Jennifer's Blog

Seeking an internship for Summer 2008 in the communication field.

2007-12-03T19:04:00.001-06:00

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Jennifer Frederick
St. Edward's University
Student
Email: jennfred87 at gmail dot com
Blog: http://jennfred87.blogspot.com

Seeking an internship for Summer 2008 in the communication field.

Qualitifications:

Strong oral and written communication skills

Multi-tasker

Computer proficiencies: PC and Mac; Word, Excel, PowerPoint

Strong knowledge of Web 2.0, completed course on Social Media for PR

Able to speak and comprehend Spanish

MULTIMEDIA ELEMENTS:

Download
"The JenMegKas Show" - Social Media for Non-profit Organizations

Download
"Religious Tolerance"

I am a junior at St. Edward's Univeristy majoring in communication and minoring in Spanish. In particular, I am interested in the media/PR/advertising side of communications, but still unsure of what exactly I want to focus on. I am studying abroad in Spain next semester and hope to find a job in the future in which I can incorporate my Spanish speaking skills with the field of communication.

Spam Ads

2007-11-30T14:28:00.000-06:00

Most of us hate spam emails and pop-up advertisements that tell you to click or complete a survey and win a free gift...usually an Ipod, Xbox, trip to Mexico, whatever it may be. It is said that 83% of our emails are spam. The FTC has finally begun to crack down on these spam ads and has fined an advertiser, for a free Ipod, $650,000! The advertiser was in violation of the CAN-SPAM Act, which punishes people for sending out non-solicited emails and ads.

These ads are never just "free", there is always a hunch. It also can create bad PR for the company's product that is being advertised as free. For instance, if someone completed the survey and were expecting their free Ipod, they could be disappointed with Apple for not receiving it, rather than the fraud advertiser.

ABC and FB

2007-11-28T13:31:00.000-06:00

The TV station ABC is using the popular social network of Facebook to increase their young news audience. However, they are not the first news station to do this, CNN has already joined forces with MySpace. The two companies are in agreement that ABC will provide Facebook users with Web 2.0 related content. This includes debate groups, campaign trail videos , and online surveys. Additionally, ABC reporters will create their own personal Facebook profiles which will contain photos and blogs. "Networks are looking to connect with a lost audience -- and the way to do this, they have come to realize, is through Web 2.0 technology and Web sites."

I think this is a great idea, the traditional news is not as appealing to the youth today. This will make the news more contemporary with a youthful feel. It is a good public relations step for ABC.

Selling Towns on Ebay???

2007-11-26T20:56:00.000-06:00

Yes, that's right. An Italian man recently purchased a small, unpopulated Texas town on Ebay for $3.8 million. Apparently this is not the first town that has been bought on Ebay. Bridgeville, North Carolina was purchased in 2002 on Ebay but the transaction did not go through and was purchased again in 2006. This could be great PR for this town it is starts to develop.

Web Video Project

2007-11-21T14:09:00.000-06:00

Here is a video we made as a class project. The video is about religious tolerance, relating to the "Golden Rule" in seven different religions: Judaism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Native American Spirituality, Islam, Wicca, and Christianity. Enjoy!

Credit goes to Flickr for the photos and the song "Wisdom" by Delerium.

Smart Closet

2007-11-20T11:37:00.000-06:00

Smart Closet is being developed to help fashion clueless people figure out what to wear and how to match their outfit. The system will work through electronic panels on your electronic hangers you can put in your closet. It will be able to tell what you have recently worn. It can also warn you if you are going to wear something that you have already worn around the same person.

This is crazy, it reminds me of the scene in the movie Clueless in which the main character Cher has a computer program that allows her to view her wardrobe and she is able to match them on the computer. During my childhood I thought this was the coolest thing and now it might actually exist! I'm curious to see if this will actually work, and be used. It sounds like you need to have a large enough variety of clothes to even be able to use this program.

Second Life Meets CNN

2007-11-15T11:53:00.000-06:00

It seems that I see Second Life appearing everywhere since we discussed it in class. I came across an article that talks about Second Life now featuring a CNN news bureau. It features a news blog called "SL I-Reports: Your News of a Virtual World." This allows Second Life users to collect and file their personal reports in a virtual "news desk." Stories have ranged from people standing around to a character trying to beat the world's bull riding record.

They see this as being a future spot for the presidential candidates to show their stance. This would be great PR for them.

More ads on facebook?!

