Thinking Campaigns

Bullying 2.0

Romey Louangvilay — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 04:21:33 +0000

When most people think of bullying, schoolyard scenes of children being terrorized by bigger kids often come to mind. I would never have thought about cyberbullying being a problem in today’s society. Although I grew up digital, cyberworld (or in today’s terms, social media) bullying never came up.

According to Stop Cyberbullying, cyberbullying is “when a child, preteen or teen is tormented, threatened, harassed, humiliated, embarrassed or otherwise targeted by another child, preteen or teen using the Internet, interactive and digital technologies or mobile phones.”

I’ve only known social media as a platform to promote brands and communicate personalized messages, but recent news coverage about 4chan’s cyberbullying gave me a new perspective on what social media could be used for. (4chan is a U.S.-based image message board.)

According to Gawker, 4chan incited users to send death threats to Jessi Slaughter, an 11-year-old vlogger, to the point that she was under police protection. After covering the story, Gawker—and staff writer Adrian Chen—became the subject of 4chan’s cyberbullying. Chen’s personal information, including cell number, personal e-mail address and street address, was listed publicly.

Gawker’s words about the attack: “The denizens of internet [sic] troll hive 4chan.org launched an attack on Gawker Media’s servers at noon Eastern today, apparently unhappy we wrote about how they coordinated the harassment of an 11-year-old girl. We survived the onslaught, but 4chan isn’t done.”

The next day, in fact, 4chan sent another wave of attacks, according to Gawker. 4chan’s users inundated Gawker Media’s servers with traffic at the specified time of 1:30 p.m. Eastern. “The attack slowed down sites across the Gawker Media network, including Gawker.com, where the number of active users on the site fell sharply for approximately an hour before normal service was restored,” Ryan Tate wrote on Gawker.

It appears that Gawker has survived the attacks. But many kids now and in the future might not be so lucky. Education is key to helping prevent more cyberbullying attacks.

I think Stop Bullying Now! is another great reference to share with friends and younger relatives who might be cyberbullied. Spread the word.

What I’ve Learned from Wyclef Jean

Marian Salzman — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 05:09:12 +0000

Originally posted on the Huffington Post.

When Wyclef Jean hired my agency about six months ago, I knew that our mission would be to help him pursue his mission: tirelessly working toward Haiti’s recovery. I and my team were to take care of the details so Wyclef could look to the bigger picture—that of making Haiti top of mind for people who can make a difference and, ultimately, turning Haiti around.

We had a first lunch meeting and it all made sense to me, including the venue, a diner next to his wife’s warehouse, which now functions as a space for the NGO that Wyclef co-founded called Yéle Haiti, where she accepts and processes in-kind donations. That meal was as un-Hollywood and un-hip-hop as it gets: Wyclef’s wife, Claudinette, and their daughter, Angelina, then age 4, attended (OK, Angelina mostly played), and so did a bunch of my team. It was about chemistry, and we all meshed. Wyclef is contagious. I met him on a Friday and found myself dragging a friend and three teenagers to Carnegie Hall on Sunday night, because he was scheduled to perform for a few minutes. (He won us all over when we went backstage to say hi and he made time to take pictures with each of the kids, much more hipster dad than presidential candidate-to-be.)

That night, Wyclef said something to me that has been running through my head ever since: “Don’t worry; when I’m in, it isn’t ever boring.” No quick, disposable words were ever more true.

Back in March, when I was getting quickly tutored in the Fugees and Wyclef’s musical history, I couldn’t have imagined then the extent of his vision and that it would lead us to where we are now: Wyclef transformed, from hip-hop star to presidential hopeful cum front-runner. Regardless of what transpires with his contesting of the election board’s ruling that he’s ineligible to run, I don’t believe such a radical transformation has ever taken place in such a short time—and Wyclef, and the media, share in the credit for that.

