Catherine Hamilton

Last week, Paula Goodspeed, a former American Idol contestant, committed suicide in her car parked down the street from Paula Abdul’s Los Angeles home. The mentally unstable 30-year-old, who was reported missing and suicidal, was found dead on Tuesday, holding Abdul‘s CDs and pictures.

Goodspeed, an obsessed Abdul fan, was mocked and rejected in her 2005 American Idol audition. After her performance, the judges ridiculed her singing and teased her for having braces.

Since this tragedy, the show has received a great deal of unwanted attention, as people blame the judges for Goodspeed’s suicide. Many argue that the judges, especially Simon Cowell, are too harsh when criticizing the contestants.

Bloggers and social media users all over the country have been speaking out about their thoughts on the situation. American Idol fan or not, many want to know what precautions are being taken to prevent this in the future.

As producers of the reality show have declined to comment on the death, Americans have become even more angered. What will happen to television’s No. 1 show? How are the judges going to handle people like Goodspeed in the future? Are the AI judges going to have to be NICE?

On Saturday, Meredith Gaston, the Auburn University Panhellenic President, was crowned Miss Homecoming 2008. For the week of November 3-7, the top 5 Miss Homecoming candidates campaigned around Auburn, promoting the importance of various issues on Auburn’s campus.

Gaston’s campaign, “eMEREgency”, highlighted the importance of safety on campus as well as the effectiveness of the AU Alert System.

“As a Miss Homecoming candidate, I am promoting the AU Alert System. This system was put in place last year by the University to inform the Auburn family of emergency situations and to enhance the feeling of safety on campus,” said Gaston in her platform.

After past events on Auburn’s campus, the AU Alert System has received a lot of attention, but Gaston feels that better participation could make the system even more effective.

“The AU Alert system has the potential to save lives but it is constantly in need of improvement. If a disaster ever strikes Auburn’s campus, AU Alert could make all the difference in saving lives, but without student use, it is not effective. I am encouraging students to sign up for AU Alert, but most importantly, I am asking them to voice their opinions about its use and effectiveness,” she continues.

After her victory, Gaston plans to encourage awareness of safety issues on campus and hopes to get every Auburn University students signed up for AU Alert.

With a struggling economy, now is a difficult time to be looking for jobs and internships. That’s why students and faculty in the Department of Communication and Journalism have created a new networking tool for Auburn PR students and alumni.

On Wednesday, November 5, 2008, the Auburn University PR program will officially launch this new social networking site, Auburn PR :: War Eagle!

The site, or WarEage.me, was created in the summer of 2008 by Alana Wells, Sherry Namburi, Miles Duncan, Brett Pohlman, Lindsay McCormick and Whitney West as part of a class project in their Auburn University PR Campaigns class.

This new opportunity allows Auburn PR students and alumni from the Department of Communication and Journalism to network, list job and internship opportunities, provide insight to help others in the Auburn PR community and build strong relationships with peers, teachers and alumni.

This private website requires members sign up and create a personal profile page. After creating a profile, members can add photos, videos, events, groups, blogs and notes about themselves.

Members may also invite other PR students, alumni and faculty to join this site. The goal for the site is to get as many as 800 past and present PR students involved, in the hopes of creating a large community for Auburn PR students to share ideas and advice.

While the site is still brand new, members are encouraged to offer feedback and suggestions to the creators of the site.

To become a member, or for more information about this new tool, please visit http://aucmjn.ning.com/.

In 1870, Kappa Alpha Theta was founded as the first Greek-letter fraternity for women. Today, the organization is known at universities all over the country for their strong traditions and values.

“Our purpose is to support members to learn, grow, and excel, and our core values are personal excellence, friendship/sisterhood, scholarship, service, and leadership,” according to the Kappa Alpha Theta vision statement.

In the spring of 2009, Kappa Alpha Theta will start a new tradition at Auburn by “recolonizing” the Gamma Omega chapter. The new foundation of this chapter will make Gamma Omega the 127th active college chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta and the 17th National Panhellenic sorority on campus at Auburn University.