2007-11-08T17:47:00.001-06:00

Facebook will now allow corporate advertisements on the status updates menu and on the news feed. There will also be "static ads" popping up when you view and update your profile. It is a free service, therefore it is supported by ads. Advertisers that join the program can also pay for a small ad for their product to appear any time it is mentioned on a news feed. Such ads appear on a personal page that only the user sees, and not on their public profiles.

I really hope this doesn't lead to a MySpace. Facebook is a SOCIAL NETWORKING site, not an advertisement. So much for the college only style that started Facebook. I'm sure the Facebook users will put in their two sense about how they feel about the ads once they start popping up. When the news feeds started complaints and groups were formed instantly. Their public relations team better be ready for that again.

Granny Bloggers

2007-11-08T17:12:00.000-06:00

When you think of a blogger most people tend to think of a young, trendy, educated person, who is up on technology. Here is a blogger, Amelia Lopez, who is 95 years old. This granny has over 60,000 readers worldwide. She first got into blogging from her grandson who set up a blog for her birthday. The main subject Amelia discusses is history, and all the history she has lived through such as the Spanish Civil War. The blog is in Spanish and is quite opinionated. She is one hip granny!

"Invention of the Year": the iPhone

2007-11-01T13:42:00.000-05:00

Who would've guessed, Time Magazine has named Apple's iPhone the "Invention of the Year." The iPhone has been discussed like crazy and is constantly on the news, with positive and negative feedback. Time gives five reasons for naming it the "invention of the year":
1. It's pretty.
2. It's touchy-feely.
3. It will make other phones better.
4. It's not a phone, it's a platform.
5. It is but the ghost of iPhones yet to come.

This invention has already created spin offs, the iTouch. With so much success I can't wait to see the new cell phones to come. The competition is going to get greater, which will mean more work for the PR teams! Last year's winner was YouTube. Who knows what the next year will bring!

Second Life on CSI

2007-10-26T22:15:00.000-05:00

After hearing about Second Life in class this week, I saw this week's episode of CSI: New York in which it featured Second Life. The CSI 's were called to a murder scene in which the victim was a woman who was dressed like a popular avatar from Second Life. The CSI's create their own avatar and look for virtual evidence to try to solve the case. They trace people who were logged on, as well as have to

It was interesting to hear them use some of the Second Life terms such as "tp" (teleport), "tell" (private message), "calling card", a "griever" (some that harasses people), and different user names. This showed the more eccentric side of the program, but it definetly showed how obsessive some people are with it. Obviously this was an extreme version of the program, but very cool that it has been incorporated into a popular tv show!

This episode of CSI will bring about new Second Life users. A commercial during the show even featured a site to join the CSI Second Life team to "feel what it's like to be part of the CSI team". A good PR technique on their behalf.

Here's a preview, check it out.

Podcast!

2007-10-25T10:54:00.000-05:00

The JenKasMeg Show Social Media for Non-Profits

:28 sec Jennifer: Social Networking

3:44 min Megan: Blogging

7:08 min Kassie: Twitter

This podcast is the result of a class project for our "social media and internet for PR" class. This podcast was made in Audacity. The song we used is called "Move Your Body" by miyoshimasato.

Listen to our podcast here.

i can't get no....SATISFACTION

2007-10-23T23:12:00.000-05:00

Satisfaction is a people-powered customer service website for ANYTHING. "Satisfaction is a place for real people to get the most from their products and services, and for companies to get real with their customers." You can ask a question, report a problem, share an idea, or just say what's on your mind and start a topic of your own. You can also join an existing conversation if you would like to talk about that topic. Satisfaction is just a big open conversation for everyone.

When I first got on Satisfaction some of the topics being discussed were Apple, O'Reilly Media, and Moola. They were discussing their latest problems and their favorite aspects of the programs. This is seems to be very helpful for companies because it allows them to receive feedback, complaints, improvements, or get their questions answered.

It's pretty cool, check it out.

Google Alerts

2007-10-17T22:10:00.001-05:00

While reading chapter nine of The New Influencers i learned about several social media alerts that let you monitor certain information, brands, companies, or whatever it is you like to keep up with. I decided to try these sites out. They are very helpful and convenient. I subscribed to a few Google Alerts and it gave me instant feedback. What an effective source; all I know is thank goodness for Google!

A Book on Blogging!

2007-10-16T18:49:00.000-05:00

A new book by Tom Masters, Blogging Quick and Easy: A Planned Approach to Blogging Success, was published recently. The book discusses how blogs work and how you, yourself, can blog. It is aimed at the older generation who do not know much the new world of blogging. "A recent study by the Pew Internet Project reports that 46% of bloggers are now over the age of 30 and 16% are 50 or older. “Blogging Quick & Easy” was written by 56-year-old Tom Masters to simply explain both the technical skills and discipline required to operate a successful blog."

