KFC to Fill Up the Nation's Potholes

As part of a community outreach service, KFC decided to offer five cities the opportunity to get their potholes filled. The plan consists in filling every pothole and then stamping a message with a non-permanent chalk over it. The message would read the words, "Re-freshed by KFC."

One side of the spectrum considers this as a cool and creative approach to market the KFC brand. It creates buzz and makes the fast-food chain look good in the public's eyes. KFC proudly emphasizes how it can market itself while helping local governments and everyday Americans all over the country.

The other side is not to happy with the publicity stunt stating they should perhaps "fix their menu first." Obviously, KFC isn't one of the healthiest fast-food chains in the nation and this has caused some buzz.

The point is this is a really cool idea that, regardless of how it's percieved, helps cities and their people. I think the idea itself is "refreshing."

Music executives call iTunes higher prices a "PR nightmare"

In a highly questionable move, Apple executives have announced that the company will be increasing their iTunes song prices by 30 percent.
At a time when people are trying to cut back on expenses this plan, which blatantly asks customers to pay more for the same product, seems nonsensical and risky from a public relations aspect.
Starting April 7, iTunes will charge $1.29 for many of their popular songs and 64 cents for older or less popular songs. Apple executives hope that altering the prices will promote the sale of package deals instead of individual song purchasing.
Music labels have been urging iTunes to raise their prices, but this was a move that Steve Jobs had thus resisted because of potential harm it could do to sales. However, Apple’s decision to go through with this now seems like terrible timing.
Another issue is the fact that iTunes is penalizing the already shrinking market of people who are willing to pay for music and squeezing them for more cash. If this plan back fires it could end up alienating their customers and sending them away to the multitude of music piracy sites, therefore hurting iTunes’ sales and worsening the situation for the record labels.
If you want to improve your business model you’ve got to follow the trends and be aware of your competition. Raising prices when your biggest competition is offering the same thing for free doesn’t do either one of those things.
Either way, I hope iTunes has their army of pr people ready because after April 7, there will be a reaction and it may not be the one that Apple was hoping for.

Lifetime Networks launches popular website for women

Lifetime Networks has created a casual gaming site for women to play "dress up" called Roiworld.com. According to PR newswire, since its debut Feb.11, there have been 1.3 million unique visitors and 43 million page views, and has registered more than 100,000 new members. This website offers people the chance to engage in user-generated content, social networking and casual virtual world experiences. There are over 1,000 free games offering users a chance to act as fashion designers and make up artists to celebrities. "With Lifetime being the leading entertainment company for women, we knew that casual gaming and specifically 'dress up' fashion games would be an asset to our already comprehensive digital efforts. We are pleased with the positive reaction Roiworld.com has received in just over a month," said Dan Surett, the Executive Vice President of Digital Media and Business Development.

I think it's a really cool concept to give women the chance to play around with fashion and make up virtually with their favorite celebrities. I must say, embarrassed to admit, I checked it out and thought about joining the site. I still might. I think females of all ages could indulge in this and have fun with it. And with those traffic figures, such as 1.3 million visitors, it's obviously doing a good job attracting people.

T.I's Road to Redemption

I have to say T.I's Road to Redemption is the biggest PR scheme i have ever seen.  This dumb little rapper who bought over 25 firearms, including MACHINE GUNS and SILENCERS, is now trying to say "Oh I am so sorry, i learned my lesson, let me teach the youth that i was wrong." The basis of the show is he meets guys who are drug deelers, gangsters, etc and trys to teach them how they will end up in jail or dead by living this life.  

He is doing this, so the public thinks hes doing so well and should not have to go to prison. 

He is a convicted felon, who admitted to being arrested around 32 times.  If he had TRULY learned his lesson, he would have stopped at the tenth time..maybe.  No, hes "learned his lesson" because MTV decided they needed another reality show and paid him money to follow him around.  I think it is disgusting that MTV would make him a star after his arrest.  What are we teaching our kids?  Sure go get arrested 32 times, make a few million dollars by singing about it, and hey if you get arrested again, call up MTV and youll be gold!

I am disgusted by this and I hope people who have common sense can see its all a PR stunt and they convict him to jail for a long time where he belongs. 

http://www.rwdmag.com/articles/6263/TI-To-Go-To-Prison.html

New Celebrity Tequila

Well it seems like the fashion, movie and music industry is not enough for current celebrities. Apparently they are now attempting to break into the alcohol industry. Justin Timberlake is launching a new brand of tequila named 901, people.com reports. The name comes from the idea that 9:01 is when your evening is ending, but your night is just beginning.

The bottle has been in development for more than two years, and will hit the stores in May, People.com reports. The first few cities to sell the tequila will be New York, L.A., Las Vegas and St. Louis.

