Thought Bubble
I admit – I still feel like the new kid at work. But I can’t say I expected to feel quite different with just a few months of experience in the public relations industry. I am relatively new to the PR world. And I still have a lot to learn.
When I graduated last May, I viewed my public relations degree as an impressive accomplishment, the culmination of four years of hard work paying off. Finally, I reached the finish line!
Now, after a few months in the workplace, I realize that my education isn’t over; it’s really just beginning. My degree has proven to be my ticket to learn even more. Read on to see the three significant lessons I’ve learned since joining the CK team in September.
For the most part, Public Relations plays a ‘behind-the-scenes’ role — promoting, driving visibility and managing the reputation of companies and brands. It is rare that we, the PR folks, are in the media spotlight. Sometimes, when we are it is not for good reason. This was the case for Ocean Marketing’s Paul Christoforo, the former representative for N-Control's Avenger controller attachment who also doubled as their customer service agent. He was recently entangled in a hostile email exchange with an N-Control customer, Dave, that went viral after it was posted on the Penny Arcade blog.
When I was invited to attend the Council of PR Firm’s annual Critical Issues Forum this past month for a program centered on “Social Revolution,” I’ll admit I was excited and, more importantly, intrigued.
As a recent college graduate – I’ve been working for a year and a half here at CooperKatz – social media has been omnipresent both in my education and my post-college work life. I was interested to hear what the various industry speakers and panelists would have to say about something I’ve considered a permanent fixture on my personal landscape for almost six years.
The decision by ratings agency Standard & Poor’s (S&P) to downgrade the United States’ sovereign debt from AAA to AA+ elicited an avalanche of commentary from the industry, the media, the government and the public.
The main dialogue focused on whether or not S&P made an appropriate decision (not to mention the issue of that $2 trillion calculation error). But the controversial move also reignited ongoing debates over the state of the credits rating industry – specifically the role and position of the “big three” (S&P, Moody’s and Fitch) – in the wake of the financial crisis where the ratings agencies gave AAA status to mortgage-backed assets that quickly turned toxic.
This offered up a powerful opportunity for a new market entrant to voice its perspective on the significant and systemic problems with the credit ratings “status quo,” and the changes needed to re-establish credibility.
Yes it’s the start of a new work week, but also the first Monday of the new year and the new decade! Goodbye "Uh-Ohs" and hello "Aught Ten"!
Time to move on from debates on whether 2000-2009 was the ‘worst decade…ever’ (as well as arguments over whether the new decade starts now, or in 2011). We’re onward and upward here at CooperKatz – looking forward to what awaits us, our client partners and the PR industry as a whole in the year to come. So while we hope for the best and know there are never any guarantees, here’s our initial take on the road ahead and a few of the signs we’re seeing.
Buckle up and let’s roll!