Diversified PR

My Second Coming Out

2011-12-01T12:22:00.000-08:00

I haven’t blogged about PR or digital media in quite some time. Why? It could be due to a myriad of reasons from laziness to being busy to well, life, but after sitting down today and thinking about those whys, it dawned on me that I stopped blogging around the same time that I came out as gay. And, honestly, this made me sad.

I have always been an advocate for advancing minorities in the Communications industry, but when I was labeled with an LGBTQ sticker, I questioned what this meant for me professionally. Honestly, I don’t know many professionals who are openly gay therefore I assumed it wasn’t ‘ideal’ in this industry.

The reality of the situation is that I cannot decipher people’s personal opinions about gays. Therefore, I leave it out of general public discourse in social media and/or office talk. If they don’t know, they can’t crucifix me nor can they speak about me behind my back. I’m always wanted to be known for my drive, talent and passion, but in my mind, being gay put a wrench in that.

The sad thing is—I’ve always had mentors, people to steer me in the right direction whenever I was confused about what I wanted to do and what I wanted to learn. When I realized that I was gay – I abandoned the idea that those individuals would still be proud of me.

I know some people will tell me that I shouldn’t really bring this little tidbit about me in the professional arena – I mean, it doesn’t affect what I do, right? The silly thing is…if I did this, I would be a hypocrite because I have always been an advocate for minorities in this industry. I want to help cultivate a welcoming environment for future leaders (regardless of race, religion and sexual orientation) in the industry. The fact is this—if you look at the C-suite of most corporations, it’s riddled with white heterosexual males. Kudos for their success, but I want to do something about that. And, when I do…I want whomever to look at me and know that I’m proud of who I am and that I succeeded...they can too.

So, hello PR world, this is my second coming out—I’m gay and I’m a Communications professional. What do you think about this topic? I am curious to hear your thoughts, so please comment below or e-mail me at Debbie.Ebalobo@gmail.com.

*I am tentatively creating a group for students and professionals in PR/Advertising/Marketing/Digital who identify as LGBTQ. If you or someone you know is interested in helping, please don’t hesitate to contact me at Debbie.Ebalobo@gmail.com.

Hello--The Real World Isn't Easy. (Advice a year later)

2009-10-14T05:20:00.000-07:00

So, I began my blog ranting about my job search when I attended a career fair close to a year ago, but I wanted to express how my perception has slowly changed (and it may take a few posts but here is the first).

I am now a senior AND I have 6 internships (gasp!), but more importantly, I am wiser than my rant in my younger years. In my first post, I spoke about being involved because I was in over 4 Asian American organizations, and it seemed like no one cared. Employers wanted concrete job experience instead of leadership experience. I was so flustered when I wrote about it. I thought to myself...what's up with that?

Well, from personal experience, I will say that organizational involvement, whether employers look at it or not, is a major tool for any student. In all my internships, I personally felt as if I did well because I knew how to handle myself.

Why? Because all of my previous experiences in organizations gave me the knowledge to handle pressure . Second, I could get along with ANYONE. I think this is one of the biggest assets I gained. I worked with different people all day. Additionally, getting involved with any organization teaches initiative. I am always looking at what I can do for my organizations and I think this translates to a job. In every job I have ever held, I always looked at what I can do for my client. In my opinion, you can't really teach that in a job setting.

So is that it? Students should join clubs because they will receive personal fulfillment? NO! Believe it or not, with the personal fulfillment, organizational involvement will also help you land an internship.

Once you land that interview, people will start asking about your involvement.Be truthful and you will be remembered.

So is that all I learned in a year?

Honestly, I am still angry at some aspects of the lack of diversity in PR, however I see that internships are key whether you are White, Black, Asian, or Latino. I was only thinking from my perspective, but employers need to be smart about hiring, so they want people with experience.

What is Diversity?

2009-08-23T15:38:00.000-07:00

Every single time I am asked this question, I become irritated. I also get very bored rather quickly. Diversity? Are you serious?

I don't know if I am being arrogant, but I don't believe in an entire discussion about this question. It's archaic and a waste of time. It becomes a frilly mess. It becomes "I remember this time when..." Everyone claps. People cry. That is it. The end.

Um, what did that accomplish? Nothing. It is the easy way to discuss diversity--just put people together to talk. See? EASY! So, what should we do instead?

I think we need to put a little more effort into our talks.

