PROG (PR+blog..clever eh?)

Communucation Student Versed in Social Media begins Job Hunt

noreply@blogger.com (Benjamin) — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 14:10:06 PST

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Benjamin Palmer (Spokesperson)
[Email] : [bpalmer2@stedwards.edu]
[Blog] : [http://progthecube.blogspot.com/]

Communication Student Versed in Social Media begins Job Hunt

Austin, TX November 26, 2007

BA in Communication with a concentration in Media Arts, Public Relations, and Advertising from St. Edwards University, Expected Graduated May 2009

Looking for entry-level job in field of Communication, preferably with small local company with a sustainable emphasis.

Relevant Coursework: Social Media and PR, Organizational Communication.

Computer Skills include proficiency at all MS Office Suite, and Apple applications including imovie and garageband

Founding member of on-campus television station, seuTV

Assistant Editor for student newspaper, The Hilltop Views

Honors and Awards: Deans list since Fall 05, Awarded Dean's List Scholarship twice, published in universities literary journal, The Sorin Oak Review.

MULTIMEDIA ELEMENTS:

Download

A Podcast created for a class assignment, discussing personal experiences with web 2.0/social media

Download
A Youtube video created for a Social Media Class where we had to focus on a social issue.

I am a resourceful and confident person, who although naturally an extroverted performer is also more than content with private study. I view PR/Marketing as a way to flex creative muscles and ability to read the public. Outside of my academic studies I keep myself very busy and living in Austin has only bolstered my interest in independent music, sustainable living and endurance sports, making sure that my schedule is always full of activities.

RELATED LINKS

Urban Pollution Staff Page

Online magazine where I served as a staff writer/administrator. Links to most recent new articles/album reviews may be found at this page

SEU Cycling Club Website
Web page for the St. Edwards Cycling Team, where I am the blog/page administrator

The Cluetrain Manifesto abrigred

noreply@blogger.com (Benjamin) — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 12:48:51 PST

I just finished reading the theses from the cluetrain manifesto and found it pretty interesting, but I picked out a few of my favorite ones. While there were many that peaked my interest these did the most.

"In just a few more years, the current homogenized "voice" of business—the sound of mission statements and brochures—will seem as contrived and artificial as the language of the 18th century French court."

"We like this new marketplace much better. In fact, we are creating it."

"We are immune to advertising. Just forget it"

A common thread among the ones that I found the most interesting, is that they were also the most invirogorating, putting the power of the market in the hands of the customer/consumer and out of the company, almost making the company seeing as less powerful and scared under the bully of the public. I am interested to see what the rest of the class thought during our discussion after the break.

Our Viral Video -"Outrage For Injustice"

noreply@blogger.com (Benjamin) — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 12:27:45 PST

Here is our viral video completed for class. We chose to explore the social issue of denying/violating ones ethics over your own ability for selfishness and self-control- Specifically regarding the consumption of animal flesh.

The Text from the video was taken from the song "Edens Demise" by the seminal mid-90's hardcore/metalcore band Earth Crisis Full text of the song's lyrics can be seen below the video

"Edens Demise" lyrics
Poisoned tears fall from a corroding sky down to a
tortured earth that's been left to die. The oceans
diseased, the stricken lands decay. Mankind's
supremist mentality has set this world ablaze.
Nature's plan forever altered, animals lost to
extinction. This society based on greed fuels the
onslaught of destruction. The circle of death ends
with the instigators victimized. The means to
quench a selfish lust brings eden's demise.
Mass-murder, demonic cruelty. Absolute fascism. To
end the enslavement and slaughter, the antidote is
veganism. Don't let your outrage for injustice end
where your selfishness begins. I have conquered
through selfcontrol, together we can win. Respect
for nature and innocent life, the end of human
over human oppression. A peaceful world can evolve
after animal liberation. To persist with what is
immoral is illogical. There's no excuse for
violence against nature or for the innocent to be
killed. I see so much sickness. The enemy
surrounds. I see so much sickness. I fear what the
future holds. I have hope that the point of no
return has not yet been passed. These are the
final moments. Sand pours from a broken hourglass.

