The Cori Story

Green Fern Events, LLC Launches Earth Day 2009

2009-04-13T11:02:00.008-05:00

This Spring I am currently working as an intern for Green Fern Events, LLC. I am working along side the owner and founder, Emily Kahn. Green Fern Events is Austin’s premier green event planning company and eco-event consulting firm. The company will be debuting this April on Earth Day. Whether you are an event planner, business, or bride-to-be, Green Fern Events welcomes the opportunity to connect you with the best “green” resources for planning and executing a flawless eco-friendly event.

Be sure to visit the website greenfernevents.com and Emily's "green" blog Green Event News

A Convention Dedicated to the Blogging World

2008-11-16T22:52:00.006-06:00

I knew blogs were becoming more and more popular everyday, but I had no idea that they were making such a big impact until taking this class...and until I heard that there was a convention dedicated to the sole purpose of blogging!

The second annual Blog World and New Media Expo was held this past September 21 & 22 in Las Vegas, Nevada. This convention was a chance for individual companies that offer products or services for new media entrepreneurs and content creators to be put on display and reach new potential customers and help others improve the looks and functionality of their blogs. The convention futured over 200 expert speakers. There were thousands of vendors that consumers and visitors were able to make face to face contact.These vendors specialized in numerous subjects of the blogging world. Some of these included Blog Publishing Software, Designers and Communities, Podcasting, Internet TV & Radio Services, Equipment and Networks, Social Media Technology and Communities, Widgets and Plug-ins, RSS Services, Advertising Networks, Mobile Blogging and Vlogging Technology and Devices, and much more. The audience included bloggers, vloggers, podcasters, internet TV and radio broadcaster, social media experts and producers of all forms of new media content.

According to the Blog World Expo homepage, "It was the first and only industry-wide tradeshow, conference, and media event dedicated to promoting the dynamic industry of blogging and new media. BlogWorld features the largest blogging conference in the world including more than 50 seminars, panel discussions and keynotes from iconic personalities on the leading-edge of online technology and internet-savvy business."

Hear from CEO of the Blog World Expo, Rick Calvert at the November 2008 show and how/why he started it.

Gmail Web Chat

2008-11-16T22:21:00.007-06:00

Google has made new innovated changes yet again. Googles email accounts, known as gmail, has a new technology. Gmail has created a voice and video chat. You can now video chat with your friends, family, and business associates through gmail, unlike AOL where your buddy list pops up and you can IM others through the email only via text. You can now see you IM buddies face to face.
Gmail voice and video chat was created in Sweden. Thecreators collaborated with the U.S. making this technology available for us as well. This viral video shows quick and easy instructions on how to use it and different functions it can help you with. All you need is a web cam, to watch the video below, and you are good to go!

Web Video. Stop Smoking.

2008-11-13T15:38:00.018-06:00

Our last big project in our social media for public relations class consisted of creating our own web video about a current social issue. While the options were endless, I decided to produce a web video about the dangers of tobacco and smoking cigarettes. As a college student, many of my friends smoke. While I can't stand the smell of it or being around it, they think that it is just a phase, they can quit whenever they want, and that it is no big deal. Hopefully the texts, graphics, and music of this video will help change their minds about this social issue.

The video was produce with Jumpcut and you can view it here:

After doing the research, and editing for this project, I actually enjoyed making the video. I want to learn more about the editing process, because there were a few things I was unsure of how to do. But overall, after creating an amateur video, I realized what dramatic impact a few pictures, texts, effects, and music can make on the viewers. It's pretty cool.

Will.I.Am's "Yes We Can" Still Topping the Viral Video Charts

2008-11-11T19:42:00.009-06:00

Celebrity endorsed videos have been very prominent in popular social issues. During the begining of the Presidential campaign around the end of January this year, Will.I.am led one of the greatest boosting efforts to the campaign with his song "Yes We Can." He worked with director Jesse Dylan to put together and release the music video. In an article published on MTV's website, Gil Kaufman says, "The Bob Marley-like anthem turns the Illinois senator's January 8 New Hampshire primary-night address into lyrics performed by Will, as well as almost 40 other actors, celebrities and athletes, including John Legend, Kate Walsh, Aisha Tyler, Amber Valletta, Taryn Manning, Nicole Scherzinger, Common, Scarlett Johansson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Herbie Hancock and Nick Cannon." The video premiered on ABCNewsNow's "What's the Buzz" at the end of January. Inspiration for Will.i.am to do this video began after hearing Senator Barack Obama's presidential campaign speech he gave after the New Hampshire primary.

