Whether you want to sympathize with hackers who exposed an inner-dialogue to the public, or you want to sympathize with conservatives that believe nothing is wrong and nothing should be done, it is moot. The public now has an opinion on the matter and, unfortunately, it can’t be changed easily.

There has been speculation that this hacker attack was commissioned by oil companies, namely Exxon/Mobil, but clearly the damage has been done. Yes, it was clearly underhanded and awful for criminals to attack a private server. Yes, more and more evidence suggests that the emails were mostly harmless and show a conversation between professionals. But the news has already created a new slogan: ClimateGate.

Go ahead: Google it. I’ll wait. Surprised at how many articles already emerged in two weeks? Is this a PR disaster?

The basic principles of public relations are often confused with legal systems, that is, PR is a tool used to cover up and forget. In fact, PR is a tool to help educate and dispel rumors. The best policy, especially in crisis communications, is honesty. I learned this from a guest lecturer, Lynn Kettleson, who helped manage crisis communication in many infamous corporate blunders, including a turkey recall days before Thanksgiving. How did he handle it?

“There are always unique situation somewhere, and people are always looking for assistance in getting out of it,” Kettleson says. But his most important lesson? “Its like when you were a kid, and a baseball would go through a neighbor’s window. Someone had to eventually fess up to the crime, or things would only get worse. It’s the same with crisis communication: the sooner you tell the truth, the sooner you can start working on how to solve the problem.”

So the ironic part in all of this? Most of us agree that science is a public forum that doesn’t have secret motivations or agendas. We see scientific acts as a noble and pioneering duties that help humanity. The research unit that was hacked could have easily avoided this issue altogether if they had publicly disclosed their concerns, both positive and negative, at every step along the way. Exposing a secret dialogue creates a distrust within the public; the same public that has helped to create this green movement.

What do you believe? Should these scientists be worried about their data? Did these hackers really expose ClimateGate? Where do we go from here? Sound off below!

(Woo hoo! We did it! Now what...?)

Well, our expectations may have been quite large, but apparently everything went to plan. In fact, NASA stated this week that the mission was deemed a success, after finding significant quantities of water on the Moon. This could prove to be imperative for future projects involving galactic conquests, but in the here and now, we only know that we could eventually harness said water.

Critics of the plan stated that grandiose missions should not be a major part of the American budget. This mission alone cost $604 million and NASA’s budget as a whole is nearing $20 billion. At a time when many Americans are losing their jobs and homes, and while troops are fighting terrorists overseas, many asked, what was the point of this? Was it really worth it?

I tend to think in the big picture. I see signs of improvements in the economy and believe we will soon find ourselves on the rebound. As such, projects like this are about humanity’s conquest into the future, not the here and now. But when the here and now is shrouded in depression, are big projects like this detrimental to the average Joe?

So, you tell me. Did NASA have a PR blunder when they promoted the moon bombing and gained results that will only be helpful for the long-term future? Or should that money have been spent on bailing out another company domestically? Other thoughts? Sound off below!

(The truth is out there Scully! | Source: AP Photo/KMGH-TV)

Of course, I’m referring to yesterday’s now infamous event where six-year-old Falcon Heene seemingly took off in an experimental weather balloon. As we all know, the boy was not in the balloon, but rather, hiding in his attic. While we appreciate the boy’s safety, how did officials miss out on checking the home for him? Why didn’t one of Falcon’s siblings, who originally told officials that he had fallen out before the balloon took off, come forward earlier? How did this become a national story, where the event enjoys the top trending spots on Twitter and every major news outlet has features on it today?

The importance of fact-checking is paramount to quality journalism. Yet when I watched the balloon-boy on various channels, I was shocked at how little they knew, but were going on and on. Shepard on Fox News was talking about what the family was thinking, local affiliate WHDH 7 News featured commentary involving all the emergency personnel on the scene, but CNN’s Rick Sanchez talked to an expert who looked at the balloon and claimed that it would be impossible for a boy to be on there, but continued to report the same news.

(‘Here on the Rick Sanchez show, we’ll let you know there is nobody on the balloon, but follow the story as if danger is about. Tune in!)

Let me repeat that: CNN provided expert analysis that suggested the boy wasn’t on the balloon, well before it landed, and decided NOT to do anything with that tidbit. Huh? Why would they want to rope people along then? CNN’s intentions were on full display a few moments later when Sanchez, with a stern and sorrowful tone, stated they would be on a tape delay when the balloon lands out of ‘respect for the family’ (7 News apparently did not have this moralistic approach; they had a live feed going the whole time).

