The "Frame"

Framing.

Dictionary.com defines framing as the act, process, or manner of constructing anything. Hmm… that sounds familiar. The media has been known to do a lot of framing, have we not? Whether it is social or political issues, framing is just something we learn how to do along the way. But why must we have to frame a topic just to get the public to see our view? Can we not simply present the facts openly and hope that the public truly understands without having to slightly manipulate how they view them? Of course we can’t!

This probably explains the mistrust the public has for the media does it not? Why should they [the public] trust us [the public relations professionals] if all we seem to do is manipulate the frame so they see things our way? They shouldn’t; thus it presents the need for a change.

As future public relations practitioners, I think we should come up with one set frame. A set frame that is clear and concise. Granted, yes, we work on behalf of our client and yes it is our job to do what is best for that said client, but can we not do it openly and honestly? The facts should never change, after all they are indeed facts – and a fact is a fact is a fact, period.

So instead of just throwing away the facts when they don’t fit whatever frame someone else deems necessary, let’s throw away the frame or manipulate it to fit the facts. I wouldn’t want my thoughts, emotions or views tainted because someone didn’t like the truth. They say truth hurts and the facts don’t lie… so are we lying when we change the facts and not the frame? Hmm... I’m starting to think so.

Do The Right Thing

This book was rather interesting. James Hoggan and Richard Littlemore took a lot of different angles to show us the power of public relations and I can truly say that they really held my interest.

There are several different aspects of this book that I can say I liked. However, the main thing that I can say Hoggan and Littlemore did that stood out to me. They provided you with a topic, explained it and gave you a case study that applies that particular topic. I believe what helps this more is that the authors divided it up by sub-heads. I think that is an important aspect to the book. It separates the explanation from the example, which I think is important in writing.

One thing I noticed that Hoggan and Littlemore did in this book is that they tried not to introduce so many different companies in this book. One company in particular, Monsanto, the authors seemed to use more than twice. I believe that using this particular company on several different occasions, made it easier for the readers to relate to what they were trying to teach us.

Of all seven chapters we read, I believe the chapter on dialogue stood out the most. I think true dialogue is one aspect of communication that we are constantly losing. People are no longer actually participating in dialogue... they're talking over one another. When we talk over one another, then no one is heard. I think bringing back the aspect of true dialogue, and listening to what's being said will help us as future public relations practitioners.

Overall, this book was very effective and a great read... its one that every prospective public relations professional should read.

End of Day 3... Start of Day 4

Hello, hello, hello there!!

Ok, so I have some bad news...

I wasn't feeling too well by the end of Day 3. I felt really light-headed and nauseous at work which is no bueno. I basically ended up face first in the porcelain throne if you know what I mean. So I had to modify my fast.

With the start of Day 4, I decided to do a fruit and vegetable fast. I'm eating carrots, honey dew melon, cantaloupe, strawberries, and my favorite.. kiwi!! I'm also having a salad for lunches. My salad has Romaine lettuce, spinach and tomatoes with light dressing.

Through modifying my fast, I have still decided that I am going to do a salt water flush. I think this will be really good for my system anyway. The salt water flush will be taking place tomorrow on Day 5.

I'm slightly disappointed though. I really wanted to try to do this all the way through but my body just isn't having it. I'm still only drinking water and green tea. I still plan on carrying this out until the 7th or maybe a little longer.

So stay tuned.... I'll be reporting Day 5 soon!!

Love!

C.Lynn

Fast Day 2 & 3

Ok so I meant to right about this last night but.... I feel asleep. Um day two was ok, not too bad. Maybe because I'm early in the fast but it just seemed like everyone was either talking about food or eating it in my vacinity. It's cool though, I can do this.

Day 2 was straight though nonetheless. I was pretty busy at work yesterday so I didn't really pay attention to it. It wasn't until later, that it came across my mind. But I resisted temptation! Side Note: I went to see Savion Glover last night and he was A-MAZING!! After the performance, once I got home and thought I was really going to do some homework... I went right to sleep and missed blogging about day 2...

Now, today, day 3... its going pretty smoothly. I think if I stay busy, it doesn't really cross my mind. I had work, then class, then work, then class again, and then work at the mall tonight so it shouldn't be that bad right..?

I talked to Apeaceofteej today about her advice on my salt water flush... Yikes! Sounds like this is about to be fun... and I need to invest in some sea salt. So I've dated this good ole salt water flush for tomorrow. Let's see how that goes.

I'll keep you guys posted!
Love, C. Lynn

Fast Day 1

Ok so.... after having some inspiration from my wonderful friend Tarajee a.k.a Apeaceofteej, I have decided to go on this fast. I am fasting from ALL kinds of food... no chicken, no Happy Meals, no ice cream, no nothing.

I am going on this fast to test my mental capabilities. My main goal is to see if I can truly go through with this 15-day fast. I mean really... its only 15 days, I can do this right? I think so...

So, about my last meal. Last night, I got some take out from Olive Garden. After some MAJOR unforeseen, irritating, and foolish circumstances (not to add about an hour and a half after getting my food) I finally came home and enjoyed my last meal. I had the new Asiago ravioli with chicken, a wonderful salad and of course some Olive Garden breadsticks. All I can say is by time I finally got to eat it, my last meal was great!!