Wyclef knew a bid for the presidency of Haiti wouldn’t be an easy way to make a difference for the nation; of course, he also knew there is no easy way to help the Western Hemisphere’s poorest country. He has, after all, been working for Haiti in some capacity for far longer than the five years since he co-founded Yéle Haiti, which is based on the ground there. But he made the difficult decision to pursue that path, anyway, knowing in his heart that his candidacy would be the best way to keep the plight of his country in headlines around the globe. Witness what Time magazine said online on Aug. 21: “Jean’s brightly lit plunge into Haiti’s political waters has turned the world’s attention to the country again, which will be critical to prompting the international donor community to deliver the billions of dollars it’s pledged to the recovery effort.”

Since the start of our journey with Wyclef, we’ve been impressed and inspired by his tireless devotion to the people and country he loves. I’m grateful to the media for presenting the passion that underlies his efforts to put Haiti in the spotlight. On the announcement of his candidacy, the story angle that might have seemed the most sensational—a celebrity feud between Wyclef and Sean Penn (who lambasted the announcement via satellite)—never took hold. Partly, that’s because we continued to emphasize the positive messages from Wyclef about helping Haiti, and partly it’s because the media understood that that narrative would have been a cheap distraction from the real issues: improving Haiti’s conditions and Wyclef’s genuine efforts to make a difference.

Wyclef has also taught me a few things in the short time I’ve been working with him. (And that’s saying a lot, considering I’m a 20-plus-year vet of the marketing industry—i.e., I’ve seen it all.) Here are five things I’ve learned, in no particular order, from the singer/activist/politician-in-the-making:

The power of positive thinking. Wyclef really believes anything (and everything) is possible, and it’s infectious. So many of the stories we’ve seen about Clef, in such outlets as Time.com, The Miami Herald and Rolling Stone—and the gifted journalists who have covered him—have picked up on his optimistic spirit. I credit his quick ascent to potential president, at least in part, to the powerful sway of “yes.” Whatever you throw at the man, he’s a smile and a swing…
Simpler is often better. In our crazily scheduled, overloaded, overconnected world, it’s sometimes easy to forget that the best way from here to there is often just A to B. Wyclef’s unswerving determination and single-minded eye to his goal reminded us quite a few times that sometimes less complicated can be more effective. I joke that I’m learning Haiti two hours a day, but in watching him absorb complex briefings in digestible bites, I can’t help but notice that his lack of hubris makes “getting it” and building on it a smooth sail.
Admitting mistakes and flaws make them much less sensational. Of course, there’s no doubt that David Letterman taught me this, too. But with Wyclef, the stakes were even higher, and his frankness and transparency with the press were refreshing and instructive. He hasn’t run from mistakes but instead has apologized and moved forward. I was never happier than to hear him take responsibility for Yéle’s past, so we can move forward wiser now with new CEO Derek Johnson.
Friends can be like family, and some people collect families everywhere, across all classes and ethnicities. Those of us working with Wyclef have witnessed that the intense affection and concern he feels for the Haitian people is sincere. I’ve no doubt that he considers the entire nation part of his extended family. And for that seemingly endless capacity to love his country and countrymen, I salute him. I also find myself laughing about the new families he creates. Tonight I find myself chasing up a journalist I introduced him to last week, because she’s now in command of details about a press event tomorrow—in Haiti—and calling his “cousin” because that’s where the know-how about getting his work done lives. And I’m on with Wyclef’s brother Sam so often, I feel like I know him, too. After watching him on TV, I describe him as the statesman-like brother, the yin to Wyclef’s yang—the hip-hop diplomat I’ve been representing all these months.
Everyone at all levels learns in real time. Wyclef has been learning as he goes, but quickly. Among his first interviews was with NPR, where he already knew the presidential language of policy and people: “When you have a population that can’t read, can’t write, 80 percent living on less than a dollar a day and 90 percent of the population has to pay for their schooling…it’s a façade unless we start to put some policy in place that can get these people back in schools.” And our team has learned so much in our work so far with Clef. As we collaborate and as the story keeps unfolding, I continue to be surprised at all I’ve taken away from this experience and the things I’ve learned about passion, teamwork—and a place called Haiti.