So, again, how did we all get roped into following an empty balloon float across Colorado? Well, naturally, we are interested in the unusual. P.T. Barnum figured that out years ago. But children? We covet and protect them, and as such, when one is in danger, we tune in. While I don’t have the numbers in front of me yet, I can assure you that all the major news outlets ratings increased in those hours yesterday. Hell, as I was jogging, I must have done another half-mile because of my own curiosity on the subject.

When the balloon landed, and little Falcon was not present, the reporting immediately suggested he may have fallen out somewhere along the way. That’s much more calming for the audience, right? Are you starting to figure it out yet?

Currently, our news system is not so much interested in quality, but quantity. Each station was trying to get the best expert for the subject; the quickest feed; the most insightful observations; or the best computer graphics to illustrate what may have happened. Even though the witness was not credible (Falcon’s sibling), the family was questionably publicity driven (the family has been on Wife Swap...twice), and experts suggested there was nothing on the balloon to begin with, all I saw in headlines during suggested calamity.

I can appreciate that a story with a truly bizarre theme like this is hard to resist. What I cannot condone is shoddy work in investigating the affair as a whole. What we witnessed yesterday actually seems to be more like a publicity stunt. In fact, CNN again made news with this clip:

If the clip isn’t working, my apologies, but basically displays the family together and being interviewed by Wolf Blitzer. Wolf asks, ‘why didn’t you come downstairs from the attic?’ to which Falcon says, ‘we did this for the show.’ While this story will now turn to the family and their motivations, I’m truly hoping that the media doesn’t just sneak off unscathed. They were responsible for making this into a national event, even though it didn’t warrant the attention in the slightest. They had the power to achieve true knowledge on the subject, but decided tabloid style reporting was the appropriate path.

While little Falcon and his family now comes under public scrutiny, so too does my trust in American journalism.

(Er... maybe not quite to this extent...)

By just saying yes, I got some part-time work that I would probably not have considered normally. I certainly like the work enough now that I will keep it as a supplement to my permanent income.

Another yes situation landed me as a volunteer funeral helper for the late great Senator Kennedy. I got to meet the entire Kennedy family, design press badges (see them here), sit in mourning as a civilian honor guard and even jump on to Airforce One (briefly) to help escort the family back to D.C. at Hanscom Airforce Base.

My point? The changing of the seasons will likely bring more opportunities to those who have been especially stressed this past season. Yet, I predict that a turn around is nigh and I hope that both my compatriots and myself find the work they are looking for. Life doesn’t always lead you to where you think it might, but if you say ‘yes’ to new opportunities more often, you’ll find more people going to you when in need.

What’s your take? Should people be picky when it a comes to a career? Or is a job supposed to be a ladder toward success? Chime in and leave a comment below!

(What is 230? I don’t know, but I like free t-shirts!)

Naturally, General Motors decided to play up Chevrolet’s upcoming electric charging vehicle, aptly named, Volt. The Chevy Volt runs something like a hybrid, but can be plugged in to recharge the internal lithium-ion batteries. The claim from the EPA is that the Volt’s mile per gallon is 230 miles. Wow, right?

Hardly.

The 230 MPG factors in only the city MPG, thus only using electric. In reality, the numbers for highway use and mixed use will probably be somewhere around 40 to 50 MPG, much like other hybrids on the road today.

What about the viral campaign itself though? Did it garner enough attention in a positive manner?

Again, no.

From the start, every marketing guru was pointing to an AdAge column that basically stated GM was behind the hoopla. Furthermore, trending topics on Twitter under the search term ‘#whatis230” started appearing, but disappeared just as quickly.

(Photo Source: AP News)

When you have a big announcement, you also have to direct the flow of word-of-mouth and social networking to some degree. With GM, they created a campaign out of mystery. When nobody knows what is going on, people can assume or become confused. Nobody wants to figure this out, and even if they did, a simple Google search provided them enough hints back to GM to yawn at.

Now, that isn’t to say General Motors has failed here. They are clearly trying to embrace social media by creating new blogs, new Facebook accounts and new Twitter accounts. Maybe it is too little, too late though, as Ford has been pioneering this for nearly a year now.