Will.I.Am says:

He said Obama's speech made him think of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy, Abraham Lincoln and "all the others that have fought for what we have today ... what America is 'supposed' to be ... freedom, equality and truth."

"touched [his] inner core like nothing in a very long time," [The New Hampshire Speech]

"I produced this song to share my newfound inspiration and how I've been moved," he wrote. "I hope this song will make you feel love and think and be inspired just like the speech inspired me."

After the video's release, it had more than a million views on YouTube and 10 million on the host site, YesWeCanSong.com. Even though the election is over and the video was created and posted almost a year ago, "Yes We Can" is still humming in millions of peoples heads. I even saw Will.I.Am interviewed by popular news stations a couple days after the election. The morale for Obama is at its all time high after he won the Presidential election of the United States of America and the video is still heavy in circulation. The song is still toping the viral video charts this week at number two. Social Media is keeping it going and the message is continuing to be passed on.

Be in the loop for viral videos

2008-11-05T15:13:00.007-06:00

One of the many topics discussed in our Internet and Social media class are viral videos. I recently came across Viral Video Chart, created by Unruly Media that tracks the current top viral videos. And can you guess what all of them had to do with? The website sorts the videos by "top 24 hours," "7 days," "30 days," and "365 days." Within the last 24 hours, every single viral video that is in the top twenty has to do with the presidential election.

This site goes beyond Youtube, Google Video and others by sorting what is the most popular. It gives you updates of the videos with the top hits and the best of what is "now." The site also has its own personal blog. It's entertaining and keeps you in the loop of viral videos.

By signing into the RSS feed, you in turn are consistently updated with the top 10 viral videos each day. It is very handy and informative. The site is helpful for bloggers as well.

Facebook Status Updates of Suspence and the 2008 Election

2008-11-04T21:31:00.012-06:00

While the countdown is on for the 2008 election, my friends facebook status updates are out of control. While on a normal basis, there are few updates every now and then, now every minute there are countless updates concerning the election. Everyone is tuned in to the election and voicing their opinion through social media outlets. They are using facebook as a their voice.

As the electoral votes are being counted, the updates are saying swaying both way and saying things like, "cant believe socialism is coming to the USA... here is to four long terrible years under the reign of Obama bin Laden"; "is moving to Europe...far away from Osama"; "ready for our new pres obama"; "is completely disturbed by the comments made by the people who i grew up with in Houston... Ignorance is not necessary... be happy you're witnessing HISTORY!"; "is contemplating about moving to Mexico..."

Also, personally watching the election coverage on abc news right now, they just showed a clip of live facebook feed. Facebook is so large, that its even being shown in the live election for the President of the United States. This form of technology is aiding in the history of the United States of America. It almost seems surreal and unbelieveable. I don't think the creator Mark Zuckerberg would ever have imagined the extent of facebook and impact it has when he created it.

Social News Websites at Your Hand

2008-11-02T16:50:00.005-06:00

Up through now, in our social media class, we have discussed countless social media sources. I recently came across this post on doshdosh.com that is a great resource to check out some of the most popular social news ones used today. The post is called 48 Social News Websites: A List of General and Niche Social Media Communities. In the post, author Maki, offers a great compiled list of differnet popular social news websites you can use to get information and web traffic. After digging through hundreds of different sites, Maki's list delivers those that are the most comprehensive, useful, spam-free, respected and resourceful. They all give the freshest news. Some of the sites included on the list are Reddit, Digg, Propeller, Newscloud, Stirrdup, Stumbleupon and Hubspot.

After reviewing the list myself, I found several mentions that we discussed in class. Each time Maki mentions a website, she gives a desciption of their purpose along with a picture to identify it with. This is a great site if you are looking for specific categorized news sites or topics. It can be used for blog topics, research...etc.

Group Podcast: Adolescent Bloggers

2008-10-29T16:38:00.024-05:00

In class we have discussed several types of people that use blogging. We mentioned individuals, corporations, CEOs, but have not really touched based on children and adolescents. For this purpose, my group members and I decided to do our podcast on this issue of children blogging. Within the podcast, we discussed specific cases of well known adolescent blogging, benefits & concerns, news reports, and concluded with a group discussion.

Listen to the podcast

Show Notes:
{Music Intro}
Introduction to Podcast “Topic: Adolescent Blogging” .5seconds
{Music}
Sherry: Article by Bob Sullivan from MSNBC.com 1min 3seconds
{Music}
Cori: Concerns & Benefits 3min 3seconds
Bradley: Controversy with Justice Samuel 4min 25seconds
Marie Osmond/Adolf Hitler 5min 26seconds
{Music}
Analee: Raising Entrepreneurs, “Carl”/“Yuga”
{Music}
Closing Discussion 7min 40seconds
Resource Mention: Blogsafety.com 9min 46seconds
Closing 10min 2seconds
{Closing Music}

Twitter vs. Facebook Status Updates

2008-10-22T16:36:00.005-05:00

Yesterday in class, we learned about the social media technology of Twitter. Honestly, prior to class I only heard of it. I had no clue how it functioned. In order to follow along with the lecture, I decided to sign up for my own Twitter. The first thing it asked me was, "What are you doing?" This seemed suprisingly familiar. To my suprise Twitter seemed like a facebook application. I felt like it was just a whole bunch of "status updates." Just like when I log into facebook and update my status for all my friends to see, I can do it hear as well. I didn't really see the point. A whole social media based on status updates? Ok?? But as the lecture progressed, we were told that there is more benefit to it then just whats a face value. Twitter is also beneficial for political candidates to let their followers know where they are and what they are doing/planning to do. I'm more open to the media now, but I don't think I will be using its services anytime soon.

Blog Action Day: Climate Changes cause Poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa

2008-10-15T11:33:00.008-05:00

The issue of poverty is an international problem at large. A large contributing factor is the issue of climate change and governement relations.I wrote a paper in my global inequality class recently about the climatic changes, effects, and reasons for poverty in the particular region of sub-Saharan Africa. This region in particular is so vulnerable and lacks the resources to even try to pull themselves out of the poverty trap they are in. According to the Human Development Report, “Droughts in the Horn of Africa and southern Africa in 2005 threatened the lives of over 14 million people across a swathe of countries in Sub-Saharan Africa”

As we know global inequality and poverty is a devastating problem and its elimination an overwhelming task. Its contributors are far and wide. However, one large contributor the continuation of this international inequality are the very serious climatic changes resulting from global warming. While a debate continues on the causes of global warming there is a general consensus that it is in fact occuring and the emission of the greenhouse gases is at fault. By far, the industrialized nations are the largest contributors, yet they are not the only ones. Because of this and much more, Sub-Saharan Africa, considered to be the poorest region in the world, is very vulnerable and being affected in several ways.

As analyzed in the HD report, “climate shocks can trigger powerful downward spirals in human development.” The poor may have no alternative but to reduce consumption, cut nutrition, take children out of school, or sell the productive assets on which their recovery depends. Thus, single climate catastrophes can create disadvantages felt for generations.

While we would all love to believe that aid is a result of accepting responsibility and a compassionate response to the plight of those less fortunate, it must be recognized that this may not always be true. Competing political and economic agendas of the responsible nations will make negotiations and implementation of effective programs more difficult.

What is needed to do to clear this problem is unknown. The best thing to do is to work together as a nation, universe and put an end to this problem. We have to start somewhere. Sub-Saharan Africa needs our help along with every other nation in the world.

Gossip Girls Anti McCain PSA

2008-10-14T18:50:00.011-05:00

The gossip girls stars are pro-Obama all the way. Gossip stars including Penn Badgley and Blake Lively collaborated with well-known director Doug Liman to put together a television ad. It's a 30 second spot sponosored by MoveOn.org and runs on the CW Network, MTV and Comedy Central. This pro-Obama ad features the all-star cast talking to their "parents" and their generation telling them not to vote for John McCain. It is supposed to serve as a sort of a spoof on drug service announcements. The script plays off this. A line Lively uses is "If you're ever out somewhere and you're considering voting McCain, just call me. I'll pick you up. No questions asked

Just recently released, this video is already all over Youtube. The hits are many and the message is being passed along at a quick rate.

See youtube posting:

An association based on WOM marketing?

2008-10-12T14:08:00.006-05:00

Okay, so I thought WOM marketing was strictly the name of the game. Technologies and products that are marketed by word of mouth...You tell your friend, they tell their friend..etc. Right? Well now, there is an association based on this marketing concept. They even had a symposium coming up this November in Las Vegas. I did not know that this marketing and public realtions concept was so vastly used. After I came across this website, I decided to dig deeper and examine it.

WOMMA, Word of Mouth Marketing Association is based on promoting and improving WOM marketing by:
-->Promoting "best practices" to ensure more effective marketing
-->Protecting consumers and the industry with strong ethical guidelines
-->Evangelizing word of mouth as an effective marketing tool
-->Setting standards to encourage its use

On the website they offer resources to word of mouth, viral, buzz, or blog marketing. Whether you are looking to find case studies, reasearch, books, or whatever on the subject, they help you do it. This site is very easy to utilize and is very informative. Not only can you use the site for aid, but you can join a membership program that allows you to become part of this new technology.

