Draft Press Release 3: Cause Promotion

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 29, 2011

Cache Valley Area Investors Association
350 N 600 W Logan, Utah 84321
664-574-9957
www.cvaia.com

LOCAL GROUP TEACHES FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE


LOGAN, Utah - Well managed income can lead people to the freedom of financial independence here in the Cache Valley.

Many Americans feel like they debt they have acquired has gotten them in over their heads.
Preston Parker : The abilities that come with financial independence are liberating.

Boilers...

Draft Press Release 2: Image Management

Burger Planet Inc.
CEO: James E. Muellenback III
1001 Milky Way Drive, Ste 101
Venus, California 99033

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 27, 2011

FAST FOOD FINDS HEALTHIER APPROACH

GARY, Indiana - Fitness guru Jayne Peterson, is doing her part to help Burger Planet stay competitive in the race to provide deliciously healthy food for customers new and old.

Peterson, the company's new spokesperson, is best known for her efforts to help TV's Opal Whitcomb lose a whopping 75 pounds. In terms of the company, she does not want lose anything else. Original menu items will still be available to those who love them most. The new additions to the menu will take on somewhat of a healthier look. Items that will hopefully attract the middle aged, health conscious crowd that tends to eat elsewhere.

Burger Planet's classic food will do the best they can to provide the same taste customers love while catering to the dynamics of healthy consumption. The company's CEO James Muellenbach said, "Burger Planet and Jayne Petersen are launching a comprehensive program to assist women in eating healthy." 

Burger Planet was started in 1934 and its headquarters are in Gary, IN.  James E. Muellenbach founded Burger Planet in a tiny shed those many years ago. They have served over 52 billion customers with their 8,921 franchises spread throughout 17 countries. 

Public Relations Account Executive

Tanner Simmons
tannersimmons21@gmail.com
222-222-2322

-END-

Social Media: Traditional Views

Social media has not always been what it's known as today. News and information spread only as quickly as one person could tell another. Then radio came along. Then television, and even this crazy idea claimed by Al Gore as the Internet. So not only do these media help people learn about news and information, they help us connect with one another. The word "social" is social media is just as significant and the media part. In the article "Bringing Old School to New Media", a special emphasis is put on the relationships that we build with one another. More important than simply sending messages or sharing funny tidbits is the ability social media provides to stay involved in the lives of those we most care about.

For two years I served an LDS mission and met a lot of great people who happen to live in Indiana. Not exactly driving distance away from them. It is great for me to be able to stay connected with these good friends on the phone but even cooler to share pictures and document stories with them online through social networks like Facebook and Blogger. I am always grateful to look back on the experiences I have had on my mission and love sharing that experience with others online.

On the contrary, I do see a couple small disadvantages to the new wave of online interaction. Most of my sabbatical was recorded in a journal. I tried to write as frequently as possible without being too redundant or dry. I came home with two journals full of stories and experiences. To me there is something so personal and valuable about handwritten accounts. Just as receiving a written letter feels much more special than a brief email. The day and age at hand encourages more typing and less writing. Eventually writing will be as prevalent as VHS tapes.

Lastly, a message or not written through Facebook and email in no way compares to a nice phone call. Conversation is vital to a healthy friendship/relationship. My online personality differs from my real one, and I can guarantee most of my generation is the same way. This may come off as old fashioned, but kids today are losing basic social skills because they don't just use media for useful things, they are completely absorbed in it! Moderation in all things. This is my message for kids to talk to each other in person! This article backs me up on that http://socialmediatoday.com/eric-harr-resonate-social-media/317029/bringing-old-school-new-media

Some will notice that my previous mention of media omitted one important source: Newspapers. To revert back to the boom of media, newspapers were the primary informant long before even the radio. But who really reads newspapers anymore? After reading this article I was shocked. http://socialmediatoday.com/index.php?q=SMC/186359 It turns out people are still pretty interested in printed news. Could it be that they don't trust online content? Or maybe is that television seems to exaggerate and stretch the truth? I don't think we can really know why people, for now, are still faithful in reading the daily paper.