So, some main points to consider when embarking on a viral campaign:

1) Make sure your product can actually match your hype. Everyone hates to get excited for something that disappoints.

2) Create intrigue, but not confusion. Even if you are getting hits, that doesn’t necessarily equate into a successful campaign.

3) Set up tangible milestones for your audience to follow. The 230 campaign stated a date when everything would be revealed, but they would have been better suited if they had dropped little hints, or had clues show up on a daily basis. Not to mention, this car doesn’t even come out until next year!

4) Keep your audience guessing. If everyone can easily find out what you’re supposedly secret campaign is, what’s the point of even trying this tactic?

5) Use social media... wisely. SoMe allows networks to communicate quickly and efficiently. If you make a misstep, you will become exposed just as quickly and efficiently. Plan accordingly and never try to influence based on a roadmap, because you’ll have to be a lot more dynamic than micro-blogging.

Think you know how GM should have campaigned the Volt? Want to dispute one of my main points? Or, do you think this campaign is actually a success? Click ‘leave a comment’ below, and let me know what you think!

You dust yourself and start planning the next move.

I can’t explain where my drive comes from, but I do know that one day it will reward me. Having such blind faith in myself can be wonderfully deceiving, but more importantly, it gets me through the day. Now excuse, I’m off to profile more companies and try, once again, to find the job I love in the field of public relations.

Oh, and if you still want to know what PR is and why I love it, I suggest you click this link that Gear Communications put on their Facebook page, it cracked me up:

Where do you draw inspiration from? How do you think I should be adjusting my job search? Do you think the market is picking up? Let me know by clicking leave a comment below.

(CNN special takes advantage of the timelines of the Gates arrest)

This story is a prime example of how publicity works and which major players are needed for a story to get ‘legs.’ When the story first broke, headlines about the arrest of a prominent African-American scholar of Harvard read something like, “Harvard Professor Arrested At Home.” As details emerged, a charged word was thrown in: racism. The Boston Globe made the story into a feature and then stated in their by-line “Racial talk swirls with Gates arrest.”

While race may have been an important factor for this case overall, what if race was never mentioned to begin with? Or would this story still have made news if the roles were reversed (ie black cop and white defendant)? It is hard to say, but it is clear we are all still very racially sensitive. That being said, when media outlets use words like ‘racism’ and ‘hate-crimes,’ we need to make sure that they are not only reporting accurately and fairly, but also not creating hype out of nothing.

Is this a nothing story? Well, not necessarily. It clearly demonstrates that there is room for discussion, at the very least. But when charged words enter our media, they quickly gain traction. At the time of this writing, CNN and The Boston Globe both featured a Gates related story, and for both, it was the top read story of the day (so far). It is also no coincidence that both outlets have been hosting racial talks and debates, all with increased viewership and readership.

(Who really won here? Answer: The Media | Courtesy: demotiximages.com )

Whether you agree that this story is evidence of racism, or whether you believe this is just another overblown story, it matters little. The media has carved a niche in the story and will exploit every angle possible. Perhaps Gates himself had the most to contribute in making this story larger than life.

Controversial civil rights leaders, Rev. Al Sharpton and Rev. Jesse Jackson, immediately released statements condemning said incidents, on behalf of their friend, Gates. Next, an interview with his daughter, titled, “My Daddy, the Jailbird,” where Ms. Gates indeed questions her father by starting with “Daddy.” And now, a special appearance on said CNN special where Gates will be talking directly to Americans nationwide tonight.

Again, I would like to remind my audience that I have no strong opinion on the arrest of Gates. But when you assemble an all-star cast of biased and non-credible sources (ie personal friends and family members), you look questionable.

So, will you tune in tonight to see this Harvard professor tell us why he is about to sue the city of Cambridge? Do you believe that this story deserves this kind of attention? Or does it deserve even more attention?

I would love to hear from you on this issue, but please realize, I’m not going to debate the semantics of what actually transpired. I’m more interested in how you think media influences us on these hot topic issues. Click the link below to leave a comment!

(Animals killed because of budget cuts?! Say it ain’t so! / Courtesy Globe Media)

Yet, the damage was already done. House Republicans and Democrats alike took to their soap boxes to decry the move and call out Patrick on his budget moves. Some called it “reckless” and others said to stop picking on “easy targets,” but nearly everyone agreed that this was the wrong move.

