Throughout Principles of Public Relations I was able to learn about the ins and outs to Public Relations. This post is to talk about some of the highlights of the class and the work I created at Missouri State University. Throughout the class we created a project called the Digital Media Kit. This was an introductory project in an introductory class, with a fictitious product and company. The company I came up with was Industry FX Cosmetics. It is a company that creates beauty and special effects makeup products for everyone. The products are supposed to be the industry standard for the makeup industry. The product I came up with is a makeup kit. The kit is supposed to provide almost every makeup product that a makeup lover or professional would need. This includes beauty and special effects products. The main inspiration behind the logo for the company was bees and honeycombs. The eye shadow palette included in the kit is shaped into a honeycomb including colors from all across the rainbow. The Digital Media Kit includes a cover sheet, fact sheet, artwork, radio PSA, news release, testimonials, and infographic. The cover sheet lays out the whole Digital Media Kit for the viewer. The fact sheet gives background information for Industry FX Cosmetics, how it started, and the charity that proceeds go to, the Los Angeles Humane Society. The artwork included within is the main logo and logo on the product, as well as the basic look of the product. The radio PSA gives fictitious listeners information on Industry FX, the product launch, and the charity the company would be donating too. The news release is a longer explanation of the information given in the radio PSA and gives more details about the company and why the company donates to the Los Angeles Humane Society. The testimonials are fictitious statements made by the targeted demographics of the product. Lastly is the infographic, which gives factual information pulled from the MRI report located within Missouri State’s libraries and databases. All of the information within the Digital Media Kit is fictitious and created from new ideas. I enjoyed my time within this course and getting to create this project.

Digital Media Kit

Instagram is one of the most popular social media sites of the world. It has well over 400 million active users according to the article written by Digital Trends. It is so easy to post a picture of food, the world, or your dog and get several likes from others. Even though Instagram is easy to use and understand there are hidden tips and tricks to get the most out of it. Digital Trends explains every bit of Instagram and all the things users get out of it. They even go into explain how to get suggested by Instagram and gain thousands of new followers. They also explain the newer aspects like Instagram Live and Instagram Stories. Instagram Live is basically just live streaming on Instagram where any follower can watch and react to the video. Instagram Stories are usually just a picture of Boomerang that lasts 24 hours on your profile for anyone to watch if your profile is public. The site also shows how to edit and add filters or collages to your photos to make them stand out more. Another site that gives tips and tricks to Instagram is the blog AdEspresso.   The site features quotes from several users of Instagram giving several opinions and ideas. It talks about how social media sites are constantly experimenting and users need to keep up with it and be aware of the experiments. Some of the tips include: playing to Instagram’s strengths, captivate users without sound, be opportunistic with our Instagram’s and formats, reach almost three times the amount of people with Instagram stories, and create a seamless experience within your Instagram feed. All of these tips and tricks were backed up by recent research and quotes from other researches and working professionals working with the social media industry. I think these tips are fairly accurate to my own experience and the experiences of those around me and could potentially help out new or experienced users on upping their Instagram and social media game.

Looking through the Public Relations Research Journal, I was able to find a long list of articles looking at different campaigns and situations found within the PR community. One article stuck out to be specifically. #RaceTogether: Starbucks’ Attempt to Discuss Race in America and Its Impact on Company Reputation and Employees. This study was put on by four different professors, all from the college of communications from all different Universities, The professors include: Alan Abitbol, Nicole Lee, Trent Seltzer, and Sun Young Lee. The professors wanted to analyze the new Starbucks campaign at the time. They viewed the different responses on social media and the responses of employees. Their study included both qualitative and quantitative research. The qualitative included the interviews put on of the employees. They also researched statistics which counts as quantitative research. This article really gives a look at how companies may handle hard backlash from a campaign. It also shows how qualitative and quantitave information can be used interminglingly. Many people may not have agreed with the backlash, but Starbucks was not losing hardly any business. It showed how people interact on social media as well, when they do not agree with an issue. The article also works to answer research questions and find a strong product. Overall the article showed interesting previous research of Starbucks and how much a bad campaign can affect sales and reputation. So many people are loyal to Starbucks so the sales were hardly affected as much as others could have. Social media is the big thing that can showcase opinions and bring people together, who may otherwise not be. Public Relations covers so many topics and situations and I think this research study shows even more situations within PR and how to handle it, and how to prepare for this same situation.

Hi readers! My name is Lauren Kimberly and I am a student at Missouri State University. I am currently pursuing a double major in Digital Film Production and Public Relations. That is exactly why I am writing this introductory post. I have created this blog for my class Principles of Public Relations. I hope to use this blog to talk about not only public relations, but also social media to tie in Film perspective. I will get to blog about the different topics within public relations, but also hopefully have a somewhat different perspective because of my double major. I hope to gain a newfound appreciation for blogging and learn how it can really affect my public relation skills.

A fun fact about me is that I am pretty involved on campus. I am involved with the sorority Gamma Phi Beta where I have served on the Panhellenic committee, Greek Jam choreographer, and currently as the Corresponding Secretary. With that job I get to be sort of a Public Relations rep by creating and giving out gifts to the other Panhellenic chapters. I also was given the opportunity this summer to be a Panhellenic Counselor and help new girls at Missouri State go through recruitment. My favorite part was getting to really be there for them and guide them when emotions were high. Another organization I am a part of is Student Activities Council. For Student Activities Council I started on the campus events committee, which put on free day events for students and free bowling on Fridays. After that I joined the executive board as the Films chair where I showed free blockbuster movies every other Wednesday and Sunday and other misc. film events. This was really interesting to me because of my passion for movies. Spring of my Sophomore year though the position of Vice President of Operations was open. I applied and changed positions because I knew it meant a bigger responsibility. This year I was chosen to serve as the Concerts Chair which has the biggest budget and puts on some of the biggest events. I have loved my time so far as the Concerts Chair because it has taught me so much about event planning and the music industry. Student Activities Council was the reason why I picked up public relations as a major and made me love event planning. I hope to run for President of the organization and help make a real impact on Missouri State’s campus.

I believe that Student Activities Council and the rest of my organizations will play a big role in the rest of my blogging for this cite and help shape my view of public relations and social media.

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton