Split-Second with Lorrie Walker

One of my core assignments for this semester was to conduct an online interview with a current public relations professional. I had the pleasure of contacting and interviewing Lorrie Walker, of Lorrie Walker Communications Inc. based out of Tampa, Florida.

A strong proponent of Internet-based marketing and online public relations efforts, Lorrie encourages the use of social media in public relations campaigns where appropriate. She believes the advent of blogs, social networking outlets and sites devoted to posting and distributing articles and press releases are powerful tools in helping small businesses compete with their larger counterparts and carve out their own portion of the market share.

AB: What training or education did you receive before entering the Public Relations field?

LW: I served in the U.S. Army, where I was trained as a journalist/public affairs specialist. When I got out, I always was fortunate enough to get good jobs without a college degree. However, I went back to school a few years ago and completed a bachelor's degree in business and professional leadership. I have to say that the bulk of my knowledge has come from working in the journalism/PR field.

AB: Can you describe to me what a brief overview of your career path before and during PR?

LW: I started out as a journalist in the Army. After the Army, I did a bit of freelancing before securing full-time work at a small weekly newspaper. I moved on to a daily newspaper eventually, then left journalism to work in the non-profit sector as an executive director. I did a lot of PR work as the executive director. From there, I became the public relations director for a private university before I started my own boutique PR firm in May 2007.

AB: Do you belong to any PR organizations such as the CPRS or IABC, please list?

LW: I once belonged to the Florida Public Relations Association.

AB: So how have these organizations benefitted you?

LW: I'm currently not a member, but am seriously considering rejoining. Networking is important, and these types of professional organizations help provide networking opportunities.
AB: How has the PR field evolved since you entered it? How did you respond to these changes?

LW: By far, the Internet has brought about the most changes. Social media and Internet marketing are SO VERY IMPORTANT in public relations campaigns these days, and it is something that is on my "to do" list for every client. I've embraced these changes because they tend to be so much more cost-effective than many traditional media/PR outlets. I'm fascinated with search engine optimization and Internet marketing efforts, so it was easy for me to embrace these new opportunities.
AB: Thank you so much for your time, Lorrie. Any other valuable information or experiences you wish to share?

LW: Running a small PR firm has been rewarding, but it requires a lot of diligence and hard work. There's something about not having a regular paycheck that can either make you fail miserably or really get you off your butt and seeking out opportunities. I do a lot of networking and I put a good amount of effort into optimizing my Web site so that I am easily found on the Internet.

@BritneySpears - ‘3’ this video is amazzzzing! you go gurrrrl

Loyalist PR invades Toronto!

It has been such a huge and hectic week for me. Between speeches, assignments, volunteering, Media Mash-Up, work, and life in general, it was finally time to start my reading week off with a bang! And what not a better way to do so then having a school trip to Ontario’s capital…

I was up bright and early Thursday morning (and by bright and early, I MEAN early… ‘cause the sun wasn’t even up yet) at 5:15am to get ready. Luckily I had a few extra minutes because @kristenricketts was picking me up. Haha. We boarded the bus and we were on our way to our first stop - Steam Whistle Brewery in the downtown. The only thing around us were skyscrapers and the CN Tower.

We has a great tour of the brewery and got to see up close and personal the operations side of the business, the brewery, and how the amazing liquid is made! Then we were given a presentation on the pr tactics of the business and why (and more importantly how) Steam Whistle is so environmentally conscience. We finished off the morning with a free pint! How nice of them!

From there we were supposed to head over to Jack Astor’s, but as with Loyalist tradition we were behind schedule and had to settle with the CBC cafeteria and McDonald’s (but hey, I got me some more McDonald’s Mcnopoly stickers! sweet!). Our group then met up with a PR professional for CBC and we were given an insightful presentation. We then headed downstairs for the taping of The Hour with @strombo and got an up-close and personal sighting of the hip cool indie band, Metric. We got to experience the insides of the taping of a talk show and even got some free swag! Oh ya! P.S. will you please notice how intimate George is with Jeanette? I can tell you for SURE my teacher @kerryramsay was not impressed…

By this time it was time for me to part ways with my dear LoyalistPR buddies and head on out in the big city with some friends and start my reading week off with a nice cold, refreshing bottle of Steam Whistle. ;)

Babe, pick a night
To come out and play
If it’s alright
What do you say?

Casino Loyale a Success!

I am proud to say that I am enrolled in the Public Relations class at Loyalist College in Belleville, Ontario. And yes, I am STILL in school after graduating in 2005. I won’t go about the details of what I’ve done, but I will go on the record to state that this is the most enjoyable time I have had with any program. Having fun is a big part of who I am and to be able to finally be in a program that I don’t dread waking up for is something I am totally taking to heart. Adam Bennett - Public Relations.

On October 15th, the Post-Grad PR class at Loyalist undertook and executed the best class fundraiser Loyalist has seen to date! Casino Loyale was a huge GIGANTIC success and it would not have been such a success without the endless efforts and enthusiasm of our entire class, and professor Kerry Ramsay.

With roulette tables, a PLINKO board, and walk-around blackjack dealers, the bets were coming in and the prizes were practically running out the door. Over 250 winners and our goal being reached within four hours, Casino Loyale was already being talked about as a huge success. Over $1,800 was raised for the United Way of Quinte by my post-graduate classmates and I.

WAY TO GO US!

One leaf, two leaf, turkey pumpkin

It’s the Thanksgiving long weekend and what I like to call the official start to Fall. The air is crisp, the wind is chilly, and the landscapes have become almost picturesque with the vibrant display of colours.

But October isn’t just about Thanksgiving (what, it isn’t just about the free turkey and awesome pies?? OH EM GE). It’s also about study breaks, and jumping in leaves, and Hallowe’en and pumpkins. That’s right, pumpkins!

What’s so great about pumpkins you ask? I’ll tell you!

1. pumpkin seeds - this is a classic. who doesn’t remember being a kid and carving their pumpkins out while mummy is in the kitchen baking your newly found pumpkin ‘guts’
2. pumpkin pie - your pumpkins now sitting outside and Hallowe’en is over… now what? why not mash it all up and make a pie.
3. funny faces - yes. funny faces. one of the greatest and most commonly seen uses for the average pumpkin. i know i love carving a good ol’ face in my pumpkin pal.

I’m going to stop the list at three, because, well, three is my favourite number. Also, the third point I made was funny faces and this prompted me to post some pictures of the best hallowe’en carvings I’ve personally seen. Please feel free to comment on the amazingness you are about to witness.

1. this is a scary pumpkin face

2. this is a happy pumpkin face

3. this is a drunk pumpkin face

So please, go out there, buy your pumpkins, and experiment. HAVE FUN. Don’t be conservative and discover the fun that is to be had in October - a pumpkin.

I could tell that my parents hated me. My bath toys were a toaster and a radio.

— Rodney Dangerfield

Twictionary

So it’s been a few days now and I am still not too sure if I am successfully grasping the idea of Twittering. I even tried re-tweeting (RT) a few things but was informed I was doing it incorrectly by fellow Twitter followers. As if re-tweeting someone could be done wrong… who knew?

Honestly, joining this site has opened up a whole new dictionary to me and I’m still learning to talk. So far, this is what I have discovered:

Tweat - A tweet that is about what you are currently eating.

Retweet (RT) - The re-posting of an interesting tweet from another twitterer.

Mistweet - A tweet in which one later regrets.

Twaiting – Twittering while waiting.

Anyways, these are just a few of the Twitter Lingo I am currently becoming adjusted to. I’m still unsure as to whether am twitting or twatting. Or is it tweeting or twitting?

this is salad fingers