Bands at SXSW Take Adavantage of Social Networking Opportunities

This past week Austin was home to the one and only SXSW festival. Comprised of three parts (interactive, film and music) it’s no wonder all the geeks and hipsters more or less shut down service to iphones and all other AT&T customers in the downtown area.

What were they doing on their phones: Connecting with their fans through countless venues of social networking sites.

A lot of the attendees of the festival are the most connected, blog savvy individuals one could ever find. They are constantly updating their Twitter accounts, posting photos to Facebook and uploading last night’s show to YouTube.

PR professionals like Ariel Hyatt say this is a brilliant way for fans to interact with bands. The accessibility, she says turns a “listener into a fanatic”.

Ultra connected bands like Choo Choo even did a tweet up with two fellow Texas State students at the convention center for a quick interview, which I caught with a picture and uploaded to TwitPic from my phone, of course. But there are bands that still prefer to stay private and disconnected, no matter how much success being social media savvy means.

It brings up an interesting point: How accessible is too accessible and when do you just become over-exposed?

I love being able to connect with my favorite artists and professionals I admire, but I don’t need to know when they’re using the restroom. It kills the mysterious appeal that made them cool and follow worthy to begin with.

There’s a fine line bands and others will have to learn to define so as not to be overly connected and accessible.

FARMERS' TRANS FAT SOLUTION EFFORTS PRESERVE $700 MILLION MARKET

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration madated that trans fat to appear on product's Nutrition Facts label and companies rushed to comply with the new regualtion by reformulating their products. With a tough economy that we face some might have thought this would affect farmers in a negative light. But this isn't the case, the nation's soybean farmers are reaping the rewards of a long-term strategy that lets the market and consumers be aware of a soybean with healthier oils called low-linolenic soybeans.

Companies now can use this new, healthier soybean oil in their products such as light fry, sauces, rolls and pizza dough. Companies are also testing the new oil for margarine, baked goods and shortenings. This new alternative to a healthier lifestyle has generated a supply of $1.495 billion average annual return over twenty years.

Hulu vs. Facebook

Trying to cut into the Social Networking industry, Hulu is trying to be another Facebook. It will be interesting to wait and see exactly how well Hulu will do against their giant competitor, Facebook. Honestly, I don't think it stands a chance. Parents are already embracing the Facebook craze. I think if you asked them what "Hulu" was they would have no idea what you were talking about. I know my mom wouldn't.

However, Hulu does have a step up from Facebook because it gives users free online access to TV shows and other video, which networks and other suppliers provide in exchange for a cut of the Web site's advertising revenue. Interesting. Facebook might have some competition coming. It will be exciting to see who comes out on top and to stay.

Dancing with the Stars

This is season ___ of Dancing with the Stars, and it is already making headlines. Not only do they have engaged professional dancers, the youngest contestant yet, and two last minute substitutes. But one think that has kind of been bothering America is the vulgarity of this season. Steve-O, formerly on MTV's Jackass, is a contestant this season, I should have counted how many times they said "jackass" on the show. It was uncomfortable and inappropriate for a prime-time family show. Also, a lot of the dancers, Karina Smirnoff in particular, was basically naked on the floor. The main controversy is concerning rapper Lil Kim. She gave a shout out to her "girls" she spent time in prison with (for conspiracy and perjury). There questions about whether the inmates will be able to vote.

I think this season will be a good one, there is a lot of talent and big names, but being a LIVE family reality show, I think, for the sake of parents watching it with their children, they had better calm down on the jackass, prison, and playboy references. 

Dockers Interactve Ad Platform

Dockers has taken a new angle at their advertising ventures. Yesterday they launched a new campaign through free iphone game applications that will run for four weeks. The ad is called "Shakedown 2 Get Down." The actual visual is a famous freestyle dancer wearing Dockers(R) Vintage Workwear Khakis as he dances around the screen. It appears between levels during the time the user used to wait for the screen to upload. In order to get the ad off of the screen the person “shakes” the phone. Sherri Phillips, vice-president of marketing, Dockers(R) San Francisco. "The Dockers(R) brand will continue to seek out new interactive technologies and cost-effective ways to reach and engage our loyal consumers." The company found that iphone users prefer free apps to paid 200 to 1. During this economic downturn when companies are careful of the way they spend one has to admit, Dockers is using advertisement dollars in a creative and innovative that will directly reach their target audience. Now, how do we feel about this? It seems as though the ad won’t be too intrusive and will be easy to get rid of but…what happens when others advertisers jump on the bandwagon. As long as companies keep campaigns in restricted areas, like between games, and they can come up with cool intriguing ideas like Dockers-there shouldn’t be a problem. I personally do not have an iphone but for those who do this new medium may become quite a nuisance.
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/03-11-2009/0004986940&EDATE=

Reebok hopes to inspire with new Cirque du Soleil workout

Reebok has rolled out a global, marketing campaign to support the launch of new product lines and a workout it created in conjunction with Cirque du Soleil. Reebok hopes the new workout will inspire women bored by their fitness routines. Reebok introduced two product lines for women - On the Move and the Reebok-Cirque du Soleil collection - to go along with the new routine, which will appear in fitness clubs in several markets. “The whole purpose of the partnership comes from consumer insight that showed women were bored... and they would work out more if it was more fun,” said Josie Stevens, director of global PR at Reebok. “We wanted to communicate that message.”

