Cultivating relationships in the blogosphere

ROI, the acronym for return on investment, is a commonly used term in marketing and advertising. Alina Popescu, author of Words of a Broken Mirror, adeptly applies ROI to the art of blogging in a must-read post, Investing in relationships always has excellent ROI.

Related: Blogging: The new public relations


Tags: Blogging, Blog, Relationships, ROI, Media by Sistrunk

Quote of the week

The creative is the place where no one else has ever been.
You have to leave the city of your comfort
and go into the wilderness of your intuition.
What you'll discover will be wonderful.
What you'll discover is yourself.

~ Alan Alda ~

Remembering Parade's James Brady

James Brady, the prolific journalist and author of PARADE's celebrity profile column "In Step With," died Monday at his Manhattan home. He was 80.

For more than 20 years, Brady provided a glimpse into the lives of some of the nation's most beloved celebrities and some up-and-comers who are relatively new to the national spotlight. His last PARADE column, featuring Kevin Bacon, will appear on February 15, 2009. More at Parade.com.

Tags: Journalism, Parade, James Brady, Media by Sistrunk

Marketing truth

Infomercials take prime time slots

Last Saturday night, I was in my usual multi-tasking mode. I responded to email while watching TV. When I looked up between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m., I became confused by what I saw and checked the time. I was looking at an infomercial, and it wasn't a cable channel.

I wondered if I were in another dimension. As it turns out, I was not. A New York Times story confirmed what I didn't want to believe - that infomercials have made their way into network prime time. It seems that the economy now influences what we see on television.


Tags: Advertising, Media, Media by Sistrunk

Why journalists write about their families

I'm intrigued about columnists who write frequently about their families, particularly their children. If I were a kid, I'm not sure I'd want my mother routinely chronicling my escapades.

Beth Harpaz, a writer for The Associated Press, explores this topic on Poynter Online. Here's an excerpt:

Attention, mommy bloggers, parenting columnists and other journalists who write about their families: There are psychological diagnoses for people like us.

"The issue from a psychologist's point of view is, why is the mother doing it?" said Dr. Carole Disenhof, a clinical psychologist in Beverly Hills. "What is she trying to resolve or work out? Are you boasting? Are you trying to repair the relationship? Are you trying to idealize your child? Or are you just trying to relate to other mothers?"

Disenhof said writing about your children could even be a sign of narcissism, or transference, in which you project feelings about someone from your past onto your child.

Does this psychology angle have merit? You decide after reading the Hartz's report.


Tags: Journalism, Writing, Psychology, Media by Sistrunk

President to keep BlackBerry

President Obama may become the first emailing president. His advisors and and the Secret Service have given him the green light to keep his BlackBerry.

Obama has waged a very public campaign to keep his device. Tradition has kept previous commanders-in-chief from emailing. White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters yesterday that a "compromise" will allow the President to use his BlackBerry to stay connected with senior staff and a few friends. He said it will allow Obama to avoid being stuck in a "bubble."

The president did have to give up one thing - his old email address. His new one , of course, is classified.


Tags: Barack Obama, BlackBerry, Technology, Politics, Media by Sistrunk

Blogging: The new public relations

Blogging is good for your career. A well-executed blog sets you apart as an expert in your field and can lead to a myriad of career opportunities.

Employers regularly Google prospective employees to learn more about them. Blogging gives you a way to control what employers see, because Google's system works in such a way that blogs that are heavily networked with others come up high in Google searches.

Online writing can help your career in several ways:

• Blogging increases your network. People take notice and want to know more about you.
• Blogging can get you a job. It gives you more visibility and allows you to put your best foot forward.
• Blogging can help you to move up quickly if you establish yourself as an expert on a specific topic. Posting regularly is important.
• Blogging makes self-employment easier. To make it on your own, you have to be good at selling yourself.
• Blogging could lead to your big break. This is especially true for visually creative types. I've come across some great cartoon, photography, and graphic art blogs. I also know some artistic types who write eloquently and punch up their posts with colorful design.
  
• Blogging can lead to new conversations with people you might not otherwise meet. Through the blogosphere, I have connected with intriguing people on several continents, including North America, Central America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. Each encounter leads to personal and/or professional growth. On our sites or offline, my blogging buddies and I quickly find common ground.

Good blogging requires commitment and hard work. The payoff, however, can be huge!



Tags: Blogging, Careers, Public Relations, PR, Business, Media by Sistrunk

Civil rights icon shines during inauguration

Without question, Barack Obama gave a memorable inaugural address. The inspiration continued with the benediction by the Rev. Joseph Lowery, the beloved civil rights leader known to speak his mind.

The 87-year-old is considered the dean of the civil rights movement, helping lead the Montgomery bus boycotts in the 1950s and delivering a list of demands to Alabama Gov. George Wallace during the bloody Selma-Montgomery March in 1965.

