Summary transcript for 18 April 2013 #AWCchat: Being an authentic communicator

Thanks to everyone who participated in our 52nd #AWCChat on Twitter, with guest host and AWC National Chair Maria Henneberry talking about authentic communication.

Maria held a free-flowing conversation about what it means to be an authentic communicator, whether it’s something that you just “are,” or can you prepare to become one, and how vulnerability can actually make your communications even more effective.

**  On Chirpstory – the summary transcript for the 18 April chat.

**  Chat schedule and topics for April 2013.

Thanks for your support of the AWC (Association for Women in Communications) community.

Summary transcript for 11 April 2013 #AWCchat: Blurred lines between PR, marketing and advertising

Thanks to everyone who participated in our 51st #AWCChat on Twitter about today’s convergence of PR, marketing and advertising, and what that means for professional communicators.

There were only two questions posed, but a lot of discussion flowed from them….

1)  Defining terms as they are understood today: what really IS the big difference between PR and marketing? Or is there one, in reality?

2)  Sponsored content = content you pay for that looks “real” (if it’s done well.) How can you avoid the landmines inherent in creating it?

Some top-notch resource links shared in this chat, too!

**  On Chirpstory – the summary transcript for the 11 April chat.

**  Chat schedule and topics for April 2013.

Thanks for your support of the AWC (Association for Women in Communications) community.

Summary transcript for 4 April 2013 #AWCchat: Blogger and online media outreach

Thanks to everyone who participated in our 50th #AWCChat on Twitter (did you see that? 50th!) about better blogger and online media outreach, especially for PR folks but as usual, anyone was welcome to participate.

Several issues were discussed, including:

1)  Are your communications goals for online media coverage different than your goals for print, TV, radio, etc.?

2)  Let’s say your market niche is outdoor recreation. How would you find bloggers/online media who cover that niche?

3)  So, you have something to pitch to someone in online media. Is it different than pitching a print reporter?

Lots of great resource links shared in this chat, too!

**  On Chirpstory – the summary transcript for the 4 April chat.

**  Chat schedule and topics for April 2013.

Thanks for your support of the AWC (Association for Women in Communications) community.

Summary transcript for 24 Jan 2013 #AWCchat: Publicizing awards

Thanks to everyone who participated in our 43rd #AWCChat on Twitter, about how to acknowledge, celebrate and publicize when you win an award, but not come across as an annoying show-off.

Three questions were posed:

1)  If you get a significant award, should you send out a press release? Why or why not?

2)  How can you publicize your award(s) on your website & social media channels? Or is it not appropriate for social?

3)  How can you give back if you’ve been blessed with award recognition? (nominate someone else for one, yo!)

—>>  We mentioned that the AWC Clarion Award nominations are open, with a wide variety of communications award categories. Check it out!

**  On Chirpstory – the summary transcript for the 24 Jan chat.

**  Chat schedule and topics for January 2013

Thanks for your support of the AWC (Association for Women in Communications) community.

Chat topics, dates and times for December 2012

We’re excited to start our 2nd year of #AWCchat:  a one-hour, weekly online chat on Twitter where we discuss a variety of communications-related topics.

Nope, you do not have to be an AWC (Association for Women in Communications) member or a woman to participate.

The chat is held weekly, for one hour, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. CST (Central Standard Time) on Thursdays. There will usually be a transcript on our Chirpstory channel if you can’t make it.

Here is a helpful post on how to participate in a Twitter chat, by Lisa Barone. Here’s the plan:

Schedule/Topics December 2012

• Thursday, December 6  -  Holiday gift ideas for communicators
• NOTE: Monday, December 11 – AWC webinar about Twitter Chats (free to AWC members.) See AWC Events calendar.
• Thursday, December 13  -  No chat: host will be thrilling to the sound of dental equipment  :)
• Thursday, December 20  -  Enewsletters – make them better with an editorial calendar (guest host Judy Asman) (No transcript available, unfortunately.)
  
• Thursday, December 27 – “Month Zero” & making the most of getting ready for 2013 (cancelled due to lack of interest)

Please follow @AWCchat on Twitter, and tweet us any other topic ideas you have. We look forward to seeing you at one or all of the chat sessions.

Thanks very much for your support of the AWC – where we “get” communications integration thanks to our diverse and talented membership!

Summary transcript for 15 Nov 2012 #AWCchat: Plank Center Study on PR Industry Changes

Thanks to everyone who participated in our 39th  #AWCChat on Twitter, about what’s changing in the PR industry based on a new Plank Center study as featured on mediabistro.com’s PRNewser.

Three items were posted to spark discussion and to answer questions:

1)   1st item in the Plank study post says the PR profession is now 70% female. Will this change the industry?

2)  The Plank study says younger PR people aren’t happy with older people in the industry; they want to move PR into the future. Agree?

3)  The Plank study says “measuring outcomes & effects of social media” is one of PR’s most pressing problems. Your thoughts?

**  On Chirpstory – the summary transcript for the 15 Nov chat.

We won’t have a chat on Thursday, 22 November, the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday. Next one is 29 November.