Purple labe engages bloggers to promote new lip gloss

Beauty company Purple Lab developed a PR initiative to help launch the fledgling company's first product, Huge Lips Skinny Hips. The debut is a collection of Vitamin B3 lip-plumping glosses that tout appetite suppressant Hoodia.

The company is working with Whisper PR on the initiative, which includes an interactive strategy and extensive media outreach, particularly in the blogosphere. Purple Lab founder Karen Robinovitz said she wanted to introduce her product to bloggers first in order to generate buzz among both new and traditional media, as well as foster interaction with bloggers and consumers.

She believes that bloggers break news before print media giving them a head start on publicity.

Barbie Continues to Be Relevant After 50 Years

Recently, Pierce Maddie Public Relations wrote an article about how Mattel continues to successfully brand Barbie in order to make her relevant for young girls and the fashion industry. Barbie has had many jobs over the years as a doctor, teacher, veterinarian and so many more. Mattel has found a way to create brand awareness and an iconic status for Barbie for over 50 years by creating an approachable image and positive message to girls all over the world.

It's important to make brands relevant to consumers, especially with today's economy making consumers question what's truly important when it comes to shopping. I think some of the most important ways to keep brands relevant would be to keep the brand image simple and clear to the targeted audience, align the brand with the overall PR strategy and find the interests of the targeted audience that are parallel with the brand.

Mattel has mastered brand relevance with the creation of Barbie and I'm sure the beloved doll will continue to have a powerful impact on young girls and the fashion industry.

Pulic Television Inspires Teachers to Ignite the Love of Learning

PR NEWSWIRE- Governor David A. Paterson, Google's CEO Eric Schmidt, Bill Gates, Sr., Alan Alda, Danica McKellar and the new cast of Sesame Workshop's The Electric Company Join THIRTEEN and WLIW21 to Invigorate Educators NEW YORK, March 5 /PRNewswire/ -- During these tough economic times when education budgets are being slashed across the country, it is more important than ever to recognize the value of teachers and the vital role they play in preparing America's next generation to successfully compete in a global economy. THIRTEEN, the nation's flagship PBS station, and WLIW21 will provide a forum for the world's best thinkers and practitioners to come together and join in the conversation to improve the education of our nation's students at the fourth annual Celebration of Teaching & Learning conference, which kicked off today in New York City at the Hilton New York. The Celebration, a premier professional development conference, is where over 8,000 teachers, school administrators, business leaders, and policymakers come together to play a role in shaping the future of schools by participating in two days worth of panel discussions, over 100 workshops, and keynote addresses from international and national experts. Speaking directly to the needs of educators and parents, this year's conference will focus on literacy, math, science, global awareness, Autism, English Language Learners, technology, and whole school policy. "Teachers are facing increased demands to raise student achievement with fewer resources and less dollars. When the pressures on teachers are the greatest; that's when we need to ensure that they have the best resources and support to educate our students to new levels," said Ron Thorpe, Vice President and Director of Education of THIRTEEN. "Public television believes that by exposing teachers to leading experts, showcasing the latest in technology and trends in education and providing a platform for educators to join in the conversation to improve education, the Celebration will be a place where knowledge meets inspiration." Keeping with its tradition, the Celebration will host an incredible array of noted speakers including Governor David A. Paterson, who will give special remarks, Google Chairman and CEO, Eric Schmidt, who will be interviewed by Charlie Rose on the future of technology; the award-winning actor, director, best-selling author, and host of the new PBS production "The Human Spark," Alan Alda; and the world's most recognized autistic scholar and New York Times bestselling author, Temple Grandin. Other keynote speakers include actress and math enthusiast, Danica McKellar; internationally-recognized author in the development of creativity, Sir Kenneth Robinson; chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Bill Gates, Sr.; and the new cast of Sesame Workshop's The Electric Company, which will focus on early childhood literacy. The Celebration will also feature prominent education leaders including Dennis Van Roekel, Randi Weingarten, John Wilson, Richard C. Iannuzzi, Joel I. Klein, Geoffrey Canada, Lucille Davy and Pedro Noguera. "Public television's mission is to provide educational content to inspire our viewers to seek knowledge," said Neal Shapiro, President and Chief Executive Officer of WNET.ORG. "By delivering a world-class conference that meets the needs of our nation's K-12 educators, attendees of this year's Celebration will leave with a renewed passion for teaching and with lessons that will resonate for years to come." I'm not sure how I feel about pushing yet more television on our youth. Does it not seem wrong that we are encouraging more TV time instead of the out-door time that kids really seem to be lacking.