I think this is a great idea. If you want to learn about aspects of social media and are not familiar with blogs, or any new social media, it is hard to know where to start. I sure wouldn't have known how to use all the social media we have learned this semester if it weren't for taking a course on the internet and social media.

A Toast to GNGNB

2007-10-10T17:23:00.000-05:00

Chapter 8 of The New Influencers discusses how Joe Carpenter became a podcaster in a unique fashion. He was interested in podcasting as a hobby and decided to try it out. As Carpenter states, "The best way to drive is to get behind the wheel" (Gillin 147). Not knowing anything about wine, but living near the heart of Northern California's wineries, he decided that a podcast for amateur wine lovers would be a good topic to start up his podcast. Carpenter and his friend started A Guy, a Girl, and a Bottle (GNGNB for short). His site is now a hit and it is run by him and his wife Pam. They run a new show about once a week. They have received a good amount of media recognition and PR through press releases, newspapers, and blogs. From not knowing anything about podcasts or the topic itself, they have come a long way.

WordCamp Israel

2007-10-10T16:22:00.000-05:00

WordCamp is a conference for WordPress users, developers, and anyone interested in it. It has been held in many cities such as San Francisco and Beijing. The conferences discuss blogging and the future of WordPress. WordPress is a free blog publishing program. On October 25th there will be a WordCamp Israel conference in Tel Aviv. They will also focus on the topics of: "norms of freedom of speech in the Israeli blogosphere, business related blogging, SEO for blogs, marketing with blogs and blogs as information sharing medium in organizations." The keynote speaker will be Lorelle VanFossen, blogger from the Blog Herald.

Stormhoek - Blogging = Marketing

2007-10-04T23:16:00.001-05:00

Chapter six of The New Influencers discusses small businesses. Blogging is a great way for small businesses to thrive. You don't have to be a great writer, update your blog everyday, have great connections," but you can be effective enough with a modest investment of time to make the effort worthwhile" (Gillin 120). Stormhoek especially interested me. They are a small South African wine maker. To promote their company, they sent free bottles of wine to bloggers, so that the bloggers would write about them and use them to start up their public relations. All of their marketing was done through blogs and it worked! Their sales double the year after this blogging marketing was done. That's incredible. The bloggers even gave them ideas for events and themes. Their website is full of blogs, Youtube videos, Flickr photos, RSS, and even a link to their Facebook group.

Anywhere.fm

2007-10-01T23:47:00.000-05:00

Anywhere.fm allows you to upload your music onto this site, save it, and then use it anywhere. It is very similar to itunes but you can access it on any computer with any type of web browser. It also lets you share your music with other users and become "friends" with other users, like facebook or myspace. There is no limit to how much you music you can upload. You can create playlists and search music by not only artists or songs, but also most played, newest users, etc.

It reminds me of del.icio.us and the other social bookmarking sites we learned about in class.

surge

2007-09-29T15:03:00.000-05:00

In chapter five of Citizen Marketers they discuss the issues with social media that the Coca Cola soft drink Surge faced. Savesurge.org and vaultkicks.org are fan sites created by Eric Karkovack for his love of these soda products. These sites became so popular that when googled they would show up before Coca-Cola's offical website. It seems silly that these sites were only for a soft drink that they really liked. However, these sites are successful and seem to get their points across! Companies need to keep up with social media and make sure to allow their customers to voice their opinions and give feedback.

Hey!Nielsen

2007-09-25T16:58:00.000-05:00

Another social network I came across that I had yet to hear about that is still being tested but will launch soon...Hey!Nielsen. This website is for members to share opinions, inform, and talk about music, movies, television, the internet, etc...basically entertainment and pop culture. Hey!Nielsen was started by The Nielsen Company, "the world's leading provider of marketing information, audience measurement, and business media products and services." This social network will allow companies to know what we (the consumers) think of their products, services, or entertainment.

Additionally they will introduce a Spanish version, Oye! Nielsen early next year.

In my opinion, I don't think the name is great. I think the site might

Ikea

2007-09-20T11:14:00.000-05:00

Ikea is using a new technique for their advertising, with a new campaign and social media that supports its branding campaign. They are using a new theme, new commercials, and a photo contest. The America at Home page is a week long photo contest that challenges Americans to post photos that capture "the emotions of home": American home life, culture, social life, economy, etc. Snapfish is involved with the contest by allowing contestants to use their program to load their photos for free. Ikea is promoting this contest.

