AmeliaDenson.com
Posted onMay 17, 2008
Filed under Education, Public Relations, Social Media | Leave a Comment
I have recently created a digital resume and portfolio. This site contains my resume, portfolio and various writing samples.
Within the portfolio, you can find samples of my work with various programs such as Photoshop, InDesign, Flash, etc. My resume section contains details of my education, courses, activities, work experience, community service and skills.
So feel free to browse around. Please let me know if you have any questions or comments.
www.ameliadenson.com
PR Open Mic
Posted onApril 30, 2008
Filed under The New Rules of Marketing & PR | Leave a Comment
I recently joined PR Open Mic, a new social network for public relations students, faculty and practitioners from around the world.
PR Open Mic was created by one of my famed professors, Robert French, of PR Blogs and Auburn Media.
This site allows public relations practitioners from around the world to converse and share information. This can include future internship and job searches, an important topic to any graduating senior.
I am so excited to have this opportunity to join a social network geared toward my field. I hope it can lead to many internship and job offers; wishful thinking on my part.
An Ode to Auburn
Posted onApril 16, 2008
Filed under Auburn and tagged Auburn University, Graduation | Leave a Comment
After 4 years as a student at Auburn University, my college career is dwindling down. I have less than a month left on the loveliest village on the plains. So as a tribute to my final days here, I would love to show you some of the things that make Auburn so lovely.
Samford Bell Tower
I have been one of the lucky few that has climbed the historic stairs to the top of Samford Hall. Can I just say favorite Auburn moment ever?
Personal Branding
Posted onApril 8, 2008
Filed under Politics, Public Relations and tagged Barack Obama, Font, Gotham | 1 Comment
Ever since I learned how to use a computer in Elementary school, I have had a fascination with fonts. I love downloading new fonts to use on projects. It makes school work easier if I am using a fun font. Some of my current favorites include AS Black Swan, Libby Script and Calibri. So when I read “To The Letter Born” by Steven Heller from the New York Times, it made me giddy.
This article talks about the use of the sans-serif font, Gotham. Gotham was developed by a native New Yorker, Tobias Frere-Jones, at Hoefler Type Foundry in 2000. It was supposedly inspired by the city of New York. Gotham has been featured in several buildings including the New York City’s Port Authority Bus Terminal and the Freedom Tower cornerstone at the World Trade Center site.
Yahoo Shines a New Light
Posted onMarch 31, 2008
Filed under Public Relations and tagged Website, Women, Yahoo | Leave a Comment
Today Yahoo launched a new Web site aimed at women ages 25 through 52. Shine has 10 different categories ranging from Fashion and Beauty, Entertainment, Work and Money, Food and Parenting.
Yahoo takes Shine to the next step by promoting user interaction. They do this by incorporating user blogs, article comments and daily polls.
In addition to using content from other Yahoo’s sites, Shine will supplement material from partnerships with media companies such as Good Housekeeping, Cosmopolitan and Women’s Health.
PR Stunt or …?
Posted onMarch 2, 2008
Filed under Public Relations and tagged Afghanistan, Prince Harry, Public Relations | 1 Comment
Prince Harry, 23, has been called back to England after the media leaked out information surrounding his deployment in Afghanistan.
The news first leaked in January from the Australia’s New Idea magazine and German 
publication, Bild. However, the news did not become main stream until it appeared on The Drudge Report.
Harry, third in the line to the British throne, has been deployed in Afghanistan since late December. He is a second lieutenant in the Household cavalry.
Taking Social Media to the Next Level
Posted onFebruary 24, 2008
Filed under Politics, Social Media and tagged Politics, Presidential Election, Social Media | Leave a Comment
With 253 days left until the November 4th presidential elections, I wonder how the candidates are embracing social media.
Each presidential contender has a section for blogs on their Web site. These blogs post updates, pictures and videos daily.
Here is a look into a few candidates blogs:
Tweet Tweet
Posted onFebruary 18, 2008
Filed under Education, Public Relations, Social Media, Twitter and tagged Public Relations, Social Media, Twitter | Leave a Comment
For the past few days my Style & Design class with Robert French has embarked on 48 hours of Twitter. A part of this 48 hours includes following public relations practitioners and converse with them.
At first, I was skeptical about using this new form of social media. For the past year my use of social media has been limited to blogs, video blogs and podcasts. My professor mentioned Twitter a few times in class, but nothing came from it. Read more
What’s Next?
