Things to know about PR professionals

Sarah Burgess

If you have a friend, family member, partner or spouse in the public relations profession, there are a few things that you should know about us before you judge our lifestyle. Some of this you may already know, but it hopefully will help you better understand who we are, and may help strengthen your relationship.

• We need things planned – With all of the crazy things that can happen in our day-to-day lives, we definitely need our social plans easy and laid out well in advance. You’ll probably never hear a PR professional say this again, but we like it when we don’t have to do anymore planning! When you have already established what we’re doing, where we’re going and made reservations, it gives us once less thing to worry about and will make our lives just a little bit easier so we can enjoy more time with you! 
• We are hard workers, so be flexible – Despite the fact that we need everything planned out, we may be late every once and a while. Unexpected things come up all the time. Client emergency, Internet down, unforeseen deadlines—oh my! As in any career, sometimes it seems like Murphy’s Law can dictate our lives. We never know what to expect. So if you get a call saying “I’m so sorry; I’m running late!” or “There’s no way I’ll be able to make it tonight,” just know how much we hate it. What kind of person that plans events regularly likes to break plans and what kind of adult wants to work extra at the end of a long day?
• We overanalyze everything – But really though, it’s our job. We go into an organization, take tough circumstances, reevaluate everything about the client and help make things bigger and better than they ever were. Don’t be surprised when we look into every detail of your body language, what you say and how you say it. 
• We talk…a lot - After all, we did go to school to study the field of communication. Seriously, talking things out puts us at ease. We like to get a feel for every angle of the situation and evaluate it from the inside out. Sorry if you get sick of it, but that’s just who we are. 
• We check our phones and computers…a lot – What can I say, we have to! It’s not that we think our email and social media are more important than you, I promise. Public relations is the best literal definition of a “full-time job.” Like I touched on before, we can’t predict what last-minute emergency will pop up, so we always have to be on our toes, expecting the unexpected. 
• We will win every argument – Come on. If you know anything about us, you should know by now that we are incredibly stubborn, strong-willed and much of the time, we have Type A personalities. Along with the territory of having to talk through everything, we have studied communication enough and dealt with enough people to know how to get our way. 
• We’re always put together, except when we’re not – In public relations, it is important to remain calm, cool and collected in times of stress. And generally, we do. But after hearing some of the chaos that we deal with daily, it’s understandable that we may have a meltdown every once-in-a-while. During these times, we definitely need you most. Having someone there to be proud of us and support us, even in our weak moments, means the world to us. 

Overall, the best thing you can take away from this is to be patient with us. We’re tough leaders, but at the end of the day, sometimes the pressures of our job get to us. Ultimately, we will rely on you for our strength, support and sanity. So be kind, loving and understanding, and we will do the best that we can to be the best friend, partner or spouse possible. 

A Deep-Fried PR Disaster

Kristen Orsborn

Poor Paula Deen. Within weeks, she went from high priestess of deep-fried food to pop culture pariah. She’s courted controversy before. (Remember that diabetes diagnosis/endorsement deal? Or her throw-down with Anthony Bourdain?). But she’s never seen anything quite like this. Earlier this summer, Deen testified under oath during a discrimination lawsuit that she had used racial slurs in the past. Soon after, more allegations—of the racist variety and beyond—surfaced. Within days, her business empire began to crumble. So what did she do wrong? And how could she have handled it better? Here are some thoughts:

1. Don’t put yourself in that position in the first place. 
   Everyone’s entitled to an opinion – no matter how ugly or wrong it is. But keep it to yourself. This applies to politics, too. Don’t assume everyone agrees with what you have to say or that they share your worldview. Chances are, they don’t. And that’s OK. 
2. Always assume you are being watched or that someone’s listening.
   Follow the Thumper rule: If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all! That’s especially true at work in front of your employees or co-workers. If you wouldn’t feel comfortable having it broadcast, don’t do it or say it at work.
3. Face the music.
   Deen’s PR campaign took an early nosedive when she canceled an appearance on the TODAY show. Matt Lauer called her out for it and rightly so. Deen should have embraced that opportunity to regain ownership of the story and explain herself. Instead, by canceling, she let the media and the public fill in the blanks for her.
4. Apologize… and get it right the first time.
   Deen’s PR team hastily uploaded an “apology” video to YouTube. It quickly garnered criticism for its shoddy production value – bad edits, poor lighting and a very “scripted” feel. When the world is watching, speak from the heart. Spend some time on it and get it RIGHT. Don’t apologize to the world on an iPhone video shot in a cluttered office with fluorescent lighting.
5. Start planning your comeback.
   It’s been said that the only thing America loves more than a meltdown… is a comeback. Deen may be on the right track. She recently fired the PR team that mishandled this scandal. Here’s hoping she found professionals who can work with her behind the scenes to help her return to the spotlight.