Fast forward to today. House Speaker Robert DeLeo and Senate President Therese Murray received overwhelming phone calls and emails, from the public and public officials alike, and declared the zoo would find the necessary funding in the budget. Though Patrick promised to veto such a move (in a press conference where he was visibly upset), it seems like there is enough support to overturn such a move.

How did this all happen? How did the governor’s decision become a headline story, which eventually outraged enough people that it helped save the zoo?

What happened was a psychological trick: zoo budgets can be cut and nothing would happen - but if animals die? Well, that’s a horse of a different color.

(Zoo budget shrinks - who cares? Wait, they will kill the cute little things! Oh n00z!)

To my readers, I can assure you that no animals were ever going to be killed. Again, I repeat, it was a lie that animals were going to be euthanized. Other zoos and rehabilitation centers were able to hold many, if not all, of the animals. A scare tactic was issued, but perhaps more importantly, it worked.

So, again, how did such a lie get legs? Read this Globe snippet:

When a Globe reporter visited the offices of zoo president John Linehan yesterday, he declined to meet, instead sending out a communications aide who said that Linehan would have no comment and referring questions to the zoos’ private public relations firm, Marlo Marketing/Communications.

Marlo Fogelman, the head of the firm, declined to comment despite repeated phone calls and a visit by the same reporter. Last night, Fogelman issued a brief written statement from Linehan that said: “We are working very hard with the state Legislature and the governor’s office to resolve this very complex issue, and we’re hopeful of a positive outcome. We are grateful for the tremendous outpouring of support we have received.”

Ah, a public relations firm. See, the reality is, most media coverage isn’t actually covered by investigative research. Instead, certain businesses make it their mission to tip off certain information at certain times. This kind of story would normally be buried deep within a newspaper, but found a headline in tricking thousands of people, stating animals were going to die from this budget cut. Dirty? Perhaps. Results? Obvious. Losers? Gov. Deval Patrick (especially with his own seat up for election).

In my opinion, Marlo Marketing should be held liable to their claims. It was an obvious tactic that netted results, but at what cost? It should be noted that Marlo Marketing has not made another comment and refused to follow up with media contacts on the issue. Interesting. They got what they wanted and now they are done? To me, that is bad public relations.

I think the Governor should demand an investigation from the AG to see how valid these euthanasia claims were. Perhaps then this firm would disclose how this conclusion was made.

(Could this PR Case Study turn ugly if the AG got involved?)

It is always my opinion that truth, no matter how hard it is, needs to be presented in the most accurate and flawless way possible. To manipulate the news in such a way may decieve the public for the short term, but what about the next budget? What about the next time the governor has to pick between the zoo, and say, a hospital? When you go out and make enemies, you will soon find how little allies you have.

Just another day in the world of public relations amongst animals.

Accountable: The word embodies so much to so many, especially right now. When we elected our new administration into office, we were hoping for more transparency. We as everyday citizens should, ideally, track what was going on with these mega bailouts.

Sure, Recovery.gov was created to give us fun charts and graphs to digest, but will the average American interpret this data? Hardly. Instead, millions turn to the daily papers, hourly newscasts, or the never-ending buzz from the net. The only problem is the political or economic bias that the organizations put out.

For example, News Corp. (ie Fox News) owns both the Wall Street Journal and Myspace; one represents the ultimate in trade information, the other, a hub for networking (and now musicians). Between these two outlets alone, News Corp. can affect millions of people, and more importantly, their opinions.

In fact, Fox News has constantly tried to cry foul against Democrats while lifting up Republicans. Case in point? The recent South Carolina scandal showed an unfaithful Democrat governor who was deeply regretful of his extra-marital affairs. One problem: the governor was a Republican! Fox News has a history of labeling the wrong party unto a name, but especially after a scandal, when magically they become Democrats!

(Wow - he switched to the Dem. party right after this scandal, huh? Sneaky Fox / Courtesy: Media Matters)

Is there any hope for us to get unbiased news then? If the government has an agenda, and if private outlets have been trying to sway the masses with their bias, how can we be sure of our coverage?

We can’t, really. But, we can invest our time into researching a claim. Don’t be so quick to judge superficially and make sure you know the source of any story. If an outlet has a reputation for a bias, especially one you don’t agree with, stop supporting the outlet with your viewership.

