Tag Archives: PR

Stay connected and curious

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After over a year of social distancing, having a strong network of social and professional contacts has never been more important: it helped us battle with isolation, but also served as an important avenue for inspiration. Read on to find out how to develop valuable relationships and why it matters for both your summer semester and your future career.

Source: Newcastle University

Networking: a two-way communication model in practice

The core purpose of networking is focused on information exchange, gaining understanding, and creating long-term relationships that are mutually beneficial.

For PR practitioners, whether they engage in lobbying, media relations, international or community relations, having strong networking channels is essential to achieve their goals. For PR students gearing up for their dissertations, networking is of paramount importance when it comes to primary data collection, particularly when your methodology choice calls for qualitative interviews.

But remember, networking is based on two-way exchange based on reciprocity. In other words, and as social theory of exchange proposes, people keep score and any interaction, particularly in the business world, must be balanced out by an exchange of social rewards.

For example, you approach a PR expert for an interview. They give you information while you display respect and acknowledge their contribution formally in your work. If you’re both satisfied with this exchange of rewards, the relationship might continue and develop, offering more opportunities for rewards exchange in the future.

In semester 3, there’ll be a session dedicated to the process of approaching experts for interviews. For now, let’s see which networking channels will be useful both for your research project and the future careers.

Where to find them? Look up their networking channels

There are numerous international bodies gathering PR big wigs whom you can meet both online and offline:

Global Alliance – a PR association gathering over 300,000 practitioners and academics from around the world to unify and promote the standards of the profession globally and you already know the former Chair of Global Alliance – Prof. Anne Gregory. Find them on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn and join the conversation.

Many of their sessions are streamed by other associations, for example, last month’s discussion about “Digital Transformation and The Jobs of The Future” was streamed by ASEAN PR YouTube Network.

ASEAN Public Relations Network (APRN) – a member of Global Alliance, APRN’s mission is “to bridge the gap of Public Relations professionals’ competencies in the ASEAN region:” Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. Brunei and Singapore are among the top five wealthiest countries in the world while Vietnam was one of the few that recorded a GDP growth in 2020 and, in the pre-pandemic times, its government opened a tourism office in London with the aim of attracting British visitors – something to think about.

You’ll all be familiar with the CIPR, the only PR organisation in the world that administers Chartered Assessment – that is, an award of formal credential in recognition of their highest standards or professional practice. Many international PR associations draw on training and knowledge promoted by the CIPR and there are two key online channels that are a great avenue of connecting with like-minded individuals: CIPR’s main Twitter account and CIPR International. Recently, the latter was promoting a webinar about Tik Tok and generation Z – why not join the conversation and offer views from your perspective?

Once restrictions get lifted, every local branch of the CIPR – including CIPR North East – will be hosting networking events: what’s a better way of meeting people from the area of your interest?

Among several other bodies in the UK, it’s worth pursuing contacts within the Public Relations Communications Association (PRCA). Historically, it was established as a trade association for larger consultancies, but currently both CIPR and PRCA are considered as very similar and there’s nothing to stop you from expanding your network across both organisations!

China International Public Relations Association (CIPRA) is mainly focussed on the development of PR research and practice as well as establishing the industry’s professional standards. Recently, CIPRA held the 8th China University Student Public Relations Planning and Entrepreneurship Competition – check who the speakers and judges were as those contacts will definitely be useful to connect with.

There are many (MANY) international, national, and regional PR associations – way too many to include in this blog entry. The International PR Association, however, compiled a list of 90 organisations from across the globe – all at your fingertips.

Other PR pros habitats

Most agencies and publications have established some sort of an online community – see PRovoke, PR Daily or Spin Sucks or PRWeek to name just a few, and follow the authors of posts across social media platforms. After a while, you’ll start recognising their names (e.g. Ella Minty – make sure you check out her weekly #PowerAndInfluence discussions on Twitter; Richard Bailey or Scott Guthrie) at international events and in specialist coverage and other publications concerning PR.  

