Social Media Addiction Rap

Understanding the Past

"You have to know the past to understand the present" this was stated by Dr. Carl Sagan who was an American writer and scientist. Today this quote is more evident than ever in the changing spectrum of PR. I am currently reading the text "Putting the Public Back in Public Relations" by Brian Solis and Deirdre Breakenridge. This book has helped me to understand the true meaning and value of public relations by recognizing and understanding PR's founding fathers. The founding fathers of PR are Ivy Lee and Edward Bernays. These men could be consider manipulators or spin doctors but both agreed that PR is a two-way street and about building relationships. Today more than ever with the expanding social media/web 2.0 its evident that PR practitioners are losing focus of their original foundation. PR today is throwing "messages" at "audiences" without determining their targets needs or their channels of influence. If you think about it PR has always been about building relationships and using meaningful communication if we can grasp that today our future will live on until tomorrow.

Creating a Culture that is not Afraid to Fail

When I think of the word "failure" a bitter taste comes to my mouth and I pray that I will never become one of those. After reading Beth's Kanters Blog about "Creating a culture that is not afraid to fail" I have come to the conclusion that from day one we have been taught the wrong way to except failure. As you can image allot of organizations become receptive in joining the social media because of the fear of failure. Many set unrealistic goals or don't have a strong strategy to become successful in the main stream. They become quick to proclaim that the social media doesn't work and they were dumb for even trying. What I want to know is where do these attitudes come from? and why are organizations so quick to give up? As it was stated in Beth's blog "change happens when the desire for gain is greater that the fear of loss". I believe in order to fully emerge yourself/organization in the social media you must throw away all what you learned about failure and look at it as a chance to learn.

Beth gives some ideas in her blog that I think are important to remember while joining the social media. First, get rid of the fear of failure. No one is perfect and you can't expect everything to run smoothly on the first try. Second, make learning the norm. Third, emphasize what works and roll with it. And lastly start out with small changes and gradually reach for the stars.

I hope by having a different outlook on what "failure"is will allow me to be more acceptable in the field of change and the desire to keep learning.

Code of Ethics

What is ethics? How do you learn to be ethical? Today in class we answered these perplexing questions dealing with the code of ethics during research. First to began any research project you need to make certain that all particpants involved are aware of it. Second, the participants need to understand that they can withdrawal at anytime and that their answers will stay confidential/ anonymous. Lastly, as a researcher you could come across proprietary issues with the outsourcing organization that may lead to making difficult decisions on how far you are willing to go to protect your participants.

This final step of protecting yourself or others is really what ethics is all about. If you are willing to go the extra mile and take the fall for others I believe that you have made the right decision. By being willing to showcase the "golden rule" and not think solely about yourself you will be looked upon as ethical by your peers, business clients, family etc..