best lesson learned in PR Beware of sound bites and reporters looking to make the news rather than report
it (sorry, SPJ friends, you know there are a few out there). Remain
professional, available, transparent and ethical, and the facts will surface to
your advantage. If your employer does not allow you to conduct yourself this
way, find another employer.
advice to a new PR pro Stay current on local, national and international news. Read the newspaper
regularly (online is OK, but I prefer the real thing). Take advantage of the
networking and professional development available through PRSA and, when
eligible, go through the PRSA accreditation process. It will benefit you
greatly, both professionally and personally.
trade secrets Practice your writing skills. You don’t need to be the next J.K. Rowling, but good grammar, proper punctuation and
clear and concise writing are a must in this field. Save the creative
abbreviations for texting.
things I’m passionate about Conservation and consumption. Our wasteful society spends way too much for
instant gratification while ignoring our environment and each other. When are
we going to enact stronger ordinances to prevent development from destroying
trees, animal habitats and natural resources? When are we simply going to do
the right thing?
favorite book Wish I had more time to read. When I do read, I enjoy Bill Bryson. “A Walk in the Woods” had me laughing so hard, I cried.
movie I’d recommend Depends on your mood. For sports, you have to love “Bull Durham.” For inspiration, you can’t go wrong with “We Are Marshall.” For pure chick flick, make it “Serendipity.”
interesting hobbies I run 3-4 times a week and usually complete one marathon a year. That’s probably more insane than interesting.
this much I know Large committees rarely accomplish anything. Get input from stakeholders, then
empower a capable employee or small team to get the job done.
To be featured in the PRSA Member Spotlight, e-mail your responses and a photo
to lauravanhoosier@msn.com. You can choose not to answer any questions or add some.
NEW MEMBERS
SPJ ... Dave Aeikens, SPJ national president
PRSA ... Mercedes Bolen, Chesapeake Energy ... Angela Downes, Camp Fire USA First Texas Council ... Jeremy Agor, First Presbyterian Church ... Allison Clark, Wellington Group ... Mary Stewart, Moncrief Cancer Resources ... Ryan Raines, Fort Worth ISD ... Cindy Ybarra, Fort Worth ISD
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PRESIDENT’S COLUMN
Laura Van Hoosier, APR, Greater Fort Worth PRSA
I greeted all sorts of child-sized superheroes this Halloween — a Batman, a Spider-Man, even a Wonder Woman. What tickled me most was how much
excitement and energy the kids put into finding the right costume. At home I had a pirate, a fortune teller and a “Pink Lady” from the ’50s, and the costumes were not without a little drama. One headpiece didn’t fit exactly right, and we had to pin a skirt or two. My mother-in-law had to
completely remake one of the costumes as Miss Blaine was not pleased with the quality and sheen of the material. Thank goodness for GiGi’s sewing machine!
At the end of the weekend, one thing was certain: There had been much laughter,
joy and memories made. Every child felt special and believed she had stepped
into a moment of magic. Maybe she even felt like a superhero.
This month we hear from one of PRSA’s own heroes — Dr. Doug Newsom, APR, Fellow PRSA. She inspired, motivated and challenged me while I was in
graduate school at TCU and is revered by generations of PR practitioners. She
is truly a living legend in public relations.
She says she’s retiring in May, and we thought it fitting for her to offer her thoughts on
the ethical battles we all face in PR. She’ll do that Thursday, Nov. 13, in Euless at Texas Star for our joint program with
Dallas PRSA. Come springtime, GFW PRSA will celebrate her retirement in a
special way. Watch for details.
As the temperatures turn cooler and you get all bundled up and ready for the
holidays, stay safe, enjoy all of the magical moments, and remember, you are a
hero to someone, too!
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PRESIDENT’S COLUMN
Betsy Deck, IABC Fort Worth
The challenge facing many of us in the internet age is new social media. It has
become an integral tool in reaching mass audiences, especially the younger
sector. Social media enables communicators to transmit their messages in
various forms at a fraction of the time, effort and cost of traditional media.