The Intern Diaries, Part V

DeAnne Bradley — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 04:10:06 +0000

It seems as if I just started last week, but it’s finally time to conclude my internship at Euro RSCG Worldwide PR. We’ve given our final presentations and learned so much. Most important, we’ve established great relationships with our colleagues, fellow interns and account executives alike.

Euro RSCG has provided me an even larger network than I already had. I can hold my own next to many entry-level applicants in the job market and have used my passion for networking (internally and externally).

I recognize there is no “right person” to know your name and/or brand. Every person is the right person, so be sure not to overlook anyone or burn any bridges. While interning at Euro RSCG, we learned that everyone is important, from those we met at our “Lunch ‘N Learns” to the top executives we had close interactions with.

So far, I’ve done everything from writing key messages and drafting press releases to having dinner with Wyclef Jean and spending the day barbecuing at Marian Salzman’s house. We’ve presented new-business ideas and assisted in implementing those already developed. I even helped place one of my high school acquaintances in a campaign for one of our clients alongside celebrities.

The same way many people in the military call those out of the military “civilians,” I’ve found myself calling people “consumer” from time to time. I’ve compiled what feels like a million media lists, therefore Cision Point and I have managed to become inseparable.

I’ll never look at a magazine the same way thanks to media stalking monitoring. I’ve opened my eyes to a new world in social media and have since tweeted my life away. I’ve met amazing people and have worked on exciting projects for clients such as Yéle Haiti and agency initiatives like The Sisterhood. My mind has been stimulated and has received professional nourishment.

As this is my first internship in the corporate world, in no way does it compare with any of my previous intern experiences. Nonetheless, it has been more than an eye opener into my field. I plan to take everything I’ve learned here at Euro and use it on my journey in life both personally and professionally.

In previous Intern Diaries posts, I encouraged people to brand themselves and follow their mental yellow brick road. I plan to do this as well. I hope my experience at Euro RSCG has inspired people to step it up in whatever field they are in, whether intern or SVP. We need the industry, so make the industry need you.

Sneak Peeks Into the Future

Ella Greenstein — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 02:06:28 +0000

Being new to trendspotting, I felt a little out of place at this year’s WorldFuture 2010 conference, put on by the World Future Society—as if I was the only person not developing some type of artificially intelligent machine in my basement. But I soon realized that there is a lot to learn and understand now that could help us gain a better grasp on what will happen in the years to come.

Climate Change
Two seminars were particularly interesting to me. The first, “Where Is It All Going?” led by Dennis Bushnell of NASA, addressed climate change and its implications. It used to be predicted that the icecaps would melt by 2040, but humans have sped up the process so much that now the targeted date is a frighteningly soon 2013. Because the ocean could rise about 250 feet, this would affect more than 8 billion people living in coastal locations.

This is but one of the reasons to take a good, hard look at the way we treat our environment. Bushnell said we can still change the outcome if we start altering our behavior now. New technologies are also being developed to help slow this process; saltwater technologies, for instance, are being developed in the Sahara Desert so that we can save our freshwater supply, since it’s already so scarce. This technology harbors the power to grow food and even materials to help make plastics without using crude oil. And creating agriculture in the desert opens the possibility that there will one day be rainfall in this almost lifeless land.

Virtual Reality
But if all else fails and we do end up living in a wasteland, five-sense-simulation machines that are being developed with holographic technology will help humans virtually transport themselves anywhere in the world. The human brain won’t be able to tell if the experience is real or fake. This will even give humans the capability of going anywhere and being anyone, meaning no more worries about that looming beach vacation—you can just simulate a version of yourself that is 10 pounds lighter! Hooray?

This technology has obvious repercussions. Since the development of the Internet, we have all been spending a staggering amount of time in the virtual world, and this technology will only add to that dramatically.

