Diana has become a member of the group, slowly but surely. We all go to lunch together, chat in our close cubicles together and talk about our individual frustrations together.
Yesterday we went met in the lunchroom. Brittney, Jake and I had gotten our lunch and sat down, expecting Diana to join us shortly. Imagine our surprise when we look over and see her sitting, chatting and cajoling with the CEO, boss-lady of the company.
Brittney: “Are you kidding me?!”
- Brittney especially has room to be mad.
Jake: “that sucks for us.”
Imagine our anger, as the newest intern of the whole entire company is sitting with the most influential woman in the place. We have put in more hours and hard work that she has! Why is she so darn special?
She is definitely out of the group!
Today we did our best to ignore her. It was pretty hard because she is a nice person. But she has another thing comin’ if she thinks we are going to be friends with her again.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Spirit Fingers!
This post is in response to this blog by Mark Collier: http://www.whatsnextblog.com/archives/2007/10/post_112.asp
I love that the Spirit Airlines CEO started this whole thing simply by accident, and I applaud Mr. and Mrs. Rudoff for spreading the word of Spirit’s low regard for customers- although they were asking for quite a lot for a late $35 flight. Ever heard the term “you get what you pay for”? It has never been truer.
What Spirit has made obvious is that they are cheap. Not only do they offer cheap tickets to their customers, they treat their customers as cheap objects- unworthy of their airlines. Tip for Spirit Airlines: You wouldn’t be in business if it weren’t for your “cheap” customers.
As a PR student, I have a few ideas on what I would do as Spirit’s PR representation.
First, the CEO would give a public apology to the Rudoff family and a year worth of free Spirit flights would be supplied to them. Secondly, a blog by the company would be started, and the CEO would appologize on Mr. Rudoff's blog as well. If they learned anything from this, it’s that bloggers have some power (oh, and don’t hit “reply to all” when replying to a customer service e-mail). This corporate blog can be used to answer complaints and talk about good experiences that people have with Spirit Airlines. Thirdly, the CEO and some crucial members of the Spirit team would take some public responsibility courses, which would include some media training to deal with instances such as these.
Apparently, Spirit’s spokeswoman Alison Russel said “We wouldn’t respond to a blog post” – cheap company, cheap representation (who doesn’t understand the value of blogging).
I love that the Spirit Airlines CEO started this whole thing simply by accident, and I applaud Mr. and Mrs. Rudoff for spreading the word of Spirit’s low regard for customers- although they were asking for quite a lot for a late $35 flight. Ever heard the term “you get what you pay for”? It has never been truer.
What Spirit has made obvious is that they are cheap. Not only do they offer cheap tickets to their customers, they treat their customers as cheap objects- unworthy of their airlines. Tip for Spirit Airlines: You wouldn’t be in business if it weren’t for your “cheap” customers.
As a PR student, I have a few ideas on what I would do as Spirit’s PR representation.
First, the CEO would give a public apology to the Rudoff family and a year worth of free Spirit flights would be supplied to them. Secondly, a blog by the company would be started, and the CEO would appologize on Mr. Rudoff's blog as well. If they learned anything from this, it’s that bloggers have some power (oh, and don’t hit “reply to all” when replying to a customer service e-mail). This corporate blog can be used to answer complaints and talk about good experiences that people have with Spirit Airlines. Thirdly, the CEO and some crucial members of the Spirit team would take some public responsibility courses, which would include some media training to deal with instances such as these.
Apparently, Spirit’s spokeswoman Alison Russel said “We wouldn’t respond to a blog post” – cheap company, cheap representation (who doesn’t understand the value of blogging).
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Episode I
Background: The marketing team at a large clothing brand company. The marketing team is made up of over 30 people and includes the PR team, Web team and the Promotions team among others; each has their own intern. We, the interns, have become quite close- sitting in the same cubicle row, eating lunch together and hitting happy hour at the end of the day. Jake is the Web intern, Brittney is the marketing intern, and I am the Promotions intern.
Brittney was with the company first, she started 6 months ago and has had her internship extended over and over. She has been promised a position, but no cigar so far. Jake has been with the company for 3 months, and his internship is expected to end at the end of this month. I am the newest intern on the team, and have only been with the company for a month.
A couple days ago we learned that the Web team was going to take on a new intern. So far we like Diana, but reservations are expected, as we are all vying for a hired position and this new intern is a contestant for Jake’s job. Some of our collogues joke that it is like “Survivor” for interns.
Jake: “My internship is up at the end of this month and they brought in a new intern…. yeah, time to start job hunting.”
I guess she can be invited to each lunch with us...
Brittney was with the company first, she started 6 months ago and has had her internship extended over and over. She has been promised a position, but no cigar so far. Jake has been with the company for 3 months, and his internship is expected to end at the end of this month. I am the newest intern on the team, and have only been with the company for a month.