The First Completly Legal MP3 blog

noreply@blogger.com (Benjamin) — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 12:09:50 PST

Earlier in the year I posted about the growing popularity and power of MP3 blogs

Well it seems that the music industry is now finally trying to catch up with them and the first totally legal mp3 blog has launched. RCRD LBLhttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif is (from their own about section)

"a network of ad-supported online record labels and blogs offering completely free music streams and downloads from emerging and established artists."

Seems like an interesting concept, and I guess well see how well it does, though from what I've read in other articles about the site, its founders expect it to do very well financially.

"How is 12oz of Sausage supposed to feed 600 Pounds of Men"

noreply@blogger.com (Benjamin) — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 11:59:28 PST

In class we have talked about "Dell Hell" and other examples of fans and fanatics reacting against a company and the company....eventually responding. Well I stumbled across what is possibly one of the most entertaining customer complaints ever.

Please listen!- totally worth your time!

Now besides the fact that the man is totally supporting the redneck stereotype and does a pretty funny job of cussing at the end he actually has a valid complaint. Now instead of calling the Jimmy Dean sausage corporate line, do you think it would be more effective for him to of started a blog and found other people who have similar complaints about the downsizing of their precious sausages?

p.s. the image besides being a jimmy dean product has nothing to do with the post, just thought it was so grody (grody= a higher level of grossness) that it had to be posted.

Finding Vegan Cupcakes to Take Over the World With Just Got Easier

noreply@blogger.com (Benjamin) — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 22:44:02 PST

A few days ago I stumbled across this Blog.
Basically what the blog does it allow users to type in recipes they want and it will search throughout the databases of currently 27 top-rated vegan food blogs- allowing a wide range although well regarded recipes bound to pop up.

I don't think that we have discussed this exact type of blog in any of our classes or books, but perhapsI would label them as filters.

The type of specalized blog/software could be used for anything, but because its vegan food its just better ;) Go ahead and search for something tasty and seasonal like Pumpkin Pie!

The Great Debate: Is Web 2.0 Bulls#!t?

noreply@blogger.com (Benjamin) — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 22:23:16 PST

The preliminary list of 2008 SXSW Interactive Panels has been released. Many, many of the panels discuss things that relate to our class including social media, Web 2.0, and PR on the internet.

Check out the full list, or my abbreviated ones of speical interest to us.

* The Art of Self-Branding
* Beyond the Blogosphere: How Online Talent is Being Developed
* Futurists' Sandbox: Social Technologies in 2025
* The Great Debate: Is Web 2.0 Bulls#!t?
* Social Network Coups: The Users are Revolting!
* Social Networking and Your Brand
* The Suxorz: The Worst Ten Social Media Ad Campaigns of 2007
* Taking Over the World: the Flickr Way
* Wireframing in a Web 2.0 World
* You Are Here: Gaming and User's Geolocation in Web 2.0

Guerilla Marketing

noreply@blogger.com (Benjamin) — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 21:55:01 PST

While we were acutally assigned to read chapter 10 of "The New Influencers" I acutally found the little profile at the end of the chapter much more interesting.

The sections discussed guerilla marketing. The idea of this is to be as creative and unconventional in your marketing as possible. An example of this that the books discusses is the Night Agency, who have succesfully done campaings for many big companies, including MTV. Check out their website to see examples of their works.

This is type of marketing that I am most interested in hmm...wonder if there are any firms like this in Austin....not yet?

Oprahtube

noreply@blogger.com (Benjamin) — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 20:16:53 PST

In what truly signals Youtube's acceptance into mainstream society, it seems that everyone (and I mean every ones) favorite day time talk show host will be having her own you youtube channel.

