A question for my Spring 2014 semester public relations writing students

Writing skill is the fundamental core competency of the communication/public relations professional. Why? What will you do to improve your PR writing style and ability once you graduate?

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A question for my Fall 2013 Public Relations Writing students

You have heard me talk a great deal about my Communication/PR colleagues and friends who I consider to be true professionals. What does being a Communication/PR professional mean to you? How do you become a true professional in Communication/PR?

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Words and phrases that drive me crazy

I am tired of people writing and saying:

• “reach out to” when they mean “contact” or “communicate with”
• “based off of” when they mean “based on”
• “alongside” when they mean “with”
• and “myself” instead of “me”

One more:  interjecting the adverb “so” into everyday speech all too frequently. For example, “You are so going to regret posting this.”

I am also tired of hearing working groups referred to as the “gang of (insert number)”.

How about you? What words and phrases drive you crazy?

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What is “growing up digital” doing to my Millennial Generation students?

Educators (including me) are beginning to be concerned over what “growing up digital” is doing to Millennial Generation students’ interpersonal, or face-to-face, communication skills and abilities.

Though sophisticated technology users, when measured by traditional developmental milestones, some view Millennials as less mature than
previous generations. According to research by Pardue and Morgan in 2008, Millennials often have difficulty communicating through traditional channels and do not like to read or write, all elements that will be required in a workplace that has four generational cohorts toiling away side by side.

My major research interest focuses on that aspect of Millennials and their relationship with Web 2.0 technologies – I seek to learn what exactly is the influence of Web 2.0 technologies on Millennials’ interpersonal communication skills and abilities?

If educators in communication/public relations are to effectively prepare Millennial undergraduates for successful careers, then Millennials’ interpersonal skills and abilities need attention, too.

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Word stir-fry

I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.

For spring semester PR Writing students’ last assignment, I gave them a job posting and instructed them to write a business letter applying for the job.  Here is a collection of memorable lines from some of the letters:

“What makes me stand out from the other applicants is that I have spent nearly five years in a manger [sic]…”

Here’s another:

“This position requires someone containing [sic] the ability to write compelling, accurate…”

And another:

“…which has given me the experience to understand and comply [sic] my knowledge…”

And here is one complete sentence as written from a letter:

“Mr. Potter a public relations course I was recently enrolled in.”

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Unintended humor from the Cooking Channel, or, great moments in TV editing

I have been hooked on the Cooking Channel lately. I was watching tonight as the Channel promoted future productions. Shown were short snippets of hosts talking about cooking in promotion of their upcoming shows.

Film editors should have taken more time when editing one person’s short promo. On air, she said, “if it smells like my grandparents, then I know I got it right.”

I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t touch any food item that smelled like my grandparents.

There are reminders everywhere to proof read and edit before publishing.

Now, who’s hungry?

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A question for my Millennial Generation PR Writing students

What do you think is the real importance of social media to the practice of public relations?

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