But there is hope. Some independent and unbiased folks have tried to take matters into their own hands. Case in point, CapitalWords.org - a website dedicated to showcasing conversations in our capital, while documenting who said it and what their record is.

(CapitalWords.org: Here’s what Massachusetts’ politicians have been talking about in July)

I recently found out that my local representative, Rep. John Tierney - MA (D), has one of the lowest scores in terms of him actually speaking. I followed up and sent an email and asked why he wasn’t speaking more. While I never found an answer, I did find he moved off of the lowest speaking category. Did a public outcry emerge because he wasn’t walking up to the podium enough? Doubtful. But imagine if millions of Americans actually held their public officials accountable in such a way that we could track what they did (and, no, not just political tweets either).

In brief, we need more accountability. Far too often, we are mislead by slanderous rumors or just plain false information. We need more third party outlets who adhere to the integrity of the traditional American journalist.

It leaves me wondering: with all these new bailout jobs, why didn’t we fund that kind of position? We need to get back to basics - back to our ABC’s: Accountability, avoiding Bias, and creating Credibility again.

(Was MJ just monkeying around?)

Make no mistake, fame followed Jackson in both his private and public life until the very end. While some say the fame drove Michael to do better, others questioned his bizarre lifestyle and antics. Yet, was Jackson feeding this media frenzy to start?

According to Nick Mayor, editor of Freak! Inside the Twisted Mind of Michael Jackson, at least one rumor was created by Jackson himself. Jackson’s representatives gave a photo to the infamous National Inquirer showing Michael asleep in a hyperbaric chamber with a contingency that the word ‘bizarre’ be used in the story.

Why would a star create such buzz that he would later deny? Again, according to Mayor, it was because he was following in the foot steps of the greatest promoter of all time: P.T. Barnum. According to unverified reports, Michael Jackson read P.T. Barnum’s autobiography and handed it to his manager and staff, stating simply, “This is my Bible now.”

Both legendary entertainers knew one simple fact: people love a good show, especially a freak show. So the marriage to Lisa Marie Presley; the skin color changes; the baby dangling over the ledge in Berlin - was it all a show?

No one will ever know for sure because even MJ himself couldn’t control the publicity (see his ordeals in court for more). Now in death, he is as popular as ever. Recent iTunes charts, as well as worldwide charts, show many of his hits are back on top -- an incredible and unheard of feat considering how long the songs have been around. Even the internet slowed because of how many people rushed online upon hearing of his demise.

(Whale Fail from Twitter as seen from one MJ fan)

While we mourn the loss of Michael Jackson as the King of Pop, we, too, should note that he was also the King of Publicity.

RIP Michael Jackson

(A simple click shows support for Iran)

The inventor of this program said even he was shocked by how quickly all this took off, saying in a blog that:

“The funny thing is the 12 hours ago it was still in development, I gave the link to one person to see how the sites looks like and she clicked on the join link. 30 minutes later I saw 300 people already discovered it and 12 hours later over 20K people joined the cause and more are coming and coming.”

Perhaps the programmer best summed it up when he said, “I thought it will catch but didnt believe that SO fast. The web these days is truly amazing.”

This movement was created by a user on Twitter, who was part of a larger organization known as Help Iran Election. In Iran, the government has been trying to snuff out outside media sources so they can control information surrounding the election discrepancies. However, Twitter allowed millions of Iranians to connect with the world to talk about the struggle they are going through.

In fact, one huge story was about a teenager apparently named ‘Neda.’ If you so desire, you can do a quick YouTube search on her name and you will surely see her gruesome murder in the streets during a protest. It is both disturbing and poignant. Again, the Iranian government tried to deny this occurrence, but between Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and Google, enough users found other ways of getting information out to the rest of the world. Neda’s death is now a symbolic call to arms, all stemmed from forwarded emails and tweets.

So, is this revolution being fueled by social networking? Not per se, but individuals who are trying to reach outside of their realm of influence are finding that trending topics and status updates may be the only way to make others realize what is truly going on. Obama is on TV right now speaking about all of this, so, like everyone else, stay tuned for the story on Iran.

(“What? Latina’s think differently! Worked for Apple...”)

But other justices have had questionable remarks. In fact, Ken Rudin, Political Junkie of NPR, counters stating, “Let's also not forget -- and Sotomayor defenders are making sure we do not -- a quote by Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito during his confirmation hearings: "When I get a case about discrimination, I have to think about people in my own family who suffered discrimination because of their ethnic background or because of religion or because of gender. And I do take that into account."