Today wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I got up, went to church, came home - waited for these people who aren't open on Sundays and are now coming tomorrow- and did some laundry. I also had a visitor... who didn't make Day 1 any easier. He definitely ordered Chinese food and I'm so proud of myself that I resisted the urge to not order anything or eat any of his food that he offered me.

I'm hoping that the next 14 days will be just as easy as this. All I'm having for the next two weeks is water and green tea people..... Let's see how this goes!!

Check me out tomorrow for Day 2's report!

C.Lynn

Social Media

It's EVERYWHERE!

Social media could possibly be one of the largest epidemics of our time. As I watch Good Morning America this morning, I see social media all over the broadcast.

But how did we get here? Though I know many social media sites were around long before Myspace, I'd like to believe that MySpace started this epidemic. I'd like to think that MySpace was indeed the tipping point. The site welcomed you with open arms, providing ways for you to individualize your page, and gave you a place where you could have as many "MySpace friends" in one place at one time. Soon, it became "MySpace me" and not "call me." Why call anyone anymore when you can MySpace him or her and he or she probably responds faster...? Yes, calling pretty much became "for the birds." Side note: my MySpace page was pretty awesome! (If I say so myself)

I'd like to think that soon so many people got fed up with MySpace. They were looking for that next "social media fix." For some time it almost seemed that MySpace would be popular forever and it would have to suffice as the only fix we could get. But no, no, no here came Facebook! Facebook was so new, and so fresh why not jump on that bandwagon? I'm not entirely sure whether it was because the site was so new or the level of exclusiveness that made Facebook that new fix for people... but it to fed into the epidemic, and it became a tipping point all in its own. What happened to the Facebook that was for college students only? The one where you had to have an ".edu" e-mail address to even join or you had to be invited by someone who had a Facebook? I think I know what happened - it tipped all the way over. It opened up for everyone. Now moms, dads, aunts, uncles, sisters, brothers, cousins, even grand parents are now on the Book. Granted that I still have a Facebook, I was actually kind of perturbed when my parents got on Facebook.

And then there was Twitter...

Twitter seemed to start off slow. Not many people initially knew about this site and once they did it spread like wild fire. Now it seems like everyone is on Twitter – which is fine but just like MySpace, life has come down to “Tweet me” or “why didn’t you respond to my tweet?” and my personal favorite, “you can tweet but you can’t text.”

Twitters, like the other social mediums, have taken over our lifestyle. We use it for everything all day. It never fails. I use Twitter more than Facebook now and definitely more than MySpace. Every morning, I get up, check my Twitter, maybe send a peppy “Good Morning” tweet and I begin my day. I do this everyday and I am not afraid to admit that I could possibly have some type of reliability to social media.

I’ve said all this to express how all of this relates to “The Tipping Point.” Gladwell discussed all these points in which events and society tipped which clearly still happens now. Every new social medium that arises year after year has tipped off of another. It’s almost as if social media follows the six degrees of separation – each is connected and related in some kind of way.

However as a potential public relations practitioner, I need social media. This medium helps us get our news faster as well as any and everything else. It’s a great way to get our messages out but to the expense of face-to-face communication. We don’t communicate in person as much anymore as we do via these social mediums. As much as I personally use social media, I think it has began to cripple me when it comes to conversation with strangers. I find it so much easier to text, e-mail, Facebook and/or tweet someone before I ever pick up the phone to call them. Seriously, the only person I actually pick up the phone to call is my mother and that’s kind of sad. We definitely need to get back to a time where people really talk to people… if not this could be the indefinite, inevitable tipping point of our society into a complete digital age.

BP Oil Spill - Deepwater Horizon

On Oct. 20, this will be a disaster that has taken one company 7 months to fix. Just at the beginning of this month a permanent cap was placed to stop the flow of oil... Wow, way to go BP!!
So I've been reading various different articles about the disaster ranging from a new "safety unit" to the many lawsuits that will soon be underway. I understand that BP is now under the new leadership of Bob Dudley, but with how the initial situation was handled, it makes me wonder how successful and how proactive this new safety unit will be? It took the company so long to respond that I barely have faith in this unit to have superb performance.
Two other articles that I read discussed the many lawsuit that will take place against BP. According to an article from The Washington Post, more than 300 lawsuits have been filed against BP. Geesh! These lawsuits could go on for years. Another article from the New Orleans Associated Press says that there's a court filing asking to delay the trial to Feb. 2012.
I've been learning more and more about this disaster. Like Kyle Schonekas, the attorney for Transocean, said in The Washington Post, I do agree that these lawsuits can go on for at least 10 years. I think from the 3 articles I read the media is really emphasizing the litigation that will be going on. In the article from CNN about the new safety unit, it just seems that it was more "this is what it is" and "we'll keep you updated" whereas the article I read about the lawsuits was a bit more detailed. I believe that the good and the not so good of the situation should be covered equally. The new safety unit is the right now... these lawsuits are years in the making. I think the media should cover the right now because that's what matters at the moment. We've had such a negative light about BP, not saying that some shouldn't, that when there's a shimmer of good its kinda like "yea whatever, we'll see." I have my doubts about this new unit but I'd like to read more about it to see if they'll really do what they say they're going to do... I hope for BP's sake they do.