Thursday, October 29, 2009

press release 4

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 31, 2009
Sexual Assault and Anti-Violence Information
Rachel Brighton, SAAVI Coordinator
Utah State University
9105 Old Main Hill
Logan, UT 84322-9105
435-797-1510
Hotline: 797-RAPE
Website: www.usu.edu/saavi

MEN IN HEELS TO RAISE AWARENESS ON SEXUAL ASSUALT
Walk-A-Mile in her shoes provides a way to discuss sexual and gender violence

LOGAN, UTAH- The men of Utah State University and Cache Valley will put their feet first on the line when they step out in high heels April 7 to help combat sexual assault.

In observation of national Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the Utah State University’s Sexual Assault and Anti-Violence Information (SAAVI) office will sponsor the sixth annual “Walk-a-Mile-in-Her-Shoes” awareness event and fundraiser.

“This is an opportunity for men on our campus and in our community to voice their opinions that sexual violence is not acceptable,” says Rachel Brighton, SAAVI coordinator. “These men are willing to walk one mile in high heels to prove it.”

During the Walk-a-Mile-in-Her-Shoes event, male students, faculty, staff and community members will walk a mile-long course around the USU campus in high heels as they take a stand against sexual violence and raise money to fund educational efforts at USU. The USU SAAVI office provides shoes for participants and “we do our best to accommodate all walkers comfortably,” said Brighton.

INSERT QUOTE HERE (waiting on an email)

Women also participate as “Blister Sisters,” helping with the check-in process, running event tables, and steadying wobbly men during their “blistering” walk around campus.
Walkers and Blister Sisters are encouraged to register online through the SAAVI website: http://www.usu.edu/saavi/events/walk_a_mile.cfm. Registration is available through the day of the event. As is tradition, an event T-shirt will be available for sale. Walkers who submit $10 in pledges, and Blister Sisters who volunteer for a minimum of one hour will receive the event T-shirt free (while supplies last).

Walkers may choose between four walking rounds at 10:20 a.m., 11:20 a.m., 12:20 p.m. or 1:20 p.m. Each round, which begins and ends on the Taggart Student Center Patio, takes approximately 20 minutes. Walkers may choose to walk more than one round.

Those with a competitive edge also can win prizes in categories such as most enthusiastic walker, most valuable walker (for the top fund-raiser). A trophy of a Jessica Simpson high heel shoe will be presented to the organization with the most male walkers.

Brighton says many perceive rape, sexual assault, and domestic violence as women’s issues, yet research indicates educational efforts aimed at men are powerful tools in violence prevention.

The USU Sexual Assault and Anti-Violence Information (SAAVI) Office was created to promote an atmosphere of sexual and physical safety for all female and male students, faculty, and staff at Utah State University. SAAVI works to accomplish this task through an environment of education, as well as sensitive, competent response to those who have experienced violence or hurtful relationships.

SAAVI provides crisis help (i.e., support; assistance obtaining medical, counseling, academic, and legal aid in the aftermath of sexual assault or dating/domestic violence; etc); education (e.g., presentations to groups, clubs, classes, etc); and awareness events (e.g., Red Zone Day, Domestic Violence Awareness Month activities,Walk-a-Mile-in-Her-Shoes, etc). SAAVI services are available to USUstudents, faculty, and staff ; both women and men; both primary survivors (those who experience violence) and secondary survivors (friends/loved ones of those who experience violence).

Media Contact:
Jessica Vasil
708-653-8181
jessica.vasil@aggiemail.usu.edu

Friday, October 23, 2009

press releases 2300

Reporters get so many press releases throughout the course of one day, it has become extremely important to make yours stand out. There are many different ways to do this, and different approaches will work for different reporters. In "Writing the Bulletproof Press Release," by Yvonne Buchanan, there are several tips that I found helpful.

There are the obvious ones such as making sure you send it to the correct reporter. If you send your press release about current events to the sports reporter, you can be sure it will be sent straight to the trash.

