Report: PR pros should not edit their client’s Wikipedia entries

http://www.prdaily.eu/PRDailyEU/Articles/12026.aspx

Have you noticed an error in your client’s or company’s Wikipedia entry?
Don’t dive in there and correct it yourself, according to new guidelines from the U.K.-based Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR).

“Public relations professionals should not directly edit Wikipedia under any circumstances where they have a conflict of interest and should instead suggest amendments for consideration by Wikipedia’s editors,” the CIPR said in a press release.

The recommendations come after several high-profile instances of PR firms or departments caught manipulating Wikipedia entries, most notably Bell Pottinger in the U.K.

“The main theme of the guidance is quite simple,” Jane Wilson, chief executive officer of the CIPR, said in a press release. “Where there is a clear conflict of interest created by the relationship between the public relations professional and the subject of the Wikipedia entry, such as a client or employer, they should not directly edit it.

“Such an activity would be unethical and lacking in transparency and therefore potentially against CIPR’s own guidance on digital communication and social media.”

[READ: Wikipedia: 4 rules of engagement for PR professionals]
Professional organizations from Europe, Canada, and Australia weighed in on the recommendations. The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) was noticeably absent from the list. Gerard Corbett, PRSA’s current chair and CEO, said the organization sat this one out because of “grey areas and contradictory language.”

“PRSA was given a chance to review and comment on the guidelines prior to their release, and we appreciated the courtesy and opportunity to contribute,” Corbett said in an email to PR Daily. “Ultimately, PRSA felt there were some grey areas and contradictory language that could be addressed, and we look forward to seeing those and other issues resolved in subsequent versions.”

Corbett added that he sees the CIPR’s guidelines as a start to helping PR professionals “understand the complexities of Wikipedia’s policies and procedures and the proper ways to manage edits and to engage the Wikipedia community.”

Source:http://www.5wpr.net/?p=6921

From Africa To Australia, Interesting Public Relations reading

In some interesting worldwide Public Relations stories, all over the world one can see the importance of PR growing:

From Nigeria, Africa, headline reads: “Nigeria: Relevance of Public Relations in Nigeria’s Crisis Management” – Even there, a crisis PR agency writes of the importance of public relations. Worthwhile reading – http://allafrica.com/stories/201208281084.html

From The Sydney Morning Herald, an op-ed on the value of public relations: http://www.smh.com.au/small-business/smallbiz-experts/blogs/ask-our-experts/make-pr-message-clear-and-relevant-20120827-24v8o.html

Non-profit work goes a long way – thus far, major brands haven’t dropped Lance Armstrong as a sponsor. It will be interesting to watch which way that develops over time. http://adage.com/article/news/anheuser-busch-oakley-nike-stick-lance-armstrong/236870

In age of Twitter and texting, workplace grammar slipping fast

As old rules of usage erode, employee grammar skills are getting worse, a recent survey says. Managers blame the informality of email, texting and Twitter, where slang and shortcuts prevail, The Wall Street Journal reports. This looseness with language can cause communication errors, ruin marketing materials and leave bad impressions with clients, managers say.

“Twenty-five years ago it was impossible to put your hands on something that hadn’t been professionally copyedited,” says Bryan A. Garner, author of the book “Garner’s Modern American Usage” and president of LawProse, a Dallas-based consulting firm. “Today, it is actually hard to put your hands on something that has been professionally copyedited.”
 
 In the survey from the Society for Human Resource Management and the AARP, most participants blamed younger workers for the decline in grammar skills. But Tamara Erickson, an author and consultant on generational issues, argues that 20- and 30-somethings who are accustomed to texting and social networking have simply “developed a new norm.” At RescueTime, a Seattle-based maker of personal-productivity software, sincerity clearly expressed in 140 characters or less is considered good communication. Says the company’s 38-year-old vice president Jason Grimes, “Those who can be sincere, and still text and Twitter and communicate on Facebook … are the ones who are going to succeed.”
 
 Source: http://www.5wpr.net/?p=6925

25 Most Overused Words and Phrases Redux: The Alternatives

Our recent list of the 25 most overused words and phrases in press releases inspired a lot of feedback along with requests for alternatives.

We put out a call to several PR pros for worthy alternatives, and they all reported that it’s difficult to replace one overused word or phrase with a better one without any knowledge of the product or service they would be describing.

Nevertheless, the original list of 25 and their alternatives regularly appear in copy—presumably in cases when the author is well-versed in the subject at hand.

Our advice: Try to restrict your use of all adjectives and focus on the specific benefits of a product or service. That will force you to cut down on the “exclusives” and “best of breeds.”

