "skyping" them or "tweeting" at them. However, this is the way of the new world and I have a feeling that we all have to get involved or we will be left behind.

-Shari Baron

Do The Right Thing

Doing the right thing can be so hard, especially when the wrong thing looks so easy. What it all comes down to this: Doing the right thing can ultimately save you from having to deal with bad press, upset clients and stress you could have avoided if you did the right thing in the first place.
In Chapter 1, Hoggan describes his three "Golden Rules" for approaching public relations. 1. Do the right thing, be accountable for your actions, and confront issues head on. For example, when Toyota was having car issues they laid the pronblems out so consumers can see. After showing their problems Toyota showed what they have been doing to improve, and in no time it was as it people forgot the initial problems all together. 2. Be seen to be doing the right thing make sure your audience and the media is aware that you are doing the right thing. Toyota had several commercials explaining how important their costomers are and how their number 1 prority was making safer cars for their drivers. 3. Don't get #1 and #2 mixed up. Make sure you are doing the right thing first before you deal with the PR side of things; do steps 1 and 2 in order.
When you do the right thing, you take responsibility for your actions. Speak the truth because even though the truth can sometimes be upsetting, your publics will appreciate your honesty. Hoggan also says to be seen doing the right thing. It's important that various publics see you doing the right thing so they know that you're the person they can trust. Be careful not to sound as if you are bragging because people do not like that. Lastly do not get #1 and #2 mixed up. As important as it is to be seen doing the right thing, it is that much more important to do the right thing. However, you must still make sure people see you doing the right thing.

-Shari Baron

"The Climate Change"

The climate change is threatening our planet. Many climatic events affecting the Earth, such as the "greenhouse effect," the increase in climate forcing and global warming, are looming over the future of life, as we know it.

Earth gets its energy from the sun. The sun then gives off energy back toward space. However, because greenhouse gases such as water vapor, CO₂ and methane are being trapped in the atmosphere creating a thick layer that is trapping heat on Earth, temperatures on the water and land surfaces are rising. This occurs naturally over time; however, various human activities such as the burning of coal, oil and natural gases are speeding up the process. The "greenhouse effect" is one of the direct causes of global warming.

Climate forcing, or "radiative" forcing, is the measurement of how the increase and decrease of greenhouse gases affect the climate. An increase of these gases results in warming, whereas a decrease of these gases creates a cooling effect. The increase in radiative heating was recorded at a threatening 26 percent from 1990 to 2008, showing clear evidence of the human contribution to global warming. (http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/)

Global temperatures are steadily rising; as a result, we are experiencing excessive heat waves, droughts, melting iceburgs and heavy rain.

The Earth is covered mainly by water. As the Earth surface is warming, so is the water. Records show that the past three years have brought about the highest sea surface temperature in recorded history. The warming of the sea influences the water levels. In recent years, sea levels have increased an inch per decade, which in return is decreasing land space. Another thing affecting land mass is the melting of the Arctic sea ice. A part of the Arctic Ocean stays frozen year-round; however, in 2007, the amount of ice recorded was the lowest in recorded history, and it has continued to decrease over the years.

Global warming is real, it is here, and it is not a myth. If we do not take better care of our planet, who knows what life as we know it will evolve into…        

All pictures and information in this blog post was found on the website: http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/ check it out!

"The Tipping Point"

In class we were required to read a book called "The Tipping Point." This book describes changes in social epidemics a disease that is quickly spread by a small amount of people. The book uses stories and situations to show examples of the fast spreading epidemics and constantly reminds its readers that a small tip or change in a marketing or PR strategy can change everything.

The author, Malcolm Gladwell, tells his readers that three agents of change has the power to tip an epidemic. He calls these agents The Law of Few, the Stickiness Factor and the Power of content. (page 19).

The Law of few describes how a social epidemic can come from a small group and expand. He uses the example of Hush Puppies; a shoe brand that went out of style. When a group of kids started wearing Hush Puppies because no one else was wearing them, they were spotted by fashion designers, and those designers used Hush Puppies in their clothing lines, and then consumers saw them on the run way and Hush Puppies' sales skyrocketed (pages 14, 18-19).  Gladwell also uses The 80/20 Principle to prove The Law of Few to be true. The 80/20 Principle states the about 80 percent of all work will be done by about 20 percent of the population (page 19).

Gladwell describes the Stickiness Factor as small details or changes that can make an item or product stick in the consumers minds. He uses the stickiest shows of all time to prove his point, children shows. "Sesame Street" was the pioneer for educational children shows. They made their show sticky by allowing children to interact with the characters while learning at the same time. Gladwell also talks about "Blue's Clues" a children's show that was sticky because it made learning a game to figure out what the character, Blue, wanted to do that day. The show helped children to connect to everyday items and colors by keeping the characters simple. The blue dog was named Blue, the mailbox was named Mailbox and the pepper shaker was named Pepper (pages 89-91 and 111-112).

The last rule of epidemics that Malcolm Gladwell introduced to us was the Power of Context. The Power of Context tells us that details can change how an object, person or product is received. He tells us the story of Kitty Genoverse. Kitty was being harassed, chased and repeatedly beaten by a Man while an entire neighborhood watched, yet no one helped or called the police. Kitty died that day and if help would have been called she probably would have lived. The book tells us that research shows when someone is being attacked while only one or two people are watching those people are more inclined to help; the opposite occurs when someone is attacked and several onlookers are present.      

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Introductions

I am Shari Baron. A forth year public relations student from the diverse city of Hollywood, Fla. I am a member of Phi Sigma Theta National Honors Society, the FAMU Green Coalition, and DIVAS Dance Team. Not only have I had the pleasure of learning from some of the best teachers in the United States at Florida A&M University's School of Journalism and Graphic Communication but I also have several work experiences under my belt. I have interned with the CEO of Think Group Media inc. a well known marketing company in ATL. I have also interned for April Love the CEO of her own PR/Marketing firm, April Love Consulting LLC, and she is also the publicist for BRAVO TV's The Real Housewives of Atlanta. When I graduate I plan to get my IMC degree at Florida State University. I have 3 sisters. An older sister (Danielle), a twin (Brittany), and a younger sister (Victoria). Our ultimate dream is to open up our own record company. I will handle community relations while my sisters provide the legal work, talent and style.