A good point that was made is to avoid 'hype.' This inculdes using words and phrases such as “revolutionary,” “best” and “leading-edge.” Unless these are backed up by unbiased third party statistics, leave them out. Even then, do you really need to use those words? Find a better way to make your point. If a reporter choses to write a story on your press release, you can be sure that it will not contain these words anyway. Alos, avoid technical terms the common reader will not understand. If the reporter needs a dictionary to understand what you are trying to say, it will probably just get deleted.

Another obvious, but sometimes overlooked point is to use inverted pyramid style. Journalists spend their entire careers using this style, and it is easy for them to read. Stick with it! Be brief and to the point, and don't use two pages when two paragraphs will do.

Non-Profit 2300

"Six Reasons to Give," by Martin Cohn is an article written about why a business should contribute to charitable works. Looking at it from a PR point of view, non-profit donations and involvement is always a great way to improve your image in the community. This is especially true for local businesses.

If you run a locally owned business, you may not have the funds for huge projects; however, you do have the advantage of getting the community behind you. Locally owned businesses are run soley by the community they are in, so the more respect the community has for you, the more likely they are to shop at your store.

The six reasons the article names are: it feels good, it's tradition, it boosts company morale, it's good for business, it's a sign of leadership, and it's good for the community. These are all valid points. I like the point of boosting company morale. When you as a business volunteer your time for a service project, it builds friendships and promotes teamwork. These are invaluable skills that co-workers use.

All company's should participate in some kind of non-profit effort, for a list of reasons, but from a strictly PR perspective, because it is good for business.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Final Media Pitch

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Charles McCollum
October 8, 2009
Herald Journal
PASSIVE INCOME HELPFUL IN BAD ECONOMY LOGAN, UTAH- Cache Valley Area Investors Association helps locals beat the recession

Mr. McCollum,

Passive income is money that doesn’t require any current thought, such as stock dividends and interest. Cache Valley Area Investors Association (CVAIA) teaches people how to increase their passive income. People should spend as much time as possible doing what makes them happy, and the less time they have to spend at work, the more time they have to do that. Passive income makes this possible.

The Herald Journal does a great job at catering their articles to the members of the Cache Valley community, and in these times of economic uncertainty, passive income can help these members make ends meet. An article on finances, in laymen’s terms, can help the everyday person take advantage of the opportunities available to them.

Doing what you love is easy, but making money from that can be a little more difficult. CVAIA offers such advice for free; they meet every other Thursday, and welcome everyone. More information concerning CVAIA can be found on their website cvaia.com .

By increasing passive income and lowering expenses, CVAIA focuses on how to invest time, assets, and experience in ways that help people become financially independent.

For more information, please don’t hesitate to contact me at Jessica.vasil@aggiemail.usu.edu .

Jessica Vasil
-end-

Monday, October 12, 2009

press release 4 draft

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 8, 2009
Sexual Assault and Anti-Violence Information
Rachel Brighton, SAAVI Coordinator
Utah State University
9105 Old Main Hill
Logan, UT 84322-9105
435-797-1510
Hotline: 797-RAPE
Website: www.usu.edu/saavi

MEN IN HEELS TO RAISE AWARENESS ON SEXUAL ASSUALT
Walk-A-Mile in her shoes provides an approachable way to discuss sexual and gender violence

LOGAN, UTAH- Break out the band aids for what’s sure to be an amusing and informative display of men in heels on April 7, 2010 in order to raise funds and awareness for a very serious issue.

In observation of national Sexual Assault Awareness Month, the University’s Sexual Assault and Anti-Violence Information (SAAVI) office sponsors the sixth annual “Walk-a-Mile-in-Her-Shoes” awareness event and fundraiser.

“This is an opportunity for men on our campus and in our community to voice their opinion that sexual violence is not acceptable to me and I am willing to walk one mile in high heels to prove it,” says Rachel Brighton, SAAVI coordinator.

During the Walk-a-Mile-in-Her-Shoes event, male students, faculty, staff and community members walk a mile-long course in high heels as they take a stand against sexual violence and raise money to fund educational efforts at USU. The USU SAAVI office provides shoes for participants and, according to Brighton, “does our best to accommodate all walkers comfortably.”