Bushnell’s seminar pointed out what needs to be tweaked and gave us tools to fix some of the climate problems. But instead of vying for instant gratification, like the five-sense simulations, I believe we should go for the route that will yield true results and give us a comfortable and beautiful planet!

Cultural Youth Shifts
In the second seminar I found interesting, I listened to Erica Orange and Jared Weiner of Weiner, Edrich, Brown, a consultancy that studies trends appearing in our global culture (follow them on @webfuturetrends on Twitter). Weiner gave the top five trends he thought extremely relevant and important to understanding what to expect in 10 to 15 years from the millennial generation; at that point, they’ll make up 70 percent of the work force:

Shifting global fertility paradigm. Or, as a society’s economic situation improves, the number of children born to that society declines. Some good news: Economic prosperity isn’t permanently linked to decline of fertility, and in Africa, fewer children will be born and more children will survive past infancy.
Interrelationship between education and jobs. Tuition costs are up 430 percent since 1980, and more universities worldwide are attracting Americans to their schools than visa versa. As the education systems don’t evolve to teach children who learn differently—including the fact that many schools are geared toward auditory learners (more of whom are girls) than visual ones (more of whom are boys)—more people will drop out to become entrepreneurs because they need to make a living. Plus, more people will move to Asia (or their countries of origin) for work, and a more mobile talent market in general will be a profound shift.
Virtual faith. Younger generations are increasingly getting information from collective-wisdom sites such as Wikipedia, accepting info that might not be traditionally trustworthy. They’ll become increasingly skeptical of advertising and marketing (and challenging the expertise of doctors and other authority figures) but wholly trusting of collective wisdom or online self-diagnosis.
Feedback in business. For youth used to instant gratification, quicker feedback will become the norm in academia and the workplace. Soon there will be countless social-media-related business opportunities to do with feedback.
Quirky leading edge. Marginalized youth are early adopters of virtual-world experiences, then everyone else become directly affected by it. One example: the subcultures of men and women who indulge in romantic relationships with inanimate objects (part of the otaku culture).

There is still a lot to be understood about the world we live in; this is just the tip of the iceberg. I’m thankful that there are people like those at the World Future Society who dedicate their lives to uncovering trends and developing future technologies that will surely benefit us in many ways. They show that life is about pushing boundaries and defying the impossible.

The Surreal Life (and Other Trends)

Marian Salzman — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 04:38:06 +0000

I’ve been spotting trends for almost two decades. Trends are hard to figure and harder to tease out. Doing it right means tracking people, social momentum, brands, economies, companies—all in constant motion. But trends also mean business, especially for people in PR; we’ve got to be in and of the culture if we’re going to keep ourselves, our agency and our clients not only current but also thinking ahead. The wealth of material lately is nuts. Here are a few trends I’ve been teasing out of it this summer:

Get surreal. That’s my advice for anyone looking to understand the American psyche, circa 2010. The Onion just released a spot-on video of a cable newscast in 2137 with a sexed-up anchorwoman, states renamed for corporations and video-game graphics. My only quibble is that it’s so far in the future—we’re almost there now. Seriously, a former CNN correspondent told The New York Times that “[a]bout the only funnier cable news is the real stuff.” No one bothers to make things up anymore because real life—brought to us via real-time news—has gotten so bizarre that we need to view it from an ironic distance. (Not to mention that quoting The Onion has become a perfectly legit way to begin a blog post.) Ten years after “Survivor” started, we’ve gotten so used to, and so bored by, reality TV shows turbocharged by 12-step dropouts that it takes new feats of extremism to get our attention. In this age of “Yeah, so?” what would’ve been shocking a few years ago is ho-hum. How did David Letterman end up being hailed as smart and savvy for confessing that he slept with staffers? Does anyone even remember that?