Lowery opened his benediction with the first words of the Negro National Anthem, Lift Every Voice and Sing:

God of our weary years,
God of our silent tears...

Lowery implored God to help Americans make "choices on the side of love, not hate, on the side of inclusion not exclusion, tolerance not intolerance."

He asked that Americans cling to the spirit of fellowship embodied at the inauguration. Lowery' ended his benediction with a rhyme familiar to black churchgoers:

We ask you to help us work for that day
When black will not be asked to get in back,
When brown can stick around,
When yellow will be mellow,
When the red man can get ahead, man,
And when white will embrace what is right.
That all those who do justice and love mercy say Amen.

The smiling crowd thundered in unison, "Amen!"

Text of Rev. Lowery's Inaugural Benediction

Tags: Lowery, Inauguration Benediction, Media by Sistrunk

A quiet changeover

Sometimes it's good to notice the little things. The official website of the White House, Whitehouse.gov, now reflects the change in power.

Quote of the week

Change will not come
if we wait for some other person
or some other time.
We are the ones we've been waiting for.
We are the change that we seek.
~ Barack Obama ~

Studying the new black leadership

Gwen Ifill on the rise of Obama and other African-American politicians

In her new book, journalist Gwen Ifill explores black political power in the post-civil rights era. Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama will be released on Inaugural Day.

The men and women identified by Ifill as "breakthrough politicians” are the children of the civil rights movement. Born in the 1960s and ’70s, they grew up in “a world shaped by access instead of denial.” They often come from middle-class families and attend elite universities. Business tends to be their vehicle into politics rather than social activism.

Ifill is the managing editor and moderator for “Washington Week” on PBS and senior correspondent for “The NewsHour With Jim Lehrer." In October, Breakthrough sparked some prepublication publicity and a flurry of angry blog posts, not because of its content but because Ifill was working on it when she was tapped to moderate one of the presidential debates. Now, to coincide with Tuesday’s inauguration, the work can be judged on what it says about the new generation of African-American politicians, which is breaking with the black leadership of the past. Read more.


Tags: Gwen Ifill, Politics, Books, Obama, Media by Sistrunk

King's words endure

Examining the "I Have a Dream" speech

If you like to study the spoken word, then you'll appreciate a Voice of America piece that looks at the musical qualities and rhetorical techniques of Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech.

Ted Landphair writes: "That address is ranked by many historians as among the greatest orations - and most profound literature - in American history, alongside President Lincoln's Gettysburg Address during the American Civil War, Franklin Roosevelt's "Nothing to fear but fear itself" speech during the Great Depression, and John F. Kennedy's "Ask what you can do for your country" inaugural address. Teachers and students everywhere dissect its language, cadence and rhetorical techniques."

King delivered much of his historic address extemporaneously. In some ways, Landphair adds, "King's techniques recall those of jazz musicians." Read more.


Tags: Martin Luther King, I Have a Dream, Communication, Media by Sistrunk

History Channel features 'King'

Show explores civil rights leader's life and legacy

On Sunday evening, I watched a well produced documentary on Martin Luther King Jr. King, hosted by Tom Brokaw, brings to life the historic story of King and displays the leader's remarkable journey for civil rights. It also explores King, the man.

The two-hour special repeats on Monday (January 19) at 10 a.m. EST and 4 p.m. EST. Of course, there's plenty of vintage footage that chronicles King's life. King comes alive, however, in the first-person accounts provided by a number of people who knew King - family members, those who worked with him, and those who supported the civil rights movement. I highly recommend this gripping show.

Also, check out the History Channel on the Web for a wealth of resources on King, including videos. Just visit History.com.


Tags: Martin Luther King, Civil Rights, History, Media by Sistrunk

A man without borders

Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

This year marks the 23rd anniversary of the federal Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, first observed on January 20, 1986. Were he alive today (January 15), King would have celebrated his 80th birthday.

Today millions of Americans are remembering the civil rights leader and human rights advocate. The long holiday weekend approaches, and the U.S. takes center stage as the world prepares to welcome a new American president.

King was a husband, a father, and a preacher. He was also the preeminent leader of a movement that continues to transform America and the world. One of the twentieth century's most influential men, he lived an extraordinary life.

To truly understand King, this writer believes that one should read his writings. Scholars and casual researchers can now gain access to these important jewels of history. Yesterday, for the first time, a major portion of King’s papers went public.

Computer access to the documents, which have been digitized and cataloged, are available at the Robert W. Woodruff Library of the Atlanta University Center. Click here to gain access the collection.

The papers represent more than 75 percent of a 10,000-item collection bought by a group of civic and business leaders in 2006 from King’s family. Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin and former Mayor Andrew Young spearheaded the effort to raise $32 million for the purchase.