A PR Problem

Kelli Eason Brignac

Paula Deen has a PR problem. At some point Tiger Woods and Martha Stewart have had PR problems. You could even argue that the New England Patriots have a PR problem, what with all their players being arrested for various things. But what is a PR problem, really?

Most people don’t really understand public relations, although they often talk about this seemingly prevalent “PR problem.” I recently attended a luncheon put on by the Public Relations Society of America’s Memphis chapter, and our speaker was Dr. Kevin Trowbridge, who teaches public relations at Belmont University in Nashville. His presentation brought me back to the days of sitting in my college classes. He started with the definition of public relations.

According to PRSA, public relations is a strategic communication process that builds mutually beneficial relationships between organizations and their publics. Anyone who studied the subject in college probably once heard it defined as a management function, but PRSA opted to call it a process instead – noting the importance of having all levels of a business involved for a well-rounded, successful communication strategy.

Back to the PR problem. This term often comes up in a crisis, not unlike the one Paula Deen is dealing with now. As Dr. Trowbridge discussed, Paula’s problem stemmed from two little words in a deposition – “of course” – which she uttered after admitting to using racial slurs at some point in her life. Had she simply said yes or admitted to it but expressed regret immediately, she might still have a show on the Food Network and her name associated with any number of the sponsors who have now dropped her.

But the problem isn’t really PR, is it? In fact, PR is the solution. The problem often arises when someone does or says something that the public finds unacceptable. You could argue that the Florida courts have had lots of these problems with the public pressure put on them during the Casey Anthony and George Zimmerman trials. Celebrities often atone for their problems by checking into rehab. The problem wouldn’t exist, or its effects may be less pronounced, if an organization employs good public relations to start with.

Someone at the PRSA meeting brought up a good question – would Paula Deen’s deposition have resulted in such a backlash if she had already been considered trustworthy? Maybe not. But consider that it wasn’t that long ago that the public discovered she’d been hiding a diabetes diagnosis for several years.

Crises happen. People make mistakes. But it doesn’t have to ruin you. Make sure you have a plan. Make public relations part of your ongoing communications strategy. And don’t make the crisis the first time people hear from you. PR is not a problem. PR is a solution and an ongoing strategy that is always good for business.

It’s Summer Time!

Joan Allen

Summer is finally here! The good thing is that there is an endless amount of activities to do in Dallas. Personally, I am tired of the whole “bar scene” in Dallas, so finding different and unique alternatives is just what I need. Here are just a few to get you started: 

Klyde Warren Park

If you’re looking for a relaxing afternoon in the sun or just want a quick bite to eat, Klyde Warren Park is the place to be! There are so many things to do for people of all ages (even your furry friend); you’ll never be bored. And, be sure to try one of the many food trucks parked there on a daily basis. 

Perot Museum of Nature and Science

I’m sure you’ve seen the “cool-looking” building right off Woodall Rodgers Freeway and thought to yourself, “I need to go there!” Well, now’s your chance. Stop by the Perot Museum of Nature and Science for some educational fun! This museum just opened its doors last December, and is already a big hit! I mean, who doesn’t love dinosaurs and interactive robots? 

Dallas Arboretum

If you love music as much as I do, come to the Concerts at the Arboretum every Tuesday and Thursday night all summer long! There are a variety of local bands from across the DFW area that come and play. Bring your family and friends for a night of awesome music. 

Texas Rangers

Despite what Josh Hamilton says, Arlington is a baseball town! So, put on your Texas Rangers gear and head over to the Rangers Ballpark just 20 minutes west of Dallas. This is another great way to enjoy the outdoors and watch a great game of baseball. Just be sure to plan accordingly for the Texas heat if you’re going during the day.

White Rock Local Market 

I am always in search of fresh, organic, local foods to stay healthy. So obviously, I was ecstatic when I found this gem. Visit White Rock Local Market at Green Spot every second and fourth Saturday of the month all summer and support your local growers. 

What are some of your favorite summer activities and outings? Comment below! 

Embrace Your Nerdiness!

