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Social Media Listening | Real-Time Intelligence | Compelling Content
Trends researcher Kevin Walker will update on tech trends and developments in social listening, plus provide
insight on how Gen Z and millennials are impacting the communications world.
Organizers vow that he brings passionate thought leadership from both
client/corporate and agency perspectives to the understanding of technological
disruption.
Walker founded a boutique research/communications agency, CultureLab, in 2006.
It was among the first agencies in the Southwest to recognize the emerging
notion of a “new” more diverse general market and to promote how technology and research can aid
in understanding youth lifestyle and media habits. His CultureLab 10 Trends to
Watch in 2014 has gotten more than 13,000 views on Slide Share.
Time & date: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18
Cost: members $25, nonmembers $30, students $20; online add $1,
walk-ins without a reservation add $5; lunch included
walk-ins without a reservation add $5; lunch included
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Diversity Month: How Brands Are Creating
LGBT Communication Strategies
L. Michelle Smith leads diversity corporate communications for AT&T, including eight multicultural and emerging segments, which puts her in prime
position to discuss how brands are developing next-step LGBT marketing
strategies.
As support for the LGBT community continues to grow, brands more and more
reflect this in mainstream marketing. Smith will share how AT&T turned around its net promoter score with the LGBT community and offer a case
study on AT&T’s launching a social media campaign to celebrate LGBT History Month.
A former television news writer/producer, Smith has more than 20 years in
advertising/marketing and has led teams of PR professionals for some of the
world’s largest public relations agencies, as well as her own agency, to award-winning
results.
Time & date: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 12
Cost: chapter members $25, national members $30, nonmembers $35, students $20;
walk-ups add $5
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This month’s program will be announced soon, but in the meantime, note
the splashy graphic above heralding the JPS Book Benefit and Splendiferous Gift
Drawing, Wednesday, Dec. 3, in a new home in the heart of the Cultural
District. Info and RSVP.
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STRAIGHT STUFF
Whether you write novels, screenplays or nonfiction, it’s not enough to just have a great story. You also have to tell the story in a
way that jumps off the page. That means learning techniques for writing
visually, grabbing the reader in the first few pages, revealing character
through action instead of dialogue, creating scene structure, engaging all of
the reader’s senses, and finishing up with a bang. In his presentation at the next Writers’ Guild of Texas meeting (7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 17, Richardson Public Library),
Michael Farris will offer eight steps to better storytelling. Farris is an attorney and
literary agent, website http://farrisliterary.com/. More on the Writers’ Guild of Texas at writersguildoftexas.org. ...
Application deadline is Nov. 10 for the Maine Center for Public Interest
Reporting’s 2015 Reporting Fellowship. The center trains beginning journalists in the
methods and disciplines of evidence-based investigative reporting.
Qualifications: degree in journalism or related subject; one to two years
professional experience; demonstrated skills in data reporting, document
research and freedom of information filings; ability to translate complex
material for a general readership; and multimedia skills. The fellowship runs
January through October 2015 (flexible) and pays $25,000. Send brief cover
letter, résumé, clips and references to editor-in-chief
John Christie at mainecenter@gmail.com.
IABC local update: Identifying a charitable cause that aligns with your company’s mission and also engages employees requires thoughtful research and solid
communications strategy. Communities Foundation of Texas philanthropy director Monica Egert Smith will share her strategies and insights for this highly relevant aspect of
communications at the IABC Dallas meeting Tuesday, Nov. 11, at Maggiano’s NorthPark. Info.
PRSA local update: Hail to the chiefs, the 2015 officers, as voted in by the members present at
the annual business meeting last month: president, Michelle Clark, APR; VP membership/president-elect, Liz Heck; VP programs, Claire Bloxom Armstrong; treasurer, Lisa Albert; treasurer-elect, Beth Lamb; secretary, Lesley Dupre; director, Julie O’Neil, Jahnae Stout and Kay Barkin, APR; Assembly delegate, Carol Murray, APR, and Gigi Westerman, APR, Fellow PRSA. Past president Chris Smith chaired the nominations committee.
PRSA local update II: Standing reminders. A job listing can be created, edited and removed directly on the DFW Communicators Job Bank site, and page view counts show the level of interest. And job seekers can push
alerts for specific keywords to their personal e-mails. The job bank lists
full-time, part-time and internship positions in PR, media affairs,
advertising/sales, event planning, graphic design, marketing, and corporate and
employee communications throughout North Texas. Employers who are members of
the participating organizations may post a job for $75; the cost for nonmembers
is $100, for nonprofits $50. Each posting runs a month. Greater Fort Worth PRSA
receives a portion of the proceeds when a member marks his or her membership
status on the submission form. More from
Jerrod Resweber, GFW PRSA job bank chair, at jresweber@webershandwick.com or 469-375-0216.
PRSA local update III: PRSA Dallas’ annual Communications Summit,
themed “Elevate! Engage! Evolve!,” will be Friday, Nov. 7, at the Irving Convention Center. Details.