Posted onFebruary 11, 2008
Filed under Education, Public Relations, Social Media and tagged College, Emergencies, Facebook, Twitter | Leave a Comment
During tragic events such as September 11 and the Virginia Tech shootings, many people used text messaging to inform love ones that they were safe, since phone lines were tied up. In the wake of these events, several universities have reassessed their campus safety plan.
Along with several universities such as the University of Florida and the University of Georgia, Auburn University has implemented an emergency communication system. Known as AU Alert, this mass notification system allows students, faculty and staff to receive emergency messages through e-mail, voice and text messages. Anyone will an Auburn University email address can receive these messages. Read more
Pyramids, Cathedrals, Temples Oh My
Posted onFebruary 6, 2008
Filed under Study Abroad | Leave a Comment
Auburn University senior, Katie Hume, is traveling this summer with the McWhorter School of Building Science International Study Abroad Program.The study abroad program travels to Egypt, Greece, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, France and England. There they will study alternative construction methods, management systems and the history of old buildings.
The groups of students meet twice a week for 1 hour to learn about the places they will travel to this summer. They are also divided into different committees. Hume is a member of the culture committee and is responsible for researching places, festivals and various culture activities.
This program also allows BSCI seniors to work on their special thesis.
For more information about the BSCI study abroad program please visit their website.
Target Undermines the Blogsphere
Posted onFebruary 6, 2008
Filed under Public Relations, Social Media | Leave a Comment
Retail giant Target has recently dismissed the influence of bloggers.
In early January, Amy Jussel, founder of ShapingYouth.org, contacted Target about a new advertising campaign. This advertisement shows a woman spread across Target’
s bull’s-eye. Jussel found this image demeaning to women.
Target responded by saying, “Thank you for contacting Target; unfortunately we are unable to respond to your inquiry because Target does not participate with nontraditional media outlets. This practice is in place to allow us to focus on publications that reach out core guest.”
Amy Von Walter, senior manager of communications, agreed to speak with The New York Times about the situation. She said, “We are reviewing the policy and may adjust it.”
The New York Times was not the only media that caught wind of this situation. PR Week ran a follow-up article on January 31. Von Walter said Target’s policy was, “due to the limited number of resource we’ve had previous…We recognize that blogs are increasing in number.”
Being a successful public relations practitioner means that one must be aware of opinion leaders. Target has failed to recognize the influence power of bloggers. If they were not opinion leaders, do you think The New York Times or PR Week would have written about it? I doubt it.
Gobbledygook?
Posted onNovember 15, 2007
Filed under David Meerman Scott, Public Relations, The New Rules of Marketing & PR | Leave a Comment
David Meerman Scott emphasizes the importance of writing well for buyers in Chapter 12 of his book “The New Tools of Marketing & PR.”
Too often technology companies use the same words repeatedly or as Scott phrases it “gobbledygook.” Examples of these words include leading, solutions, unparalleled, groundbreaking, industry-standard and cutting-edge.
Instead of using these phrases, try to write for a specific buyer persona. If you are able to remove your organization’s name and can replace it with a competitors, try again. You failed at writing well. Read more
English Tea Paperie
Posted onNovember 8, 2007
Filed under David Meerman Scott, Public Relations, The New Rules of Marketing & PR | Leave a Comment
In Chapter 11, “Online Thought Leadership to Brand Your Organization as a Trusted Resource,” from David Meerman Scott’s book “The New Rules of Marketing & PR” focuses on thought leadership. Thought leadership is described as creating a solution to your buyer personas without mentioning your company or products.
An example of thought leadership is English Tea Paperie. This small company run by Chloe Minyon customizes in handmade paper products, custom design and illustration services. As with being a southern lady, I love anything dealing with customized stationery. Read more
Go Veg
Posted onNovember 2, 2007
Filed under David Meerman Scott, The New Rules of Marketing & PR and tagged content, PETA, vegetarian | Leave a Comment
Adding content is an easy way for organization’s to improve their website. Too often Webmasters focus too much attention and energy on a sites style and design.
David Meerman Scott adds, “The best Web sites focus primarily on content to pull together their various buyers, markets, media, and products in one comprehensive place.”
Having been a vegetarian for ten years, I am always on the lookout for healthy meat-free recipes. 
One website that I just recently started visiting is GoVeg.com. GoVeg is created and maintained by PETA, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Read more
And I Thought Viral Was A Disease
Posted onOctober 24, 2007
Filed under David Meerman Scott, Public Relations, The New Rules of Marketing & PR and tagged Colbie Caillat, Myspace, Viral | Leave a Comment
Colbie Caillat, 22, is a California songwriter known for her hit-song Bubbly. Caillat grew up in Malibu listening to the tunes of Fleetwood Mac. Partly because her father, Ken Caillat, co-produced Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours and Tusk albums.