First, spend less than 10-15 minutes speaking about the WHAT. We need to look deeper by examining case studies, experiments, and other factual information and draw them into the discussion. We need to be real! Experiences are nice, but once we arm people with facts, that's when things happen. Get with the picture folks. Some people may shake their heads because of individuals from homogenous environments, but they need to stop kidding themselves.

I know people are from small towns, but we need to stop babying them. Those initial 10-15 minute conversations will help out, and the conversation after will empower them. So, be a maverick in the diversity issue. Go past the diversity pow-wows and add something new.

I'm tired of going in circles. Aren't you?

Hello--The Real World Isn't Easy.

2009-08-07T20:20:00.000-07:00

I have preached about the importance of diversity in PR, but after a real time internship in the big Apple, my world has been rocked (or shaken) a little bit.

I know that people think that I have a naive notion of diversity existing in the world (not just in PR), but this is what I believed. However, for a brief 2 months, I have been thrown into the depths of business and its heart--money.

I have always heard individuals tell me that diversity exists when clients ask for diverse people, but in all honesty, I thought this was bullocks. I thought that diversity needed to occur from the inside in--as if we needed to be the change. It frustrated me when people didn't see it like I did--success=diversity.

Well, shucks--I may have been too young to grasp what everyone was saying.

In my perfect world, I was encircled by the world of academia (which I love) and learned theories about what makes good PR and I assumed that this was that. I assumed that everyone knew that logic stood in the side of diversity, but academia, in all its glory, isn't real life.

Business is about profit.

I guess I have been dealing with this issue for a rather long time now because if PR was about profit, then my point was mute. So I have been rather silent for a long period of time, but after rethinking, I came up with a new "enlightened" point of view.

It needs to start with teachers. (don't even roll the eyes)

Teachers, like many of my Grady professors, teach me in a way that I am confident in my abilities. They push me to want more than what I have. How does this relate to diversity?

Simple--empower diversity through students. The most succesful people I know are smart. They are smart because of their teachers and the encouragement they felt. Cliched? I know, but there is always truth in a cliche.

I am starting to see increasing numbers of minorities entering PR--now that they are choosing the major, the skills need to follow.

So, what can you do? Mentor, teach, and be a support. It doesn't matter if you are still college (there is still someone that needs help) and it doesn't matter if you are a CEO (you still need to learn from younger people)--be cognizant of your role in the bigger picture.

Business is driven by profit--we can make diversity profitable if we support the professionals below and above us. It isn't a game to get to the top--it's making our industry better by doing something now.

So, students--
1. Find a mentor.

And, proffesionals & teachers--
1. Find a mentee

You can't surf unless someone teaches you. And you won't get better until you teach.

http://diversifiedpr.blogspot.com/

Hello, I am an Asian American.

2009-05-27T19:48:00.000-07:00

So, if you haven't noticed, I have been gone, and that is putting it lightly. I thought long and hard about why I was feeling like this. Why was I being a baby about blogging? I used to love venting about the social injustices related to diversity disparities within OUR industry and getting feedback, but in a short time frame, I began to slowly lose that fire. Why?

So, it took me close to half a year to figure out, but I think I have it. I am Asian American, and I am in PR. First, I am really trying to be introspective about this, so please note, that I am still a youngster learning about identity while trying to grow as a proffesional.

So, I recently called a man who was Asian and in California and (gasp!), he practiced PR. During the duration of our conversation, he mentioned the difficulty to recruit Asian students to think about PR let alone practice it. Then it hit me, if it's hard in California, imagine the nation. I don't mean to dote on the facts that we are a minority, but it sucks that we are the minority of the minority and no one seems to care.

I have seen staggering facts about how Asian Americans have one of the biggest buying powers in the country, yet the investment related to the fact is almost miniscule. Hispanic and Black PR professional organizations are outnumbering Asian ones at astronomical rates. i am not sad that Hispanic and Black organizations related to PR are growing, I'm just asking, where are all the Asians at?

So, why am I complaining? As sad as it is, I feel alone in this industry at times.

I just wanted to write this blog entry because I don't want people to think that I am merely forgetting about diversity issues in PR. It is far from that. I am just taking time to learn what I need to do to feel empowered to make difference, and not just regarding Asian American issues related to PR but diversity issues as a whole.

So with that, I am back. I hope you didn't forget about me too easily.

Tell me your thoughts.