To see more about what they do and who they are, log onto their homepage

No more facebook beacon please!

2008-10-12T13:39:00.004-05:00

This past week we discussed the facebook beacon situation. When facebook set up a system that posted personal information about purchases individuals made on other websites and posted them on their feed, this created a big problem. I know that I would not want my personal purchases flaunted on the internet for everyone to see. This situation became very interesting to me when we were told about the guy who bought a wedding ring for his soon to be fiance on overstock.com and had everyone suprisingly congratulate him before he even proposed. How awful!! I would feel so enraged that I would want to sue! Although he really couldn't do anything about it because of the tiny disclaimers that you never realy even notice. What a situation! Well needless to say the whole facebook beacon situation made it to the newsroom and was taken care of. Although they do not want to completely do away with it, they are altering it. This doesn't make sense. Why alter it? Why not completley trash it? I feel more facebook protesting in the near future.

Privacy matters

2008-10-05T11:57:00.004-05:00

For a couple weeks now we have been discussing the importance of having a clean facebook profile due to the fact that unexpected others can take a peek at our profiles unwarranted. This is for serious prospects for your future such as someone who may be highering you for a job and other serious commitments.

When we had the guest speaker in class she mentioned that we can limit our facebook profiles and other social medias to only allow certain people access to our profiles. All this talk about proofing our names on the Internet has me nervous. I immediately went home from class and set up as many restrictions I could. It is kind of scary knowing that your future can possibly be determined what you thought was one night of fun with your girlfriends out on the town (just for example). I still wonder that even if you set up restrictions to only allowing certain people access to your information if people can still get around it? Is social media really beneficial or harmful?

Click here for detailed information on how to protect your privacy on facebook
How to protect your privacy on facebook

In the Spin Room of the Election Debate

2008-10-04T11:20:00.005-05:00

Have you ever wondered the process of the PR and spin of the election debates? During the past debate between Obama and McCain, in Oxford Mississippi, a youtube video was released by a reporter discussing how journalist and the media interact in the PR process of the campaign

The debate is being watched on televisions in the back room by the journalists while student campaigners pass out papers to journalists on the designated candidates side backing up his comments. After the debate all the journalists gather making themselves available to answer questions from the press. A specific person is selected to put the best spin, "gloss" on their candidate as "presidential." They are putting together a story for the next days press in the best way they can spin them.

Personally, I feel that this footage gives a bad name to PR. There are two sides to the room and they look for mistakes and things they can pick out to make the opponent look bad. I think thats horrible. It specifically says that they are out to pick on the opponent. The journalists and media are out to sculpt peoples opinions. I think that this goes beyond PR ethics. They are using spin instead of appropriate PR tactics

Not so sure about social bookmarking

2008-09-23T14:46:00.005-05:00

The past two classes have been primarily dedicated to social bookmarking. At the begining of class I was aware we had assignment that dealt with social bookmarking but had no clue what it was about. I'm not so sure I completley understand now. I was aware that social bookmarks allows internet users to save, categorize and share information on the web, but wasn't sure that just saving a webpage to my favorites wasn't easier. I know that our generation is supposed to catch on better to new technologies, but I am still a little lost when it comes to this whole social bookmarking. I feel like there is such a process to it and too many steps.

To become more accustomed with social bookmarking, I took it upon myself to visit, Del.icio.us, hands on. After spending time with it and become more familar with its functions, I took a liking to it. One of the benefits I discovered was that I can access my favorites websites from any computer. I also like that I can share my findings with others that have similar interests by tagging with generated keywords. It also helps to remember the reason I bookmarked the sight in the first place.

Social bookmarking has many helpful and useful characteristics and I take back most doubts I had about it in the first place.

Your company needs a voice too

2008-09-22T20:32:00.006-05:00

Today in class, we discussed companies microblogging and were asked what we thought about businesses being involved in the blogosphere.

In a recent article in Media Post's Marketing Daily, Blake Cahill recently published an article that listed 5 ways in which a business can leverage microblogging. Instead of this medium being just restricted to individuals who want to share information, thoughts and links, companies big and small are catching on to the trend. Here they extended the intentions of microblogging to networking with clients, customers and partners . They can share all important information about the company in a timely fashion.

Some reputable companies that have already begun engaging in this social media are H.R. Block and Zappos CEO Tony Hseih.

