The Alberta Election is April 23 – Pencil it in!

Soon you will be standing at the ballot box, pencil in hand. Soon we will know who the next premier of Alberta will be. Or will our new premier be our old premier? Only time will tell.

Many public relations practitioners are following the race closely, knowing full well the role government plays in their everyday lives. Those watching closely know this race is different than those before it: more drama, more intrigue, more rhetoric.

I had a chance to catch up with noted political pundit and author, Dr. David Taras, who holds the Ralph Klein Chair in Media Studies at Mount Royal University. I asked Dr. Taras if he thought television debates were still important in a social media world. He believes that these televised debates are more important than ever, and that there should be more than one. “It is a chance to compare leaders when they are out of their media bubbles. The camera brings a level of intimacy and, for many of us, this is the first time we get to see the leaders for any length of time.” Indeed, the 10-second media sound bite leaves a lot to be desired when trying to determine the future leader of our province.

As communicators, we talk of messaging often. So how well are our potential leaders doing on that front? Dr. Taras says Alison Redford has done a “terrible” job. “She started out in the first week apologizing and in the second week she made a series of health care proposals that drew fire from the doctors; she would have been better off to brand herself as the ‘education premier’ and then start her messaging around building schools.” As for Danielle Smith, Dr. Taras says things started out pretty well but her campaign has lost some of its steam lately. “She started out with a good news story everyday; the critics couldn’t catch up with her – it was a brilliant strategy. Then she ran out of good news announcements and the controversial stuff came out – crazy statements by candidates, issues with climate change and talk of the Alberta firewall.”

So what happens next? Well that’s up to you, you’re the one with the pencil.

 By Jeremy Berry, APR
CPRS Calgary Board Secretary

 

Mount Royal University public relations students available for summer work placements!

Do you need assistance with your projects this summer? Mount Royal University’s (MRU) students can help you meet your goals while gaining valuable real life work experience in a learning environment.

 May through August, third-year PR students are required to complete a minimum 450-hour paid work experience term.

Our students use the RACE communication formula to plan communication strategies and can assist your organization with communication planning, media relations, event planning, social media and writing. Learn more at: http://www.mtroyal.ca/EmploymentCareers/CareerServices/Employers/hire_pr.htm or contactAshley Archer, at 403.440.6231 aarcher@mtroyal.ca.

Coffee Talk Topic: PR writing. Talk amongst yourselves.

To the managers and supervisors out there: do you think PR writing has improved or declined over the years? This is the question we set out to answer in a study released in late 2011 in the Journal of Professional Communication. We found that not only is entry-level PR writing on the decline, supervisors are lowering their expectations when it comes to writing. The Feb. 2012 issue of Tactics is all about public relations writing, leading me to believe this is a good time for a discussion. How are you dealing with this issue? Is it an issue for you? If you have tips to share or are interested in talking about our study, please email me at jberry@mtroyal.ca. If there is enough interest, I would be happy to pull together a little symposium on the matter.

 Jeremy Berry, APR
CPRS Calgary Board Secretary

Mount Royal University PR students available for Winter 2012 work placements!

Do you have too much work and not enough resources? Are you working on a big project this winter and need assistance? The Mount Royal University public relations program can help.

January to April 2012, we have over 40 eager and capable 4^th year PR students seeking a four-month work term.  This is the students second work experience and they are skilled and ready to hit-the-ground-running for your company. Students already have hands on public relations experience from the summer and come to your organization with a strong academic background in the fundamentals of public relations.

This placement is employer-paid and forms part of Mount Royal’s University degree program. If you could use an extra set of qualified hands this summer, please consider one of our talented students. For more information or to post a term position, please contact Ashley Archer, work experience coordinator at 403.440.6231 (aarcher@mtroyal.ca). Further information is also available through the career services website at www.mtroyal.ca/careerservices.

Professional Development Opportunities from University of Calgary Continuing Education

Are you a PR pro who’s hungry for some continuing ed this fall? Look no further than University of Calgary Continuing Education, now offering courses at the new Downtown Campus at 906 8th Avenue SW. They offer introductory courses for people new to the PR field, as well as emerging topics of interest to professionals already working in the field. Get started working toward your Continuing Education certificate program in Public Relations, Marketing or Professional Management:

BMC 279 Corporate Social Responsibility $399 Wed, 6 – 9 pm (Nov 2 – Dec 14)

BMC 291 Internet Marketing and Social Media $449 Wed, 6- 9 pm (Sep 28 – Nov 30)

BMC 170 Communication Strategic Planning $549 Thurs, 6 – 9 pm (Sep 15 – Dec 8)

The Public Relations Management Certificate Program is a 300-hour certificate program taught by PR and communications professionals actively working in the field. Offered in cooperation with CPRS and IABC, this program offers courses in classroom, online and blended formats, making it ideal for busy, working professionals.

Visit http://conted.ucalgary.ca/pr or http://conted.ucalgary.ca/marketing for more information.

An innovative Australian campaign to reduce the risk of skin cancer

 

The quest for Canadian content

I get the feeling that the tide is turning when it comes to Canadian public relations research and scholarship. Actually, it is more than just a feeling. In the past, Canadians relied heavily on American PR publications, and in a way, we always will to some degree. However, there are a number of things happening right now that will improve Canada’s standing when it comes to homegrown English PR materials. This is not to say that Canadian PR research has been non-existent in the past, because there are a lot of great works out there – it just seems like we have some serious momentum now.

There are two first-year PR textbooks being put together as I write. It may be another year before we see them in classrooms, but this is a most welcome development. Mount Royal PR students are even acting as a student editorial board for one of them. These books will no doubt supplement the great US texts we already have, but that added Canadian content will go a long way.