Answer to Diversity

2009-03-18T13:14:00.001-07:00

I posed a question last week and the answer is....

The answer is 2.

Well, the answer isn't as easy as a math problem, but there are ways to increase awareness about diversity without overdoing it to the point that you are too overzealous and in return, you aren't accomplishing your goal.
Oh, and before beginning, I want to say that this is my opinion. I want everyone to know that I am no expert nor do I teach diversity topics. I am just a student with personal experiences.

So drumroll please...

Well, the answer lies in communication. Let us face it, when faculty, staff, or other individuals hear the term "diversity", they think that they are going to be corralled into a diversity workshop where they "learn" about diversity. This creates a problem. People hate being told to do something that they don't really feel the need to do. Moreover, the 'workshop' is repeated every year, and it kinda gets old, therefore, look at a different tactic.

One way is through a newsletter. Many companies and organizations have it, but they don't utilize it in terms of diversity. Showcase the diverse people in your organization and not just because they are black or white, but because they are unique (they like to knit or are vegan). As time goes one, you will incorporate ethnicity, nationality, etc. This creates a culture in your organization. How? Everyone becomes part of the term diversity. No one is excluded, but moreover, it engages the whole community to talk about diversity.

The second way is to do pro bono work for organizations that are in need of your help. Poverty-ridden areas often need to most help with PR, but they do not have the money to spend. Helping them in turn helps you because you get employees outside of the corporate bubble. They learn therefore they grow therefore your company grows. Moreover, real diversity experience is the best way to teach diversity. Working with the lower socioeconomic section of your town will open your eyes as well as your perspective.

The third thing is hiring. Be truthful. Look at your company. Is there a lack of diversity? If so. look at recruitment in Historically Black Colleges or talking to the multicultural office at a university to have the opportunity to speak about your company. There are talented minority students as well, they just need to be found.

These three tips are not a panacea to the diversity problem in a company, but they are some tips that I have witnessed to work. Try them out-I bet you will see a difference soon.

On a side note, does diversity cost money?

I'm Back! (with a new question)

2009-02-09T16:39:00.000-08:00

So, as all of you might have noticed, I have been on a hiatus of sorts (like I can even deny it, right?), however this mini-vacation was a sort of evaluation on what we need to discuss.

The past few posts have been about diversity as a separate issue from everything else. Let's face it, I have ostracized it, but in all honesty, it is an issue that is dealt with separately all too often, however I want to discuss diversity as a subject that is inter-related with other aspects of PR. I want to pose this question to you- can we have a discussion about PR and diversity in a larger scope or do we need to separate the issue all together?

I really want answers. Why? Well, I want to discuss this because of the economic situation. The less corporations and agencies have in the budget, the less they are willing to spend on 'diversity' related aspects of the company. Diversity, sadly, is at the bottom of the priorities of management. So what? Well, I want to think of ways to integrate the discussion, but I want to hear from you. What do you think? Are diversity-talks doomed to abstract ideas that we go over once or can we incorporate it in the culture of a company?

I'll post my thoughts next week.

Interesting Web sites for the Week of December 8!

2008-12-08T05:13:00.000-08:00

The World Wide Web is huge, therefore I wanted to share some interesting blog posts/articles that are related to diversity. Hope you enjoy! =)

May's New Media: New Media & Minorities:

http://maymedia.blogspot.com/2008/12/new-media-minorities.html

Behind the Spin: Lost in Translation:

http://www.behindthespin.com/features/lost-in-translation

Hispanic PR Wire:

http://www.hispanicprwire.com/news.php?l=in&cha=13&id=2908

If you would like to share some links, e-mail me at Debbielobo@gmail.com. Have a great day!

Diversity in PR; Us vs. Institutionalization

2008-11-23T16:35:00.000-08:00

I preach diversity, but I often get the question...Debbie, what if I am not diverse? Or worse, most people are afraid of me and the things I create ( i.e. the diversity committee), because they think that I am part of a minority club that they are not invited to.

To qualm the fears of those individuals, I wanted to address the issue. In the end, I am tired of being a PR anomaly--a crusader for diversity in the industry. I hate the glaring eyes that think diversity is a joke subject.

So, what do I want? Instead, I want willing allies to help make PR better instead of merely "letting" me do my "thang".

So, let us begin with the question--Debbie, what if I am not diverse?

