Marist to Hold Expert Panel on Launching a Career: Monday, May 2

Open To All Marist Communication Students!

With graduation for the Class of 2011 only a few days away, Marist communication students will have a timely opportunity on Monday, May 2, to hear advice about launching a communication career. The advice will be offered by a panel of three experienced communication professionals: Mr. Larry Hughes, Saint Francis Hospital; Mr. Stephen Cole, Marist College; and Ms. Laura Katen, Katen Consulting. The panelists will present two programs on May 2, from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m. and from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. on the Marist campus in the Henry Hudson Room, Fontaine Hall (3rd Floor).

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Get Onboard the Social Media Bandwagon

by Jillian LaCoppola, guest author

Social media is an extremely important aspect of the business world and the social world in general. Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn have become primary ways to share information. Many businesses have jumped on the social media bandwagon and are hiring younger people to come in and teach them how to utilize social media outlets.

For example, on my last interview for an internship, the interviewer asked me if I could use social media. She informed me that this was an extremely important aspect of the internship, as they would be using social media to promote their brand identity and to obtain feedback from their fans.

Author Michael Fauscette

Social media allows businesses to communicate with partners all over the world. Michael Fauscette, in "Communication and Collaboration in a Social Business World," clearly explained this phenomenon. According to Fauscette, many companies used to have difficulty communicating with business partners around the world. Today, business managers only need to turn on their cell phones and type.

Learning about social media is vital. Most companies want to hear that you have knowledge in social media, so that you are able to publicize and communicate through these outlets. Any college student who does not know how to utilize social media is at a huge disadvantage as these outlets will only become more popular in the years to come. More communication teachers should realize how important social media is and encourage their students to utilize them in ways that are productive and useful.

GoDaddy -- An Elephant-Sized PR Blunder

by Kaitlin Wasylyk, Guest Author
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Bob Parsons, GoDaddy CEO, with
dead elephant.

Some PR professionals may believe that any publicity is good publicity; however, in Bob Parsons' case, I beg to differ. Bob Parsons is the CEO of one of the largest web hosting domains on the Internet, GoDaddy.com.

GoDaddy.com is well known for its racy commercials and pushing them to the extreme with celebrity ads. However, Parsons’ recent stunt has critics and others taking the position that this time Parsons has gone too far.

Parsons posted a four-minute long video on his Twitter account that shows him hunting and killing an elephant in Zimbabwe. In this graphic video Parsons is seen shooting an elephant and later posing like a triumphant hunter for several pictures next to the dead carcass. The video also shows the elephant carcass being carved up by several local villagers wearing GoDaddy hats and passing out the meat as rock music blasts in the background.

It didn’t take long for this viral video to enrage viewers and spark a major public controversy. Needless to say, Parsons is a public relations nightmare. His arrogant attitude and insensitive response to this tornado of controversy has shown him to be less than remorseful. Even more distasteful are his self-proclaimed heroic actions to hunt “problem elephants” to keep them from trampling the locals’ crops, and his response that “Things couldn’t be better for him.”

Controversies and public relations blunders do happen but this is one that won’t fade into the background any time soon given Parsons' bold and unsympathetic response to the public. The worst part: he’s not even pretending to be sorry.

Marist SCA Selects Fall 2011 Integrated Communication & Social Media Intern

The Marist College School of Communication and the Arts announced on April 12 its selection of Jessica Hasapis (Class of 2013) as the school's fall 2011 integrated communication and social media intern. Beginning this fall, Jessica will provide direct communication support to the school’s dean, Dr. Steven Ralston; various members of the faculty and staff; and contract employees. Throughout the semester, she will help Dean Ralston manage relationships between the school and its key internal and external audiences through a variety of public relations, advertising, marketing, social media, and other strategic communication efforts.