In addition to the new texts, two peer-reviewed journals have been launched on the East Coast. The first is the Journal of Professional Communication out of McMaster University; the second is the Canadian Journal of Public Relations and Communication Management housed in the Department of Communication Studies at Mount Saint Vincent University. The Journal of Professional Communication’s first issue will be out in a matter of days (and I for one am excited).

We also have excellent support from institutions like Mount Royal and the professional communication societies, namely the CPRS. Furthermore, groups like the Communications + Public Relations Foundation are stepping up and helping researchers where they can.

I personally look forward to contributing to this body of knowledge moving forward and I challenge practitioners, students and educators to do the same.

Jeremy Berry, APR
Twitter: @prwithjb

Saint John pours on the hospitality

We all know that Atlantic Canada knows how to party. The opening reception at the Hatheway Pavilion at Lily Lake proved the point.

The weather on June 5 started out dreary and overcast, but by the afternoon it was warm and welcoming. By the time the pink double-decker buses showed up, everyone was eager to hang out with their fellow practitioners. Following a brief guided tour of the city highlights, we arrived at Lily Lake where a reception committee of caped and masked “super heroes” (along with a small man with a big voice and a top hat) ushered us into the building (see photo 1). Throughout the evening, the super heroes were not far away (see photo 2).

Other reminders of the conference theme included special martinis — like the green ”Mutation” — and other mysterious concoctions, plus an endless array of appetizers like fiddlehead chowder and super tasty scallops. All of this was made possible by CNW, the event’s sponsor.

Truly, the weather and lakeside location made for a beautiful evening, but it wasn’t just a schmooze fest. Our super heroes made sure guests parked their beers to participate in canoe races, rock climbing, geocaching and other activities. Lots of laughs, as you can imagine, but also plenty of time for relaxed conversation after a full day of conference content.  It was indeed a super start to a super conference.

Pat Hammond, APR

Photo 1

Top hat man greets folks at Lily Lake

 

Photo 2

Super heroes greet CPRS delegates at Lily Lake

 

In conversation with Daorcey Le Bray, communications advisor to Mayor Naheed Nenshi

By: Jill Rutherford

I first met Daorcey Le Bray in December 2008 when I went to work at NATIONAL Public Relations. I was immediately struck by his media relations savvy, strategic thinking skills, and a wonderfully off-beat sense of humour. One afternoon over a post-work veggie melt (him) and greek pasta salad (me), I sat down with Daorcey to discuss his new job in the Mayor’s Office.

Q: What professional path did you take to get to the Mayor’s Office?

A: I earned a Bachelor of Communication degree from the University of Calgary. After completing several co-op work terms, my first permanent full-time job was at Communication Incorporated, where I had the opportunity to learn from three excellent communicators in Larry Clausen, Jock Osler, and Kelly Charlebois.

Q: How did you get hired on at the Mayor’s Office?

A: My wife and I had volunteered on the Nenshi campaign, but we did not know “the candidate” personally. So when I found out I was being considered for the Communications Advisor position, it was quite a surprise. As the story goes, Chief of Staff Chima Nkemdirim was asking an acquaintance for recommendations on who might fill this spot, and my name came up… and then again, from other people associated with the Nenshi campaign and elsewhere. Chima eventually sent me a Facebook message inviting me to “throw my hat in the ring”, and, after a couple of interviews, I was offered the position. It wasn’t until after I was hired that I actually had a chance to sit down with Mayor Nenshi. Fortunately, we get along and work really well together.

Q: What made you want to work for Mayor Nenshi?

A: I, like many people, voted for Mayor Nenshi because he is a thoughtful individual that is driven to make Calgary a better place to live and work. He is quite possibly one of the most interesting politicians in a generation, and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to work with him.

Q: What is your function in the Mayor’s Office?

A: My role at the Mayor’s Office has five parts. Every day is some sort of combination of these five elements:

• Overall communication strategy and planning

• Media relations–I am responsible for both proactive and reactive media relations

• Messaging and speechwriting

• Online engagement, including the planning and implementation of all online activities (i.e., the mayor’s website, Facebook, Flickr, YouTube).

• “Staffing” the Mayor at events (this function is shared with my colleagues in the Mayor’s Office)

 Q: What’s an “average” day like?

A: I like to start my day reading the news clippings at breakfast, but the rest of the day is significantly less predictable and spent doing various tasks in the five categories I just mentioned. I think that my PR agency experience prepared me well for working in the Mayor’s Office. Both can be unpredictable, 24/7 gigs that can also be very satisfying for the right person.

Q: How many people are in the communications team at the Mayor’s Office?

A: Originally, just me, but now there are two people in the Mayor’s Office with “communications” in their title: myself and a Communications Assistant. She is responsible for much of the correspondence that comes from the Mayor’s Office; and, in our case, “correspondence” also includes responding to citizens through a variety of media from letters to emails to Facebook comments. Since Mayor Nenshi is such a natural communicator, he could be considered the lead of the “communications team”. As many people know, he controls his own Twitter feed, continues to write his own columns in the Calgary Sun and Calgary Herald, and he writes a number of the blog posts. It’s a real honour to be able to work with him in an advisory capacity.

Does Twitter equal journalism?

Does Twitter equal journalism? As Brian Solis points out, this is the wrong question to ask, instead choosing to look deeper into: “Can Tweets represent acts of journalism?”In the linked Bloomberg Business Week article Solis goes head-to-head with Michael De Monte on this issue. It is an interesting read, with some Canadian content. Where do you stand?

Posted by Jeremy Berry, CPRS Calgary Education Chair