Like any new organization, public relations efforts are very important in spreading the word about this new sorority chapter.

 “Starting a sorority first requires that Panhellenic invite us on campus. In this case, they have invited us to begin recruitment on Auburn’s campus in the spring semester. Starting on January 14^th, you’ll see us all over campus doing PR for Kappa Alpha Theta, trying to recruit new members for our charter class,” said Jaryn Jech, an Educational Leadership Consultant for Kappa Alpha Theta.

Jech is joined by two other Educational Leadership Consultants, Caroline Redmond and Mallory Lickey. Together, they are already working to promote this exciting new opportunity for Auburn women.

For the chapter’s first semester, the Education Leadership Consultants are focusing on public relations efforts to help increase membership. “We will have different tables set up all around campus, giving out t-shirts, buttons and information about Theta. You will also see posters, banners and billboards around campus,” said Jech.

The three alumnae recently visited Auburn’s campus, where they met with the presidents of the 16 existing sororities, asking for support and advice in founding their new chapter. During their visit, they were able to get additional ideas for public relations opportunities as well as recruitment efforts.  

Redmond explained, “Towards the end of January, following the PR efforts, we will start official recruitment. There will be info-sessions explaining the founding of Theta as well as the dues and time commitment that come with being a member. Following that will be the colonization kick-off event.”

Any women interested in being a charter member of this new organization are encouraged to attend the information sessions in the spring.

Lickey clarified, “Kappa Alpha Theta is looking for women of all ages, from freshmen to seniors. And we are looking for leaders who are excited about starting some new traditions as new members of a new organization.”

For more information, visit the Auburn Panhellenic Website or call the Greek Life Office at (334)-844-4600.

As soon as you walk into a public relations class at Auburn University, you immediately notice that it is predominantly female.  Many classes will have at least 20 females and only one male, if that. Is the concept of a male public relations practitioner starting to become as ironic as a male nurse?

Well, not exactly. But it sure seems to be heading that way. This lack of diversity is not only evident within the public relations classes at Auburn, but throughout the country as well.

Rochelle Ford, an associate professor of journalism and mass communication and an associate dean for research and academic affairs at Howard University, has also noticed this lack of diversity. Ford conducts research about diversity in advertising and public relations for a column in PRSA’s award winning magazine.

“There is a reality that men are a lot fewer in number than women in the public relations industry. If you look at PRSA’s (Pubic Relations Society of America) membership, about 70% are women and only about 30% are men,” she said.

Over the past few decades, the number of male PR practitioners has significantly declined and it is only projected to get worse.  “If you look at it on the student side, well, its even kind of scary,” Ford said.

Each year, fewer men are choosing to go into the field of public relations. Men are starting to be described as an “endangered species” in public relations. The most recent study of the PRSSA (Public Relations Students Society of America), showed that 90 percent of the members are female and only 10 percent are male.

But why is this happening? There are actually many predictions as to why this is happening.

In general, the field of public relations attracts more women than men. But it is this preconceived notion that a public relations occupation is “women’s job” that turns men away. Many men find it less attractive to enter into the field because it is already viewed as a female profession.

In addition, as men search for a career path, many men strive to obtain a job of power. Unfortunately, public relations practitioners are not seen as the most powerful people in the company, nor is it viewed as the most highly respected position in the company. This has caused the majority of men to completely steer clear of the profession.

While it might not be the most glorious position in the company, the reality is that public relations are a crucial part of any company. Every company must maintain good public and media relations in order to be successful.

This lack of diversity could actually be a bigger problem than it seems. Companies all over the country appeal to a variety of audiences. With a predominantly female view, doing that could be very difficult. Men and women have different views about companies and products and will react differently to communication and public relations efforts. Both views need to be taken into account in order for companies to be able to address the male and female populations.

For that reason, the PRSA is taking measures to recruit more men into the profession.

Thousands of Auburn students pile into Tiger Transit busses to catch a ride to and from class each day. Without doubt or hesitation, most students probably assume that the university has provided them with a continuously safe ride around campus. Think again.