INSERT QUOTE HERE

Women may also participate as “Blister Sisters.” Blister Sisters help with the check-in process, run event tables, and steady male participants during their “blistering” walk around campus. Interested walkers and Blister Sisters may also help with event planning and preparation.
Walkers and Blister Sisters are encouraged to register online through the SAAVI website: http://www.usu.edu/saavi/events/walk_a_mile.cfm. Registration is available through the day of the event. As is tradition, an event T-shirt will be available for sale. Walkers who submit $10 in pledges, or Blister Sisters who volunteer for a minimum of one hour will receive the event T-shirt free (while supplies last).

Walkers choose between four walking rounds at 10:20 a.m., 11:20 a.m., 12:20 p.m. and 1:20 p.m. Each round, which begins and ends on the Taggart Student Center Patio, takes approximately 20 minutes. If interested, walkers may choose to walk more than one round.

Those with a competitive edge have the possibility of winning prizes. Some such categories include most enthusiastic walker, most valuable walker (for whatever individual that raises the most funds), and a trophy of a Jessica Simpson heel will be presented to the organization that has the most male walkers.

Brighton says many perceive rape, sexual assault, and domestic violence as women’s issues, yet research indicates educational efforts aimed at men are powerful tools in violence prevention.

INSERT BIOLER PLATE HERE

Media Contact:
Jessica Vasil
708-653-8181
jessica.vasil@aggiemail.usu.edu

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Draft Media Pitch

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Charles McCollum October 8, 2009
Herald Journal PASSIVE INCOME HELPFUL IN BAD ECONOMY LOGAN, UTAH- Cache Valley Area Investors Association helps locals beat the recession

Mr. McCollum,
Passive income is money that doesn’t require any current thought, such as stock dividends and interest. Cache Valley Area Investors Association (CVAIA) teaches people how to increase their passive income. People should spend as much time as possible doing what makes them happy, and the less time they have to spend at work, the more time they have to do that. Passive income makes this possible.


The Herald Journal does a great job at catering their articles to the members of the Cache Valley community, and in these times of economic uncertainty, passive income can help these members make ends meet. An article on finances, in laymen’s terms, can help the everyday person take advantage of the opportunities available to them.

Doing what you love is easy, but making money from that can be a little more difficult. CVAIA offers such advice for free; they meet every other Thursday, and welcome everyone. More information concerning CVAIA can be found on their website cvaia.com .

By increasing passive income and lowering expenses, CVAIA focuses on how to invest time, assets, and experience in ways that help people become financially independent.

For more information, please don’t hesitate to contact me at Jessica.vasil@aggiemail.usu.edu .

Jessica Vasil
-end-

2300 Glamour

As a society, we fill our media with unrealistically skinny women. In the most recent copy of Glamour, Lizzie Miller, a 20-year-old model poses in nothing but a g-string. At 180 pounds and a size 14, she is classified as a plus sized model even though that is the size of the average American woman.

A blog by editor-in-chief Cindi Leive recognized the frenzy that from readers who “started to flood her inbox” the day the article was published. On top of that, there are more than 1,000 comments on that blog, and a Facebook group a man started because of his love of the picture. Miller has also appeared on NBC's Today following the issue's release.

Glamour has definately sat up and taken notice to this overwhelming response to a plus sized model. If I was the PR person for them, I would use this new angle for how they shape their upcoming issues. The average American woman is not a size zero, and we are sick of seeing nothing but that on newsstands.

Using more realistic models for everything from advertisments to issues to features is a great PR move. Another aspect is to not use the fact that they are a 'plus sized model' as the topic for the article. Use typical everyday women who do great things for your articles, regardless of their weight.