"Home is the most important place in the world" is the new theme of Ikea. It makes people look at Ikea in a new way. A way that is not only fun and hip, but is comfortable, family oriented, and for everyone. Brian Solis of PR2.0 says, "Brands are evolving from catchy slogans and artistic logos to living, breathing personalities that are defined by the people, principles, and community-focused activities behind them." Ikea has definitely established a new catchy slogan that focuses on all people, that can be seen as emotional and personal.

The UK approach differs from the US approach because the UK's approach is more direct and in your face. Their site of notgoinganywhere.co.uk, is for people who are not interested in money and profit of their homes. It is for people who love their home for the memories shared and its special and unique personality.

I think Ikea's efforts are good and will be successful. Their new commercials are catchy and different and their photo contest is exciting and happening at a great time for the world of social media. Additionally, their new theme will create a new brand image for people of what Ikea is like, and how they view it. In my opinion, they have done a great job, especially with fitting the theme and commercials together.

Y! Mash

2007-09-18T15:41:00.000-05:00

Today on PR 2.0, I came across a blog about Yahoo!'s new social network, Y! Mash. I hadn't heard of this new social network yet. But according to the blog, it will be more like Myspace than Facebook because you can customize your page however you would like it. It also sounds similar to a wiki in that you can edit not only your page, but also your friend's pages. It also claims you can have widgets, "you can add RSS feeds, Twitter status, flickr photos, Last.fm artists, and Youtube videos - among many other games, time wasters, and tools." Additionally, instead of searching for people by names, people use tags to describe themselves. Currently, Y! Mash is not open to everyone yet, it is on an invite only beta system. However, I'm sure that won't last long, and before you know it, it will be up for everyone to use.
Yes, it is ANOTHER social network, but that is what is in right now. This social network sounds quite advanced, as it incorporates Myspace and Facebook's special features, and goes beyond them. It sounds easy to use and "hip", however, I think time will tell it's success because of the closed invite only system.

Blogging

2007-09-13T16:23:00.000-05:00

While reading chapter 2, “From Chaos, Structure”, of The New Influence, many things caught my eye and made me think. Prior to this class I did not realize how much of a world blogging is, and had never attempted to try to blog. I think it shows quite a success that they are even able to have unwritten rules and show respect for other bloggers with the unwritten rules or blogging standards of thou shalt link, thou shalt not diss, thou shalt be transparent, thou shalt comment, and thou shalt not blather. In particular, thou shalt comment interested me. I have never commented on a blog until this class, but I also did not have a blog of my own prior to this class. Reading that 71% of bloggers comment on at least four blogs a month and 93% of bloggers respond to comments makes me realize how addicting these things can be! I believe comments are the key to blogs: they help them grow, spark new ideas, and allow them to thrive. After only using our class blogs and learning these new social book marking sites, I have already started a small addiction to them. It’s interesting to read comments and it’s exciting when you receive one! It makes you want to continue to blog more often. At first I wasn’t very sure about the 2 blogs and 2 comments per week as part of the course curriculum, but I definitely think before we know it, it’s going to become much easier, addicting, and has already opened a new world to us…the blogosphere.

Craigslist

2007-09-12T13:11:00.000-05:00

“Craigslist is a centralized network of online communities, featuring free classified advertisements (with jobs, internships, housing, personals, for sale/barter/wanted, services, community, gigs, resume, and pets categories) and forums on various topics” (wikipedia).

An article in the New York Times came out last week about a controversy Craigslist was facing with people selling prostitution on Craigslist.org. Code words, provocative cyber-advertisements, and offering escorts were the ways they went about it on the site. They would be typically suggesting more. Additionally, words have even been used on Craigslist for drugs.

I was surprised to hear this because I have used Craigslist before searching for housing and furniture, even though I never followed through with them. So to hear that this everyday, popular website has secret illegal activity going on came as surprise. I particularly liked this quote by Richard McGuire, a detective in Nassau County who was investigating the case: “Craigslist has become the high-tech 42nd Street, where much of the solicitation takes place now. Technology has worked its way into every profession, including the oldest.” This is so true. What’s next? It’s amazing how far social media networking has gone…people are not just selling household products, renting out their apartment anymore. People are selling their houses and their bodies! This also shows how advanced networking on the internet has become! Has it gone too far? Craigslist may be in need of some good PR after this scandal. However, they have so many positive features and good feedback, that I don’t think they are going to have any trouble with the occurrence of this incident.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/05/nyregion/05craigslist.html

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2007-09-04T11:54:00.001-05:00

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