Comments on: Auburn PR: To Blog or Not to Blog

By: lance

lance — Mon, 13 Feb 2006 16:34:30 +0000

I am completely with Todd on this one. HOW is this technology useful? Perhaps that is why I am having trouble loving blogs and getting passionate about blogging. It is because I honestly have not had an experience yet that has really knocked down barriers and allowed me to understand something in PR that I didn’t already know about. I have a feeling (not because I am close minded, but rather because it’s just not a passion of mine) that I will never be a big blogger, although I agree with Dave in saying I am starting to look at all issues in a different light, trying to find the “PR in them.” HOWEVER, it’s hard for me to go get on my computer and go simply blog about PR. Suggestions, ideas, complaints, etc. from customers all can be attained via blogs; but what else? I guess that is about the extent of it. I may be trying to overcomplicate things…because after all, it’s all about the circulation of ideas and thoughts.

By: Todd C. Stacy

Todd C. Stacy — Tue, 31 Jan 2006 22:08:39 +0000

As has been stated, Blogging’s influence in the field of Public Relations is growing. However, it is important to make a distinction between how we use blogs to communicate within the field and the how we use them to dissiminate information about a client/product. The real “power” of the medium lies in the former, at least for right now. At the moment, 30 percent of the American public has ever used a blog and over a third have never even heard of one, according to c-net (http://news.com.com/Blog+censorship+gains+support/2100-1028_3-5670096.html).

The reason I bring it up is to say that we should know not only how to blog, but exaclty how a blog can enhance performance within the field of Public Relations. That is what I’m trying to do - figure out how, not if, this technology is useful.

By: Lara

Lara — Tue, 31 Jan 2006 19:54:04 +0000

I, like many of the students above, have been debating the validity of blogging. I caught myself asking is this really going to serve a purpose after my semester with Robert is over and will I ever really see the benefit in putting my thoughts of PR on the web. I asked Robert just yesterday if he believed blogging is a fad that will disappear among the many other technological advances that we have seen in the past. For example, chat rooms were the “thing to do” when I was in high school. It was new and fun and a way for a person to create an identity on the web. Now, although chat rooms do exist they have lost their luster. I just wondered whether blogging would disappear and all the thoughts and effort I put into this would disappear along with it.

But after reading your post, I feel that my question has been answered. My uncertainty is beginning the diminish. I want to hear that when it comes time for me to enter the real world and have my first interview a PR practitioner will be impressed by the fact that I have already embarked on a journey in the world of blogging. So thank you for this post.

My questioning of the benefit of these blogging exercises has in a sense been answered through this post. These blogging exercises gives us exposure to people who are in the field that we are trying to enter. It helps us see PR through the eyes of the professionals. We gain knowledge about the real world and the real side of PR.

And not only are we gaining this exposure, we are putting ourselves out there. We are posting our comments and thoughts and allowing others to come and critique us. We can do nothing but grow from this experience. I firmly believe that “you learn from your mistakes” and allowing PR professionals to critique us and help sharpen our skills will benefit us in the long run.

So, thank you Dave for reassuring me about the validity and benefits of this blogging experience. I can see the positive side of this, and the only direction we can go from here is up.

By: Katie

Katie — Tue, 31 Jan 2006 15:17:43 +0000

Like Courtney and many others who have responded above, I was one of Robert’s bloggers last spring. The first day of class, I left dazed and confused, wondering what in the world this guy was talking about. However, during the semester, I realized that not only was I learning to write and express my views on real public relations scenarios, I was learning about the technology being used today to share those views with others in the field. My wish for Auburn’s public relations program is that all Introduction to Public Relations students interact with the blog during their first semester. We talk about public relations being about communication with the latest technology, yet our students don’t have to actually work with the technology until their senior year in one of the final classes that we are required to take. While blogging isn’t always my favorite thing to do, I have come to enjoy the few hours I spend thinking about a topic that will spark some conversation. By continuing to write about public relations topics, I am also developing thoughts and ideas that will develop my mindset when I enter the workforce.

I’m still nervous about commenting on other blogs, but I know that over time that nervousness will evolve into confidence. I compare this task to our freshman level English courses here at Auburn. In your first semester English class, all students are required to have a conference with the professor in his office. That first meeting is extremely nerve-wracking because of the unknown that awaits. However, because we are required to do so during our first year here, we get over our fear and become more confident in developing relationships with our teachers. Blogging and communicating with PR professionals on their blog is like this. It is a scary experience at first, but one that will make us more confident in the end.

By: Steve

Steve — Mon, 30 Jan 2006 07:41:44 +0000

I believe that blogging is definitely a useful way to communicate ideas, opinions, and to show a side of yourself to the world that you don’t necessarily show to people in daily life. I go to UGA, don’t hate me for it, and I blog for CSTV as a campus representative. I basically preview, review, write up funny things about our rivals (Yes, I did trash Auburn quite a bit in November), and respond to feedback. It has helped me learn how to pick out target audiences so that I can attract more people to the blog site. Blogging is a definite wave of the future that will change journalism. I don’t forsee blogging as a replacement for traditional internet news media, but I definitely see it as a supplement to the information presented. Blogging can show different spins and more information on particular issues. So I encourage Auburn students to blog so that they can get their opinions and views out there. Sorry to sound like an advertisement or a plug, but if any Auburn fans (who are students) wish to have a blog like I do for my network… click on the link and there should be information on that page about becoming a contributor from another school. It would be nice to have some blog wars with a rival school like Auburn. Thanks a lot, I like this blog.