First, I have to say...Ouch! Why? Having that "I am not diverse" mentality as a PR person is suicide. If you are a good PR professional, you have to understand that you have something to offer (um... a.k.a. something unique?!) If you are a PR person without any kind of "diversity", your career will stop at an early stage; therefore, please stop that thought.

But, what is diversity? Do you think it is race? Is it African-American, Asian, Latino, blah blah blah? Yes? Well, diversity is far more than race. Socio-economics, religion, etc. The world is a diverse place, and race is only one component.

So, the first step is to stop thinking about diversity as you vs. them. That's how we halt progress.

It's us vs. institutionalization (social theory to denote the process of making something (for example particular values and norms, or modes of behavior) become embedded within an organization, social system, or society as an established norm within that system.*) In the case of PR, we have created a narrow point of view. The norm is to look at a client and a campaign from the eyes of a white female. Granted, this is not always true, but most often, it is. And though, we try to look from another point of view, it is embedded within us to look from one singular viewpoint--our own; therefore, we have to challenge that norms that confine the growth of our industry.

Then, comes the next question...Debbie, how can we fight institutionalization?

Well, the answer to this question is not so cut and dry. I do have a few suggestions, but I want to hear from you before I say my piece. What do you think we can do? Or, is it a subject that we cannot fight? Think from a student's perspective, a teacher's perspective, and then a professionals point of view. If you disagree, then go on, comment. I want ALL sides. I can handle the criticism.

I will post my thoughts in a week, but till then, what do YOU think?

(*institutionalization definition taken from wikipedia.com)

Public Relations Diversity a Bad Idea?

2008-11-04T05:06:00.000-08:00

I was searching the web for diversity related PR blogs, and one blog post caught my attention. I ALWAYS want to hear the other side--this post talks about diversity as it relates to public relations, but this PR professional believes it is a "false idol". It's interesting. Take a look, and tell me what you think.

http://barnettmarcom.blogspot.com/2006/10/diversity-in-public-relations-great.html

Why do you think diversity matters?

2008-11-02T18:46:00.000-08:00

I have preached about my beliefs about diversity and PR, but I want to hear what other professionals, students and professors think. Is it THAT imperative or am I making a big deal about an issue that is present in all industries?

I want to see what YOU think so that I can update this blog to answer the questions and concerns that everyday PR people have. The content (i.e research, blogs, Web sites) for diversity and PR is lacking, therefore I am calling on you to help me gauge why diversity is or isn't important in relation to the PR industry?

Don't be afraid to play devil's advocate! This is a place for OPEN conversation. Here are some questions to ponder (but don't limit yourself to the questions asked):

1. Why has it taken so long to address diversity in PR?

2. Though diversity niche fields exists, they are constantly coming and going--what does this signify about diversity and PR ?

3. DO you think diversity in relation to race is being emphasized too much--should diversity in experience be more relevant?

4. Men are often found in small numbers when looking at the entire PR field, but what about women in executive roles?

5. Do colleges emphasize the importance of diversity in relation to communication? Should they emphasize it more?

So, with that being said, what do you think?

The Power of Social Media

2008-10-08T07:26:00.000-07:00

Before I begin this post, I want to say my disclaimer. I love social media, but I believe that it is not a panacea for diversity or any other problem in the industry. It is merely a tactic that we, as practitioners, teachers, and students, use to communicate more efficiently and to a wider audience.

So, with that disclaimer--I think social media is a new-wave superpower. To some, referring to social media as a superpower is over-the-top and somewhat geeky, but in my experience, social media has empowered me in so many different ways.

But, why should you believe me? I have a biased view on the topic of social media...right?

Knowing that audiences, like you, are more skeptical than ever, I wanted to walk MY walk to demonstrate why social media is breaking ground. How do I do that? Well, with a couple of examples from my own social media experiment--my blog. When I found out about social media, I chose to combat the evil of homogeneity in the industry of PR. Okay, so that was nerdy, but nonetheless, it is MY cause.

So first, a little history. I started a blog entitled "Diversified PR" this semester.

Why? I love public relations. I love diversity, and wa-la!

That was the general premise, however by writing about my passion, I found others who share my zeal for diversity. Whoopee you say?

Well, whoopee indeed because the is where the true power of social media is found. I have networked with a public relation's researcher in Oklahoma to the former diversity chair in PRSA to a PR practitioner in China. I am a testament to what social media can achieve.

