Ellen DeGeneres

I think that this is great PR for Ellen. Ellen has been in the entertainment business for years upon years, and its great so see someone of her age and character to be the next covergirl. I think it adds to her career, and her credibility as a woman. Through these adds, potentially more individuals will tune into her talk show because it is a reminder that she has her own show. A show like hers that has been going on for a while that does not really have that much publicity, could be resparked by something like this covergirl add to remind individuals that she is still successful and the show is still going on. She also looks very classy in the advertisement, and like a businesswoman which can help her credibility. I think being a cover girl is great PR for anyone who can do it, from Drew Bayymore to Ellen.

From this, I got to thinking. A single individual can promote bad or good PR. For example, one individual who knows and inside secret can let it slip on facebook or in their blog, and this could crush a company. Rumors or slander can also ruin PR, even if acquisitions are not true. So essentially, social media can hurt an organization or an individual if used incorrectly.

Social media can also be a huge positive for an organization or individual’s PR. Blogs, facebook, websites, things like this give an individual or organization free publicity, and through these things run by the organization, they are able to project themselves in the light that they want.

Vineyard Vines takes on their own public relations tactics. Ian and Shep travel to many different college and stores to put on promotional events for the store and for their brand. They have the store advertise the events with fliers, facebook groups, and word of mouth. They also travel from one “fratty” event to another, because that is their target audience. At Carolina Cup for example, they set up a tailgate advertising their brand, and for each person that wears Vineyard Vines to the event recieves a free koozie, whale head, croakies, and other fun promotional tools. They make it seem cool to use all of these Vineyard Vines promotional tools, so individuals who get these are walking advertisements for the company. I think they are the masters at reaching their target audience through their public relations with the publics. For example, this girl is even wearing a whale head!

Their good PR tactics obvously do not make for the the poor PR they have recieved over the past couple of decades. Even so, their business seems to grow and grow. Many individuals know all of the bad about McDonalds, yet still continue to eat there on their own free will.

The PR industry affected McDonalds in the 90′s, but currently they continue to grow. Does PR currently matter in McDonalds situation?

The like above is to a CNN’s reported 10 most popular majors. Communication Study majors weigh in at number 7 in this report. I like to think of COMM as a major part of college campuses, with a lot of people involved with this major. The other day in my org. comm. class, we discussed this article in conjunction to Claire’s piece entitled, “Real Jobs.” In the article she discusses,through a critical lens, how the phrase “a real job” functions to depict certain types of work. One of the criterial for a real job, was for the job not to talk place through a liberal arts degree. How can this be so?

On another note, comm. majors are often made fun of by peers for their major. It is publically thought that comm. majors have the easiest classes and that they are air heads. This is not the case by any means, so how did this rumor start?

Individuals telling other individuals that the comm. major is a joke is not good PR. Yet, it spread so rapidly becuase each individual on campus seems to feel this way. I think the comm major needs to step up and combat this bad PR, because individuals who feel this way now will one day be leading the jobs available, and in their mind will snuff the comm. majors that apply for jobs with them.

Link– http://www.takethewalk.net

AIDS and poverty is affecting indivisuals in Africa more than ever. To encourage individuals to combat this, Hanson set up a program called, “Talk the Walk,” that is parterned with Toms Shoes. I think this collaboration is great PR for each other, Hanson and Toms Shoes. For every shoe that is bought along the Hanson tour or in the walks they do, Toms Shoes will donate one pair of shoes to children in Africa. In return, Toms Shoes helps promote Hanson’s walks and tours.

For Hanson to get people involved, they host a one mile barefoot walk around 3 in the afternoon the day of the concert in the city. This draws crows from all over to come do these walks with Hanson for a good cause.

Through Hanson doing these walks, they are also recieving great PR. It shows initative that they want to help with the world, and are not just stars who sit on their tooshes everyday. The record songs that can be purchased for 1 dollar on iTunes that goes to a fund they set up for AIDS in Africa, and for every person who comes on the walk with them they also donate 1 dollar to the cause. This is getting Hanson noticed. More and more are becoming fans on Hanson once again, and their records sales have increased tremendously. Althrough these walks do provide great PR for the band, it is not just about that. It is about fighting poverty and aids in Africa one mile at a time.