Last Wednesday, 71-year-old John Batchelor of Loachapoka crashed his East Campus route bus while trying to avoid a cyclist. Batchelor, who was riding by himself, knocked over an aluminum fence and ran head-on into a tree on campus.

Many onlookers stared in disbelief as the driver was then taken to East Alabama Medical Center. He was released later that day, after being treated for minor injuries. Thankfully, no one was seriously injured, however, this is not the first Tiger Transit accident of its kind.

The university claims to enforce strict policies for drivers to ensure student safety, but I disagree.

In the police report, Batchelor admits that he “attempted to press the brakes but may have pushed the accelerator.”

May have pushed the accelerator? Are you kidding me? This guy should not be allowed to drive at all, let alone, be a Tiger Transit driver responsible for the safety of thousand of students. Nevertheless, Batchelor has already returned to work.

Besides my disappointment in Auburn’s judgment to allow his return, I am particularly frustrated in the university’s lack of communication with students regarding the situation.

I heard about the accident from a fellow student. I got the quick, gossipy version of the story and I wanted to learn more about it to figure out exactly what had happened.

I first went to the Auburn website, where I found nothing. I then decided to check out the official Tiger Transit website, thinking that they would provide the information I was looking for. Nothing. I even “Googled” it. Again, nothing.

I began to think that this whole thing was just a fabricated rumor. In my last attempt to figure out what had actually happened, I went to The Plainsman website. I became infuriated when found an article and pictures from the wreck on the home page.

When a story is placed on the home page of The Plainsman website, it is obviously an issue that Auburn students feel strongly about. Why didn’t the university communicate this issue to the students?

I am very disappointed that Auburn didn’t make a better effort to tell its students about issues that we care about. Instead, we have to rely on the students writing for the student newspaper to provide us with important information.

Since the opening of their first restaurant in 1946, Chick-fil-a has created an image unlike any other fast food chain. When Truett Cathy started the family-owned company many years ago, he realized the importance of establishing a restaurant identified for having outstanding customer relations.

Although most fast-food companies only attempt to quickly deliver food to their customers, Chick-fil-a goes beyond that. Chick-fil-a strives to be recognized for their superior customer service, good quality food, clean restaurants, and positive influence in the community.

Chick-fil-a is now the second largest quick-serve chicken restaurant chain in the country and they don’t plan on slowing down any time soon. Chick-fil-a is constantly adapting in order to provide their loyal customers with the meal choices that they desire as well as the highest quality food.

 “Regardless of our sales success, we must continue to upgrade our menu by looking for ways to stay ahead of our customers’ ever-changing appetites. Change in the quick-service industry is much like that of the fashion industry,” said Woody Faulk, Chick-fil-a vice president of brand development. “Customer needs are constantly fluctuating and we have to be intentional about staying ahead of and remaining relevant to those changes.”

 The company recently introduced a new menu. With the introduction of their biggest menu expansion ever, Chick-fil-a has already shown great success. As Americans become more and more obsessed with finding healthy alternatives to the foods that they love, restaurants now have the task of creating new menu items to accommodate the needs of their health-conscious customers.

Chick-fil-a has done just that. They have created an image of being the good quality and healthy choice among fast-food restaurants.

In addition to the food, the restaurant itself has a new look. They now serve this improved food in a more sophisticated environment, as part of an effort to enhance the customer experience. Chick-fil-a tries to make customers feel as if they are dining at a fine eatery, as opposed to a fast-food restaurant.

By creating a positive environment within the restaurant, the employees are even more willing and able to provide customers with outstanding customer service. Chick-fil-a prides themselves in their friendly and welcoming employees who enhance each customer’s experience.  

Chick-fil-a realizes the importance of customer relations and provides their customers with more than just healthy food and a good environment. Chick-fil-a is not only a successful restaurant, but a powerful image in the community.