According to the article, 74 percent of American adults read the paper at least once a week. Further statistics show that wealthier, more educated persons tend to frequent the black and white pages than others. Interestingly enough, the newspapers of America have mostly provided digital content as well. What on Earth can that mean for readers, for business, for news? As one who loves applications, digital news makes a lot of sense to me. Reading on the go for free is the best of both worlds. It is no wonder though that newspapers are struggling to be as successful financially.

More than just providing paper machet material, newspapers can still cater to the traditional crowd of readers who like to tangible absorb the world's events first hand. As for me, I'll stick with my apps.

Social Media: Blogs Blogs Blogs

Though I am still new to blog scene, I have noticed multiple uses for this new trend. Because I

am a diehard sports fan, I love to get the inside scoop on what’s going on with the players and coaches.

Sometimes all of the previously mentioned information is not provided as liberally as I would like by

official media. That is why I love the individuals who take it upon themselves to provide insight, though

not always perfectly accurate, to junkies like myself who are looking for something to read up on!

Very few people are as in love with the Utah Jazz as me. It really is pathetic. They are the

girlfriend that loves to date for a bit then take breaks whenever she deems it convenient.  Some games

they look great and don’t disappoint me in the least. Other games I wonder who I am metaphorically

dating. The very identity I fell in love with begins to fade away, play by play right in front of my eyes.  But

when things are good I will come crawling back, like I always do.

Now my venting is completed, let me explain why I love the blogs kept up by other sorry Jazz

fans. First, not all fans and followers of Utah’s team have the same ideas and opinions that I share.

Mostly this provides drops of optimism but there have been instances when the sobering facts provided

from fellow sources have outright made me sick. I just enjoy pretending something is more complex and

important than it really is. Secondly, user comments can make some for some good debate. A lot of

would-be coaches like to weigh in on issues that we can only speculate, as the fans really have no

coaching influence. The comments also provide followers an opportunity to network with one another.

There are few things better than sharing a subpar season with other emotionally damaged fans.

Lastly, these blogs created and maintained by somewhat to less than credible sources, provide

great links, videos, and threads to other interesting information. This helps all of the enablers of the

sketchy girlfriend (Jazz) to stay up to date. I love that I am not alone in the search for something that

only leads to heart break.

http://www.slcdunk.com/  http://www.jazzbball.com/

Along the same lines as “jazz” I really enjoy music! Especially new music, although I have been

known to replay a song until the death of it, or those around me. There are literally hundreds of

websites that feature new music every day.  Music really has no cap on when it will be finished. Neither

can experts predict the shift of popular genres and artists. I couldn’t be happier about either of those

principles. A great day to me must be accompanied by some sort of soundtrack. I have too many hours

in the day that I am obliged to keep quiet. Music, particularly the kind I have not heard yet, amplifies

even the most trivial activities. Discovering new music is like trying delicious dessert for the first time. If

that can even be put into words.

                Hip hop music has got to be one of the greatest things to happen to Earth in the last 30 years.

That and Squeeze It’s. Even though I am a white boy, the country I live in says it is more than okay for

me to enjoy hip hop.  But finding new hip hop in a largely white demographic can be challenging! Luckily

the internet knows no demographics. Surfing the web for new music trumps scanning the local radio

stations any day! One of my favorite sites http://newhiphoprbrapmusic4.blogspot.com/ provides a list

of brand new (new to me at least) songs accompanied by the artist and a download link. I won’t get into

the ethics of “sharing” music files.

                This site along with some others, helps me stay ahead of the curb with some of my friends who

share my interest in hip hop music.  I do owe my minimal knowledge of this music to those who take the

time to contribute their information to all of us, soaked in the hip hop culture or not. 