Jessica Hasapis

Jessica will follow the current spring intern, Alexis Murphy (Class of 2012), a communication major with a double concentration in public relations and advertising. According to Dr. Mark A. Van Dyke, associate professor of communication, who will supervise Jessica's internship activities, "Our school is fortunate to have so many highly-qualified students to select from in this internship program. Alexis Murphy has made valuable contributions to our school's outreach program through her work in social media and media relations." Dr. Van Dyke added, "We had some extremely talented students apply for the fall position. Jessica's superb academic record combined with her unique work experience and social media skills helped her to stand out." (Click here to read more.)

The Morality (and Immortality) of Your Online Profile

I had a very thought-provoking discussion on Thursday with my students in COM 370 Public Relations about ethics and law in the communication profession. We agreed on several important points:

1. We have yet to discover a "universal" code of ethics or laws that apply in all places at all times.

2. In the absence of a universal code, public relations practitioners must examine their personal values, select a moral framework (e.g., deontology, utilitarianism) to guide ethical behavior, and be consistent in the way you behave at all times.

3. Avoid ethical relativism, or changing and adapting your moral framework and ethical principles to different situations.

4. Think about the moral, ethical and legal implications of your online identity and communications. Even though the law affords you rights of free speech, would it be moral and ethical (or even wise!) to post offensive speech or photographs on your Facebook page?

Following up on point #4, I recommend anyone with an account for Facebook, MySpace, Twitter or other social media platform read and take heed of the following articles. Both point out problems related to posting materials that define your online identity -- materials that are often impossible to delete or erase from the Web

Suggested Reading:

• Erasing the Digital Past (by Nick Bilton, The New York Times, April 1, 2011)

• The Growing Business of Online Reputation Management (by Nick Bilton, The New York Times, April 4, 2011)

Read more about our discussion and contribute your comments at http://bit.ly/gURfzB. 

Ethics and the Law in Public Relations

During the week of April 4-8, my COM 370 Public Relations students and I will discuss the importance of ethics in the public relations profession. I know from my experience as a public relations practitioner and educator that professionals in any field must adopt a moral framework that guides ethical behavior. This is especially important in the public relations profession, where practitioners must earn and maintain the trust of their audiences.

Author and public relations expert Frazier Seitel noted, "The practice of public relations is all about earning credibility." He added, "Credibility in turn, begins with telling the truth. Public relations, then, must be based on 'doing the right thing' -- in other words, acting ethically."

Please click this link or the "Read more" link below to continue reading this blog post.

Marist Communication Students Host Event to Prevent Child Abuse

According to Marist seniors Jessica Turgeon, Brenna McCarthy and Lauren Hawkins, at least one case of child abuse is reported every 10 seconds. And nearly five children die every day as a result of child abuse. The effects of child abuse mean more than statistics to these young women, however. As communication majors, the women have adopted this cause as a communication capstone course project designed to reduce the threat of child abuse.

The project, "Every Moment Counts: The Truth Behind Child Abuse," involves two special events that will take place on Monday, April 4, and on Tuesday, April 5, at Marist's Poughkeepsie (NY) campus. The events are being organized in conjunction with the Dutchess County Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse.

First, the women have organized a teddy-bear drive to support children who use the Center's services. Anyone willing to donate a new, unused teddy bear should go to the breezeway between Champagnat Hall and the Student Center on Monday, April 4, between 3:00 and 6:00 p.m., where volunteers will collect the bears. 

The main event will take place on Tuesday, April 5, from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m., the women will host an informational lecture about child abuse in Marist Student Center's Performing Arts Room (PAR).

The lecture will include presentations by the Kathleen Murphy, the Center for Prevention of Child Abuse executive director; Michelle Taylor, a Center board member and a program director and on-air personality with Hudson Valley radio stations WRNQ/92.1 LITE FM and WCTW/98.5 LITE FM; and Dr. Linda Dunlap, a Marist psychology professor and child development specialist. Light refreshments will be served at the event.

To read more information about the event, RSVP to attend the April 5 lecture, or post questions or comments about the events, go to event sites on Facebook and Twittter.