Last but not least, Stephen Waddington’s Lockdown: a marketing, media and PR community of practice is a lively and friendly group that gathers 1.8K top industry experts, partitioners, academics and students who engage in an ongoing discussion about communication. “Please pull up a chair and join the conversation,” their Facebook page says.

Why network?

Networking, aside from having a potential to lead to more business or employment, can be an invaluable source of inspiration and aspiration. Exchanging ideas with likeminded people, will help you figure out and reassess what you really know and what your areas of development might be. Even a single conversation can inspire you to follow an area of specialism that will unleash your creative talent.

Taking part in events and voicing your thoughts, whether in an online or offline environment, will also make you quickly stand out and can help you foster your career path. This is a simple equation: the more people you know, they more people you know! And the more high-profile individuals you connect with, the more support you may receive for your future development. With time, this will lead to you becoming a high-status person with powerful connections. Think about your self-confidence at this stage!

Start SMART-ly and always show interest

Networking can seem daunting at first, but you can overcome the initial stage fright by making a plan and starting with small steps. For example, you may decide on reading one blog entry a week and commenting it on the author’s platform. Or you can choose to attend one event a month and introduce yourself to the organisers – all you need to do is thank them for hosting it at first; make sure you’re prepared to introduce yourself in a few sentences.

Whatever your main goal for networking is – whether it’s learning, seeking mentorship, career opportunities or just meeting like-minded people – always remain polite and show interest. Most of PR professionals are incredibly kind and generous with their time, but no one likes being taken for granted. Keep your two-way symmetrical communicators hat on and watch your network expand.

Media Relations: The Good, The Bad, and The Unexpected

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By Ramona Slusarczyk

Media relations can be exciting and rewarding, but even for the most seasoned PR practitioners and journalists there are times when the unexpected strikes and you need to react fast. 

Join Barbara Henderson, Hannah McMahon, and Ramona Slusarczyk (DPDs for Journalism, International Multimedia Journalism, and Media & PR) as they share some of the most surprising, scary or silly moments from their careers in media and PR.

(Left to right) – Barbara Henderson, Hannah McMahon and Ramona Slusarczyk, who share their experiences of media relations in this recording.

If you want to know what happens on the ground for PR practitioners and journalists – or you enjoy a good anecdote – this talk is for you. 

Here is the link to the recording https://ncl.instructure.com/files/3891312/download?download_frd=1

Corona conversations – the great and the good of comms analysis

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Seven weeks into lockdown and I appear to have developed something of a routine. It goes something like this – wake up, mint tea, think about what’s for tea, do some work, think about tea, walk dogs, make and eat tea, chat with friends and family, watch TV  or listen to music, go to bed. Repeat.

Of course, the days when I get to walk the dogs in the morning are like little victories, flicking two fingers at the pesky virus and its lockdown rules. I’ve also been able to exercise more, get out on the bike and even a few 5k runs – great when I have miles of largely deserted beach and dunes at my doorstep.

Social media has, of course, become even more of a dominant influence cementing its reputation as a two-faced security blanket/anxiety trigger. FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) has largely disappeared, as really there’s nothing to miss out on anymore, I’ve even forgotten all about football.

What has been encouraging is to see how the PR/comms community has come together to share insight and perspective on the good and bad of how the crisis is being managed and strategized. There really is a treasure trove of analysis, case studies and secondary sources that all PR students should have in their search engines on speed dial!

Of course, our very own visiting professor Stephen Waddington is leading the way with his regular analysis and lockdown letters on the Wadds blog. Stephen’s output has been impressive over the last few weeks with his posts not only acting as meaningful and important analysis but also a pause for reflection over what we can learn as people and society. Stephen’s reflection on Covoid brand conversations should be one of the first stops for any PR dissertation student looking at how brands have used the pandemic to manage reputation.