Kerri Guyton

Merriam-Webster.com’s opening definition of a nerd reads “an unstylish, unattractive, or socially inept person,” and to that, I object! The website follows that definition with a second, more acceptable description: “one slavishly devoted to intellectual or academic pursuits.” Now that is more spot-on, and with that definition in mind, I declare my nerdiness!

I certainly won’t accept the definition in my 1995 paperback copy of Webster’s New World Dictionary (which I keep in my desk, further proving my nerd status), as it defines a nerd as “a person regarded as dull, ineffective.” Hmmm, ineffective? I beg to differ. I promise that behind any technology invented to increase effectiveness, you are sure to find a nerd – or a nerdship (a friendship that includes two or more people who enjoy each other’s company, more online than anywhere else, according to UrbanDictionary.com). You could say that because of nerds, other people are more effective!

Through different stages of my life, I’ve both embraced and concealed my nerdiness. I don’t think I even realized that I was a nerd until sixth grade. (And, now that I have a sixth grader, I realize that’s when self-awareness and self-consciousness really seem to kick in.) And, while I may not have been the biggest nerd in my sixth-grade class, I was certainly No. 2 (next to my best friend, Celeste); and I was proud of it. Back then, satisfaction was gained by turning in an assignment or test before everyone else, maintaining a 100-plus average by going after any extra credit points available and answering questions in class that no one had the answers to (on days when Celeste was out sick.) Yes, I was that girl.  

Of course, later stages of life taught me to tone down the academic arrogance, brush up on the social skills and adopt a “cool factor” so as to be accepted in society. (And, I’m still working on the “cool factor,” according to my kids.) All the while, I’ve continued striving to stay at the top of the class and ahead of the game, learning as much as possible and reading as often as possible. I think you call that being “slavishly devoted to intellectual or academic pursuits.” That’s me, and it’s what fuels my professional success today. I am a nerd, and I am proud of it!

I Wrote This Blog Post About Telecommuting While I Was Telecommuting

Erinn Figg

Lately, I’ve been wading through a sea of articles on the pros and cons of telecommuting. They seem to be everywhere — on industry news sites, on mainstream news sites, bouncing around various social media outlets. Everyone’s got something to say about the joys or evils of working from home. 

I guess Yahoo’s recent and widely publicized decision to end its work-from-home policy has bumped this topic up on the list of Things You Should Have an Opinion About, so I figured I’d throw in my two cents as well.

At Obsidian PR, we have a pretty balanced policy when it comes to telecommuting: do it when it’s necessary (when weather or illness prevents you from driving) or when it fosters more efficiency (e.g. in conjunction with a client meeting near your home).

We’ve had some intelligent discussions in the office about this topic, and I respect the prevalent opinions here. However, if I ruled the world, I’d telecommute more often. Here’s why:

1. I accomplish amazing things in my pajamas.
Please don’t read anything into this statement, but there are days when I hate wearing clothes. As proof, I have three drawers full of pajama bottoms and giant T-shirts. Sadly, this is my outfit of choice these days. (Yep, I’m single. I wonder why.) But when I’m wearing my pink drawstring pajama bottoms with garden gnomes all over them and my huge Atari T-shirt, I feel like I can conquer the world! The unfettered creativity (YES! I said, “unfettered”!) flows through my body like shimmery, liquid gold. Or maybe I’m just too lazy to get dressed. In any case, who cares? I’m not crammed into a pair of Spanx or screwing around with wayward bra straps. I’m happy. I’m comfortable. There are people out there who say the more professionally you dress for work, the more productive you’ll be. I say to those people, “Get better pajamas.”

2. My hair-from-hell is an obstacle to my efficiency.
I did the math one day. It takes about seven minutes for me to take a shower, 10 to 15 minutes to do my hair, at least five minutes to slather about 19 different youth-inducing (don’t we wish) creams on my face, 10 to 15 minutes to do my makeup (20 if the night before was rough), five more minutes to mess around with my hair again, five more minutes to mess around with my face again, and five more minutes to once again mess around with my hair. This is all precious, precious time that I could be using to get work done. When I work at home, I just throw on a pair of glasses and yank the hair up into a ponytail. Sometimes, I’ll get a little sexy and slap on some ChapStick. Of course, if you swing by my place and knock on my front door, there’s no way I’m answering it, but whatever. More work done!

