The Rosemont Loving

Came across a neat video about digital advocacy. Although it is highly US centric it gives you a great understanding of the importance of digital as a communications platform. My role at Weber Shandwick is to essentially implement digital advocacy for my clients, so the video is somewhat relevant.

My first blog post for a while, I’m sorry for that. Apparently the conversation has left the blogosphere, so I guess I’m as big a culprit as any. The fact is that our digital lives are becoming more complex with more and more places to go to, so my blog is now only part of my new media mix, although it is still an important one. You can still catch me on Facebook, Twitter etc too.  

Easter is a time to spring clean one’s life, so after two burglaries and a mugging all within a year, I’ve decided to move out of the ghetto I live in. So if anyone hears of any suitable living situations let me know. Also, when looking at one’s life you obviously have to analyse your job situation - I can safely say I’m happy, making huge amounts of progress and our team is also hiring so I do question views that I read from time to time about the fact that my role will become redundant. I agree that all communicators should have a grasp of social media especially when money and times are tight and increasingly tighter, but the simple fact is that not many people do, both client side and within agency, so the role of a specialist is currently integral to companies and agencies (such as my current employment) that want to win out. There are similar views too regarding Facebook and its apparent demise, yet it is about to overtake MySpace as the number social network globally, so I simply don’t buy into such visions…well not yet, anyhow.  

My other conclusion is that roles and situations change, especially in the ever-changing media world. A few years ago I was doing media relations, now I’m on Twitter and FriendFeed, and in a few years time I’ll be doing something different, perhaps working for a less-costly Conservative Government. Ultimately we simply don’t know what the future holds, we just need to be aware of what might happen and put ourselves in a good enough position to adapt. So for now, Internet and social-media communications is a great and cost-effective way of getting your messages across so if you have any questions or needs please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

We’ve recently gone blogtastic at Weber Shandwick and it looks like this trend is going to continue in the coming months. As a result I’ve now listed all the blogs by Weber Shandwick peeps in one category in my blogroll for ease of direction. Other developments likely to follow.

Any colleagues or others wishing to blog and don’t know how, please get in touch.

At Weber Shandwick it is all about advocacy. Check out our latest research on CEO Colin Byrne’s blog. Please get in touch if you’d like to know more, especially on how the digital space is related to advocacy.

Brendan May, who heads up Weber Shandwick’s CSR practice is launching a blog today (may day may day may day). I’m positive it will be an important read for all.

Paul Wooding, work colleague and nice chap, has decided to start blogging. Welcome squire.

We are seeing a massive increase in PR bloggers. I say the more the merrier!

While I was away on hols my employer, Weber Shandwick, has outlined its direction for PR going forward. I would say this but I think it falls directly in line with how PR/communications should be and it is especially applicable to my online work. Colin Byrne, my CEO, has outlined it sublimely in a blog posting. Interested in any thoughts, on this blog or away from it.

PR needs to move with the times, according to the latest Holmes Report. I’m going to be blogging about it in more detail (as well as other things relating to online media, PR, marketing etc etc) in a new blog that I’m going to be co-authoring with Mr Warren. Watch this space.

Facebook is taking over the world with 1,000,000 people signing up each week. I love it and probably spend more time on it now than I do blogging. Why is Facebook so good? There are many reasons but one has to be this. I’m a member of the London network and I can now view stats on what everyone’s favourite movie is, political views, relationship status etc.

- Pulp Fiction is London’s favourite film
- Friends is the top TV show
- 34% of people are listed as single
- etc etc (have a look at the attached photo)

Interesting to see that my company’s (Weber Shandwick) favourite band is Led Zeppelin. We must rock!