King scholar Clayborne Carson, founding director of the Martin Luther King Jr. Research and Education Institute at Stanford University, has been named executive director of the papers and distinguished professor at Morehouse College. Morehouse, King’s undergraduate alma mater, is custodian of the collection.

The documents include many of King’s speeches and personal writings from 1946 to 1968.

Journalists, historians, legislators and community leaders continue to examine whether King's appeal for peace with justice is as relevant today as it was when he was alive. A couple of years ago, an editorial in the Houston Chronicle attempted to place King's philosophy into present-day perspective. Here is an excerpt from the piece:

Although he rose to national prominence fighting racial segregation in the South, many of the issues roiling the United States 38 years after his assassination would be very familiar to Martin Luther King Jr.

Before his death, the Baptist minister had denounced America's involvement in the Vietnam War, a daring stance that fueled the growing opposition to the carnage in Southeast Asia. He was bitterly criticized in the media and by government officials for venturing beyond the sphere of civil rights, as if that were the only area in which he was entitled to an opinion.

With the country now split by the bloody, open-ended struggle in Iraq and by the mistaken justification for going to war, it's not hard to predict where King would stand on the matter.

Americans debate the revelation that their government is conducting warrantless surveillance of Americans inside the United States. King had plenty of experience on that score. He was relentlessly wiretapped and trailed by the FBI. Then FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover was convinced that King was a communist sympathizer.

Just as he stood with refuse workers in Memphis in the last days before an assassin's bullet struck him down, King would championed the dispossessed evacuees of Hurricane Katrina, potent symbols of a race-based economic underclass that persists as a legacy of slavery and discrimination. The New Orleans nightmare that Katrina exposed indicates that the vision King enunciated in his "I Have a Dream" speech is not yet realized.

Like his role model for nonviolent protest, Mohandas K. Gandhi, King grew to be a world figure by embracing universal humanitarian concerns that surmounted ethnicity and religion. As he once said, "Evil is not driven out, but crowded out ... through the expulsive power of something good."

That's why the celebration of his life today cannot be limited to a single community or issue. African-Americans are justly proud that he rose from their ranks, but his life is significant to all Americans.

It's been nearly four decades since King's death in 1968. For years, many scholars have suggested that King faced the same fate that has befallen many a historical figure - being frozen in a moment in time that ignores the full complexity of the man and his message.

On January 20, Barack Obama takes over as the country's chief executive officer. With this historic presidency comes the "thawing" the King legacy.

The brilliance of King's message is being celebrated worldwide. This leader of civil and human rights demonstrated that he was, indeed, "a man without borders."

The dream is no longer deferred. Change is here to stay.

Video: King's entire "I Have a Dream" speech

Tags: Martin Luther King, King Holiday, Civil Rights, Human Rights, Media by Sistrunk

Obama wants to hear from you - online

President-elect continues to engage public via technology

People wanting a chance to help shape policy are invited to submit their ideas online. President-elect Barack Obama's transition team shot an email to constituents to introduce the idea portal.

The public's thoughts and ideas will be will be compiled into a Citizen's Briefing Book and delivered to Obama once he takes office Jan. 20. An explanation about the briefing book is posted on Change.gov.

"Your participation is key to our success," said transition and administration aide Valerie Jarrett said in an introductory video.

The online Citizen's Briefing Book feature includes tools that allow visitors to explore a variety of submissions, which they can rate and comment on, with ideas receiving the largest number of comments being included in final book that will be given to Obama.

Social networking continues to hold a place in the Obama administration. Potentially, Web tools could protect Obama from governing in a bubble. By keeping a direct line to public opinion - through discussion forums, blog comments, etc. - the new president could keep a good feel for the issues that most concern them, rather than relying on the media, opinion polls and other filters. A number of ideas are already posted on the site.

The site will be live until the Jan. 20 inauguration. After that, the highest-rated ideas will be prepared and presented to the president.

Tags: Barack Obama, Citizen's Briefing Book, Social Media, Technology, Media by Sistrunk

Singing their way to Washington

Internet hit nets inaugural invite
The feel-good story of the week comes out of Atlanta. A group of students at Ron Clark Academy thought they'd just be performing their song 'Dear Obama' at a news conference this week. But after finishing the song, the kids got a big surprise.

They will perform their new song during at least four inaugural balls next Tuesday. At one of the events, these talented youngsters will share the stage with Atlanta pop singer Usher and R&B legend Patti LaBelle.

The students wrote the new song as a follow-up to their YouTube hit You Can Vote However U Like, which landed the kids on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” CNN, and BET. The song was written to the tune of rapper T.I.’s megahit “Whatever You Like.”

Click on the links, and watch the videos. You'll smile.