Draft Press Release: Announcement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: SEPT. 13, 2011
Social Media Club of Cache Valley
1504 Lynwood Ave. Logan, UT 84341
661-772-7537Smccv.com


EXCITING SOCIAL MEDIA GROUP TO HOLD MEETING


Cache Valley residents come together to share interest in moving technology.


LOGAN, Utah – Students of modern technology, both young and old will meet Tuesday evening from 6:30-8:30 at Elements restaurant. The Social Media Club of Cache Valley (SMCCV) regularly holds these meetings to assist people from all walks of life to learn more about the importance and potential of social media.
“We educate people on how to use social media for good. It’s a tool that can be ignored and wasted if we don’t know how to effectively utilize it,” said SMCCV president Preston Parker.

Parker, one of the groups seven original members, has been the acting president of the SMCCV from its inception in 2009 until present day. The club was formed to provide a comfortable setting for those interested in social media to learn and network with one another. Any and all persons are welcome to attend the meetings which are held on the second Tuesday of every month at various locations.


Tanner Simmons
6500 N 1200 W Logan UT, 84341
299-876-4947


                                                      -END-

Social Media: Organizational uses for social media

Some of the best information and insight on how a company can succeed comes from the

inside. What I mean by that is often times organizations, whether they are for profit or not, look

to consumers and outside sources for ideas about how to improve their product, service or

logistics. And though the customer is the appropriate audience for desired outcome or finished

work, they know little to nothing about the company and how it can most effectively be run.

Most decisions made in large corporations come from the very top. Owners, CEO’S, CFO’S, Vice

Presidents and board members typically make decisions that influence an entire company. Are

these before mentioned individuals the brightest and most innovative employees in the

workplace? Sometimes, but not always.

In the article “How companies are using social media to make better decisions” by mat Fogarty,

the importance of utilizing the strengths of current employees via social networking is quite

evident. Again, who knows the product or service better than the ones creating and managing

them? There is an old saying that goes: teamwork is extreme work. Yeah it is pretty catchy but

when this maxim is broken down it is very true. Collaboration with employers who have vision

and direction, with employees who have familiarity and innovation can make for an “extreme”

amount of productivity around the workplace.

Chat features along with message and wall forums make for clear communication on Facebook,

Twitter and Salesforce. A company that talks and reads with one another, walks and succeeds

with one another. I made that up. It is incredibly cheesy but I like it!

http://mashable.com/2010/03/05/companies-crowdsourcing/

In a 2010 article covering the National Football League’s use of social media, I was intrigued to

see some statistics which suggested that most team pages on Facebook were fan run. I love fan

interaction in sports as much as the next guy, but I don’t love the lack of professionalism and

accuracy that accompanies it. These pages for individual teams in the league range anywhere

from 460,000 members down to 20,000 followers. These are professional teams in big markets!

Why are there not a million plus followers of each team in the league?

According to the author of this article, it is the lack of awareness from the NFL to hire public

relations specialists to update and maintain these pages properly. From my experience,

Facebook is not a reliable sports news source. But for people who live and die by the network,

they may take these pages a bit more serious. Just think, a well maintained Facebook page can

help attract the friends of current followers regardless of the current success of a particular

team.

Now, since last year things in the social media social world have grown exponentially. I’m sure

that the 2010 statistics are certainly shy of 2011 data for the NFL fan pages on Facebook. I

agree with the author though, in staying ahead of the curve for whatever the social medium

might currently be. Perhaps a strong twitter presence and following will be necessary to stay

relevant in the online battle for fan support. I know that each NFL team has potential to win

games every year and football fans across the nation have the right to be accurately informed

of that as well by a team representative. We as fans want to feel like we are getting the inside

scoop from our favorite team.