Taylor, the middle brother of the rock trio Hanson, and his wife Natalie welcomed a son, Viggo Moriah, on Tuesday in Tulsa, Okla., they tell PEOPLE exclusively.

“Viggo is doing great. He is the perfect early Christmas gift,” the couple says of their 8 lb., 5 oz. arrival. “We look forward to being home to enjoy the holidays with him and his very excited brothers and sister.”

Viggo joins older brothers Ezra, 6, and River, 2, and sister Penelope, 3. The growing Hanson family also includes their cousins, Isaac and Zac’s kids, Everett, 1, Shepherd, 6 months, and Monroe, 5 months.

NOTE: Not PR related, but exciting!!

I think Britney is accumulating a large ammount of positive PR these days, and with good reason. Showing her Christmas Carroling with Ellen shows the public that she is happy and wanting to improve upon herself, without her even having to say it. Recnetly, Britney: For the Record, was aired on MTV. It was almost like a confessional but brought in positive aspects of her working on a new music video, but at the same time Britney was able to talk about her issues and how she is overcoming them. She also is working with Madonna, THE pop icon, which by association is giving her positive PR as well. She is not pulling any of her crazy stunts in the media anymore which is giving Britney the change to show the public she has changed and that she is ready to do it big once again.

The more positive PR Britney can get the better off she will be. Her music can only take her so far because of all the drama in the past year or two. She needs to continue on the path she is on, and even if she looses custody of her kids again, she must hold it together for the public. No more crazy stunts. Just one slip up could ruin her chances of her comeback being as successful. Right now she is on the right track, she just needs to stay that way.

After the firing on previous head coach for the Clemson Tigers football team, Dabo Swinny took on the title of inerum coach to carry out the season. There was talk about finding a bigger name to coach after this season was over, but then, everyone in the Clemson family began to love Dabo. After games passed, people started chanting his name by the masses in the stands, he was a hit. Still, it was unclear as to who would be our head coach next year, but Dabo was to only fill in for a few games. After the huge win at the Clemson/USC game, there was a lot of talk that Dabo could be the next head coach after all. And a few days later, he was named.

I think this did a great deal for Clemson’s PR as a University, and for the football team as a whole. Dabo has a great life story, he came from nothing and made himself a whole lot of something. Becuase of this, his great personality, and his carisma I feel as if he is just what Clemson needs. He is a great role model in the community, has the players doing community service and outreach programs, and he is improving the football team. Clemson made a great choice in choosing Dabo, and this is projected to the public.

“Future First Lady Michelle Obama might have had a hard time picking between designers like favorites Narciso Rodriguez and Thakoon or star-favorites Reem Acra and Marc Bouwer for her inaugural dress, but President-elect Barack Obama’s tuxedo decision was simple: Chicago-based Hart Schaffner Marx, according to WWD. The men’s suit company has been in existence since 1883 and is one of the first American companies to have unionized workers. President-elect Obama has been wearing Hart Schaffner Marx suits throughout his campaign. Anyone can get a made-to-order suit from the company (or pick up a ready-to-wear style at department stores), but for the President-elect the company will go to him at his home in Chicago. Now about Michelle’s dress again….”

My response– PR for the Political Campaign seems to me like more of a celebrity match as opposed to a political campaign. This article proves my point. Yes, there have been debates between the parties and statements of change, yet, what got people talking this year? Fashion, family drama, looks, etc. I will go ahead and say that I am dissapointed that a political campain had turned to a celebrity death match, but, on the other hand I will say that Barak Obama did it right. He is a good looking man, and always dresses the part of a strong president. If he did not do this, I feel as if he would not have had as strong as of a shot at the president elect. What he wears is important to the people, so why not do it right?