Yes, that right Oprah Winfrey now has her own Youtube Channel

Orpah will be posting videos that she makes specifically for Youtube, along with tons of other footage. To celebrate the launch of this, on Monday the founders of Youtube came on her show and talked to her, and she is displaying some of her favorite "stars of Youtube" throughout the week.

Just think of the marketing behind this now. Oprah, the most powerful woman on the world now has a space on the most powerful social media tool of the last 10 years. If some company could get behind this (other than youtube) they would have so many eyes and ears.

Austin is the tops for Bloggers

noreply@blogger.com (Benjamin) — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 09:45:14 PDT

According to this Post in Austinist, Austin is at the top of the blog-o-sphere, beating out Portland, San Francisco and Seattle.

Check out the article for more info and links to the reports that prove this new title.

Guess we can now be called the "Blogging Capitol Of The World" as well.

Our Podcast~!

noreply@blogger.com (Benjamin) — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 09:28:14 PDT

Here is Amparo, Ben and Shane's Podcast!

Listen Here!

blogging as a weapon

noreply@blogger.com (Benjamin) — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 07:49:38 PDT

After reading Chapter 9 of "The New Influences" the wheels in my mind starting turning.
If blogging can be so influential would it be possible to turn public opinion intentionally. Now I'm not saying you like a product and then happen to talk about it, but a calculated Internet attack on something. Perhaps the opposite of this is already happening with PR firms where things are being positively reflected.

But I'm thinking in more anarchy-laden ways, perhaps to topple a business or whathaveyou, someone could set up a " Internet task-force" of a handful of people and they could spend a whole day negatively searching and negatively commenting and tagging things until there was a plethora of negative information that would seep its way on the Internet and eventually....the public opinion.

However I would not be surprised if this hasn't already happened.

Eat Local In Austin For Sustainable Change

noreply@blogger.com (Benjamin) — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 05:31:08 PDT

Riding the wave of the “Eat Local” movement, two books "The 100 Mile Diet and “Animal, Vegetable, Miracle” hit the selves earlier this year (including those at good ol’ Scarborough Philips) where the authors underwent yearlong efforts to only eat food sourced locally or grown themselves.
This may seem like a bit drastic for the average person who has no idea where all their food comes from. However as more and more evidence comes around that a local diet is the most sustainable one, more and more people will want to incorporate more local foods into their daily diet. Luckily for those residing in Austin it is not too hard to increase your locally produced sustenance.
One of the easiest ways is to begin frequenting some of the local Farmers Markets. Farmers markets allow you to consult directly with those who grow the food, which is picked the night before market. Most food that is available in grocery stores has been sitting for at least a week meaning that when you buy fresh picked produce it will not only taste fresher, but last longer as well.
For those that are interested in organically grown food, most farmers at farmers markets use organic practices and are more than happy to answer any queries you might have about their growing practices.
Austin has two close-by farmers market-both of which are open practically year round. Held every Saturday 9AM- 1PM at the Toney Burger Center, The Sunset Valley Farmers Market was recently awarded the 2007 Best Farmers Market and for good reason too. The festive market features many local growers along with artists, kombucha brewers, massage therapists and many activities for children. Within the past few weeks’ uber-seasonal produce such as supple and sweet persimmons could be obtained from smiling farmers.
The Austin Farmers Market, located in the heart of downtown (4th and Guadalupe) is also held Saturday’s morning. Although not quite as expansive as Sunset Valley, the market is a nice alternative and can easily be used to pick up many items before hopping the block over to While Foods to complete your grocery shopping.
Another great option is to become a member of a local CSA or community supported agriculture such as Scott Arbor or Green Gate farms. A CSA shareholder pays a sum of money for a whole season (such as summer or winter) and then a portion of the food grown on the land is reserved for them at several drop off points throughout the city. If you have more free time than money than most farms offer a work-food exchange program for as little as four hours a week.
For those that simply don’t have the time or will to go out and gather their own local food, Greenling Organic Delivery system offers will do all the brunt work for you. On a bi-weekly or weekly basics the company offers a box filled with all organic and local food to be delivered directly to your doorstop-all for reasonable prices.
To some eating locally may seem rather restricting, but it will more than likely turn one’s diet more eclectic as they discover the tastes of the season instead of relying on the same old standards each week. Besides where else can you get a whole bag of organic pears for three dollars

