Kristina Allen

… the tough get going.

I keep repeating this mantra to myself in intervals today because I’m feeling beat.

I had the brilliant idea to make coffee at 9pm last night for no good reason. Needless to say I ended up being awake all night! What a surprise…

I hate when I’m laying in bed wide awake debating if I should just get up and do something or continue trying to get some sleep. Normally I end up falling asleep at some point, but today I’m really feeling like last night was time wasted. Does this mean I’m becoming a work-a-holic in the bad sense? Does everybody have those nights where you lie awake thinking “I could/should be doing XYZ” ? Is the fine line between normal and obsessed crossed when could becomes should or should becomes did?

Ah, right now I just need a Dunkin Donuts Box ‘O Joe to myself so I can get through Contemporary Rhetoric tonight!

The life of a grad student is never ending… the PR world is never stopping … and my head is spinning! ( I kinda like it too- am I nuts?)

Public Relations is often viewed in a negative light; public relations professionals are the people who put a “spin” on everything. We make it impossible for an audience to know the truth about anything; we construct our own reality and transfer that reality onto the public. The fact of the matter is, bad PR people will do this, but good PR people know that constructing a false reality will only come back to haunt them in the end.

The contemporary view of public relations reminds me of the classical view of rhetoric. Both in ancient Greece and Rome and through the Middle Ages there was a strong belief by many leading figures that rhetoric was the art of the immoral and had no base in scientific thought. This belief can still be seen today in the popular saying that politicians and people in public relations just spew rhetoric without any real meaning.

While it is certainly true that there are certain forms of speech, and certain politicians and public relations “professionals” who use flowery speech to evoke emotion with no basis in fact, the good rhetoricians (& PR pros) use fact and emotion to evoke the strongest response of all. I should mention that I think all good public relations professionals are good rhetoricians and I mean that in a completely positive manner.

The techne or art of public relations certainly grew out of the classical concepts of rhetoric. Many of the great classical rhetoricians believed that morals played a huge part in being a true orator. For instance, Quintilian says that an orator must be defined as “a good man speaking well.” The word “good” referenced here is used interchangeably with “moral.” We know this because Quintilian (and Cicero) both wrote extensively on the need for ethics and morals in the delivery of speech.

Much like Quintilian and Cicero who believed morals had a permanent place in public discourse, all good public relations professionals also believe morals and ethics have a permanent place in public discourse. The classical rhetoricians talked mostly about speaking because this was the way one got his ideas across to the greater metropolis; there was no such thing as a press release or press conference. Today, public relations professionals, who I see as contemporary rhetoricians, must apply the same classical principles to their work.

Public relations professionals must use fact and emotional appeal in an ethical manner in order to persuade the public. This does not mean that public relations professionals should use ethos as the sole manner of persuasion, nor does it mean that it is ok to use ethos to construct a reality that is a variant of the actual reality; ethos must be used morally to enhance the reality that already exists.

I would love to hear comments on this from PR pros; do you agree or disagree that ethics has a place in our profession? Tell me why—leave a comment or tweet at me—I love a good, intelligent discussion!

PR Advice from Cicero and Quintilian

I’ve started taking on more PR related clients/activities, and I’m so happy! I’m now working with a young video producer on one of her first major projects- the details aren’t nailed down yet- but this is another project I’ll be writing about a lot!

It pains me every time I see a public relations job posting that requires 3 years, 5 years, 7+ years experience; I want those jobs so much, but I know applying right now is just wasting my time and the time of the hiring manager. I don’t have the kind of experience required-  I have my BA in public communication, a few odd projects, and my public affairs internship with Come Recommended but it  definitely doesn’t amount to three years experience in any way; however, instead of wallowing in my self-pity, I’m more determined than ever to gain the experience and create an outstanding pr portfolio!