That same distance defines interpersonal relationships. There’s a lack of real intimacy in our era of emo bling (that is, conspicuous displays of emotion). Facebook cuts users off at 5,000 friends—and lots of users (“users,” not “people”) have hit that goal—even though Oxford University professor Robin Dunbar posited that no one can really manage more than 150 relationships. We’ve traded quality for quantity, giving up ties that truly bind in exchange for counting thousands of friends and followers. It’s just like the way we’ve stuck i’s and e’s in front of everything to emphasize their newness but lost the essence of the things themselves. Memberships of face-to-face institutions keep declining, while we gravitate toward pop-up iConnections. Even distance learning means a breakdown in alumni ties—how excited can you get about a website you logged on to or the people you traded comments with?

So we’re craving an antidote to all that. Hyperlocal has become the new global. Local isn’t even local enough; in New York, where I work, people don’t look for news about New York but about the West Village, Williamsburg, Bushwick…. People are fiercely proud they never leave Brooklyn. This is the yin to the yang that is our absence of intimacy. We need to check in right here, not there. Remember when a well-stamped passport was a badge of honor? Now it’s a “mayoralty” on Foursquare.

Finally, dreams of immortality are giving way to reality. (Or is it surreality?) We’re sick of tofu and wheatgrass, of going to the gym and going to bed early. Knowledge is power, but it’s deeply disheartening—we keep finding out about new things that will kill us. Semi-wellness is enough, we say; a life without bacon isn’t worth living. Caloric restriction has been shown to extend longevity, but who wants to sacrifice dessert? Early detection is a mixed blessing—should women have mammograms at 40 or 50? Economists and health experts say a tax on soda will reduce obesity, but the outcry is something fierce. Meanwhile, services such as 23andMe let us swab our cheeks and assess our genetic risk for disease, taking behavior and personal responsibility out of the equation. The health police can go home…but what happens when your test comes back positive? Do doctors figure out lasting treatments that prolong life and play to your strengths? Or does disease profiling become the new racial profiling?

Supersized egos, irony, emotion, fear, social circles—things are still as big as ever. But as hyperlocalization keeps gaining an edge, the transition phase to a simpler life looks like it’s getting shorter. Stay tuned.

Young Love? Or a Made-for-TV Romance?

Colleen Cleary — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 04:46:44 +0000

This week Bristol Palin and Levi Johnston announced that not only are they back together, but they are also (again) engaged to be married. Unlike most couples, Bristol and Levi didn’t relay the exciting news to their families first. Instead, they landed an Us Weekly cover and told the world.

The news set off a media firestorm, with everyone from CNN to David Letterman reporting. Soon after the announcement, rumors began swirling that the couple’s rekindled relationship was really just a ploy to drum up excitement for a new reality TV show.

Bristol and Levi certainly wouldn’t be the first to use media excitement to land a job. In an age in which celebrity gossip runs rampant on blogs, Facebook and Twitter, C-list and D-list celebrities desperate for the spotlight (and an extra buck) have gotten savvy about personal branding and the free PR opportunities at their fingertips—in other words, they’re working the media to their advantage.

Love them or hate them (okay, mostly hate them), Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag have made courting the media an art form. The couple is known to stage its own photo shoots for the paparazzi, with the resulting photos inevitably landing them coverage week after week in the myriad celebrity weeklies. The duo even published a book relaying advice on how to be famous! In fact, many news sources are questioning whether the current rumors of divorce swirling around the couple are just another stunt to help land a post-“Hills” TV deal.

My advice to Bristol would be to keep her lawyer on speed dial. Reality TV romances notoriously end in divorce. Just ask Jessica Simpson. Or Kate Gosselin. Or any of the stars of “The Bachelor” or “The Bachelorette” (besides Krista Sutter). Or Hulk and Linda Hogan. Or…you get the picture.

The Intern Diaries, Part IV

DeAnne Bradley — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 19:49:58 +0000

Who said you can’t use your journalism experience in the field of PR? I had the opportunity to use my reporting skills, à la Robin Roberts, as Marian Salzman called me, for a one-on-one conversation with Marian, president of Euro RSCG Worldwide PR, North America. She got a peek into my Intern Diaries and decided to share her voice for this special entry. I’m sure you will find her words useful.

