PR vs. Advertising

Public relations and advertising share similar aspects in certain regards and many differences in others.  Advertising tends to focus on the promotion of a certain product that a company is trying to push.  For example, the car company Ford wants to push the new model of an F-150 so they will hire an advertising team to design a campaign.  Some public relations practitioners are asked to do advertising as well.  The public relations department at Wesley Medical Center is also responsible for pushing the Tiny Toes program to mothers who have recently had a child at Wesley.

Public relations tends to perform a much broader ranger of tasks compared to advertising.  Public relations professionals who work for firms are hired to represent the interests of their clients.  Much of the work revolves around maintaining the image of a company or containing a crisis that occurs.  For example, AIG was caught spending bailout money on lavish vacations during the Great Recession and then hired a PR firm to reverse their image.

Broadcast vs. Print

Writing for print and broadcast have differences and similarities that are geared towards the mediums that project the message.  Both are similar in the fact that must be simplified and to the point in order for the message to be accessible by anyone who wants to read it.  Writing for print allows for more detail and background information because there is more space to write an article.  However, focusing on facts is the primary objective rather than opinions.  Broadcast tends to be much more simplified because the script is intended to be spoken.  The wording must clear and concise which allows for the broadcaster to read it easily and the listener to understand it.

I prefer writing print because it allows more freedom than broadcast.  I feel like writing for broadcast limits the personal touch writers can incorporate into their work.  Just because print allows for more information lets writers incorporate their style into the piece which makes the work more personal and enjoyable.

Current Event 4

Bill Cosby has recently made startling headlines in what appears to be a sexual assault case that stems back nearly 30 years ago.  The story broke the news after one female confessed that she had been assaulted by Cosby many years ago.  Since that confession has taken place 22 other women have come forward accusing Cosby of the same thing.  These stories are becoming fairly regular among celebrities in the 21st century.  Darren Sharper was similarly accused of drugging several women and assaulting them over a multi-year period.  Both Cosby and Sharper have been accused of putting drugs in women's.

The Cosby allegations come on the heels of domestic violence headlines that involve Ray Rice punching his wife in an elevator that left her unconscious for several minutes.  The growing theme of abuse against females is steadily drawing more attention especially towards professional athletes.  The NFL has set up a foundation that raises awareness for domestic violence in response to many of its player becoming involved such issues.

Current Event 3

As racial tensions rise amid the death of Michael Brown at the hands of a police officer a second death has occurred that has incensed the nation even more.  Eric Garner, a black man from New York City, was choked to death by a white police officer named Daniel Pantaelo for refusing to submit to arrest.  The incident began when police approached Garner on the side of the street for selling illegal cigarettes.  After a moment of conversation a police officer attempted to handcuff Garner but Garner refused.  Immediately, Pantaleo put Garner in a choke-hold from behind and would not let go even though Garner was stressing that he could not breathe.

Protests have begun to erupt in New York City as citizens have become increasingly frustrated at the police brutality that is seemingly racially motivated in cases such as these.  People are also beginning to question whether the justice system is treating police cases fairly when the evidence is stacked against law enforcement.  We have seen attempts to correct the situation as President Obama requested nearly $70 million for body cameras that law enforcement officials must wear when on the job.  Hopefully, more measures will be put in place to avoid issues like this entirely in the future.

Current Event 2

American football is the most popular sport in the United States by a wide margin.  It is also the most violent sport played in America which is a big part of the appeal.  Concussions have become the by-product of that appeal and it is becoming a major health risk for everyone who plays the sport.  Studies have shown that concussions can cause permanent brain damage and even death.

Recently, an Ohio State football player went missing and could not be found for several days.  His family had stated he had been suffering concussion-like symptoms such as headaches and nausea.  Days later his body was found near his apartment complex with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.  This story is shaping up to be the most recent incident in a long line of concussion-related tragedies.  The concern over the effects concussions are having on athletes has sparked debate as to what measures should be taken to protect the health of athletes.  The NFL is working to advance helmet technology that will reduce concussion rates.  Others argue the sport should not be played at all considering children are at risk.  Regardless, until a definitive solution is developed for concussion protocol the debate will carry on.

Current Event 1

One of the biggest stories of the year has been the issue of officer Darren Wilson shooting and killing Michael Brown, an unarmed teenager.  The most recent development in the case has been Wilson's acquittal which has sparked protests across the country.  The protests stem from the fact that Wilson is white and Brown was black which has made issue that much more divisive.  Ferguson, Missouri was the location of the incident and it saw heavy protests as people began to loot various businesses and set fire to structures in the area.

The death of Michael Brown has raised several questions about the suspicious circumstances surrounding the shooting and the process of our justice system.  Multiple eye-witnesses claimed Brown was unarmed and trying to surrender as Wilson shot him six times.  Wilson testified that he shot Brown in self-defense due to a skirmish that ensued after Brown was caught robbing a store.  The suspicion around the case has begun to question our justice system especially when police officers are put on trial.  Measures are already being put in place to avoid future incidents.  For example, police officers could start wearing body cameras whenever they are on duty.  This could be one of many preventative measures for the future.

Social Media

Social media is now one of the most primary ways for people to stay in touch with those in their professional and personal lives.  Over the years, it has been streamlined from one format to another leaving us with the most efficient method to date to stay in touch with these people and in touch with news and media outlets.  As of now, Twitter seems to be the most effective of all social media platforms simply because the content is so easy to digest and the user has complete control over what is presented on their news feed.  Facebook is the primary alternative to Twitter.  The purpose of Facebook is more socially-oriented than Twitter by allowing users to keep up with the lives of people they know around the globe.

I think Twitter benefits journalism more than any other social media platform.  Many people follow several different news sources on Twitter which forces those sources to report quick and accurate information.  The natural competition created through Twitter helps maintain the overall integrity of journalism.