The experience of "In Rainbows"

noreply@blogger.com (Benjamin) — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 13:57:29 PDT

Just up front- not this entry is not about the experience of listening to "In Rainbows", but rather the process of obtaining it.

As we are all aware Radiohead has forgone their record company and chose to make their new album available for download through their own website with the cost up to the consumer. I thought that this was a very innovative idea and fitting for a band known for its innovative music.

I found that choosing how to much pay for the album a very interesting and exciting experience- sorta like haggling at a garage sale. I ended up paying around 5 (well 2.45 british pounds acutally) dollars for the album (and that includes the service charge.) The morning of the 10th I got an email with a link to the download and had the album within a minute or two.

Overall I was very pleased with this process, especially since most bands make very little money off of their cd sales. However as I hear about other big bands doing similar things (NIN etc) I wonder if small bands will follow suit and still be succesful in getting thier music out without the usage/distributing of a label.

Assuming the band had a publicist and a good working knowdlege of basic marketing I believe that they could still operate on this type of system-with the aim of having people come to their shows and buy merch/physical CD/Vinyl only if they wish.

Web 2.0 =Early Modern bourgeois public sphere

noreply@blogger.com (Benjamin) — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 20:10:57 PDT

I am writing an article for the newspaper about web 2.0 in the classroom and asked a few professors on their thoughts about this topic.

English Literature professor Chris Flynn impressed me with his response and how he connects 18th century britian literature to Web 2.0.

I thouhght it would be interesting for others to read his full text that won't appear in the newspaper article.

Dr. Flynn writes;

"My major field of research is 18th-century British literature. During this period, what historians and critics call the "Early Modern bourgeois public sphere" came into being. This is what now know as "public opinion," and it was the result of men of many economic and social classes - and a few women - engaging in informed, open debate. This debate took place in physical locations new to England in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. The main one was the coffee shop. This debate arose from common readership of periodicals and newspapers, which, like the coffee shop, were also fairly new in England during this period. The first English newspaper appeared in the last third of the 17th century, and the first periodicals appeared in the early 18th century. So, the combination of the coffee shop and periodical led to the first open, informed debate across class lines, developing ideas that found their way into public policy, business and much contemporary writing.

What does this have to do with the web? Well, the web, when used well, reproduces some of the characteristics of public debate in the Early Modern public sphere. Like the early 18th-century printing press, the early 21st-century web is very democratic in terms of access. 15 years ago people could not communicate directly with large numbers of people about public events, literature, life in the city, sports, etc., the way they can now, because the later stages of capitalism made print so undemocratic that you needed to own a newspaper or television station or radio station in order to communicate to large numbers. Daniel Defoe would finish his Review, take it to the printer, have it printed off, then have someone drop it off at the booksellers to distribute, and it would find its way into the coffee shops. People would talk, laugh and yell about the things they read there with each other in public places. This dialectic exchange developed ideas. A current reader of the New Yorker - or one before there were comments sections online - would read alone, share a chuckle or deep thought with one or two intimates, and there the interchange of ideas would stop. The internet has radically changed that, mostly for the better."

I found this really interesting and hope some others did as well!

The Mohwak Starts Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Benjamin) — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 11:11:31 PDT

In our class we have often touched on how blogging would be a great asset to any business small, large, local, national etc and I recently stumbled across a great example.

The Mohawk is a great (newish)venue here in Austin. After being open for a little over a year they finally have a proper website up and running now and on the front page is (you guessed it!) a blog!