25 Overused Words and Phrases     25 Alternatives


Announced                   Reported
Authentic                     Certified, verified
Award-winning            Prestigious
Best of breed               Rated best in its class by____
Cross platform            Integrated, compatible, universal
Cutting edge                Progressive
Exciting                       Compelling
Exclusive                     Matchless
Groundbreaking        New technology, new value proposition
Impact                        Influence
Improved                    Enhanced
Innovative                  Progressive
Launched                   Unveiled
Leader/leading           Ranked number one by____
Leverage                    Apply
Next generation        Updated, revised
New                           Fresh
Proactive                   Forward-looking
Proud to announce     Released
Revolutionary            Streamlined, more effective, more efficient
Solution                     Result
State of the art          Modern
Unprecedented         Unparalleled
Up and coming         On the rise, one to watch
Unique                     Distinct


Source: http://www.5wpr.net/?p=7172

5WPR- One Of The Best Available Options For PR Services!

Ranked as the 24th biggest Public Relations Company in the Unites States, 5WPR continues to set new standards every year. Founded by Ronn Torossian in 2003, the company started working with just two employees. But with consistent hard work, in no time the company grew and grew; and gradually became what it is today- a leading PR firm.

Some of the things that fueled their success were their professionalism, dedication and their working style. Today, being named as one of the best PR companies of America, they still managed to sustain these characteristics.

In the year 2005, CEO/founder of 5wpr Ronn Torossian, decided to set up an office in Los Angeles that gave a boost to the company’s business. Their client list grew so much more and so did their popularity. This continued, till they gradually became what they are today!

5WPR-One Word Solution For All Your PR Issues

Known for its unique PR services, 5WPR remains as one of the best PR companies in the United States. Since its establishment in 2003, it became very successful for its unique style of work and unparalleled quality.

Named as one of the fastest growing PR firm’s in the USA, 5WPR continues to set winning benchmarks year after year. Not only have they delivered positive results for its clients; but they have beaten everyone else at it. Although this has been one of the deciding factors for the company’s success, but the fact it is being managed by a PR genius like Mr. Ronn Torossian has made it the more successful.

The company offers solutions to the five W’s in public relations: who, what, where, when and why; and that is exactly what 5WPR does.

The Media Landscape Is Changing—So Should Your Press Kits

From dwindling newsroom budgets to the emergence of digital journalism, the media landscape is rapidly evolving, and so must press kits. As reporters are tasked with more responsibilities and online media becomes commonplace, all PR practitioners need to move beyond the traditional two-pocket, paper folder. I’ve practiced media relations for nearly 20 years, and have learned that if you want maximum media exposure, you need to make covering your story as easy as possible. Whether you’re preparing for a major policy conference or an arts festival, these three tips will help you transform your press kits from outdated to accessible.

                  1.Move beyond the folder: Many of us got our start in PR stuffing endless amounts of press materials into folders, and then lugging them to an event. The good news: This is not necessary anymore. Consider storing your press materials electronically on a flash drive, preferably one branded with your organization’s logo and Web address. The digital press kit allows journalists to quickly copy and paste important facts straight to their computers, saving time and energy. They can also reuse the flash drives, which serve as a reminder of your organization if you opt to brand them.

                 2.Rethink what to include in your kits: There are traditional items that should be included in press kits, such as releases, fact sheets and contact information. But think outside the box (or the folder in this case) and consider other items reporters might find useful, especially given the shift to online media. First though, you must take into account the type of news you’re publicizing and what reporters need to file their stories. My firm works with clients in both the arts and public affairs industries, so as you can imagine, reporters’ needs vary immensely.

I recently handled the publicity for a nationally renowned film festival, and we wanted to raise the bar with our press kits. One of our goals was to generate film reviews before the festival, so we included every film in its entirety in our digital press kits. We also provided high-resolution images, descriptions of each film and contact information for each filmmaker so reporters would have every tool necessary to file their story.

If you’re creating press kits for a policy-focused event, perhaps a political conference, you have to alter your strategy. Consider sharing policy papers, speaker bios and contact information, along with traditional press releases and fact sheets. Also think about logistical concerns. You might want to include wireless network names and passwords, the location of filing centers and maps with designated areas for press to sit or shoot a stand-up.

              1.Distribute your kits as soon as possible: If you’re handling the PR for an event, such as a conference or festival, you want press kits in the hands of reporters prior to the gathering—weeks in advance if possible. Journalists will do their own research leading up to an event, so it’s crucial they have your materials—and messaging—ahead of time. This isn’t to say you shouldn’t have press kits available at your event, but consider ways to distribute them in advance.

In my experience, hosting a press preview event pays off tremendously. I’ve hosted luncheons where reporters learned about a film festival, as well as gatherings where critics got a sneak peak of theatrical performances. While these preview events are inherently informative, they’re also the perfect opportunity to hand out press kits prior to the big event. If a reporter can’t make the preview, simply send a press kit to them in the mail or, if possible, drop it off in person.

Changing the way you create press kits is crucial to helping journalists as their roles shift and they take on additional responsibilities. But don’t completely eliminate the folder approach. Always keep some traditional press kits on hand. After all, the media landscape has changed, but that doesn’t mean every reporter has, and in the end, your job is to make his or her job easier.


Source From http://www.5wpr.net/?p=7169