Lesson? Big or small, your words count. When you work with a public relations professional, listen to how they carry themselves day to day. Does it sync with what you believe in? Are you comfortable with the experience? No, we can’t monitor every last word, but key messaging and understanding roles will certainly gain you better results. Sotomayor perhaps should have consulted her speech writer because her questionable statements have come back to haunt her eight years later.

Next on my agenda:
Sending my resume to Sotomayor as her new speech writer! :)

I’ve essentially set myself up such that if nothing happens by my birthday in early June, that I will have to take a part time job somewhere - ANYWHERE! Let’s hope I find something by then. As I said before, I am still in talks with different people and organizations ranging from part-time grunt work to full-time full advantages. C’mon already, I wanna work! ;)

This leads me to wonder: should internet services be a right, and not a privilege? That is to say, should the government help subsidize the cost and provide some form of nationwide wireless network? (Network: Uncle Sam Password: amabo - Obama backwards of course!)

Critics are mounting tons of complaints against internet providers like Comcast and Tme Warner because they want to charge more for lesser speeds. They argue that their costs have only gone up as users have gone up. But are these caps going to drive people to get more creative when it comes to getting online?

But with routers and wireless options abound, will ISP’s be able to maintain their dominance if a free option is available? Do you go running to Starbucks when you internet is down? Or do you head to your local library?

Thoughts?

So, why would a company actually trade mark the phrase, “An evil plot to destroy the world” ? Because this company gets it.

Hulu is a creation of the big networks (started with NBC and Fox) and more and more content is coming on there. Alf? No problem! Newest Family Guy? There the next day. Heck, the presidential inauguration is on there. All streamed for free and with limited ad breaks.

Yes, the site will probably gain more ads, but they are also creative. For instance, I went to watch an episode of my favorite show, 30 Rock, and the site suggested that I watch a video game trailer instead of the usual commercials. Because I have profile set up on there, it knows what kinds of things I like and thus can advertise better to me. So a win win situation emerges here because I do want to see the next Red Dead trailer and now I can watch my content commercials free. Brilliant!

Advertisers and brands need to make sure they have a sense of humor, too. Clearly, Hulu is not trying to be a website, its trying to be a television channel, but one that’s on demand at all times. It doesn’t hurt that they have a tongue and cheek attitude that is polished nicely and branded well.

So are they taking over the world? Well, Disney just signed on and even more content will be available. Hmmm... I wonder if Disney Board member Steve Jobs (aka Apple CEO) will make an announcement at MacWorld that a new Hulu app is coming out for the iPhone? Hulu will take the universe if that becomes true! Until then, get over to Hulu.com and watch some great movies or shows. Otherwise, they may come to you....

(Classy, huh?)

Clearly, when we get online, we get distracted. Isn’t it nice when something hits home to you? It stands out as diamond in the rough. So, play to the people you want coming to your page/site/email. Make sure you are always working TOWARD something with intention. Creativity combined with determination will always equal success in my book!

Thank you, Judi. I am so lucky to know you!

(A screen capture of YouTube on April Fool’s - all movies were flipped upside down!)

But what Google and their brands are doing is not trying to recreate a child-like nostalgia for when we put a tack under the teacher’s chair (for the record, I have never done that and think its slightly cruel). Instead, Google is showcasing a brand personality.

With the advent of social networking, we can connect and interact with products and services in a whole new way. When a brand has a personality, we attach even more emotion to it, and thus give the brand more loyalty. A silly joke could just mean return visits for a very long time.

So, have some fun today! And remember, be wary of those internet hoaxes!

• Dress for the part: With the new casual dress trend, the business-suit-for-safety wisdom is not always best. I recently interviewed a technical person for a Job at Jobfox, and his suit was distracting. I was trying to picture him in our casual, more laid-back environment, and his suit was preventing me from "seeing" him in the job. At the same time, you never want to be under-dressed for an interview. What's the best way to handle this? My advice is to ask the company what style of dress works for the interview, then take it up one notch. For example, if they say "casual", I'd advise nice slacks and a pressed shirt and jacket. One of the benefits of this approach is that you're showing the interviewer you have the social graces to respect their culture.
  
