He went missing, only to turn up dead. Who Knew?

Since I teach two sections of public relations writing, I am always thinking about the use of the language. Some usage makes me crazy, especially when used by the media.
Like the word “brandish”. The word means to “wave threateningly, as in a weapon.” News people frequently say things like, “An assailant brandished a weapon in the [...]

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Ahmadinejad, Karen Hughes, and the lost art of listening politely

There have been some interesting and instructive, if disturbing, events lately involving communication. At the top of the list has to be Iran’s leader speaking at Columbia University.
Should he have been allowed to speak at Coloumbia? You will hear fervant arguments on either side of the issue, but he was welcomed to speak. In the past, Columbia has [...]

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I love my job

Driving to work this morning, I kept thinking how much I love my job teaching Mass Comm at Towson University. I am one blessed human being.
I love driving up to Van Bokkelen Hall on campus, the location of my office and classroom. Van Bokkelen Hall. I love that name. It sounds so colleagiate. You know, [...]

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A MySpace story

Once upon a time a high school freshman in Virginia announced to his parents that he wished to learn to play the guitar.
“That’s an interesting idea,” his parents said, “but to ensure that you are serious, you will need to do some research before we agree to fund this.”
Excitement turned to disappointment in a heart beat. [...]

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Speaking Of Good Writing, Consider Katherine George’s Approach

Katherine George, ABC, CAE, president of Fredericksburg, Virginia-based Catalina Communications, is one of the most intelligent writers I know. Her editorial services include writing and editing for a wide variety of applications, organizations, and industries. She is especially knowledgeable about nonprofit organizations and associations in particular.
I mentioned her professional designations because they represent a career [...]

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Word Stir Fry

It is time to teach MCOM 357 Public Relations Writing again. Two sections. That’s 40 writing assignments a week to assess.
That’s a lot of what I call “word stir fry”. Inexperienced writers tend to create it. Lot’s of it. Bless them, for it just takes practice and experience to put words together in a meaningful, [...]

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It’s Always Something

First, my body breaks, and I spend from June 1 through August 15 in the hospital having two surgeries. Then I get out ready to catch up, and my Toshiba Satellite dies. Computerless, I have been silenced.
Fall semester classes started August 27. I was there, but a mere shadow of my former self. I am [...]

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