First of all, what is a Social Media News Release (SMNR)? Let’s just say it’s not your grandfather’s news release at all.

A Social Media News Release (SMNR) is similar in content to a traditional news release, but SMNR’s are Web 2.0 optimized or media enhanced. According to Brian Solis, SMNR’s are stories that are specifically targeted to readers unlike traditional news releases, which are primarily aimed at journalists. SMNR’s still contain these classic elements:

• Headline
• Facts/News Story
• Quotes
• Boiler Plate
• Contact Information

Unlike traditional news releases, SMNR’s can either be posted on an online blog with the link being delivered via email or delivered using a press release service such as PR Web. According to Dennis L. Wilcox, SMNR’s can include one or even all the following:

• Audio Clips
• Video Clips
• High-resolution Images
• Links to relevant websites which provide the reader additional background information
• Graphs/Statistics
• Social Media Capabilities

There are many advantages to using a SMNR. First of all, SMNR’s provide readers the ability to interact with the content in the news release and they provide the reader additional background information. It is a good idea to use SMNR’s when writing about controversial subject matters because a SMNR can provide context to the story.

Another advantage to using SMNR’s over traditional news releases is the ability to share the information contained in the SMNR by means of diverse social networking tools. “Almost 100% of press releases issued today are done so without video or audio, which are underlying component of SM(N)Rs,” according to Solis. SMNR’s usually allow for:

• RSS Feeds
• Social Bookmarking
• Technorai Tags
• Comments
• In-Bound links

The largest disadvantage to using SMNR’s at this time is the high competition between companies trying to get their SMNR read. Because it is much easier to compile a SMNR on sites such as PitchEngine, PRXbuilder, and PR squared, it would benefit most companies to take advantage of such SMNR building tools as they are offered free of charge.

A SMNR should not be used to try and change a bad news story into a good one. The social media elements added to SMNR’s should enhance the story and they do not substitute for bad writing. Here is good example of a SMNR from PRUNDERGROUND:

Tip for creating a SMNR:

1. Use bullet points to focus attention to important topics. Online readers (79 percent of readers to be exact) usually scan text. Bulletin points make the subject stand out from the rest of the text.
2. Tell all sides of the story. Do not show bias as readers will doubt your SMNR’s credibility.
3. Search Engine Optimize you SMNR. Highlight keywords.
4. Link to media.  Be sure to include video and audio clips if available.
5. Add social networking widgets to your SMNR. Common Widgets:
   1. Facebook
   2. Twitter
   3. Digg
   4. Delicious
   5. MySpace
6. To make sure your SMNR is read, network with probloggers in your area as they already have an online following.

I found this great presentation on Slide Share that further explains SMNR’s. It helped me understand SMNR’s a little better and I hope it helps you.

Additional Sources:

To begin with there are 5 steps to multimedia story telling and they include:

1. Choosing a Story
2. Making a Story Board
3. Reporting with Multimedia
4. Editing for the Web
5. Producing the Story

Students learned that when it comes to choosing a story, don’t think in terms of this comes first then this comes second.  Instead segment the story and think of it as this part and that part.

Before you report your story it is smart to create a story board.  A story board will assist in defining the parameters of your story, help you organize and focus your story, determine which medium goes with each element of the story, and help you figure out what resources you need to complete the story.

Backpack journalists should be prepared in the field.  Possible items to bring include:

• Laptop
• Batteries
• Tapes, Cables, Manuals
• Tripod, Video Camera, Lens Cleaner
• Headphones
• Snacks, Energy bars, Water bottle
• Notebook
• Plastic Bags
• Pens, Duct tape, Rubber bands

When editing for the web it is important to remember that each medium has it’s own rules for formating and displaying information correctly.  Be sure to follow the specified rules for each to ensure the best quality for each medium.

After you have successfully produced several multimedia stories it would be a good idea to go back and redesign and add in a few additional story templates so that your readers don’t get bored with the same layout.

