Yes, this is a blog post about blogging, but I think that it is an important one. PRSA’s Strategist magazine this month features a bevy of articles about PR blogs and our little corner of the blogosphere. Moreover, it includes inteviews with well-known PR bloggers, such as Steve Rubel, Scott Baradell, John Wagner, Constantin Basturea, Kevin Dugan and a host of great women PR bloggers (See below).
According to its description on the PRSA Web page, the Strategist, “aims to present fresh perspectives and new ideas related to the strategic importance of effective public relations at the management level.”
Their front-and-center coverage of people that “walk the walk” in social media in PRSA's premiere publication, is important because it shows that the association is starting understand and clearly communicate the lay-of-the-land in the blogosphere. They have long been the whipping post of many a PR blogger becuase of their “lack of coverage,” or becuase of coverage that didn't reflect the reality of unfolding events. While this characterization is a bit unfair (PRSA has had some coverage of blogs since 2002), I am glad they are stepping out to educate their members that still don’t know about the current state of social media.
Social media may or may not be here to stay, but as those of us that participate it know, it can’t be ignored either. And since it is a communiction tool, it can least be ignored by those that practice public relations.
Usually, you would have to be a member to read these articles, but John Elsasser, the editor of the Strategist (read his recent column about traditions that lead to unintended racism to get a sense of his thoughtfulness), has posted them (with links) on the PRSA Web site.
- I was interviewed for the first article, In the blossoming PR blogosphere, everyone has something to say. Should you join the conversation?, along with many of those listed above, which was a real honor.
- I authored the second article, The blog divide: Women underrepresented, leaving room for growth, about the lack of visible women bloggers in PR.
- A third article, The Buzz on Blogs, provides a broad-brush overview of blogging and social media.
There are a number of pro and con articles that you can only get if you subscible to the magazine, or are a member of PRSA, but the ones posted online represent most of the meat, I would love to have feedback on the story I wrote, or any of the others, but you can't leave it at the PRSA site, so come back here and give your opinion if you have one.
My main thesis is that women have been shut out due to a number of factors, but the younger generation of women are already outpacing their male peers in Intenet literacy, providing and opportunity for women. Susan Getgood has a very good post about how events, such as BlogHer, allow women bloggers to break through the clutter and get an honest read, with some great counterpoint by John Wagner in the comments. He was the only guy brave enough to chime in 😉
Thanks to all of the fantastic women bloggers that took the time to give their opinions for the Strategist article in order of appearance: Elizabeth Albrycht, Erin Caldwell, Andrea Weckerle,
Katie Delahaye Paine, Christie Goodman and B.L. Ochman.
Others that aren’t quoted, but that significantly contributed to my thinking on this article include Susan Getgood and Jennifer McClure.
(Disclaimer: I have been a member of PRSA since 1994, I have my accreditation through the organization and I am on the Board of Directors of PRSA San Antonio.)