The five ways to leverage microblogging suggested are:

1. Monitor your industry and competitors
2. Track conversations about the company and the brand
3. Grow sales
4. Enhance customer service
5. Expand communication with stakeholders

By managing a company blog, it may harm or benefit the company. By disclosing company information, it allows for people to negatively comment and have the public see. On the positive side it can help the company to be aware of the changes they need to make to please their consumers and boost their sales.

Google (your name here)

2008-09-17T16:42:00.004-05:00

In class this past week we talked about "googling" ourselves online. Discussion included that this could be both a beneficial and harmful thing for our future, job opportunity...etc. When you look yourself up, there may be many to no searches where you click enter. Some of the things may be incriminating pictures, past mistakes, or things you just want to keep confidential. These are the skeletons. In class, we learned that there is a process you can undergo to remove these from shadowing over your potential future.

I can't believe I never thought to "google" myself before. I will be graduating in May and know that I will be looking for a professional job and/or career. I don't want them to stumble across anything that would prevent me from getting a desired job, even if it may be considered harmless to others. Therefore, I decided to google myself and saw many hits for my name just on the first search page alone. Nothing bad appeared (not that there was anything I was worried about). What came up was actually good stuff. My deans list records came up, an article that I was quoted in high school was there, and of course my facebook account. I found it actually kind of exciting.

Everyday in this social media class, it is becoming more apparent that the internet is out there to help us, benefit us, and make our lives overall much easier.

15 seconds of fame

2008-09-16T23:02:00.021-05:00

In early 2006, American Express started its own citizen marketing effort. In association with the Tribeca Film Festival, the two have launched a competition in accordance with American Express's ad campaign "My Life. My Card." It was referred to as the 15 second clip competition. The competition consists of submitting a 15 second clip with about one of thirteen topics that have do with the submitters personal life with restricted guidelines of course. Winner received a $15,000 grand prize. The films were personally viewed and judged by acclaimed directors Martin Scorsese and M. Night Shyamalan.

This competition was intense a wonderful opportunity for the vlogger world. Consumers had the opportunity to record and share their lives while having the world watch them. They would tell their friends and family about what they did, thus leading them to the website. This became a continuous cycle. During the three week submission period, the american express website received record breaking hits.

This competition is proof that the large corporations and companies are catching on to citizen marketing and the use of WOM. (This competition was along the same idea of the Chevy Tahoe campaign) These trends are on the way up to becoming some of the most powerful sources of media today. They are powerful tools in aiding in the image, prosperity, and financial success of the company.

Preview some of the submitted 15 second clips

Wiki's Reputation May Not Hold True

2008-09-14T20:29:00.013-05:00

Wiki is a relatively new term in today's technology. Prior to last weeks class discussion on wikis, the only thing I have ever heard in relation to a wiki was the online encyclopedia, Wikipedia. What I heard was not positive. Every time it comes to writing a term paper or research paper for class the teacher always advises not to use wikipedia. They will not give you credit and may take off points for using it. From what I knew before class, it was a source that was often altered and not reliable. People with biases would come in edit based on what they thought. The information may be true or may be false. There is not really a way to distinguish.

After class, I learned that there was more to wikis then I was previously informed. Wikis are actually a useful and informative tool for connecting to others. It is also a unique way of sharing information and collaborating with others. It may not actually be such a negative source after all.

Individuals have the ability to create their own wiki. There are many several websites that allow you do do this. Some of them are:

Wetpaint

PBwiki

Wikispaces

To Jdate or not to Jdate?

2008-09-11T11:52:00.007-05:00

Having trouble finding other Jewish people in your community? The search is over. Social media has taken a new approach to online dating. It has narrowed down the search field. Not only now can you search for your ideal match, but you can go straight to JDate.com and find your Jewish soulmate. This source of social media takes a modern spin on matchmaking. Its an expansion of the Jewish geography that already exists.

This source of social media has proven to be pretty successful. It gets straight to its target with its thorough questionaire and profile application. The questions relate to personal attributes, characterisitics, religion classification and ideal person one is looking for. Countless marriages, relationships and friendships have been created through this source. Through this website you can IM others online, video chat, see whose viewing you, add people to your favorites...and much more.

JDate Video

Flaws and errors have also been shown with this social media. It offers different price packages to become a memeber and gives the option of being able to do more functions. People who signed in as guests said they wouldn't take this plunge due to the fact that they have been unsuccessful and constantly rejected. Is the social media network responsible? Or is it the fault of the guests and memebers? Thus "To Jdate or not to Jdate?" is the question.