I continue to be impressed by PR Academy, edited by Richard Bailey, with its more scholarly tone and useful guides to the theories and concepts which guide comms. Richard’s briefing on the PESO model was a go to teaching tool for me this year. Recently the Academy’s content has understandably focused more on crisis – check out these crisis book reviews – and its league table of student blogs #bestPRblogs is always a timely reminder that I need to encourage our Newcastle students to blog more. Watch out PR Academy, Newcastle is coming for you (that’s really hard to say as a Sunderland fan!).

I’ve always enjoyed PR Moment for its blend of light and dark industry perspectives from those working at the coalface of comms. In particular, its regular Good and Bad PR feature is a great source for practice case studies and campaigns. And of course, there’s PR Week which offers the latest UK industry news, albeit behind a paywall.

On Facebook, the marketing, media and PR community of practice has emerged in the past few weeks as the go to resource for engagement and conversation, particularly around Covoid comms and messaging. Again, it’s been developed by Stephen Waddington, with some impressive metrics – more than 300 members and dozens of topics on everything from Captain Tom’s fundraiser to mainstream media distraction. The group is helping to shape how practitioners and academics are making sense of the strategy as we emerge into new ways of living and working – which leads me to my closing thoughts.

I’ve had a number of conversations with colleagues this week, including with the parent of a prospective student, about how PR and comms. will fare from the crisis. There’s a strong sense that the sector could emerge stronger and with new found respect. Perhaps even with New Zealand president – and PR graduate – Jacinda Ardern as its knight in All Blacks armour!

Generally, PR and comms was ‘relatively’ thriving pre-Corona compared with other media sectors, particularly journalism. The pandemic has, however, put an immediate dent in that with commercial organisations understandably putting a hold on budgets and recruitment.

But one of the positives is that clear comms. is coming to the fore during the pandemic and is what people value. That’s being recognised widely, and while not practiced by the UK government, my hope is that the sector will emerge with increased credibility as organisations recognise the importance of clear and consistent comms and messaging.  Ultimately that may translate to greater recognition for PR with organisations supporting within their teams internally and externally.

Newcastle named friendliest city in the UK

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OF COURSE, we already knew it but Newcastle was named the friendliest city in the UK in a survey last week.

The survey could not have had come at a better time for PR students, particularly when it comes to understanding reputation, earned and shared media.

The survey, which was put together a Travel website, claims to have been compiled by asking its 1.5million social audience.

Lively locals, great nightlife and culture and ease of access were all listed as factors which makes the Toon the land of smiles. Our city was also described as having ‘a homey feel where locals who go the extra mile to welcome tourists’.

It’s great to be in top spot beating much more cosmopolitan cities such as London, Edinburgh and Manchester – although this Mackem writer feels Sunderland deserves to be much higher than a measly 41st!

The survey can’t have come at a better time with thousands of students arriving in Newcastle to start their studies. The article has been shared and commented upon thousands of times by all kinds of Tyneside organisations, from the university, to big businesses, celebrities and of course the genial Geordies.

When we think about reputation, word of mouth is hard to be beat – it’s often based on personal experience and we tend to trust what others say over highly controlled messages coming through advertising or an organisation’s own website and social media channels.

Shared media is great for reaching large audiences efficiently, but it’s also about who is sharing and their credibility. The fact that it’s been shared by the likes of Geordie royalty Ant and Dec will have done no harm at all.

And what’s more, it was picked up by traditional media, meaning it made a big splash of earned media in the city’s much respected newspapers the Chronicle and Journal. Make no mistake, this survey was all about that highly credible contributor to reputation – what others say.

Newcastle should wear the moniker of friendliest city in the UK with pride. But as residents, workers and students here we should all have a responsibility to protect that reputation, through our own communication, whether that be feeding back to friends and family, or through our own blogs and social media profiles.

  • Have your say? Is Newcastle the friendliest city in the UK? What makes the city’s reputation so great and what are you basing that upon? Please feel free to comment