Lauryn Hill of the Fugees inspired Caillat to sing after she heard their version of Killing Me Softly at age 11. At 18, Caillat picked up the acoustic guitar and wrote her first song.
Caillat first put a few songs on the social networking site, Myspace, in February 2005. According to her Myspace profile she said, “Nothing much happened for a few months. Then I wrote this song called Bubbly and put it up there and it got this huge reaction. I mean thousands and thousands of hits every day.” Read more
What Are They Saying About You?
Posted onOctober 18, 2007
Filed under David Meerman Scott, Public Relations, The New Rules of Marketing & PR and tagged Facebook, Google | Leave a Comment
David Meerman Scott stresses the importance using the Web to detect what others are saying about your company in Chapter 7. You can do this by visiting Blogs, message boards, chat rooms and forums related to your industry.
I have a confession I would not like to admit. I have been known to Google myself. However most of the time nothing about the real me comes up. 
I Google myself for two reasons; for curiosity sake and to check what is being said about me on the Web. I am a highly curious person. I have even been known to ruin a few good surprises. Since I am about to enter the workforce after college, I need to know what is on the Web about me. Read more
From Blogs to Podcasts
Posted onOctober 10, 2007
Filed under David Meerman Scott, Public Relations, The New Rules of Marketing & PR and tagged Harry Potter, Podcast, Public Relations, Skype | Leave a Comment
In Chapter 6, Audio Content Delivery through Podcasting, of David Meerman Scotts book, The New Rules of Marketing & PR, introduces us to podcasts.
According to Scott, a podcast is audio content connected to an RSS feed. The word podcast originated from a mixture of the words iPod and broadcast. It is designed to be listened to online, through your computer or with your MP3 and CD player.
In addition to educating me about blogs, Harry Potter has also introduced me to podcasts. This past summer with all the Harry Potter hoopla, I subscribed to MuggleNet’s MuggleCast to hear the latest news. Read more
Celebrities, Potter and PR
Posted onSeptember 27, 2007
Filed under David Meerman Scott, Public Relations, The New Rules of Marketing & PR and tagged Blogs, Harry Potter, MuggleNet | Leave a Comment
Learning about the different aspects of blogs can be daunting at times. It seems like there is so much to learn and not enough time. I am a senior in college and I have just started to learn about blogs. I feel that I am already behind this new wave of technology. 
I began my education on blogs about a year ago. I first started reading blogs to keep informed on all the latest celebrity gossip, via Perez Hilton. Then I got into a different kind of blogs, fan blogs. This past summer, I constantly checked on my favorite blog, MuggleNet.
MuggleNet is a website/blog dedicated to all things Harry Potter. With the release of the seventh and final book, I checked MuggleNet about three times a day. I read theories surrounding the seventh book and when the next DVD will be release. Since none of my friends are into Harry Potter, it was nice to connect to other Potter heads. Read more
Farming in PR?
Posted onSeptember 15, 2007
Filed under David Meerman Scott, Public Relations, The New Rules of Marketing & PR and tagged Auburn, Bloggers | Leave a Comment
In Chapter 3 of “The New Rules of Marketing & PR” by David Meerman Scott we learn the success of the Eisenberg brothers. Jeffrey with his brother, Bryan, pushed “Waiting 
for Your Cat to Bark?: Persuading Customers When They Ignore Marketing” up the Wall Street Journal Bestseller list through inventive ways.
They began their campaign by writing on their blog, Future Now, about the upcoming release. The brothers sent out hundreds of advance-reading copies to bloggers across the Web. To further the advance interest in the book, they posted news releases through PRWeb every business day. Read more
Untraditional Sources
Posted onSeptember 12, 2007
Filed under David Meerman Scott, Public Relations, The New Rules of Marketing & PR and tagged Public Relations, Social Media | Leave a Comment
New releases. One word that screams boring and unoriginal. If being a public relations practitioner means writing news releases all day long, count me out. I did not choose this major to sit behind a desk all day long writing. I wanted a major that would take me out of the 9-to-5 bracket and use my skills outside the office.
Chapter 2 of David Meerman Scott’s book, “The New Rules of Marketing & PR”, focuses on the changes affecting marketing and public relations industries. These changes range from the collaborations of marketing and public relations, to the emphasis on the Web as a main media tool. Instead of issuing new releases on big news affecting the company, Scott points out that we need to write releases that show the organization’s expert ideas and stories. Read more