3. My coffee pot.
I can drink 12 consecutive cups, and no one will judge or gape in horrified amazement.

4. The hoopty gets a rest.
I have a 1999 Toyota RAV4. It has approximately 165,000 miles on it and – besides regular oil changes, tune-ups and tire rotations – has never required extensive attention from a mechanic. (Let’s all knock on wood together now, shall we?) But it’s a bit beaten-up at this point, to put it kindly. When I’m rolling in it, I crank up the music, not because I’m cool, but because when I drive in silence I can hear the scary sounds of things creaking and rattling, like I’m dragging a bucket of bolts down the street. And because it looks a little rough around the edges, it gets no respect. People hit it in parking lots all the time and never leave notes. Women in big sunglasses and shiny BMWs cruise by it in disdain. Random neighborhood children write “WASH ME” in its dust. Haters aside, I still treat that car tenderly, like a first-born child. I have awesome memories associated with that car. I’m never selling it. When I finally move on to something else, I’ll get my RAV4 shellacked and mounted. So yeah, when I work at home, the hoopty gets some much-needed rest.

5. Gas.
I commute Downtown from Germantown, and I drive to a lot of client meetings. It costs about $40 to fill up my car, and I use about one-and-a-half tanks of gas a week. So I spend about $60 a week on gas (somewhere out there, my sixth-grade math teacher is clapping), which comes to about $240 a month (standing ovation). That’s money I could be spending on shoes. SHOES, I SAID! Somebody hold me.

6. Ch’i.
I used to be the PR director for the world-renowned health resort Canyon Ranch. Unfortunately, most people around here don’t realize it’s world-renowned, so go ahead and Google it. I’ll wait . . . OK, so anyway, if you need to pull yourself together and get your body, mind and digestive system balanced, Canyon Ranch is the destination for you. And thanks to that job, I have a deep appreciation for the Chinese concept of energy force called ch’i. As such, I’ve got everything in my room artfully placed so the ch’i not only flows, it cavorts. If you happen to be my PR client and I happen to write your news release at home, it will be touched by my magical ch’i (and possibly fingers covered with microwaved-pizza grease. But mainly ch’i).

7. My cats.
I have two of them. I rescued them from a shelter. They like to hang out with me while I work and keep an eye on what I’m doing. Occasionally, one of them will stick out a paw and try to type something. They are excellent commentators. They’re also excellent proofreaders. 

8. Memphis drivers.
I get to avoid them.  Enough said.

Erinn Figg wrote this highly caffeinated blog post in pajamas while working at home. As such, it is touched by magical ch’i and has been proofed by two cats.

Networking After Work

Tiffany Cunningham

The question is often asked, “Will this upcoming networking event be beneficial for me and for our firm?” In my opinion, the answer is yes. I know the feeling of being exhausted from having three or more scheduled meetings with clients all over town, the office phone and cell phone both ringing off their hooks throughout the day and all you want to do is end your day in the Chick-Fil-A drive through and order a large diet lemonade. That’s a regular scenario for me. But when you get the opportunity to meet with reporters or have a couple of after-work drinks with new business contacts, networking after work isn’t that bad and shouldn’t be dreaded because one person you meet could turn into a major benefit to your company.

There are exceptions to not attend these events, but you should always make the attempt to say yes. A good PR professional uses this as an opportunity to pitch new ideas and to show their mastery of the public relations mission of their company. You should approach these drinks and deals in a kind of Mad Men-esque style.

The key to business after hours is in finding the balance of taking care of business without it seeming like work. In other words, be able to juggle PR and a social encounter while conducting work affairs at the same time.

Five Tips to Succeeding at Making PR Business after Hours Work:

1. Don’t let your mouth go. 

After a little alcohol, you might let down your guard and start talking about situations or people (even people you work with) in a negative way. When the conversation turns to gossip, it’s best to excuse yourself.

2. Keep it classy. 

For both girls and guys, an after-work happy hour doesn’t mean fair game to flirt or say inappropriate remarks about an individual you work with at work or outside of work. I suggest not having more than two drinks.

3. Participate, even if you choose not to drink. 

You can definitely opt out of drinking for whatever reason, but make an effort so that those around you to feel comfortable having a drink by saying, “I’ll enjoy my gin and tonic without the gin!” or something else clever to take the edge off.

4. You can have fun, but that’s not your primary objective. 

Never make the mistake of thinking a happy hour of any kind related to work is your chance to “let loose” outside of the office. Enjoy yourself, but don’t treat it like a get together with your girlfriends or buddies. Everyone is observing you, so be on your best behavior.

5. Avoid extending the “happy hour” to another bar. 

This goes for every employee at any company. You don’t want to be the talk around the water cooler about your table dancing routine or head banging to a rock song that was cool in the ‘80s. Just say no.