So many us now rely on the internet and social media networks for the latest, greatest breaking news and information.  Just what impact is this having on newspapers?  This weeks student featured post highlights the problem that many newspapers are facing with the onset of electronic media.

R.I.P. The Newspaper: 2017 ~ Alicia Decoste

Luckily, while working with GSU’s George-Anne I gained some experience about what it is like to work in a newsroom.  Minoring in journalism, I can empathize with most of the items on this list:

1. Not knowing who to contact and where to send the information to. Many journalists have a specific way that they like to be contacted.  It is important for a public relations professional to keep a media contact list detailing who to contact, how to contact them , and even when they are available for contact.  Failing to contact the right person will almost certainly guarantee that your news release will be trashed.
2. Not meeting deadlines. If you promise a journalist a story by a certain time and date make sure you are able to uphold your end of the deal.  Newspapers and magazines layout pages based on story length, number of stories ready for publication, and advertising space purchased.  Don’t make promises that you can’t keep and if you foresee a problem then you should contact the journalist immediately.
3. Providing unsolicited attachments along with your news release. If the journalist does not ask an attachment with your news release then it is a good idea to leave the attachment out of your email.  Many viruses are sent via email attachments and most journalists delete emails with unsolicited attachments without opening them. ->
4. Hiding information from the journalist. By hiding information from journalists that you work with you risk your professional relationship and you risk ruining your reputation.  Don’t hide information from journalists that may reflect negatively on your client.  Instead, address the issue proving that your client has nothing to hide.
5. Contacting journalists using the wrong medium. Most journalists have a prefered method in which they like to be contacted.  Know which medium they use and make sure to contact them using that medium.
6. Sending the same old boring news release. Don’t send the same news release that everyone else is sending.  Use catchy headlines that grab the journalist’s attention to prevent your news release from being trashed.
7. “Blowing-Up” their telephone. Lady Gaga and Beyoncé sing it best in their song ‘Telephone.’  Don’t keep calling the journalist to find out when the story is going to run.  Again journalists are busy and they have deadlines.
8. Telling the journalists how to do their job. Just like you know how to do your job, journalists to know how to do their job.  Don’t over step your bounds.  Trust that the journalist you are working with is professional and that they will do their job.
9. Lying or exaggerating the truth. Again don’t ruin your reputation and possibly your client’s reputation  by lying or exaggerating the truth.  Be truthful showing them you have nothing to hide.
10. Sending blast emails. Many people see blast emails as spam.  Don’t believe me….just Google two words…Lois Whitman.  While Lois still has a career in public relations many articles are still written about her snafu.

These are just a few things to keep in mind when working with journalists.  Just remember to treat others with the same respect that you would expect to be treated with.

A few months ago I bought an i-Pod touch and experienced listening to a pod cast for the first time.

The last few months I’ve been working on organizing my massive mp3 and music video library using i-Tunes, and although I’m not quite done I can see the end in sight.

I have been an avid music collector for years and it wasn’t until I was given an assignment on podcasting that I realized I should begin looking into downloading and subscribing to podcasts.

Looking at the i-Tunes store’s selection I was surprised by the number of audio and video podcasts available for download.  There are Sesame Street podcasts for kids, news podcasts, religious podcasts, how-to podcasts, podcasts on music and even podcasts on podcasting.

I felt like a kid experiencing Disney World for the first time as I didn’t know where to start and there are so many topics to choose from.  I am trying to keep the number of podcasts I subscribe to at a minimum.  I want to learn about new things, but I don’t want to waste too much time looking for podcasts either.

I find that searching for information on the internet already eats up a lot of my time as does tweeting.  I stumbled across Podcast.com while on my search for podcasts and it is my favorite of all the sites I’ve seen so far.  Again, on this site there are audio and video podcasts available for download.

The biggest difference that I’ve noticed between i-Tunes and Podcast.com is the ease of navigation.  Using i-Tunes I have a hard time finding podcast categories.  I can find the search option, but I really have no idea about what I’m looking for.