Tags: Ron Clark Academy, Obama, Obama Song, Inaugural Day, Media by Sistrunk

NY doctor wants estranged wife to return kidney

'Custody' battle could be a first

A Long Island surgeon embroiled in a lengthy divorce proceeding wants his estranged wife to return the kidney he donated to her, although he says he'll settle for $1.5 million in compensation.

Dr. Richard Batista says he decided to go public with his demand for kidney compensation because he has grown frustrated with the negotiations with his estranged wife.

He claimed he has been prevented from seeing their children, ages, 8, 11 and 14, for months at a time.

Attorney specializing in matrimonial law and experts in medical ethics say Batista can forget about getting his kidney back.

Read the full story here.

Tags: Strange News, Media by Sistrunk

Will he say goodbye to his BlackBerry?

'Mr. President, please hand it over.'

President-elect Barack Obama is promising a fight to the finish - not over his economic plan, but to hang on to his BlackBerry. He is trying to avoid the fate of President George W. Bush, who gave up e-mail when he took power in 2001 because his lawyers determined any such electronic communications would have to be preserved for posterity as presidential documents. The Presidential Records Act puts his correspondence in the official record and ultimately up for public review, and the threat of subpoenas.

For years, like legions of other professionals, Obama has been all but addicted to his BlackBerry. The device has rarely been far from his side — on most days, it was fastened to his belt. For the incoming president, there are concerns that someone might hack into presidential electronic communications - just for the thrill of it or for more malicious reasons.

Obama has said that keeping in touch by e-mail was a way of escaping the trappings of power and staying in touch with regular people.

The chief executive of the U.S. may have plenty of perks and power. However, law dictates that he be deprived of some of the very tools that other chief executives depend on to survive and to thrive. Obama, however, seems intent on bring some technology into the Oval Office. He hopes to have a laptop computer on his desk. If that happens, he'll be first American president to do so.

During his campaign, he set some groundbreaking precedents with his strategic use technology. Obama made U.S. political history by placing the first presidential campaign ads in online video games. Also, last November, when the Obama broadcast the weekly Democratic radio address, it came with a twist. For the first time, it was also videotaped and will be archived on YouTube.

But back to his BlackBerry. At last report, Obama was holding on to it.

Tags: Barack Obama, BlackBerry, Technology, Politics, Media by Sistrunk

Photos captures Obama family's unguarded moments

Take a sneak peak at newly released pictures

Callie Shell of Time magazine is one of a handful of photographers who has had personal access to the Obama family. Shell covered Obama when his entourage was so small that everyone could fit in a sedan. She was out on the road in 2006 when it was just Obama and a driver — and her.

Shell's photos are now featured in a new book called President Obama: The Path to The White House. She recently spoke with National Public Radio's Michele Norris about her golden opportunities. For a look at a delightful slide show featuring images of the incoming First Family, check out NPR.org. Read more at Amazon.com.



Tags: Barack Obama, Callie Shell, Time, Photojournalism, Media by Sistrunk

When your kid won't add you as a friend

Parents get cold shoulder on Facebook

Children just don't understand - at least mine don't. They're not thrilled that Mom is on Facebook. They refuse to add me as their friend.

To add insult to injury, I've learned that Facebook has groups for kids like mine. The names suggest cartels: "For the love of God - don't let parents join Facebook" and "Don't let my parents on Facebook!!!" The first group boasts more than 6,200 members. The second group has nearly 3,300 members and counting. A search reveals even more anti-parent groups. Some have names in Spanish and French. It's depressing.

My kids have no intentions of adding Mom as a friend. I won't embarrass myself by begging or yelling. Nor will I offer bribes.

I am thrilled that my stepdaughter, whom I recently contacted via Facebook, responded with a warm message. This college student even sent me her cell phone number and invited me to call. She doesn't realize how much she made my day.

I'm able to get on her site, look at her photos, and see that she's made more than 600 friends. She's attending college in Washington, DC and is interning for a well-known political organization. I smiled as I looked at photos of my stepdaughter with politicians. She's a sociology and pre-law major. I think she's headed to law school.

Maybe my stepdaughter let me into her Facebook life because she doesn't live with me. Or perhaps she was being polite. The reason really doesn't matter. It's just nice to finally be accepted.


Tags: Facebook, Social Media, Media by Sistrunk

Happy New Year

Let this coming year be better than all the others.

Vow to do some of the things

you've always wanted to do but couldn't find the time.

Call up a forgotten friend.

Drop an old grudge,

and replace it with some pleasant memories.

Vow not to make a promise

you don't think you can keep.

Walk tall, and smile more.

You'll look ten years younger.

Don't be afraid to say, 'I love you'.

Say it again.

They are the sweetest words in the world.
- Ann Landers


Here's to new beginnings.
Happy New Year!

Tags: New Year, Holiday Greetings, Media by Sistrunk