I love the #soloPR chats on Twitter- I’m so impressed by all of the awesome PR pros who have branched out on their own successfully; not to mention I always come away with a bullet list of at least five points of advice to put into practice that I hadn’t thought of before. I hope someday to be as successful as @kellyecrane and the rest of the contributors who lend their advice to those of us considering the solo avenue or just starting out on the solo journey. I have to say, once I started reading the #soloPR chats I found an inspiration to start freelancing to gain experience; if I end up with the dream job, I must remember to send Kelly a huge gift basket from Harry & David!

I’ve wanted to be part of the public relations world since I was 14; I know it’s not one of those jobs that kids generally dream about doing, but I really did.  I always imaged myself owning this large PR agency and having this huge office with all glass windows and a beautiful mac computer with my phone ringing off the wall.

…ok to be honest, I still daydream about that a lot, but now it’s more than a dream; it’s something that I can make happen. Maybe I won’t have this huge agency or the glass windows, but I’m already making my phone ring a little more than normal and I’ve only been calling myself a freelance pr girl for two months.

The work is definitely out there for those of us willing to work hard, dedicate our time, and seek it out.

The first step is of course just learning that opportunities are there and Monster.com isn’t the only place to find satisfying work. The best work related ideas, job listings, and advice I’ve read in the last few months have come from Twitter. I highly recommend following these PR tweeters:

@heatherhuhman
@shonali
@kellyecrane
@tressalynne

I’m following a lot of great PR pros, feel free to take a look at my following list for more ideas on who to follow if you’re looking for some great advice!

If you’re a PR pro reading this, I’d love to connect with you on linkedIn and Twitter to learn from your example; if you’re another entry-level pr professional, I’d love to connect to share ideas and experiences so we can learn from each other!

I just got back from a meeting with multimedia makeup artist, David Scott Stephens. I will be working with him and his assistant, Janell, on his website design and public relations efforts.

After our meeting, David sat me in his makeup chair and customized a complete makeup kit and look for me! David is so passionate about his profession and has so many publicity avenues that have been yet to be tapped – that are so going to be tapped! I don’t want to give anything away yet because I’m just getting started, but expect to hear a lot of updates about this project!

Here’s a little background info on David:

David Scott Stephens possesses an energetic spirit and passion for the art of makeup. His 30 + year career as a multi-media, multi-cultural makeup artist has afforded him a clientele that reads like a “who’s who” list from New York to Los Angeles. He has been quoted in major newspapers, fashion and professional periodicals and appeared on numerous television magazine shows.

David has owned and operated signature salons and makeup lines in Philadelphia, New York City and South Florida. He served as Image Director for QVC and is currently owner of David Stephens & Company a private makeup studio located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He is a national educator and product development advisor for a leading large-scale cosmetic manufactures. He teaches his craft both privately and publicly at his studio in South Florida, vocational schools and professional trade shows.

His passion for the art, unique style, charismatic personality and exceptional makeup talents have positioned David as a highly sought after makeup artist, cosmetic branding consultant and educator.

And the most exciting part, here is the makeup kit he put together for me today (free of charge, whoohoo!):

Can’t wait to get started on this project! I wish I could start tonight but I have to read Aristotle books I and II for Contemporary Rhetoric…

Make-up Galore!

Thursday night I purchased a Samsung N120 Netbook in hopes that it will help me stay organized with all my various projects while on the go.

My thought process is that my Macbook is too big and heavy to carry around all the time, but my iPhone doesn’t quite give me all the functionality I need. For instance, my iPhone is great for sending e-mails and twittering, but I can’t easily create a form or draft a proposal with such a small screen/keyboard. I’m sure there are some individuals who will say it’s possible – Adam said he once saw a guy taking notes in class on his iPhone – but it just isn’t practical for me.

My netbook is small and lightweight enough for me to toss it in my purse and take out whenever I have a spare minute. I also like the fact that I was able to put the full MS Office Ultimate suite on it for under $60.

Here are the specs as reviewed by CNET:

The above says the price is $469, but the price has actually dropped and I paid only $370 including tax.

I’m excited to start using it next week- I’ll definitely let you know how it goes, but for under $400 I think it was a great investment!