It can cross borders, but moreover, it can create communication between diverse individuals. And not just in terms of ethnicity, but much more--these individuals bring diversity of experience to the table.

Moreover, social media allows much needed dialogue to occur between generations. I am an undergraduate student. To some, I am not very influential, and though it is sad. it is how things are, but when I start to get backing from professors and industry leaders, I become a powerful voice. I must say--I feel quite empowered.

It is true that I don't have a new invisibility power or new telekinetic powers, yet I am still better because of this blog. I communicate my concerns, frustrations, and more, to individuals around the world. I am practicing PR through the web. My blog allows me to participate in two-way communication. I help shape my industry. Though it is small, I am still part of the change.

To me, diversity is an issue. I could not deny it. I could not ignore it. So, instead of fighting it, I acknowledged the facts, and I wrote about it.

"Diversified PR" is one blog, but it has already started a conversation between student, practitioners, and industry leaders. Hopefully, it will begin to generate action. The fact that I can become a catalyst to change is the beauty of social media, and thought I have spoken about the relevance of new and social media in diversity before, and I have preached about the opportunity in these tactics to companies, college, and agencies, it is not until I immersed myself in it that I began to believe.

In the end, I want people to know that social media is a powerful tactic, and though it won't save the world, it is still changing it. What will you do with this new power? Spiderman's uncle said it best, "With great power comes great responsibility." I used mine to address diversity, what hero will you be?

Career Workshop Equals a Sigh of Relief

2008-09-27T06:58:00.001-07:00

I have been meaning to write about a career workshop that I attended last week, but I have had an onslaught of midterms for school lately...so, a week later, here is the overdue post!

The workshop, which was held on September 26, 2008 by Porter Novelli and THE LAGRANT FOUNDATION, was very informative for a me, so I wanted to share.

As we talked about beginning and maintaining a career in marketing, PR, and advertising, some of the tips that professionals gave were the following:

-Always ask questions! When you are in an interview and you are asked if you have any questions, ALWAYS ASK A QUESTION. If you don't, then you look like you are not interested in working for them.

-When you only have 2 minutes to network, ask questions. Those questions will often allow for the timeframe to go from 2 minutes to BILLIONS of hours (well, not billions, but more than before). People like to talk about themselves, so assuage them.

-When you only have 2 minutes to network, ask INTERESTING questions. Don't be a bore. Asking a good question makes an impression.

-Sell yourself! Make yourself wanted by other companies and agencies. You are a product whether you know it or not.

-Don't take an unpaid internship with a for-profit company. They are swindling you so hard.

-Act professional BUT be yourself. If you are a cookie cutter candidate, you will be lost in the pool of applicants.

-Lastly, don't give up. Everyone knows its hard to get a good internship nowdays. Its even more difficult to find a great job, but if you stick through it, you will end up doing what you love.

These tips may seem like common sense, but I never thought about the true importance of some of these things. It is imperative that you learn the ins and outs of finding work, because if you don't someone else will-just plain and simple logic.

In conclusion, the workshop gave me a sense of relief. Some of these account executives had a difficult time finding jobs and internships as well, so if they are succedding, then so can I (AND YOU).

Overall, I can sum this day up with a few words: A SIGH OF RELIEF!

On a side note, I wanted to rank my top 80's songs. These songs are for Dr. Karen Russell. She kindly gave me a list of songs I should listen to on one of her blog posts.

These are in no particular order:

Africa, Toto

Man in the Mirror, Michael Jackson

Uptown Girl, Billy Joel

Total Eclipse of the Heart, Bonnie Taylor

Jessie's Girl, Rick Springfield

Jack and Dianne, John Mellencamp

Material Girl, Madonna

My Sharona, The Knack

Take on Me- A-Ha

Tainted Love- Soft Cell

UGAConnect Conference; Diversity and Social Media

2008-09-20T09:38:00.000-07:00

I learned so much at UGAConnect, but one thing that I found interesting is a word that kept being thrown around at the conference- community.

I want to elaborate on this because, in my opinion, diversity is integral in community.

Social Media is ALL about community, and though, diversity wasn't directly being targeted at the conference, I saw huge potential in terms of multiculturalism and pr, within the conversations that were occurring between professionals, educators, and students.

One aspect is the idea of a conversation.

A two-way dialogue is important when anything is being broadcasted within the social media sphere; this becomes an asset to our cause! This characteristic of new media allows minorities to be part of the conversation.

