Listen to the Entertainment & Sports Section and LA Chapter's panel at the GRAMMY Museum, which took place on Wednesday, July 29, 2009. The distinguished panel represented the film, television, music and sports industry. They discussed how entertainment is being used to elevate brand awareness above traditional forms of media. Case study examples were presented and the latest trends discussed, including the use of brand integration, social networking, citizen journalists and celebrity spokespersons.

Ketchum’s John Paluszek, APR, Fellow PRSA, who was recently elected as Chair of the Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communications Management, spoke on this call. The call is part of the International Section’s new Thought Leaders in International PR teleconference series. Paluszek, a former PRSA National President and member of the International Section’s executive committee, discusses the Alliance’s new five-year strategic plan as well as how Alliance member organizations—including PRSA—can contribute to greater mutual understanding around the world. The international issues in this presentation are relevant to all participants regardless of location, type of public relations practice, or academic endeavor.

General session with Robert Stephens, founder and chief inspector, Geek Squad. Recorded on June 1, 2009, at the Counselors Academy Spring Conference.   In April 1994, with a $200 start-up fund and a talent for fixing computers, Robert Stephens founded The Geek Squad while still a student at The University of Minnesota. What follows is a compelling and entertaining case study on how entrepreneurs with the right message and a strong brand can create “buzz” and publicity on a shoestring budget.

Times are tough and layoffs are mounting. Unfortunately, no one is immune to today's economic reality. The good news is that there are things public relations practitioners can do to increase their odds of keeping a job. Career coach Bob Gordon, shared his tips on making yourself indispensable at our brown bag on, Thursday, June 4 at 3 p.m. EDT.

The PRSA Public Affairs and Government Section hosted its first free "brown bag call" on Wednesday, May 6. The call features a public affairs case-study presentation, followed by a question-and-answer session from the live attendees. The live call was moderated and presented by Stephanie McFarland, APR, Chair of the Public Affairs and Government Section. Click here for accompanying presentation (PDF).

Paul Vogelzang, producer, MommyCast?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" ?   There is a great opportunity to use social media for health care, as conventional outlets are shrinking or not as efficient, or have great cost associated with them. Social media is vastly superior to anything else, but has limitations too. This session will focus on demystifying the use of social media, as well as the tools used today, such as Twitter, Facebook and MySpace, and how they’re all being used both proactively and reactively in health care communications. Discover how to reap the rewards and size up the possibilities from a “first hand” expert.  

This presentation will help health care public relations professionals know what social media options are available and how to participate in the conversations — while adhering to industry rules and regulations. Based upon industry and proprietary research as well as practical experiences, this presentation also offers practical tips and best practices for PR professionals to participate with social media. Paul Griffiths,?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" ?CEO, MedTouch?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" ? Dmitriy Kruglyak, CEO, Trusted.MD Marjorie Martin, senior vice president and general manager, Everyday Health, CarePages

Social technology is transforming the world as we know it. Corporations are struggling with a new trend: consumers using online social technologies (blogs, social networking sites, YouTube, podcasts) to discuss products and companies, write their own news, and find their own deals. This groundswell is global, it is unstoppable, it affects every industry and it represents a revolution in the way we must approach public relations in every sense of the word.?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" ?