**  Chat schedule and topics for November 2012

Thanks for your support of the AWC (Association for Women in Communications) community.

Chat topics, dates and times for November 2012

We’re excited to start our twelfth month of #AWCchat:  a one-hour, weekly online chat on Twitter where we discuss a variety of communications-related topics.

Nope, you do not have to be an AWC (Association for Women in Communications) member or a woman to participate.

The chat is held weekly, for one hour, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. CST (Central Standard Time) on Thursdays. There will usually be a transcript on our Chirpstory channel if you can’t make it.

Here is a helpful post on how to participate in a Twitter chat, by Lisa Barone. Here’s the plan:

Schedule/Topics November 2012

• Thursday, November 1  -  What’s New on LinkedIn
• Thursday, November 8  -  No chat, host at State of NOW SmallTown tech conference
• Thursday, November 15  -  Are you ready for a changing PR industry? (discussing the Plank Center Study on PRNewser)
  
• Thursday, November 22  -  No chat, U.S. Thanksgiving holiday
• Thursday, November 29 –  Holiday gifts and seasonal ideas for communicators (rescheduled to Dec 6)

Please follow @AWCchat on Twitter, and tweet us any other topic ideas you have. We look forward to seeing you at one or all of the chat sessions.

Thanks very much for your support of the AWC – where we “get” communications integration thanks to our diverse and talented membership!

Summary transcript for 27 Sept 2012 #AWCchat: crisis communications

Thanks to everyone who participated in our 35th  #AWCChat on Twitter, about crisis communications, with guest hosts Christine Cox Reinauer (@crcpr21) and Andrea Schulle (@AndreaSchulle) from Andris Media (@AndrisMedia).

Five items were posted for discussion:

1)   Has anyone here ever been in (or “have a friend” who’s been in) a PR crisis position with a client?

2)   What’s the difference between a social media PR crisis & a general sort of crisis?

3)   What social media components need to be in place to avoid/address a PR crisis/disaster?

4)   What key lessons can we learn from past #SMflubs like Susan G. Komen vs. Planned Parenthood? 

5)   How to avoid this crisis problem: C-suite people are often not very good at media, but no one believes/wants to hear from “the PR weenie” in a crisis. Discuss.

Christine and Andrea also shared their Pinterest Board for PR flubs - http://pinterest.com/andreaschulle/pr-flubs/

**  On Chirpstory – the summary transcript for the 27 Sept chat on crisis communications.

The next chat is on Thursday, 4 October at 1130 am CST, about taking care of yourself so you can take care of your business.

**  Chat schedule and topics for October 2012

Thanks for your support of the AWC (Association for Women in Communications) community.

Summary transcript for 20 Sept 2012 #AWCchat: getting a job with a communications degree

Thanks to everyone who participated in our 34th  #AWCChat on Twitter, about how to find a relevant, decently-paying job with a communications degree.

We had some great advice on the chat from several people who landed excellent jobs in their field, including the communications manager for a major arts company and another who works in A/C/E marketing (Architecture, Construction and Engineering.)

Four questions were posted for discussion:

1)   What are some communications degree skills that are particularly desired in today’s market?

2)   Is an internship (or two) a must-have to find a job with a communications degree?

3)   Since communications skills are highly valued in ANY job, it shouldn’t be hard for comms majors to find work. Discuss.

4)    Can you list some job titles that aren’t “the usual” for a communications major, but that they should consider?

**  On Chirpstory – the summary transcript for the 20 Sept chat on job-hunting for communications majors.

The next chat is on Thursday, 27 September at 1130 am CST, about crisis communications, with guest host Christine Cox Reinauer from Andris Media Group. She’s @crcpr21 on Twitter, so give her a follow!

**  Chat schedule and topics for September 2012

Thanks for your support of the AWC (Association for Women in Communications) community.

Summary transcript for 30 Aug 2012 #AWCchat: Nonprofit communications

Thanks to everyone who participated in our 31st #AWCChat on Twitter, about how to juggle it all when you’re a nonprofit communications professional.

Huge thanks to our guest host @JanGunter; she’s the Communications Manager and “Jill of All Trades” for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Austin and Central Texas.

Four items were up for discussion:

1)   How does one prioritize work across so many areas: website, fundraising, media relations, social media, email & marketing?

2)   What resources (other than OJT – on the job training) are available? How do you learn the job duties that you don’t know?

3)   As a nonprofit associated with a for-profit brand, how do you create awareness of your need for support?

4)   When do you DIY (do it yourself) & when do you hire an outside professional? e.g., for video, photography, web design or PR campaigns.

We had lots of good resource links, too!

**  On Chirpstory – the summary transcript for 30 August chat on thriving as a nonprofit communicator.

The next chat is on Thursday, 6 September at 1130 am CST, about building a “toolbox” of software and apps to manage your online/social media work.

**  Chat schedule and topics for September 2012

Thanks for your support of the AWC (Association for Women in Communications) community.