Usually I’m just browsing for something new and interesting.  A podcast that makes me want to know more about the subject.  Podcast.com is great for this purpose.  The site layout is pleasing to the eye and very easy to navigate using Windows like folder browsing in the sidebar.  I was happy to find channels like HBO, Discovery and PBS on the site.

Do you have any podcasts that you enjoy listening to?  Please share!  =D

This week’s featured student post highlights an event taking place this Friday, November 12, 2010, at Georgia Southern University’s Botanical Gardens.  If you are over 21 and enjoy good food, good wine, good music, and good company then this is a must attend event!

• Alicia Addison~GSU Botanical Gardens Rhythm & Brews

I finished sorting most of my photos over the last week and I’ve been itching to share a few of my favorites, but I still needed to “fix” a few by cropping them.  I was using Paint to crop my pictures because my Photoshop trial expired…that was until I visited Adobe’s site and found out they offer a few photo editing tools FREE online!

I haven’t done much photo editing since my Photoshop trial expired a few months ago and being a college student I didn’t really want to fork over the couple of hundred dollars it would cost me for the Adobe package I really want.

So while looking for alternatives I decided to check and see if a new Adobe trial was available.  While looking on the Photoshop  home page I noticed a section on the site that offers “online tools”.

After clicking “Online Tools” I set up a free Adobe account in under a minute.  (Note:You don’t have to set up an account unless you want to store and organize your photos on the site.)  Seconds later I was busy uploading and cropping images using  Photoshop Express Editor.  Within this online tool users can perform the most basic photo editing actions such as:

• Crop & Rotate
• Resize
• Auto Correct
• Exposure
• Red-eye
• Touch up
• Saturation

Using the advanced “Sketch” option users can turn their photo into one that looks kinda like a hand drawn picture.  Like my butterfly pic above.  =D

Another advanced option, “Pop Color”, allows users to pic one color out of their pic and make it “pop.”  You can choose to pop the selected color as a similar hue or you can choose another color and change the popped color to something completely different.

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I’ve done that above with my picture of my Easter Lillies.  I chose to pop the yellow in the pic and changed the yellow instead to blue.

After fiddling with a few photos with in the Photoshop Express Editor, I decided to try the other online tool that Adobe offers: Photoshop Express Style Match. This was a really neat tool!

There are only 3 styles of photos available online that allow users to apply the effects in each photo to a photo that the user took.  More options are available in the full version of the software.  I uploaded a flower picture and chose the first available style and applied it to my picture and this is how the pic turned out:

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If you have a few photos that you have been wanting to edit I would highly recommend trying out the free Photoshop tools!  I’m wanting even more to have the full versions…*sigh* maybe in a few months I can afford it.  =D

This week’s featured student post deals with Facebook and the sites recent issues regarding user privacy settings.  Most college students have a Facebook account so this post is another must read!

• Natlye Baldwin~Facebook’s Privacy Scandals

What is an infographic?  How are they useful?  And how do you create one?

First of all, an infographic is a pictorial or graphical representation of information.  Examples of infographics include: charts, maps, and diagrams.  Infographics are used to aid the comprehension of facts and figures that readers would other wise confuse or be unable to comprehend.

Infographics are very useful because infographics can be used to explain large facts and figures to readers in a way that the reader can visualize thus un-complicating the information being presented.

There are several programs that users can download and use to make their own infographic.  Many people prefer to use Adobe Photoshop or even a free program called Inkscape.

I downloaded both programs and attempted to create my own infographic representing some statistics I found regarding social media usage.  Let’s just say the keyword is attempted.  I found the programs to be very confusing for someone with little editing experience.  I even looked for a tutorial, but the most I found while searching was posts which told me to use the programs without offering the slightest bit of instructions on how to do so.

I was however, able to find this really good infographic called My Digital Life.  Maybe in time I’ll learn how to create my own.

Another short, sweet, and to the point post by another student blogger offering advice to all bloggers regarding 3 things their blog needs to be a successful endeavor.  I think the tips apply to all bloggers universally.  Great find!

• Three Things Every Blog Needs – Katie Poole