• Show up precisely 5 minutes early: I have to admit, it drives me crazy when an interviewee shows up 15 or 20 minutes early. It results in this annoying pressure, knowing that the person is waiting for me. So why five minutes? Because that's just enough time to sign-in, catch your breath, and get yourself into the mental zone of the interview.
  
• Think "warmth" during the first 5 minutes: Most people go into an interview nervous, tight, and without their normal charm. If you want the interviewer to relax, you need to relax. The best way to do this is to make sure you smile early in the interview. Nothing warms a conversation more than a smile.
  
• Bring two copies of your resume: Many hiring managers forget to bring a resume to an interview, and you'll appear on-the-ball if you have an extra copy for them. When you hand them your resume, make sure you do not start the interview by saying "here's a new version of my resume". All that makes me think is that you're busy tuning the truth in hopes of getting interviews. (If you need help with your resume, check out Jobfox's resume writing service, one of the most popular resume writing services on the Internet.)
  
• Send your thank you via snail mail: If you want to get noticed, show up in their postal mailbox. While most hiring managers are getting 200-300 emails in a day (most are resumes), they are getting very little in the postal mail. It's your call whether this is a typed letter, or a hand written thank you note - just make sure it's done within 24 hours of the interview.

(Everyday attire for us at SSC)

After I was encouraged to enter the Twitter world from a few different people, I was at first hesitant. Why would anybody care about this information? Then I found out about the amazing community features: @replies, hashtags and re-tweets are now common vernacular. I was especially pushed on to the scene when I found out Dr. Brown had a Twitter application on his Blackberry (TwitterBerry). After he showed me, he tweeted, “Talking to Squiggy. Oh Lord, he's terrified of the big Meltdown!”

I thank Rob for his insistence on getting a Twitter application on my phone. My weapon of choice? Tweetie. Simple and nicely integrated, it allows me to post pics, geo-tags and more from my iPhone!

Lesson? Embrace relationships that are obvious connections. Dr. Brown will always be a close friend and I have gained so much knowledge from him outside of the classroom. Make sure you always get to know the people who you think can help you. Rob helps me when he sends me articles to my email, just for informational reasons, like this recent NY Times piece on secondary tweeting, or as it was worded by Brown, ‘Ghost Tweets: The Controversy (Duh DUMMMMM!)’

A stock Goole Analytics image showing all the wonderful data I’m getting!

Hey, how did I know all of this information anyway? Well, my website software was kind enough to include Google Analytics to be easily integrated. Best part? It’s free! Being able to measure audiences in such a close manner is typically portrayed as evil, corporate and tactical. Yet this information can make products and services better, so it is truly a slippery slope. I promise to use all my behind the scenes information for the good of man - scout’s honor!

“so wait....your top ten jobs are at the top 10 advertising agencies and the government!! original!! zzzzzzzzz”

Eek! My first comment wasn’t so hot it seems. At least they are sleeping now, so let’s talk about a few different factors here (quietly of course!). First, gain humility. I am always open to comments and criticism, no matter how harsh (as long as it was warranted). In the above case, I don’t know the person, so it’s hard to judge the situation appropriately. But again, I will take into consideration their concerns. That isn’t to say one should just push over upon the first sign of criticism, quite the contrary. Truth rises to the top and in this case, I was being called for my lack of originality. Perhaps, but I honestly would KILL to be at any of the places I previously mentioned - and that is a fact.

I think the comment was meant for me to take bigger chances with my expectations, so here’s another shorter list of companies that are looooooooooooong shots:

1. Silver Cup Studios

Located in Long Island City, this studio is home to my favorite show on television, ’30 Rock.’ I would love to follow Tina Fey as she write, produces, acts or directs while on the set. At least I get to follow her on Twitter. Small wins...

2. Saturday Night Live

I used to think I was funny. Then I tried stand-up. No, it didn’t go THAT bad, but comedy has always been a passion of mine. I love to laugh, but I love making others laugh even more. Those who know me best know of my crazy and opinionated ways. The next Mike Myers? Well, I’m not Canadian, but why not?! Always leave ‘em laughing!

3. Nintendo

Since I was but a young lad, I had an obsession with Nintendo. No, not all video games, NINTENDO! I subscribed to Nintendo Power and eagerly awaited the next big Mario game. Having any creative role at Nintendo would be mind-blowing.