“Over the past 40 years, Chick-fil-a has set out to be America’s best quick-service restaurant. We strive to live up to this mission by not only serving fresh and delicious food, but also promoting community connections through sponsorships, scholarships, programs for kids, and other outreach initiatives,” according to the Chick-fil-a Commitment. “We want to enrich the lives of everyone we touch: those who know us as customers, employees, families and friends as well as those who know us only by name or reputation.”

The main goal at Chick-fil-a is not only to serve quality food, but also to have a positive influence on the community. Creating and maintaining that positive and trustworthy image is key to the success Chick-fil-a.

While sitting in his Harvard dorm room in February 2004, Mark Zuckerberg had an idea to create a social networking site unlike anything offered at the time. The site would allow its members to communicate and stay in touch with friends.  In the last four and a half years, this college student’s idea turned into the second most trafficked site in the world, with over 90 million active users.

His website, the overwhelmingly popular, Facebook, could not have been so successful without the effective promotion strategies and media relations that go into the website.

Elliot Schrage, former Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs for Google, is now the Vice President of Communications and Public Policy for Facebook. According to his biography on the website, “He is responsible for developing and coordinating key messages about products, corporate business and partnerships. He also oversees the company’s public policy strategy worldwide.”

Facebook is constantly evolving in order to provide its members with improved settings and applications. Members can share pictures and videos, chat with friends, create events, list items for sale in a marketplace, as well as many other things.

It’s obvious from the success of the website that they are effectively providing members with the applications that they desire. That’s because they make an effort to understand what members want from the website. They are constantly engaging in media relations, in order to make sure that members remain happy. When a new application is introduced, the creators communicate with members, constantly asking for feedback.

With 90 million members I’m sure it is close to impossible to accommodate for every member’s opinion. However, I think Facebook does a good job of taking into account the general consensus of likes and dislikes about the site. In the past, when many members have expressed discontent with an application in the site, improvements are made accordingly. Member satisfaction is very important to the Facebook staff, as they try to provide the most effective and user-friendly site possible.

Not only has Facebook established good public relations with their members, but they have also provided their members with a very effective social networking tool. Members have even been able to use Facebook as a method of communication with possible employers. At the same time, businesses are able to promote their company within Facebook. It is becoming increasingly popular tool for a variety of public relations efforts.  

With the 2008 presidential election quickly approaching, media relations are becoming more and more important in the political campaigns. As the candidates and their new running mates go head to head for the last two months prior to the election, every detail regarding the candidate’s personal lives are highly scrutinized in the national media.

Last week, John McCain chose his new running mate, Sarah Palin. Shortly after, it was announced that her unmarried 17-year-old daughter, Bristol, is pregnant. While this new information has nothing to do with Sarah Palin’s ability to perform in office, how much of an effect will this personal information regarding her daughter have on the McCain-Palin campaign?

Although I don’t believe that Palin should be judged for her family issues in the upcoming political race, the reality is that people are holding her accountable for the issue. She has now become a nationally recognized pubic figure; therefore, people are always watching and judging her. With such a close race, the other party, especially, is searching for faults in the competitor.

Some could look at this as a concrete example of Palin sticking to her Pro-life beliefs. While others could look this situation and argue that the Palin family does not hold the strong Christian beliefs that they claim. Any way that you look at it, Americans are critically evaluating the candidates and that is why good media relations are so crucial for success.

A candidate’s family or personal life has nothing to do with how well they will address issues such as terrorism, energy, or an unstable economy. Unfortunately, some citizens will make their decisions, not based on the candidate’s potential success in the White House, but rather, based on irrelevant information about the candidate’s personal life. 

In Sarah Palin’s situation, I think it would be beneficial to highlight other accomplishments, rather than talk about her family in her speeches. She should talk about her success as a governor, and not as much about her success as a mother.

She is very proud of the fact that her oldest son is in the military. She also emphasizes that her youngest son has Down syndrome and that she would be an advocate in the White House for addressing families with disabled children. While these are both great things, I think she should put less emphasis on her family in the campaign. I think it is part of the reason why people have made such a big deal about Bristol being pregnant.