By: Crista

Crista — Mon, 30 Jan 2006 00:19:33 +0000

Hi Dave! Thank you so much for your post. Robert is constantly telling us in class that blogging will truly help us and is an essential tool for interviews because it is impressive and is also a new form of technology, but you think that’s just a teacher talking. It is refreshing to hear it is true, blogging is important and is something future employers will look at and value. I have tried to explain my blogging assignments to friends and the only thing I know to compare it to is like a MySpace profile, but honestly the two are very different. I now understand the blogging I am doing is not only more important, but beneficial to my future in public relations. Blogging every week has forced me to really stop and look for things in every day life containing pr. At first I was searching just so I could have something to blog about, but now I am searching because it is a fascinating world and pr is in every aspect of life and business. It has also forced me to do a little research and get down to the bottom of things. I do not want to be the student who sounds like they have no idea what they are talking about, so I make sure everything I write is heavily researched. I’m still trying to get used to blogging, but I must say I am slowly, but surely seeing the benefits this can potentially have on my career. Thanks again for the reassurance!

By: Sarah

Sarah — Mon, 30 Jan 2006 00:05:03 +0000

At Auburn, I also analyzed case studies and current events to understand the “PR in it.�? In fact, PR Case Studies is one of the prerequisites to Style and Design. In PR Case Studies, I was just getting my feet wet into the world of PR. By the end of the semester, I could look at a case and determine which PR tactics would most effectively address the situation. I began to understand that PR is all around me. Now that I can recognize PR, blogging is forcing me to write about it. Along with putting my thoughts into writing, I am becoming more aware of how PR operates in the situations I encounter daily through the news and in real life. I used to overlook the “PR in it�? and simply look at the big picture. When I look at a piece of artwork, I see the basic image that’s on the piece of paper. Since I’m not very knowledgeable in that area, I don’t understand the significance of each color, brush stroke, etc. that went into the final piece. Likewise, the more experienced and knowledgeable I am about the PR profession, the easier it is for me to find the “PR in it.�? Rather than just seeing the big picture, I can read the newspaper or watch the news and immediately recognize the relevance of PR. Since I have to blog four times a week, I am finding myself more aware of the PR in situations, and as a result, more capable of expressing my PR-related thoughts in a skilled manner.

By: LC

LC — Sun, 29 Jan 2006 19:54:46 +0000

Let me be honest here. I still don’t like blogging. I can’t tell you why exactly, but it has been difficult for me to do this every week. I am sure Robert has heard this before from other students. But what he has also heard is many “Thank you’s.” So I hold out on the blogging assignment in hope of the Thank you down the road.

From your post, I can dimly see the light at the end of the tunnel. It does matter! What a relief. There is always the question of how much our school work prepares us for the real world, as Courtney already commented on. But blogging is different. It is not taking a test or submitting a paper. It is a combination of technology, research and writing. All of which, I am sure, matter in PR.

More than our own blogs, I think I will be thankful (later) for the commenting on professionals’ posts. I know this because it is the hardest part for me now. It’s nerve-wracking to comment on things I know little to nothing about. I have no real world job experience to compare things to. So I have to research- A lot. I don’t want to sound uneducated or foolish on someone’s blog for professionals to see. I know that enlightening comments can’t be achieved every time, but it’s getting a little easier.

So, I blog on where many students have gone before me and hold out for all the good things that surely await me at the end of the semester.

By: Tiffany

Tiffany — Sun, 29 Jan 2006 03:22:05 +0000

I absolutely agree with 100% of your post. As a result of Robert’s blogging assignments I find myself, as you said, noticing the PR aspects in things that I normally would not have noticed. I am also glad you pointed out that it is not the fact that we are blogging that will matter, but the content. The actual act of blogging is pretty simple and easy to learn; therefore I wouldn’t think having a blog would be all that impressive. However, having a blog that is a compilation of your thoughts, observations and critiques of the PR world gives us the competitive edge over other new graduates looking to land a job in PR.

Robert’s idea to have us blog kills two birds with one stone. Not only are we learning how to blog, we are taking our PR knowledge and applying it. It would not be unusual to write a paper each week about various PR happenings and apply what we know to the situation; but by using blogs we take it a step further, and the experience becomes even more beneficial.

Thanks for your insight on our blogging adventures. I find that sometimes blogging becomes tedious, but after reading your post I am reminded of how valuable this experience will be, and that we will get out of it only what we put into it.

By: Wes

Wes — Sat, 28 Jan 2006 17:11:40 +0000

The more I read everyone’s posts the more I realize I am no different than anyone else. At first I was completely confused by the whole blogging idea. Robert threw it on us the first day of class and I was lost. (By the way it wasn’t his fault I was lost. At the time I personally thought it was stupid and thought about dropping the class) sorry I digress. So when I left class the first day I had no idea what I was going to blog about. Then I remembered that he said to blog about something that interests us. I can’t think of anything that interests me more than things I am involved in.

As I started to think about the things I am involved in, the PR in a lot of cases became very obvious to me. Before, I was doing everyday things and not thinking about the PR in them. Now I find myself analyzing my day and finding the”PR in it.” And it is kind of fun. I never thought I would say this, but I ALMOST enjoy blogging.

I say all that to say I can already tell that I am more comfortable as a blogger than I ever thought I would be. By no means am I good, but I am at least comfortable. I am learning the ropes and gaining some confidence which I hope will cause me to stand out in an interview. I would be lying if I said blogging has not helped me. We are just three weeks into blogging, maybe I’ll be a master blogger after 15 weeks….probaby not