Blase –adjective
indifferent to or bored with life; unimpressed, as or as if from an excess of worldly pleasures.
-Dictionary.com

I was assigned to read “The Metropolis and Mental Life” by Georg Simmel for my Intro to Grad Studies in communication course. It was an overall very interesting read that compares the mentality of those who dwell in the metropolis (the city) and those who live in urban areas.

One particular point in the article that I want to blog about is Simmel’s notion of the blase attitude that metropolis dwellers develop due to over stimulation.

The blasé attitude results first from the rapidly changing and closely compressed contrasting stimulations of the nerves. From this, the enhancement of metropolitan intellectuality, also, seems originally to stem.

The word blase is often used in a negative way, but I see it as a positive attribute in the way it is used by Simmel. I think the blase attitude of city dwellers suggests that there is no shock value in that which is different; it suggests an open-mindedness to thoughts and expressions that are not in line with what one sees as correct for oneself. For urban dwellers, that which is different can be shocking– and shock often leads to fright, and when one fears something one cannot think rationally about it. Futhermore, if one cannot think rationally about a subject there can be no productive discourse about the subject and without discussion there can be no learning.

I’d love to hear other thoughts on this, as it’s a potential subject I’d like to explore academically.

Blase Attitudes

In the Wordpress design community, Thesis is kind of a big deal.

In the world of this graduate student, thesis is kind of a big deal.

Here’s a list of all potential thesis components floating around in my head, some of which will become part of my actual “masterpiece” sometime next year (fingers crossed):

• political communication/rhetoric
• social movements: gay/health care/anti-war
• public relations: all
• public relations: crisis management
• public relations:  wartime/crisis management
• white house press/pr
• education
• cable news stations: what is considered news

I’m sure this list will grow as the semester goes on and I read more of the thought provoking materials assigned in my classes.

My professor’s say not to worry about deciding on a thesis topic because one will eventually surface out of no where and it will be the obvious choice… crossing my fingers that the moment of recognition comes soon because I hate the unknown!

I am a type A after all, hah!

I’m still adjusting to my new schedule, but I think I’m balancing all of my activities quite well already. It would be very easy to “give in” to the weekend, but this is actually the best time to put my juggling skills to the test…

Last night I went to the American Top Team vs. The World event put on by Shine Fight Promotions and sponsored by Comcast; I brought Adam (The Boyfriend) along since he is a big MMA fan and mixed work with pleasure.

Today I got up a little earlier than I normally would on a weekend and worked on one of my freelance projects, as well as a personal project of Heather’s that I’m collaborating on. Then I read for my FIL6935 class (Bodies and Machinery) for a few hours, got dinner with Adam at one of our favorite restaurants (Azteca), watched a little football, and went back to reading for film. Now I’m working my way through a reading for my Intro to Grad Studies course – which I am absolutely loving – and will head to bed soon after I’m finished.

Tomorrow I’ll plan on getting up early to do some reading for Contemporary Rhetoric, then Adam and I are off to spend the rest of the day with friends.

One would think the weekend would be the easiest time to balance a schedule because more “free” time is available, but it’s the opposite; the weekend comes with expectations from friends/family that aren’t present during the week when everyone is busy. I wouldn’t consider those expectations a negative thing; all work and no play makes Kristina a dull girl, so I’m glad for the distractions!

PS: The Owls lost to the Cornhuskers 49-3

EDIT:

WikiHow article on the best ways to manage time:
http://www.ehow.com/how_948_manage-time.html

The past few days I’ve written mostly about my new grad school experiences, but today I’d like to write about my new internship experience.

During my junior and senior year as an undergraduate I was fortunate enough to intern with the Usability Design & Evaluation team at Citrix Systems, Inc. My year and a half spent as part of the UD&E team allowed me to work with an inspiring and knowledgeable team inside a fun corporate culture.

I learned a lot about usability – which now helps me in my freelance web design work, as well as some of the website administration that I do for Comcast. I also got a lot of experience in corporate communication techniques like newsletter creation, newsletter writing and technical writing; however,  I didn’t gain a whole lot of experience in public relations which is my area of professional interest.

