Be a Rebel

Today was second Sunday - the Sunday my kids have to usher at church.  We got up, got dressed and got ready for church.  Went through the before the sermon rituals and then it happened - Minister Potts delivered a message from Daniel 3:13-30 that had me jotting notes for THIS blog.  This confirmed for me that the name I'd chosen for the new blog posts - b'lesson - was right on time.

It has been more than a year since I blogged. I am recommiting myself to blogging weekly today.  Each week your business will get PR insipration, insight and advice on navigating today's world from a PR perspective - aka a b'lesson.  These b'lessons (b lessons) come to you compliments of studio b public relations.

Today's b'lesson is inspired by the minister's charge to be a rebel.

The lesson: Don't color inside the lines...be a maverick.  We've had this conversation before; so, I won't have it again. Read, reflect and let's talk about it.

Shameless Plug

This post is not like any other, but since I am always talking about the power of new media...grassroots promotion...I thought I should shut up and show you.

I was recently responding to a LinkedIn request and took a few minutes to search my contacts' contacts.  In doing that I ran up on a profile of one Felicia Pride.  I took a few minutes to learn more about Felicia and found that we had a few things in common.  I asked my contact (shout out to Chauncie) to introduce me.  While I was waiting on the introduction, I ordered Felicia's book - The Message: 100 Life Lessons from Hip Hop's Greatest Songs. 

I started reading it this week and it is DA BOMB!  You gotta cop a copy...you won't regret it.

After you get your copy, come back and share your favorite songs/lessons from the book.  I will start.

My favs so far:

• Not Enough
• I'm Bad
• Liberation
• It Takes Two

Now, you gotta get the book because I know you want to know more!

When the Media Changes

Last week, Susan Taylor announced she was leaving Essence. That’s a big blow to the magazine that has been so much to so many Black women, including me. Her announcement got me thinking about the changes in media, particularly in print and radio.

We’ve heard for years how things are changing for dailies. As they become a dying breed, fighting to hold on, the decisions on news content are changing. It’s particularly frustrating as a PR professional because you are constantly wondering…what will make a great story this week? These changes are going to be the focus of the new and last season of HBO’s The Wire (I am a junkie). It will be interesting to tune in to see what the Wire’s writers make of the news situation. Though I have never lived in B’more, I hear the Wire is a really true-to-life depiction of what goes down. It will be interesting to see if they can bring the same thing with the focus on the Baltimore Sun. I will be interested in hearing from you all as the season goes on … and excited to have the discussion with you all on the changes that are happening in the media and what that means for PR pros.

Radio: Wow! That is all I can say. It is definitely a different day when you get radio personalities demanding $10K for appearances. I guess that demonstrates the power of radio, especially in minority communities where radio is favored over other media vehicles. I could list the reasons, but I think we all understand. Where it used to be fairly easy to place stories on radio, they are now looking at every minute as an opportunity to make money. They are putting airtime interviews in promotional packages during the highest billing hours. From a business standpoint, I totally understand that, but what it does it makes it easy for companies with big pockets to suck all the life out of radio…takes away what was so wonderful about radio in the first place…it was real…real life…I guess we have to get that through the music…oh, but wait…they only play artists that have fat pocket labels behind them…so people like JadaKiss, who "be saying the hottest...but be selling the least;" Sunshine Anderson; Tarsha McMillan; Leela James…they just don’t get airtime. Hmmm….what does that mean for us and our clients?

The lesson. We should push our clients to go back to the basics – go back to grassroots programs. I don’t mean pushing fliers at the local 7/11. Social media gives us so much power. It gives us the power to tell our story, our way, to involve and engage, and to build a personal relationship with our audiences. And then, of course, there is face-to-face communication. You can’t reach a great mass, but if you are strategic, you can reach the right people who can reach a lot of people…and be an advocate for you in everyday, general conversation.

BTW, did I tell you I love Chrisette Michele?

Get on a ship

I moderated a panel for non-profit professionals recently and three words kept coming up:

1. Partnership
2. Relationship
3. Stewardship

Oftentimes we forget these words, but it is important that we remember the importance of relationships, partnerships and stewardship.  Case and point.

I have always liked Jermaine Dupri, but I was a little put off by a recent interview he did with a local radio station.  During the interview Jermaine was obviously not interested.  You could hear his text message alerts and him typing on the phone keyboard during the interview.  He also seemed pretty irritated and uninterested during the interview.  People in my city support Jermaine and his artists.  What kind of love is that to show us?

The lesson. Don't take anyone for granted. Everyone is important.  Remember it and make sure you communicate it to your clients.  When you remember this you will be guaranteed a place on the ship...relationship, partnership and stewardship.

A Troubled Profession?

This story, Troubled Waters, is featured in this month's issue of Essence magazine.  As I was reading the story I cringed at the responses from the government agencies quoted.

The responses were so far from what should have been, but are so typical of government agencies and possibly some corporations. These responses are partially responsible for the lack of trust that the public has of government, corporations, celebrities and PR pros. These are the responses we need to ensure our clients do not give.

As PR professionals we must provide sound PR advice by training our clients to:

1. Refrain from finger pointing. Responses to issues should never result in placing blame on someone else.  Instruct your clients to address the role they played in the mishap and how they plan to correct the problem and ensure it doesn't happen again.

 

2. Be proactive.  Don't wait for complaints to come, anticipate them and adjust your policies or operations when it makes sense to do so.  Make sure you account for costs that you will incur, and honestly determine if you can make the adjustments and if it is worth doing it (i.e., is it in the best interest of the company and the customer).  If so, figure out how to adjust accordingly.

 

The lesson. Be prepared to educate.  As a public relations professional you will have to educate senior management, staff and customers.  Determine how to effectively educate each audience and then do it.