Q: Could you explain what you meant when you tweeted me “Make plenty of smart noise.”?
A: We like the positive disruption of young minds.

Do you mind elaborating?
We need to have various viewpoints and fewer rules.

Assuming you did that while climbing your way to the top of the industry, how did you build a reputation for yourself as the go-to trend forecaster?
I started off by just being the hardest-working, most curious person I could be and was very very lucky: right place, right time and ultimately smart forecasts. But some of it was humility. I was once a maid and a waitress, so no job was beneath me, and I learned from every role.

What did you get from being a waitress and a maid that you still use to this day?
I can mop up a mess, dig into any project as if it was spring cleaning and juggle four main plates. I also know that managing expectations means better tips.

What do you suggest others do to help build a balanced personal and professional brand for themselves?
A community, your community, needs to fit into your agenda. Degrees of involvement, etc. Different people need different things. I always needed travel, and spice and change.

You’re very active in your community. The Stamford Advocate, your local paper, recently published a story about one of your marketing initiatives, The Sisterhood. How did you come up with that concept?
I was watching a friend’s two daughters communicate—a special intimacy—and they speak to each other in a way that breaks through the clutter. This is what marketers dream of, that kind of closeness. One of the two sisters helped me to refine it further.

Do you believe social media is a fad, or could it be a lasting trend creating an efficiency in social impact and brand relevance?
Social media will be like air: everywhere and vital. It won’t be media but new social styles. The old media formats are being replaced by socializing, one-to-one, three-to-one. Media is now all about you and me: mycasting.

Is this one of your forecasts?
Forecast, or an assumption.

What has been your most popular prediction that has become a reality? Any new ones?
Metrosexuals is the most famous. Prime crisis is the most accurate—loss of faith in consumerism because real estate isn’t a viable investment and the middle class has lost its liquidity…. Homes are now burdens. We have renters’ envy.

Your website lists “born-again” lifestyles as a cultural trend prediction. Are you a born-again anything?
Born-again lazy. *with a smile* Born-again local.

How would you describe your newfound localness?
Local hair color. Local farmers market. Local politics.

Awesome. What advice would you give to those still struggling to find their niche, so that maybe they too can go from waiter to president or intern to owner?
Be patient. Work hard. Pick the right bosses. Follow your gut, and don’t take your career too seriously. Focus on the learning.

Anything else you want to tell the readers of the Intern Diaries? Any intern dos and don’ts?
Don’t minimize the network. Don’t take it carelessly, but do any job that comes along.

Thanks so much, Marian! I can’t wait for the world to see what you have to say. After all, it is your job to teach and ours to learn.
Nope, I am learning…but thank you.

LeBron’s Decision: Do You Care? Or Do You Just Think You Do?

Lesley Sillaman — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 19:13:50 +0000

Last night, despite not being a professional basketball fan by any stretch of the imagination, I found myself sitting down to watch the spectacle that was the ESPN special “The Decision.” For anyone living under a rock, ESPN broadcast an hourlong program about LeBron James’ decision on where to continue his basketball career. Because my husband was controlling the remote, I can blame my watching the show on him. What I can’t blame on him, however, was my incessant need to immediately run to the blogosphere, Twitterville and Facebook to see what my friends and collective communities were saying about LeBron’s decision. I even updated my own status to reflect my fair-weather opinion.

Even though I had watched LeBron play only once in my entire lifetime, I immediately cared about what everyone else I cared about thought of this seemingly monumental freeze-frame in basketball history. Would I have had the same level of interest 10 years ago, in the days before social media (for me, anyway)? It seemed I only really cared because I wanted to participate in the conversation about the decision—specifically, the online conversation about the decision.