It has recaps from past shows, youtube videos of upcoming bands to peak interest and other venue related stuff.

Whats funny is that I was thinking about getting (applying for) an internship there and suggesting they start up a blog.

Maker Faire Youtube How-to

noreply@blogger.com (Benjamin) — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 10:44:26 PDT

In case anyone wasn't planning on going to the awesome Maker Faire here might be another reason.

The fair which is put on by the equally awesome Make Magazine is an expo featuring tons of DIY, cool, nifty, wacky, zany stuff.

I was clicking around the site and apparently one of the "makers" will be an Youtube expert who will "answer any questions new users have, help solve issues existing users may be experiencing, and showcase great DIY videos created by Make Magazine and the many other great gurus on YouTube."

Sounds pretty nifty and I might stop and ask her about social media implications etc. by when I go to the faire.

Huba-balo

noreply@blogger.com (Benjamin) — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 10:57:03 PDT

As we all know, our textbook author Jackie Huba came and chatted with our class recently.

I know that alot of us have already blogged about this experience and most people would consider it old news to read about but I'd like to put out my own reaction.

I was most titilated by the idea that blogging and our knowdlege of web 2.0 would be a very strong lever once we enter the job market. That would could enter a job interview and bring up our blog as a valid experience and more than likely that would reflect strongly on us getting the job or not. It is exciting that some of our classmates have already gotten interest from major PR firms based soley on their blogging and web 2.0 interaction.

For someone who has never had a super strong direction-job wise, having skills like this will (hopefully) enable me even more flexability as I would (hopefully!) be an assest to any compnay large or small.

MiscrosoftBook

noreply@blogger.com (Benjamin) — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 08:54:58 PDT

Well everyone knows that the social networking site Myspace is owned by Rupert Murdoch and it seems that Myspaces biggest competitor, Facebook is now being courted by another media giant, Microsoft.

According to this New York Times Article Microsoft and Facebook began talking yesterday. This is an interesting development in Facebooks's history as almost half a year ago the site 23-year old founder Mark E. Zuckerberg turned down $900 Million dollars from Yahoo for an outright buyout.

Now it seems that Microsoft may be offering 300-500 million dollars for a percentage of the compnay, these figures would of course escalate as Microsoft's \competitor has already expressed interest as well.

This relationship isn't entirely new either, as for the past year Microsoft has put advertisements onto the site, and for the past 4 months Facebook has opened its programming allowing any company or person to make an application or company profile (Wal-Mart, target etc. )

I guess everyone has a price

MP3 Blogs Take Over The World

noreply@blogger.com (Benjamin) — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 07:40:00 PDT

In what will probably be an ongoing series I am going to focus on a specific type of enthusiasts blogger that enjoy and the first topic shall be on MP3 Bloggers.

MP3 Bloggers are those who are uber passionate about music and freely write about it. Now these sites differ from sites where music is simply reviewed or discussed because they also post MP3's of artists that they are talking about. This has proven time and time again to be a highly effective method for an artist, especially an indie or underground artist to suddenly appear on every ones radar.
Back when I used to be a MP3 Blog hawk I could easily see trends and themes and see and artists become a big deal over the course of two weeks, mostly through lots of blog posts about them.
People love to hear the music that they are reading about, so it is far superior than reading a normal print magazine. Now because they are posting FREE songs from indie (read...not rich) artists there is sometimes a conflict of interest so most blogs like Skatterbrain post a disclaimer on their site.

"The stuff I post is typically for sampling purposes only. If you like what you hear go out and support the artist and buy their stuff. If you are sure you want something removed, please contact me. If you're not completely sure, you should probably sleep on it and then see how you feel in the morning."