4. Adult Swim

This network has revolutionized the late night scene and is responsible for several hit shows that I can’t get enough of. Aqua Teen Hunger Force? Classic! Robot Chicken? Insane! Tim and Eric Awesome Show Great Job! Well, I think the name speaks for itself there...

5. Engadget

I have to visit this blog at least a few times a day. If I don’t, I might miss out on that new processor chip announcement! Or I might even miss *gasp* a Steve Jobs keynote! Ahhhh!

Super fan Todd Lockwood created this art for Stephen Colbert, an example of an effective personal brand

Developing a personal brand is not only creative, its necessary. Today’s economy shows a competitive market that is only getting more intense. If one is to succeed, one has to harness the power of individuality. Organizing a strong, positive impression will not only help in the short term, but a mature and developed brand will create brand loyalty. In the case of Stephen Colbert, he just has to harness his ‘truthiness’ (another Colbert PR success story unto itself!)

From the moment I’ve heard about this place, I knew it was something special. Located in something of a castle in Wenham, MA, the corporate culture and attitude here is wonderfully progressive. Combined with their new marketing ecosystem, Mullen is in a strong position to progress the community as a whole. I have had the privilege of interviewing, but lost out sadly. Maybe one day!

2 Arnold WorldWide

“Mi case es su casa” says the website, aptly at that. Arnold tries to showcase their one-to-one skills by highlighting their own employees. A strong brand and a huge portfolio, Arnold is a premier player in the ad field.

3 Corporate Ink

Caught wind of this firm through a professor of mine, and I haven’t stopped visiting their website since. A smaller firm, their focus is clearly in the details. I was especially impressed to see that they want to keep growing, despite the economic news. Sadly, that isn’t as true for the bigger players in the field, so a huge kudos to CorporateInk!

4 US Government/ Barack Obama

When Obama won his race, I was proud to say that I was with him on his journey. Setting up Recovery.gov and issuing decrees to update technology, a dream of mine would be working Obama. Ahh, I can imagine the the speech-writing now...

5 Hill Holiday

There is a strong recognition that the tools that got the news world here is in disarray. Hill Holliday has changed their website to reflect less of a firm, and more of a blog. Hill Holiday has let staff go recently, so clearly a shuffle is leading to some new thoughts. Would be fun to be a part of.


6 Thomson Communications

I am currently interning here, and it has been a wonderful learning experience. I would love to work here full time as I’ve made great connections and admire my co-workers. What could be better then that?

7 Lois Paul & Partners

After seeing some case studies, Lois Paul has a steady hold on the market. With aggressive planning and aiming to thwart competitors, there is a bit more tenacity here. Hopefully, the corporate culture is more forgiving then their website!

8 Apple

Where to being? Steve Jobs will analyzed for many years for how he revamped his own brand, after being ousted of course. Lesson? Work hard for what you believe in. Apple has created a loyal customer base unlike anything in its market. Just call me a sucker for success. (Plus, I love my Mac!)

9 Chris Sicuranza

A bit corny perhaps, but ideally, I want to work for myself. I want to make my own hours and meet my own clients. I am well aware that I cannot presently do this as I have little experience, but maybe some corporate giant will see this, through some ads on here, and I’ll be all set! Gotta go, think I just saw a pig fly out my window...

10 YOU!

A funny political ‘ad’

That’s right - you! If you are reading this, you must have some interest in my services. What about some of the lesser known qualities about me? I make a killer PowerPoint (seriously), have done stand up comedy/sketch comedy/improv and have tried to describe my ordeals with kidney stones. I’ll tell you this: I’m anything but boring!

Picture from Tom Foremski - 2/27/06 - http://www.siliconvalleywatcher.com

Again I ask, where does the traditional press release fit in? Most places require you to create said events through social networking websites, so placing another calender event on a website isn’t too demanding. Yet there is something to be said about how information used to be conveyed to one another and how this darn technology thing has once again forced a communication evolution.

My prediction? Press releases are already dead. Some even say they are downright ‘useless.’ True, services like PressReleaseGrader indicate that the written word can still be analyzed and edited through our new digital union. But overall, we have to move on here.

What you can take away are tried-and-true methods of success:
do your research, word simply, and edit, edit, edit!
I’ve quite enjoyed improving my writing, both professionally and personally.

All above being said, please check out my portfolio (should be up soon) which has plenty of press releases that I’ve worked. ;)