Interestingly, while constantly refreshing my BlackBerry for updates, I noticed several status updates from a friend, who was apparently on vacation at a lake house for the week. The first update detailed how glad she was to be away from TV for the week and not a part of the media frenzy surrounding LeBron. The next status update (about 15 minutes later) detailed how much she was enjoying watching her 3-year-old son play on their balcony…instead of watching LeBron. The next status update (another 15 minutes later) was a mobile upload of a picture of the sun setting over the lake, which she captioned “What I’ve been watching while you were all watching LeBron.” The irony didn’t escape me: It seemed she was spending more time trying to convince the world that she was unplugged and therefore not paying attention to the LeBron show, but in reality she was updating as frequently as the rest of us—all the while, mentioning LeBron.

It leads me to wonder: Do we really care about the things we think we care about? Or do we just want to prove to people in our online communities that we’re paying attention (or not paying attention)?

The Intern Diaries, Part III

DeAnne Bradley — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 21:16:54 +0000

One thing I love about working with ERWW PR is the interaction I’m able to have with people every day. I am constantly finding new ways to build relationships with three types of people: clients, consumers and colleagues.

During the course of my internship, I, along with other interns, have been using social media as an outreach tool. Blogging is one way I’m learning to connect with everyone, alongside additional outlets such as my Twitter and Facebook pages.

Every morning, Gabrielle Schaefer compiles a list of links to articles and blog posts that are relevant to our industry. As interns, we’re able to help her find a few links to include in the compilation. Alexandra Covington also sends out interesting tidbits with links included in 140 characters or less to make them easier to tweet. By thinking in tweets, we are able to always be connected with one another while spreading a wealth of knowledge into the Twitterverse, in a cleverly direct way.

There is, beyond a doubt, a social media outlet for almost any idea, but the congestion of ideas in one outlet could possibly lead to social media failure as opposed to a social media prototype. Facebook and MySpace, for example, seem to have gotten a bit, for lack of a better word, crowded. Although MySpace seems to have gone with the wind (unless you’re a musician), Facebook seems penetrated by brands. I know I’m not the only one who has noticed that ad space on the right side of my Facebook profile. And what about the paid promotional trending topic Toy Story 3 did for Twitter?

Have social networks become more of a chaotic burden than a place for us all to go into social la-la land?

In the style of one of my favorite social media outlets, I challenge everyone to define his or her social media niche in 140 characters or less. For example, mine is: Through social media/networking, I plan to…brand myself as an intermediary between the public & my passion while establishing personal relationships & engaging in relevant activity.

The Intern Diaries, Part II

DeAnne Bradley — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 14:51:01 +0000

It’s going on one month since the start of my internship, and already I’ve learned so much. I haven’t been seeing too much of my soul mate, Cision Point, because I’ve been too busy helping with SMTs, RMTs, OMTs…O-M-G!

I’m learning the ins of working for an external agency, several of which allow room for so many creative ideas to flow, as we have a diverse range of clients. Before coming to ERWW PR, I felt somewhat of a creative restraint. Working for an agency such as Euro RSCG, however, allows the mind to wander freely in hopes that once it returns, it will bring back a variety of perspectives from the mental yellow brick road. From an agency’s point of view, the land of Oz would be the final product, with the client being the Wizard. ERWW PR challenges its employees and interns by providing a venue to exercise our creativity and allowing our ideas to come into fruition by any means necessary. The opportunity affords us just the right amount of eustress.

In the past couple of weeks, I’ve gone to pick up some products from a client, went on a field trip to observe screaming teen girls who idolize YouTube celebrities, and worked on a couple of intern-specific projects and a host of other assignments. I’ve even had the pleasure of sitting down with the Euro RSCG Worldwide PR president, Marian Salzman, for a nice one-on-one. We discussed everything from Connecticut news to our own ideas for further advancing ERWW PR’s success.

Coming into the internship, I knew I’d learn a lot, but I didn’t realize I’d be learning from the president of the company, part of one of the leading global agencies.

She then proceeded to tweet me with some simple yet profound advice: “Make plenty of smart noise.” I plan to do just that. Stay tuned to find out how…