Even the Pope Needs PR

After Benedict XVI's recent lift on the excommunication of four bishops, one being a Holocaust denier, he created quite a row in the Jewish and Catholic communities around the world. 

In his efforts to try to reach out to the outlier groups who supported these bishops he caused a blunder of a PR problem.

Had he been advised about the impact of the releasal of this information and had the facts and decisions been constructed clearly with concise reasoning behind them there might not have been such an uproar. The miscommunication came when the information was thrown out into the public haphazardly without reviewal or critique.

Now the Vatican is on high alert to try to douse the flames.

I guess this goes to show us that even when the economy is down and it doesn't seem like there is much going for us new job seekers, we can still take some consolation in the fact that everyone in the public eye still needs to look good, and we are usually the ones behind that.

Social mastermind

Social media and the methods of information dissemination have grown tremendously over the past decade. With the growing importance of social media and the world quickly becoming application hungry, JellyBarn has decided to kick off a $100,000 contest calling for innovative ideas at social media related applications. JellyBarn is a leading provider of applications, widgets, and games. The contest calls for contestants to submit their ideas at http://www.jellybarn.com/mastermind/ for the chance to have their application idea implemented. The contest is judged by Google, Yahoo!, and Razorfish, among others. The contest is meant to drive social media and show its importance. The social applications hold tremendous potential for marketers. I think the contest is a very clever and practical way at providing everyday people the ability to help shape the methods of social media that will only continue to be an important facet of our culture.

At the Texas Public Relations Association 2008 conference everyone seemed to want to know about one thing...Social Media. What I learned was that a lot of the more traditional PR practitioners saw tools such as Twitter as a big waste of time. Apparently, they were using it wrong. B.L. Ochman writes for BusinessWeek.

Here are 6 Social Media Myths that some people fall for.

1. "Social media is cheap, not free." In a effort to combine it with a marketing scheme you must invest in time and money.
2. "Anyone can do it." This is true, but it refers to how many people can actually use it effectively to meet their client's goals. Not many.
3. "Big splash, short time." You have to be patient, you can't expect success in a short period.
4. "It's all done in-house." You need to develop relationships outside of just in-house. A combination of efforts will help you succeed.
5. "If it's good people will find it." Driving your traffic toward your content is how you can take the initiative to begin a route for success.
6. "You can't measure social media success." There are several tools that you can use in different social media channels that can help evaluate your success.

Make sure that you follow these guidelines to ensure that you usage of social media is worth your time.

Catching a Break

By: Jody Volet

PR and Communications professionals are somewhat in luck this year. PR people are finally getting some respect. Their jobs are something that are not being dismissed so easily this time around. With the economy how it is has to start making some changes, such as getting going bankrupted, firing people and just losing money in general.

Well, with everything that is going people who can communicate are needed very much. When something is going bad with a company they need someone to talk about it and tell the public what is going on. When you are changing your image or have something big going on with your company, you have to have someone communicate that to the public. PR and communicating is very key. We are the middle man to getting the public to know information. We are very important people and companies need us.

PR and Communication jobs are not taking such a hard hit as other corporate businesses because they are the people who need us. They are the people that are helping companies get their message across and help people understand what is going on. There could be a chance that communicators could lose their jobs later on, for now they are just fine. PR and Communicators are some of the professions that have the least amount of layoffs and hopefully getting the respect they have deserved and wanted for years.

Reality shows as new branding tool?

Marie Claire magazine and the Style network have joined forces to create better brand recognition and attract new advertisers through the production of a reality TV series.

The new show, “Running in Heels,” documents the lives of editors, writers and interns at Marie Claire and gives a truthful, behind-the-scenes look at what it is like to work in the fashion business.

With ad and newstand sales becoming more inconsistent, Susan Plagemann, publisher of Marie Claire hopes the show will be a strong brand building tool to expand their audience, also attract advertisers due to its great perspective on working women.

The first docu-series the magazine industry has ever done was a perfect fit for the Stlye Network, which also wanted to expand its women audience base, bring in new advertisers and keep the current ones happy.

PR firms for both companies are collaborating for the promotion of the series, which is expected to launch in March 2009.

It is not surprising that the majority of the promotional efforts will be found online. The interactive strategy will use Facebook, MySpace, YouTube and Twitter to promote the show. Some of their other tactics include exclusive video content, weekly quizzes, newsletters and blog commentary.