Look at this blog; aren't you reading? I was allowed to speak though a blog, which is a form of social media.

Common Sense?

Well, yes, but no real efforts have occurred with social media in terms of connecting minorities with the field of public relations.

The possibilities are endless; professionals, educators, and students who are all invested in elevating the industry to a higher level by increasing the importance of diversity in the field.

One outcome: the ability to connect minority professionals to minority students and recent graduates . These individuals will become vital in a student's success.

I know that my passion for diversity has been fueled by two of my mentors, Kim L. Hunter and Bill Imada. They are always willing to help me with anything that I want to pursue in terms of diversity and communications. I have been lucky in finding mentors, but social media will make this easier to accomplish for other students.

I can only imagine fueling the passions of other students for diversity through facebook discussions? or through twitter? or creating a LinkedIn social sphere?

Moreover, PRSA could get involved! They could promote their multicultural scholarship. They could provide a connection to companies who are looking for diversity with students who are diverse.

This is just one aspect of social media that could help our cause, but what are your thoughts?

Is social media an asset or an obstacle?

UGA Connect: Why do I care?

2008-09-19T07:02:00.000-07:00

So, today...is UGAConnect and I am one of the few lucky students who will be attending the event, but what does this have to do with diversity?

Hmmmmm, well...first if you do not know about UGAConnect, let me give you a short background blip about this conference:

UGAConnect is a Public Relations & Social Media conference for professionals, educators & students that is held at the University of Georgia. This year it is sponsored by the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication and Porter Novelli.

Hmmmm, so what does this have to do with diversity in public relations?

Well, I am WAY pumped...because of my reason for attending.

As you may know, diversity in communications is my passion and I believe that social media is allowing greater multiculturalism in the dialogue of communications—I want to utilize social networking to reach minorities so that they can help the industry in growing.

Moreover, I want to be effective in the space. The bottom line is that social media allows me to reach diverse people and in turn I can empower them to make a difference.

Deep right?

Well, it just common sense. Technology allows me to reach you. It allows you to reach me. The opportunity to educate about ANYTHING is limitless. Social media is changing how we interact--this conference is going to be a BIG deal to me and for many others out there.

I will update you on how it goes...

Frustrations: From the Mind of Asian PR student!

2008-09-17T08:14:00.000-07:00

Today, I was sitting in the library...pondering life, and what I wanted to do. Then, in an instant, I was scared.

Why do I not have a premiere internship yet?

Why am I struggling to find a job?

Why are companies not after me?

First, I am not trying to use this post as a marketing ploy to get a job. It is far from that! However, I am frustrated. So I wanted to look at two aspects that are hindering me and probably a major subset of minority leaders on campuses across the nation. I have done everything in MY power to be marketable, but employers want to see EXPERIENCE. Don't get me wrong, I have some experience, but I do not have the credentials of a student who has money--- ooooo why did I go there?

Like many minority students, I have to pay for college on my own. I have to pay for rent on my own. I have to pay for food on my own. It's hard when you have to have experience to gain experience. I can't afford to take a semester off. I am in a bind. This is one aspect that I want PR agencies who are not a non-profit to hear--it is not right having an internship program that is unpaid--it is a rip off!

Another reason involves extracurriculars.

I am very active in my college campus--in MINORITY issues, but in my opinion, employers are only looking at involvement in career related organizations. I am a victim of this fact. I'm president of various multicultural organizations from the Asian American Student Association to APIAVote, but I have limited involvement in professional organizations. It hurts me! Minority students have to choose between their culture and work. It's sad!

I wish that my passion as well as the passion of others for diveristy issues would resonate in companies, but I feel like companies just talk the talk. They try to fill their quota. I know that I am generalizing ALL companies, but it is true for a lot of organizations.

I love PR. I love it to death! I think that is a great field, but it is disheartening to speak about diversity in the field when I cannot even have a legitimate conversation with people who care about the issue.

I want to help people and I do not think enough people want to do that!

So for professional agencies that speak about diversity, you have to walk you talk. Students are interested in the field, but they need to know that they are wanted. Communications needs to revamp in terms of their diversity recruitment. We need to look at the entire industry and make changes that are appropriate for the field.

I may make people angry at this post, but I have to be real-DIVERSITY IS LACKING! Come on people--look around, do you see diversity?

So, if you can make a difference, step up and do it! We need you!