Upon graduation I was able to secure an entry-level position with Comcast doing a mix of web design and social marketing, but still was not presented with the opportunity to practice PR in its traditional sense.

I quickly came to the realization that if I continued down this path I would never gain experience in PR which would mean I would never work in PR and the dream that I’ve had since I was 14 would be crushed. I couldn’t let my dream die, so I began looking for PR internships that would allow flexible hours since I would need to continue working full time and was about to start grad school.

Enter: Heather Huhman and Come Recommended (CR).

Heather is an entry-level and internship career specialist and PR guru, and she also just so happens to have started her own business to help college students and recent grads find jobs (CR). At the time I was looking for an internship, she tweeted about needing a public affairs intern for the fall semester. I connected with her on LinkedIn, e-mailed her my resume and cover letter, and secured a phone interview! It all happened so fast, but soon I was offered the position as the fall public affairs intern!

This week has been my first official week working with Heather and the CR team, and I have to say I’m excited! I’ve already learned so much! I don’t want to give anything away because I’ll be writing about my experience in the official CR Intern blog, but it’s all been so positive that  I’m already hoping Heather lets me stay on in some form after the semester ends!

So final thought: internships are great, and I highly recommend them.

If you’re a recent graduate who is having trouble finding a job, or a current student looking for a paid internship I would:

1. Highly recommend signing up for Come Recommended’s free services
2. Suggest taking on an unpaid internship

If you can’t find an unpaid internship that you feel fits your needs, try contacting a company that you admire and seeing if they can create an unpaid position for you; be sure to highlight what you can bring to the company. There’s no sense in sitting around doing nothing while waiting for something good to happen, when you can make something good happen for yourself!

Disclaimer: my post tonight touches on political subjects; these are my views alone and do not represent my classmates or Florida Atlantic University. As this is a blog post I did not feel the need to cite sources, but should you have a question on any particulars feel free to contact me.

Tonight in my Intro to Grad Studies course we discussed the public sphere as defined by Jurgen Habermas; naturally this brought about a discourse on politics, and more specifically politicians. A peer of mine brought up the excellent point that politicians in the public sphere need to create a dialog with their public. He went on to say that regarding the health care debate he wonders if the politicians have stopped listening. From my stand point, I would rather ask if the public has stopped listening. For instance, I’ll bring up the topic of “Death Panels” as discussed in accordance with the health care reform bill.  Many democratic politicians have made it a point to speak out and note that these panels are a fabrication; additionally they point to the actual bill as proof. Despite the availability for the bill to be viewed at leisure by the public, many still fear that President Obama is personally going to decide if their grandmother should live or die.

I see two issues here, the first being that some members of the public are choosing not to listen, the other is that the first issue stems from educational levels

I speak broadly when I say individuals who have not received a higher education think less critically when viewing their choice of news. Without being taught how to sift through the rhetoric that many talking heads/opinion makers spout out, one cannot be expected to have a clear view of political issues. Additionally, the legislative bodies that write the bills do not use a vocabulary easily understood, so the average citizen who tries to read a bill is likely to become easily frustrated and give up.

Another issue that ties into this is the amount of leisure time one has to sit and read a bill. I think it can be argued that the upper and upper middle classes have the most amount of leisure time on their hands, and are coincidentally also more likely to understand the legal jargon used, than their lower class counterparts. Not only that, but the lower one goes in class, the less leisure time one is likely to have due to a number of factors including the necessity to work multiple (low paying) jobs and/or the need to work manual labor which causes exhaustion and a desire to sleep in any “free” time.

All of this has lead to some scholars asking if we can actually handle democracy; can citizens be left to decide for themselves what is best?

That’s the last thought I’ll leave you with tonight as my views on the subject would lead to a post lengthier than this already is.

As I type this conclusion I’m reminded of another topic of interest:  educational levels, leisure time, and the technological divide as it pertains to the creation and delivery of opinion, but that’s for another day.

…sweet dreams!