http://www.sportsinfo101.com/businesstips-topics/how-nfl-teams-use-social-media

INST 5205

Integrating the computer into the classroom for young students is not only brilliant, but extremely practical and useful for the future that awaits them. The interaction students have with reading and contributing to blogs is an excellent way for them to stay engaged in the learning process of adolescent education. To quote the 2M Gems blog, students can read watch and listen as they share a learning journey. http://www.2mgems.blogspot.com/

The technology of blogging benefits teachers as they are able to tend to students who are slower to grasp concepts. Those students who excel have their curriculum placed before them and can advance as they please. Pictures posted of the students work can serve multiple purposes. It can show the parents what their kids are learning, students can see live examples of how their peers completed similar assignments and it makes for a nice scrapbook of memories. http://classblogmeister.com/blog.php?blogger_id=1337 Also, videos can be posted for students who have missed class or want to review assignments from home. http://room9nelsoncentral.blogspot.com/

Safe blogging: Some people treat blogs as journals or diaries with somewhat personal information. http://www.isafe.org/imgs/pdf/education/Blogging.pdf 

It's important for all online users, children especially, should be cautious of the content the read AND post.

http://www.microsoft.com/security/family-safety/blogging.aspx

Here are a couple helpful resources for maintaining safe blogging status

http://adifference.blogspot.com/2006/01/safe-blogging-resources.html

United breaks guitars

Before I invoke my personal opinions about the United Airlines/Dave Carroll controversy, let me first give a brief overview of the scenario. A Canadian country singer, Carroll, and his band were on their way from their native land to play a gig in metropolis we know as modern day Nebraska. Because old Canada is a lengthy distance from the cornhusker state, the band endured a short layover in Chicago. Long story short, the airline staff threw out the guitars of the band members onto the ground breaking them before their big show. Upset, and rightfully so, Carroll and the band fought United Airlines for some means of compensation for the space of about a year. The fight was temporarily in vain for these Canucks due to their lack of purchasing baggage insurance.

That brings us to the outcome of what became of this sticky situation. United decided to stay firm with their policy, clearing them of any liability despite Dave’s threats to exploit their poor display of service via his musical ability on Youtube. After the ultimatum for compensation was pitched the band proceeded to release a viral video that openly slammed the airlines poor service and inability to handle their problem in the way they desired.

Sometimes it becomes necessary to sacrifice a small investment in order to save and or make money in the future, financially speaking. In hopes to save a few dollars, 2,500 to be exact, United Airlines saw a huge spike in their stock and lost credibility with their general public. It is tough to think long term but it is so necessary. Naturally, I think that the airline is at fault here for not resolving the issue of someone of such precedence. The best word of mouth comes from those who are listening! Also known as fans of famous people. I do give United credit for their attempt to stick with the plan and stay true to their policies. It’s too bad it back fired on them.

As for Mr. Carroll, he handled things beautifully. He remained civil and persistent in his appeal to the violence shown to his sweet guitar. When I had first heard the story, I thought he was looking for a freebie in all of this garbage. But as they say in the National Football League: Upon further review…his case is quite legitimate.  In fact he was quite tactful in his approach and patience with the major airline. Not only was he incredibly effective in exploiting poor service, but he boosted the publicity of his band to the max!

 He used what I like to refer to as the Comcast tactic. The cable provider Comcast offers deals that are not set in stone but negotiable to those who know better. In order to retain clientele, the provider is willing to meets the needs of a customer in order to maintain satisfaction. If the customer is dissatisfied with the service provided or the price he or she is paying they can have leverage to threaten to leave the company and join another service. In order to save the  account and thousands of future dollars, Comcast will offer a better more feasible rate to those who have truly been wronged or are deserving loyal customers.

A few dollars a month is no sweat of the back of a major corporation, and shouldn’t have been to United Airlines, to save face and maintain a handsome public report. However, mistakes are to be learned from. I learned a few helpful tips from both sides of the party of what to do and what not to do in terms of resolving customer issues.