Although it is doubtful that the way we view media women will change soon, this is exactly the type of images that will change our media over time. Congratulations Glamour, on being part of the movement.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

2300 YouTube- Awareness?

YouTube, along with other forms of social media, is quickly becoming a source of advertising. Many PR practitioners as well as advertisers are launching campaigns geared only for the Internet.
My generation is known for being digital savvy and an instant gratification type. Social media furthers this mentality, YouTube in particular.
YouTube provides an online community for sharing videos, thoughts, and concerns. PSA’s are often posted on YouTube that would otherwise not be seen by the American audience. One such example is the Britain PSA on the dangers of texting and driving which was seen as too graphic for American TV’s. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0LCmStIw9E)
If your target audience is younger individuals (under the age of 30), YouTube is a great way to reach them.
Some people, like Phillip DeFranco, have cult like followings of subscribers who watch his show the instant it is uploaded, and comment on everything. DeFranco takes the news and comments in a satirical way saying politically incorrect things (go to YouTube.com type in the Phillip DeFranco Show).
DeFranco’s popularity has led him to do nation wide tours to meet his audience, and I can only imagine the money he makes from the ads on his page. He has 674,358 subscribers currently and 23,530,830 channel views.
While the common adult views YouTube solely as a means of uploading videos, there is a community beneath that that is very well connected with each other.

2300 YouTube-a Menace?

Three teenagers have been charged with first-degree murder in the death of a 16-year-old boy whose beating was captured on amateur video.Derrion Albert, an honor roll student at Fenger High, was beaten to death last week. His death was captured by a camera phone.Nineteen-year-old Silvanus Shannon, 16-year-old Eric Carson and 18-year-old Eugene Riley were charged as adults with first degree felony murder.
This video shows the ruthless teens beating Albert with punches, kicks, and rail road ties.
This brings up the question, is YouTube helping perpetuate the cycle of violence? When teenagers know that by filming violence and putting it online they will receive added attention from their peers, is this a good thing?
I personally know of this happening in my home town (which coincidently is Chicago). Everything from hallway fights that are quickly broken up to severe beating involving brass knuckles and hospital visits are posted on YouTube. The next day these attackers are well known and have almost a cult like following. Unfortunately, they are feared and in many ways respected.
Although YouTube reserves the right to take down a post at any time without notice due to a number of reasons (copyright, violence, etc), a quick search for ‘beatings’ shows a scary trend. The top two videos that come up are entitled ‘Rodney King’ and ‘Compilation of Gang Beatings.’
Today’s culture is so intertwined with the Internet and social media, and phones like the Blackberry with Internet connection, make it easy to upload videos shot straight from your phone and update Facebook and Twitter statuses. Word spreads like wildfire about the latest violence.
Is it possible to stop videos like this from being uploaded? Possibly. Tighter controls by YouTube could help this escalating problem; however, would it just transfer these videos to another outlet? Again, probably.
This leaves us with a bigger problem. The attitude of violence being cool among youths. The debate about this could and has gone on for years, and the answer lies in a combination of things: parental involvement being a large part of it. Would these teens be committing these acts of violence and putting them online for the world to see if they were held accountable by their parents?
I don’t claim to know the answers, only want to open up discussion. The Chicago Public School District needs much overhauling in many areas, but how can a child learn if they are afraid they could get killed walking home from school? How can we as a society use social media for a positive spin instead of a negative?

Monday, October 5, 2009

2300 PRSSA's website

I went onto PRSSA's website today and was surprisingly disappointed. Upon first glance the home page is overwhelming and has so much information and options it is confusing. There is so much small font sentences to go through, that unless you know exactly what you're looking for and are familiar with the website, you will be looking for a long time.

The taskbar at the top of the website has 14 options plus a search bar. I'm sure those could be reorganized and consoladated. There are five tabbed options on the main page: highlights, blogs, what's new, tactics and the strategist outline, and events. Under each tab there are bulletpoints with much text and multiple links. The links are obviously helpful, providing you with more information if you wish, but there seems to be an overload of information and in very small font.

Overall, the website seemed like it needed to be revamped. I expected much more from PRSSA. There is a great deal of information to be had, and they are experts; however, the smal text and information overload let the common user to be confused and frustrated.