However because MP3 blogs have proven to be more and more effective than traditional marketing, most bands/labels/publicist are very willing to work with bloggers, often sending them press materials. http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif

Pitchfork Media the undisputed leader in Indie media even has hopped on the Mp3 blogger format, posting worthy mp3's in their daily Forkcast

An interesting option that is similar to a blog reader is an mp3 collector like Hype Machine where tons of blogs load in their Mp3's and content in an easy to use reader. Using tools like this a reader could easily amass many, sometimes almost a full album of songs from a artists, without even having to read any of then content!

Some blogs of interest:

Said the gramophone
You Ain't no Picasso
Gorilla Vs. Bear

And there are tons more with some focusing more on a sub-genre like freak folk or just plain far out sounds.

Just click around and start downloading, you'll be surprised how fast you can fill up your ipod and maybe, just maybe have your thumb on the pulse of the scene

My Ikea At Home

noreply@blogger.com (Benjamin) — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 07:00:51 PDT

Ikea's new branding campaign finds the company trying to switch its American Idenity.Currently Ikea is seen at those kooky swedes with their cheap and mod furniture. From a PR stance this approach work for the company and works on customers funny bones and their wallets. However this new campaign shoots straight for the customers heart.http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif
My American At Home is the new project of two of Americas most famous photographers. An ambitious project, My America At Home finds the duo calling for photographs from peoeple all across the US over the period of seven days, which will eventually be culled together in a new book/project.However the duo has gotten home furnishing giant IKEA to support the project. Not only will the company highlight the project in their stores and online store. While it may be a nifty project, IKEA is using this to tie in with their new branding campaign. "Home is the most important place in the world"
Brian Solis of PR 2.0 recently poseted about this approach to marketing where consumers get into a product through conversations or dialouges such as this competition tie in.

This differs slightly from the campaign that they have launched in the Uk titled Not going anywhere. Not going anywhere finds IKEA (and they only very recently added their logo and updated the site) to have owners take pride in their homes....which means to furnish them well...with IKEA.
While these two programs offer slightly IKEA is still trying to associate an "we're all in this together" mentality, weather it be as a collective piece of art/social project or a rebellion against consumeristic real estate.

"Enthusiasts" are better than magazines

noreply@blogger.com (Benjamin) — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 12:25:27 PDT

Chapter three of "The New Influencers" touched on a special breed of bloggers-those who focus on a topic that they are specifically excited about- instead of making journal-ish entries on their day to day lives.

Unless I know a person or they have a particularly interesting life (bear wrestler?) then I most likely will not read their blog. However "enthusiast" blogs I do read on a daily basis. For me these blogs basically function as FREE and frequently updated replacement's of print magazines. Only often more than not, these blogs are run by one person with a witty or biting style that may or may not of made it into a print magazine. Also because of the linking ability of the web these blogs act as portals to other material of interest, something that printed material could never do so quickly.

Over my next few posts I plan on highlighting a few of my favorite "enthusiasts" and the specific PR and social media implications that they contain.

Gothamist, Austinist, LAist, PRist, Socialmediaist

noreply@blogger.com (Benjamin) — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 21:59:13 PDT

Gothamist is a New York City blog that covers news, food, events and other local happenings around the city. The blog was the first to stem from from the GothamistLLC company. Instead of just sticking to New York City, Gothamist expanded and now has 15 different city-specific blogs. Included among the other cites are U.S. big names such as LA, Philly, Houston, Seattle and our very own Austinist

The company also has international sites such as Shangaiist and Londonist

Personally I love Austinist and use it every day. In fact it was one of the first non class blogs to be added to my Google Reader account. Austinist to me is like an up to minute every changing version of Austin Chronicle, that truly makes me feel like sorta have a finger on the pulse of the city.

These type of sites are great for local PR, not only just for ads but by getting your store/business/band/whatever blogged about. Often times Austinist will offer up fee admission to movies/shows that surely garner up interest, I know it does for me.

It is also great that blogs comments are available as it truly lets the community participate in the dialogue going about the city -a local form of social media if you will.