Social Media: The big 7

I know this article is a couple years old, so I apologize to those who read it if the information seems obvious or outdated, but the projections and analysis of what Facebook is fascinates me. It is quite true that hindsight is 20/20, so when the author (Jessi Hempel) made mention to the addictiveness of this social network that has more than come to pass. As a member of the “Facebook Army” I must admit that not two to three hours pass in between checking status updates and picture tags. But who would have predicted the prevalence of smart phones even from 2009 until present day?

The article talks a lot about the expectations of the network’s founder Mark Zuckerberg. The former Harvard student toyed around with a few different websites. When he landed the model that was desired, Zuckerberg chose to forgo the remainder of his schooling to pursue what would become the social media hub of the world. An interesting watch that closely parallels this story is entitled “The Social Network”. A pretty good flick I might add. As brilliant as Mark is as an intellectual, his story was reenacted by professionals because let’s face it his acting skills are not are on a lower level. (See Saturday Night Live for proof!) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fG2cfLJKUvw

Believe it or not, the article recorded the red headed step child of social media, Myspace at 130 million users! This was two years prior, remember. I believe Myspace us down to something like30 million members now. Sometimes an effective gauge for success is the lack of success had by others in an industry, case in point Facebook and Myspace. Other predictions planted in Hemple’s article include the possibility of Microsoft purchasing Facebook and sometime in the future. Yeah…… about that. I think Tom, our first (forced) friend from that other network, has a better shot at retrieving his 100 million lost users than Facebook selling out.

http://money.cnn.com/2009/02/16/technology/hempel_facebook.fortune/index.htm

On a more recent note, Twitter along with other social media outlets, has become popular with the college classroom, and not just with the students. Teachers are now conducting assignments that involve the posting of students’ work via Tweets. Whoa wait a second! Is it just me or did everyone who possessed a laptop and mobile device with means of communication keep that on the low during class? This could be a wonderful thing! In an article titled “How Twitter in the Classroom is Boosting Student Engagement” it is realized that with such large classroom sizes and so little time to involve active participation, Twitter allows teachers and students to connect and get involved in discussions. With larger classes, inevitably fewer people contribute their input which kills momentum for important discussions. With tweets responding to subject matter and providing insight, more students are able to be involved and feel like a part of the group learning process.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WPVWDkF7U8&feature=player_embedded

 

As much as I feel that this is a revolutionary means of participation and discussion forums, I do have problems with the obligation of all students adapting to Twitter. Maybe I am old school in thinking that students should have a choice as to how they participate in the classroom. But I’m sure there are exceptions, there always is.

Being new to Twitter myself, I feel the need to become more capable and familiar with it to weigh in an accurate opinion or theory of what is and is not effective. I do love learning about new things in technology, but mastering them before they evolve is the hard part!

This article was written by Greg Ferenstein

http://mashable.com/2010/03/01/twitter-classroom/

Letter to cousin

Dear Lauren,

How are things with your new baby? I still need to get out there to see you guys soon! Anyway, in response to your question about how classes are going, I’m taking a few public relations courses that are very interesting. You know how some classes you just endure for the credits? These are in no way like that. I think I’ve told you before that I want to be a representative for or spokesperson for colleges or hospitals, the classes I’m in embody everything I need to know to learn the skills necessary to be effective in that career choice.

Public relations are like positive publicity, perception and image for organizations in the public eye. So for example, my Lovesac recently had a bad tare on it and it was the fault of their company. So I emailed them with my concern and someone who handles customer relations (part of public relations) helped me get things taken care of. So in a sense, PR is also about problem solving and putting out fires.

Because the world is changing so rapidly today, social media and networking is a vital part of communication for this industry. Familiarity with online methods of completing work is also crucial to keep up with the direction that business is moving. I could go on for a while, but more or less public relations is organizations communicating with other organizations and individuals in a positive light to promote themselves or sometimes just save face and make lemonade from lemons.

Hope all is well!

Tanner