We recently hosted an enlightening half-day seminar on social media and virtual
worlds. I want to thank Sara Reynolds of Crescent Real Estate for coordinating this great event and Laura Hanna at Texas Wesleyan University for providing the location.
Our November regular meeting time falls during Thanksgiving week, so instead of
a luncheon let’s just network ourselves silly over a plate of seafood. Mark your calendar for 6
p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18, at Pappadeaux in Arlington. eChaser readers, you’re all invited.
And don’t forget to send us your donations for the joint communicators Christmas party
Wednesday, Dec. 3, at Coors Distributing Co. We already have many great items,
so you just might get your Christmas shopping done early! Come for a great time
with lots of new ideas and entertainment. We hope to see you there!
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OVER & OUT
John Dycus, Fort Worth SPJ
Hooray and a hat tip to FW SPJ membership VP Kim Pewitt-Jones, who masterminded a lively, informative freelance workshop Nov. 1 at UTA. Five
presenters, 70 participants and no dead air. Now this is the way it’s done. And thank you, Basilene Henson, for the picture. ...
Continue to remember John Edwards, Verlie’s husband, and barbecue baron Ronnie Holcomb, a fixture at so many backyard summer flings, as they rehab themselves back to
health. ...
Had a splendid time at a reception and dinner Oct. 17 with national president Dave Aeikens and Region 8 director Scott Cooper. Dave writes on his blog: “Tradition says the SPJ national president will make his or her first visit to
Fort Worth, Texas. Before I left, someone said it goes back 60 years. One Fort
Worth member said that Phil Record, who served in 1983-1984, started the annual trip to Fort Worth. That’s not quite 60 years. Whenever it started, Fort Worth has a great group and a
strong chapter.” We gave him the personalized branding iron, don’t you know. “I had only carry-on luggage for my short trip to Texas so I had to take the
contraption through the airport security. The TSA looked at it a bit and then
let it pass. Before boarding the plane, I stuffed the iron inside the backpack
that was holding my clothes and found a way to fit the wooden holder under the
seat. It is safely in Minnesota. And while in Fort Worth, I continued a
tradition of my own. I laid out the cash to join the Fort Worth chapter. It’s something President-elect
Kevin Smith and I did when we visited the resurgent Maryland Pro Chapter in July. I can’t wait to get the first newsletter.” Here you go, Dave. Knock yourself out. ...
You have to admire a guy who blogs about his brain surgeries, but calling it ”Thumping My Melon” elevates the whole exercise to high-art cranial self-deprecation. From the SPJ
site: “Forty-seven hours after checking in to Indiana University Hospital for his
second brain surgery in 15 months to remove a recurrent, malignant glioma, SPJ
and SDX Foundation Executive Director Terry Harper strolled out of the hospital on his way home to recuperate before starting the
next round of chemotherapy.” It gets better. Shoot those encouraging e-’s to terryharper@yahoo.com. ...
One last (maybe) thought on John McCain’s judgment on the company he keeps. William Timmons, the Washington lobbyist McCain named to head his presidential transition team, aided an influence effort on behalf of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein to ease international sanctions against his regime. The two lobbyists Timmons
worked closely with over five years on the campaign later either pleaded guilty
to or were convicted of federal criminal charges that they had acted as
unregistered agents of Saddam’s government. You think the right-wing media mockers of America would, uh, react
somehow if a Democrat hired the very devil’s PR guy? ...
Screwing the people, screwing the environment, screwing the country to the
bitter end. And officials at the Department of Agriculture quietly closed down the only federal program that tracks the types and quantities of chemical
pesticides and fertilizers being used by America’s farmers.
Closing words, thanks, comrade, but no thanks: “We have received a letter from Senator John McCain with a request for a financial donation to his presidential election campaign.
In this respect we have to reiterate that neither Russia’s permanent mission to the U.N. nor the Russian government or its officials
finance political activities in foreign countries.” — reply from the Russian Mission to the United Nations to a standard-issue
fundraising letter gone astray, addressed to the U.N. Russian envoy, Vitaly Churkin, at the mission’s address and released on a day on which McCain campaign manager Rick Davis hinted that Barack Obama was taking foreign money
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