A couple days ago we learned that the Web team was going to take on a new intern. So far we like Diana, but reservations are expected, as we are all vying for a hired position and this new intern is a contestant for Jake’s job. Some of our collogues joke that it is like “Survivor” for interns.
Jake: “My internship is up at the end of this month and they brought in a new intern…. yeah, time to start job hunting.”
I guess she can be invited to each lunch with us...
Monday, October 15, 2007
Facebook Sucks?
Apparently Facebook decided that pictures of breastfeeding were no longer acceptable to post on their website. Was this a bad PR move or simply a way of controlling their content? In my opinion, it was no PR move. To state the obvious, people are talking about it, and Facebook is obviously trying to protect people, not piss them off.
I read another woman’s post on this and replied to it with my opinion, she replied soon after. Here’s how it went;
I Posted:
Let's be honest here, Facebook was not developed for the breast-feeding mom, or moms in general. The site was designed to be a connection between COLLEGE STUDENTS; to share pictures, parties, and class info.
While the site has grown and people other than college students are using it, the regulations must be changed to reflect that. I agree that there isn't much regulation going on concerning typical college-student activities, but could it be that the simple act of breast feeding makes the 20-something developers blush? I think so.
Why would anyone want a picture of their boob on the internet anyways? Shouldn't that be a private moment between the mother and her child? I have no problem with public breast feeding, but posting it on the internet makes me think these women are begging for attention.
Posted by Patty | Oct 14, 2007 9:45:03 PM
She Posted:
Patty:
Thanks for your comment. As I recall, the pictures on Facebook were on people's profiles and in groups specifically about breastfeeding. People who weren't interested in the topic had plenty of opportunities to look away.
I am by no means an expert, but breastfeeding isn't always easy. Many of these groups exist to help women with issues, and certainly, to support their decisions. Pictures help this in many ways.
Breastfeeding has nothing to do with sex and everything to do with feeding a child. No reason to blush and no reason to ban. I'll leave it to the experts to tell you more, if you are really interested.
As to pictures of boobs, I can almost guarantee that the pictures posted by the legions of college students you mentioned expose far more breast that the average breastfeeding mom.
That's the point.
You tell me who is right or wrong. Or is there a correct answer? Was this just Facebook’s way of getting people to talk or were they trying to offend someone? Good PR? I think so, but you tell me. P.S. I wrote back to her, let’s keep the good PR going!
I read another woman’s post on this and replied to it with my opinion, she replied soon after. Here’s how it went;
I Posted:
Let's be honest here, Facebook was not developed for the breast-feeding mom, or moms in general. The site was designed to be a connection between COLLEGE STUDENTS; to share pictures, parties, and class info.
While the site has grown and people other than college students are using it, the regulations must be changed to reflect that. I agree that there isn't much regulation going on concerning typical college-student activities, but could it be that the simple act of breast feeding makes the 20-something developers blush? I think so.
Why would anyone want a picture of their boob on the internet anyways? Shouldn't that be a private moment between the mother and her child? I have no problem with public breast feeding, but posting it on the internet makes me think these women are begging for attention.
Posted by Patty | Oct 14, 2007 9:45:03 PM
She Posted:
Patty:
Thanks for your comment. As I recall, the pictures on Facebook were on people's profiles and in groups specifically about breastfeeding. People who weren't interested in the topic had plenty of opportunities to look away.
I am by no means an expert, but breastfeeding isn't always easy. Many of these groups exist to help women with issues, and certainly, to support their decisions. Pictures help this in many ways.
Breastfeeding has nothing to do with sex and everything to do with feeding a child. No reason to blush and no reason to ban. I'll leave it to the experts to tell you more, if you are really interested.
As to pictures of boobs, I can almost guarantee that the pictures posted by the legions of college students you mentioned expose far more breast that the average breastfeeding mom.
That's the point.
You tell me who is right or wrong. Or is there a correct answer? Was this just Facebook’s way of getting people to talk or were they trying to offend someone? Good PR? I think so, but you tell me. P.S. I wrote back to her, let’s keep the good PR going!
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Welcome to the office!
Welcome to the Office- Intern Style.
As a current intern and grunt-work go to, I felt the need for a place to whine, talk PR, and share my day-to-day experiences as an intern. Although I have done the intern thing many times over, this time it is for a company that I actually like.
I am calling this blog "The Office- Intern Style" because the show "The Office" has inspired a spin off in our marketing office. While I will be discussing Public Relations issues and updates, I will also be keeping you updated on each week's episode- in the Intern Office.
As a current intern and grunt-work go to, I felt the need for a place to whine, talk PR, and share my day-to-day experiences as an intern. Although I have done the intern thing many times over, this time it is for a company that I actually like.
I am calling this blog "The Office- Intern Style" because the show "The Office" has inspired a spin off in our marketing office. While I will be discussing Public Relations issues and updates, I will also be keeping you updated on each week's episode- in the Intern Office.
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