PRSA local update IV: Is there a formula involving 12 and three that will result
in 50,000 or 6,933 or $4.8 million? It’s a stretch, but indeed there is. Twelve
Greater Fort Worth PRSA members — Carolyn Bobo, Richie Escovedo,
Megan Force, Liz Heck, Joan Hunter, Christina Kuhl, Cathy Mueller,
Claire Olson, Chris Smith, Kim Speairs, Lisa Starnes and Cindy Vasquez
— volunteered three hours of their time in November 2012 to work the
Salvation Army Angel Tree at Hulen Mall. Organizers say that in the holiday
season just past more than 50,000 donors blessed 59,199 children with
282,250 gifts worth $4.8 million, delivered by 6,933 volunteers. PRSA will
participate again this year, and another community service project is
anticipated for summer or early fall. To propose a project, e-
Beth Lamb at
beth.lamb@rmhfw.org.
PRSA local update V: This Month in PR/Marketing History (by Jeff Rodriguez).
We arrest, you decide. The reality show “Cops” debuted March 11, 1989, on
the Fox Network. Now one of the longest-running shows in television history,
“Cops” gave the fledgling network a critical ratings boost and inspired a new
genre of programming — shows for people who don’t like plots. It has not been
confirmed that the premiere episode originally was to profile a young, genial
police lieutenant from Georgia named
Sunny Boo Boo. Research continues.
• They all went Russian home. On March 21, 1980, President Jimmy Carter
announced the boycott of the Olympic Games scheduled to take place in
Moscow that summer, further exerting pressure on the Soviet Union to end the
war in Afghanistan. Although more than 60 countries, including Canada, West
Germany and Japan, joined the boycott, it had little effect on foreign policy.
The
war continued, and four years later the Soviets boycotted the Summer
Olympics in Los Angeles, claiming they felt safer in Afghanistan anyway. •
Reach out and punch someone. The Oval Office in the White House got its first
desk phone
March 29, 1929. President Herbert Hoover
was the first person to use the phone, and his first call reportedly was to his
press secretary, complaining about bad media coverage.
=======================================================
Mix of Communications Channels Keeps Employees Engaged
by Tim Tune, IABC Fort Worth
It has lots of moving parts, but it’s doable. That was the message Charles
Roberts of the North Texas Tollway Authority and Melanie Medina, Texas
Health Resources, had for IABC Fort Worth in February as they shared how
their organizations work to keep internal communications running smoothly.
For one thing, you’ll find the expected channels — newsletters, intranets — but
in formats that leverage technology. The NTTA’s weekly newsletter delivers via
e-mail. At THR a screen saver doubles as news outlet, with messages
changing several times a minute.
Spurred by YouTube and the availability of quality, easy-to-use editing
equipment and software, both THR and NTTA are expanding their use of video.
Medina is training her team how to shoot and edit video. Roberts referenced
“Toll Talk TV” on YouTube where employees discuss their jobs and work
environment. This “gives a face to the NTTA,” he said, and generates pride
among employees.
Then there’s Pinterest. The agency responsible for the tollroads across the
Metroplex uses Pinterest to help employees connect through picture sharing.
Each month Roberts asks for pictures on a particular topic. A recent category
was employees and their pets — a huge hit, he said.
NTTA’s internal communications initiatives receive input from a committee of
employee representatives who serve as a liaison with management. Roberts
said the senior leaders take seriously their role in internal communications.
CEO Gerry Carrigan has a weekly e-mail message, and he and other senior
leaders hold quarterly town halls with each department during all three shifts,
Roberts said, including one that starts at 3 a.m.
Glen E. Ellman | Photographer
University of Kansas graduate Lauren
Maibach has joined the Balcom Agency as
an art director. She worked as a graphic
designer for the UK Student Union and on
the Skainos Mural Project in Belfast, Ireland.
New Balcomites all get a nickname.
Maibach’s is “Carpe Latte.” • Account
coordinator Eric Shulman (“Comedy
Central”),
center, was strategy/promotions
director for the student ad competition team
at his alma mater, TCU, which won district
and finished 11th in the nation. • UNT grad
Jeff Heaton (“Clickasso”) is an art director
assisting with motion graphics and video
editing. He held internships with
lending.com and Credit Solutions in Dallas.
A Goat-worthy crew — clockwise from left, Richie Escovedo, Holly Ellman, Olivia Forkenberry,
Chip Hanna, Leslie Dupree, Chris Smith, Cindy Vasquez, TCU Career Services
adviser Mary
Beth Grayson, Makenzie Schreck, Monica Napier and Lisa Albert — heard a short
presentation on the importance of networking (then they networked!) at a PRSA
After Hours
mixer Feb. 19 at Rodeo Goat in the Cultural District.
Next month: A cast of thousands! (OK, 21 instructors-for-a-day and a
passel of students) interact, react and act out at the Mass Media
Communication Career Conference on the TCU campus
Moderator Brian Murnahan, with microphone; Radio Shack’s Cosmin Ghiurau, far left; Scott
Baradell from Idea Grove; and Katelin Cortney and Kate Blackburn, far right, from Catholic
Charities Fort Worth led a half-day PRSA workshop in February on “Forging Social Media
Success.”