Looking Into the Future

First things first.

My name is Ryan Gartman and would like to welcome everyone to the NIU PRSSA Blog Page. I have the honor of being the NIU PRSSA President for the 2009 - 2010 school year. I joined PRSSA in August 2008 and have enjoyed everything since! It has taught me priceless information about the real world, given me networking opportunities, taught me skills and knowledge that I will use in my career, and possibly most importantly given me the opportunity to meet some terrific people which whom I am proud to call my friends.

As PRSSA president, I am looking forward to working with the new E-Board and all the members to have a fun and successful year. I plan on giving us a name of excellence that is regularly used by Communication and Journalism majors as well as the faculty and staff. By continuing on the road to achievement we will not only have fun, but also gain countless amounts of knowledge and insight into the professional public relations world.

Lastly, I would like to thank everyone for their hard work this year and continued hard work and dedication into the future. Together we can take NIU PRSSA to the next level. I cannot wait for next year and all the great times that are ahead!!

Ryan Gartman
09-10 NIU PRSSA President

Is facebook good networking?

Everyone knows about facebook. We use it to keep in touch with old friends, and become more aquainted with new ones. Are you really making connections though, or are you just making friends?

If you compare facebook to sites such as Linkedin or Twitter, there are vast differences between the two. Facebook is a site where someone could learn everything about you from what you post, as well as see all the pictures that have been posted.

Linkedin, on the other hand, keeps things more professional by letting you post past work history as well as current projects. In addition, when you add someone on Linkedin, it is someone that you will probably end up talking to again at some point, rather then adding that new individual you met last night at the bar.

So what do you think? Could facebook be an acceptable, respectable networking site, or is it meant to just connect you to friends?

-Zach Johnson

Ethics or Not

In Public Relations you are often faced with ethical issues. While working for a firm, or independently you will be presented with negative outcomes. Not all crises' situations can be turned into a positive situation. Although it is said that all publicity is good publicity, there is also the ethical issue to be considered when dealing with the crisis.

In the case of Rhianna and Chirs Brown, it has been argued that it was wrong for Rhianna’s pictures to be given to the press. Although she is famous some believe she should have been treated like any other woman who was beaten by their boyfriend.

Is it ethically right as her publicist to release information about the beatings, or was it handled correctly? Would you have released more information or pictures of Rhianna? What would you have done differently?

-Rebecca Brockschmidt