Amen, brother.

Couldn’t help but notice this article about paying interns.  Not sure where the idea came from that people, even students, should not be paid for their time, talent and brain power.  Probably the same group who decided that physicians are super humans and don’t need sleep in order to function.  Read the article, and let me know what you think!  http://www.talentzoo.com/news.php/Pay-Your-Freakin-Interns–/?articleID=7660&utm_source=SubscriberMail&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Your%20Daily%20Dose&utm_term=&utm_content=2b1e6d51c49b4016aa79e5ce4695fe78

newspapers dead?

Column inches have been written about the death of newspapers.  There is an audience for BOTH new media and the ol’ fashioned kind.  Don’t know about you all, but I for one do my own version of a triathalon every day:  sitting, reading and drinking coffee.  There’s nothing better for waking up.  I did notice today though that my soon-to-be-senior in high school daughter, checks facebook before she reads the morning paper.  But notice that small detail:  she does both!

I do know that when I was traveling, I couldn’t really feel like I knew which town I was in until I grabbed the local newspaper.  Never was really fond of USA TODAY, though it did wonders for the readability of the printed word on newsprint.  My husband loved it because he could catch up with what was going on, no matter where he was.  For me, though, it flew in the face of what a newspaper is by definition:  a collection of local news and news events and how they impact us in the community in which we live.

Of course, I am biased…but then isn’t everyone?  I do write for a newspaper on a monthly basis.  I’m still amazed when strangers who I am meeting for the first time (volleyball or schools or other activities) say, oh yeah…I love reading that column in the Post.  Gosh, I didn’t know any one was really reading it.  Clearly, they are.

So, I hate to sound like a politician, with each of my two feet squarely planted in separate boats, there’s room for both!

out to lunch

Sorry everyone!  I’ve been a little busy.  When we as professional communicators are tied up communicating for others, we have a tendency to forget about ourselves.   I call it “The Shoe Cobbler’s Children” syndrome.  (For those of you young enough to not know this story, there’s a shoe cobbler in town who’s children run around barefoot, because the shoe cobbler is too busy making shoes for everyone else in town.)

Lots going on…freelancing for an area hospital, doing research, filling a website, writing articles, providing strategic direction for a new business.  The hospital work is interesting:  working on filling a site having to do with brain surgery.  Yep. Brain surgery.  Suffice it to say that we have a lovely device sitting between our two ears, one that only One greater than us could devise.  And when it has something wrong with it, then it takes another person with great grey matter to fix it. 

However, I am surprised at a few things I’ve learned.  Or shall I say, remembered once again.

Those in the medical field really know their stuff.  But they really don’t know:  1.  how to translate it to other mere mortals.  2.  They really don’t know how to market their services.

That’s where the creative brain surgeons come in–the communicators.

‘Nough said.

check this out

Thousands of column inches have been written about this past weekend’s Super Bowl.  Between the football and commercials, I think everyone has had their say.

Received this little tidbit this morning from a graphic design friend of mine.  Something to think about.  Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMcfrLYDm2U

super weekend

With all the award shows airing, the Golden Globes, the Grammys, it only seems fitting that the Oscars of Advertising will be aired this Sunday.  Otherwise known as “The Super Bowl” it seems we have always had many armchair quarterbacks when it comes to :30 or :60 second spots aired during the game. Is it a good buy?  Who will be on?  How much did it cost?   Just like the Oscars, there will be some true winners and other spots that many will scratch their heads over.

Believe it or not, there are some of us who are actually interested in both the football and the commercials.  Though many Super Bowl games the commercials have been the high scorers.  I’ll be watching both–with special attention paid to a former Mizzou quarterback (originally from Texas) who is waiting his turn (and probably won’t play) as second- or third-string.  We can only hope.

No doubt there will be more to blog about after the game on Sunday.  We’ll see who the winners are:  Commercials vs. Football.

back to work

Okay, so goodbye weekend, back to work.  I caught this video and thought it had some simple, interesting points regarding marketing vs. public relations in a down turned economy.  It’s rather long (editors could have done a better job getting to the part that answered the question–about 2 minutes in.) , but it is worth the advice from the Big Kahunas.

http://www.openforum.com/idea-hub/topics/marketing

They basically say that public relations is a crap shoot during a downturned economy.  That during these times, you need to be able to count what works and what doesn’t.  I would agree…to a point.  But the fact of the matter is that there is room, and should be room, in any marketing mix for both marketing and public relations. 

But that’s my opinion–what’s yours?

claim to fame

This little piece appeared recently on the Food Network.  It’s our family’s only claim to fame.  Honestly, I’ve had people on a beach in another country buy me a beverage because they had been to Eischen’s Bar (I conveniently had an Eischen’s Bar t-shirt on).  Enjoy.  And if you’re ever even NEAR Oklahoma City, you have to visit.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/videos/eischen’s-bar/44808.html

to kindle or not to kindle, that’s the question

One of my guiltiest pleasures is reading.  I read for fun.  For information.  To help kids with annotated bibliographies when there are short deadlines.  (My eldest owes me big time.)  A friend of mine mentioned that she gifted her mom with a Kindle.  While I can see the benefits of loading everything on one little device it takes the romance away from a good old-fashioned book.

Call me crazy, but I love the art of the book.  The cover, what type of typeface is used.  The funny blurbs on the back to get you to read it.

Is is just me, or does anyone else appreciate the smell of a library with all those books collected in one place.  If they could figure out a way to bottle that fragrance, I would buy it.

Seems fitting to talk about books today, the day that J.D. Salinger went to the big library in the sky.  Ironically, someone in my house has to read “Catcher in the Rye.”  Looks as if I’ll be re-reading it–the old-fashioned way.

thanks for the comments–

Thanks to all who have commented on “Idea Generation.” 

After some thinking about this, I remembered hearing stories about Papa Hemingway setting up his typewriter in the bathtub.  (Smile.)  I recently heard that money-maker Dan Brown wakes early, early in the morning to write in his separate studio.  Early like 4 a.m.  And much media attention has been given to J.K. Rowling writing in a coffee shop while the baby (first book) slept in a pram.

So tell me, and others, where do you get your best ideas?

idea generator

Where do the best ideas come from?  Now THAT’S a mystery.  But I did get some good advise from a former professor and  colleague and I’ve found it to be very helpful.  She recommended every week to do something that you’ve never tried before:  go to a new restaurant, eat a different kind of food, see a movie (or have someone else choose a movie that you wouldn’t normally see), listen to a different kind of music.  Take an afternoon to do a little side trip somewhere you’ve never been before.  She called this, “Feeding the Monster”–the creative monster that is.

Now while I don’t get to do this EVERY week, I do find that if I can do this regularly, it really helps with idea generation.

Call me crazy, but I find also that my best ideas come when I’m not really thinking about the tagline, headline or tactic that I’m trying to come up with.  Lots of creative folks have recommended keeping a small notepad at your nightstand.  I do find that as I’m either drifting off to sleep, or just waking up, an idea will come to me that solves a creative predicament.  Write it down!

The shower is also a good place for thinking.  I read that the female copywriter, stumped for an umbrella campaign for the city of New York thought about it while in the shower.  She wrote in the condensation on the shower stall, “ I Heart-Shape NY.”  The rest, as they say,  is history.