Week 4 – Chapter 4: Is the customer always right?

Week 4 – Chapter 4: Is the customer always right?

Brilliant! This QuickBreak discusses bizarre requests on the behalf of customers. After giving a few examples of completely ludicrous requests by one, Ted L. Nancy, this article shares the fact that companies who retain just 5 percent more of their current customers a year can expect to see between 25 and 100 percent more profits. I always wondered why, besides good manners, a manager of a restaurant for example, would go out of their way to appease a horribly rude old man. Fact is, if you make that man happy, he can turn into your next repeat customer who comes in for that most expensive steak every Sunday afternoon at 3pm, like clockwork.

Week 3 – Chapter 3: Red Cross

Week 3 – Chapter 3: Red Cross

The American Red Cross was charged with raising blood donations after the September 11^th attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon. Donations flowed in with amounts never seen before by the American Red Cross, so much so that there was in fact too much blood for the organization to handle. The Red Cross had the unfortunate task of telling the American people that approximately twenty percent of their donations were wasted and thrown away. Red Cross President at the time, Bernadine Healy however sparked of a furious debate after forming a Liberty Fund which raised $547 million—none of which went to Red Cross chapters across America as normal donations usually do. The positive provider image of the Red Cross was brought into question. Through the implementation and use of a new programs called Donor DIRECT and Donor Intent Recognition programs, faith in the Red Cross was restored. In times of tragedy, even good ideas and seemingly harmless actions can lead to outrage due to sensitivity swelling in people at the time. Being super aware of your surroundings and action is needed in situations like these, as is shown by this case study.

Week 2 – Friendly Interviews

Week 2 – Friendly Interviews

Starting with Chris, He stated that public relations to him is about making things seem better than they are to people outside any given company. He listed “anyone on the corporate level of any company” as having a high-profile PR job. He said that anyone who is on that level must have good communications skills, thus they are in a PR job of high caliber. After sharing the textbook definition with him, he blinked, and said that he believes that is just what it is—a “textbook” definition. “PR is more about smoothing the edges out and schmoozing.”

Next, I interviewed a person from another one of my (non-journalism) classes, Sara. She said that being Public Relations is about communicating ideas to people who normally wouldn’t have any insight on a certain topic. She immediately named the White House Press Secretary as a PR person of high-profile. “The White House is the best example of where Public Relations is needed,” she said. After telling her the textbook definition, she agreed saying “that’s what I meant, only using better words.”

Finally, I interviewed my mother. She said that public relations was about having a figurehead to communicate to the masses about what is going on within a certain organization. She named any President of the United States, as a high-profile PR professional. Upon telling her the textbook definition, she said that the definition equates perfectly to any President of the US. “Think about it, the President must manage the communication between his country and others at any given time in order to ensure success for his country… and his presidency.”

Week 1 - Definition of PR

Week 1 – Definition of PR

Upon entering this class, I knew that Public Relations was much about how the public at large views any specific company, person, or organization, but I did not have a solid textbook-style definition. Luckily, that’s what textbooks are for. Ours defines public relations as “The management of relationships between an organization and the publics that affect its success. The term to describe the emerging profession was first used in 1923 by Edward L. Bernays in Crystallizing Public Opinion.” Upon further research, I found Bernays quoted as saying “Public Relations is a management function which tabulates public attitudes, defines the policies, procedures and interest of an organization by executing a program of action to earn public understanding and acceptance.”

To me, public relations is relating to the public in an ethical and positive way that gains a certain entity success with those whom they are working with.

I am looking forward to learning more in this class. Public relations is extremely interesting.