We are losing talented minorities because industry leaders are not part of the cause. They give the task to other people, but it needs to be a collaborative effort from EVERYONE! Sighs, I am only one student, I need some backing... will you back me up?

Diversity Committee... Part Dos!

2008-09-12T05:30:00.000-07:00

The diversity committee met for a brief 45 minutes this week, and though we are a small group--I see a lot of potential in this sub-committee of PRSSA.

Here is the project that we are currently working on:

Public Relations Packet: PR packet will be distributed to ALL multicultural organizations on campus.

Part One--Includes public relations resources that student organizations can utilize including free publicity, how to write a press release, how to pitch a story, how to create a basic website, etc.

Part Two--The do's and don't of public relations for their organization.

Part Three--Research and Evaluation Examples/Template for their organization to use.

Part Four--Diversity committee contact information

The packet will be given to a targeted audience which includes Multicultural Greek Council, National Pan-Hellenic Council, Multicultural Services and Programs, and International Student Life.

Their are seven individuals working on the packet, and it should be done by next week. The beginning of our cause has begun--hooray!

If you have any ideas on what else we can put in the packet, please do not hesitate to put your ideas on the comment section and I will bring up to the entire committee.

It will be directed to their public relations chair

Any Ideas?

2008-09-09T05:45:00.000-07:00

The first meeting for the diversity committee will be September 10th and I have a slew of ideas for what PRSSA can do to help UGA as well as Grady in recruiting diversity, BUT as a blogger...I want to know other ideas.

If you have any ideas, please do not hesitate to comment or contact me.

This blog is dedicated to increasing diversity...but I need people to help!

It is not about MY ideas...its about a collaborative effort to make the diversity happen.

I am passionate about this topic...yes! I know that, but at the same time... I want this initiative to be a community effort. I want others to be invested in this cause. I know diversity does not happen over night--It happens when people are open to change and are willing to bring their ideas to the table.

So again, if you have a comment on what we can do, please post it! Or email me at debbielobo@gmail.com . I love getting feedback.

Some cliched saying once said that "One person can change the world." ..IMAGINE what more that one person can achieve?

Diversity Research pt.2

2008-09-03T04:49:00.000-07:00

First, I wanted to thank Dr. Russel for giving me a few tips on finding diversity research!

I found a research study yesterday from the Journal of Public Relations Research entitled "Diversity Issues and Public Relations" by Linda Childers Hon and Brigitta Brunner from the University of Florida [oh how I shudder at the mere clicks from typing University of Florida--true bulldawg =) but I must admit that it is a good study]. However, the study used qualitative interviews from 28 practitioners and 5 executives and asked them about their organizations diversity strategy.

I am not done analyzing the study, however I wanted to speak about some of the comments from the interviews.
Before I do so, I have to acknowledge something, these people who are interviewed are professionals. Sighs! It is scary reading some of their answers!

One participant mentioned that she had never heard of diversity.

The interviewers had to give her a generic definition before she could even answer their questions.

After the explanation, she stated, "It's old news."

"Holey moley" is what I have to say. These are people who are working in OUR industry,

I have to put my 2 cents in and write about this comment before continuing with my life.

Having diversity in an organization is one way that a company can be sensitive to the issues of everyone. It's true that not everyone will be happy--but at least with a good diversity plan, a company can recognize and begin to understand the spectrum of publics that they are dealing with. A less diverse employee base will result in an organization ignoring potential clients.

Anyway, I will update soon on the rest of the study, but this is quite an interesting topic. Oh my, do I enjoy research...?

No diversity research?

2008-09-02T07:38:00.000-07:00

So I have this assignment to find research in public relations in one of my classes...and I wanted to look at diversity and public relations.

I have searched for billions of hours [well not billions, but pretty dang long] for this specific subject in research, and I have to be frank, the search is not going very well.

I have found 2-3 full research articles on this topic which is very slim in my opinion. Diversity in communications is a subject that PRSA has pushing for a couple of years now, and the industry still does not have relevant research on the topic.

I am student and this is my first time truly looking at research, therefore I might be off in my comment about 'slim-findings' on the subject of diversity and public relations.

Hmmm, it's a bit disheartening for me to see this. The latest study I found was conducted in 2000 by a professor at the University of Florida. She even stated the lack of studies conducted on this topic--and that was 8 years ago.

If anyone has any suggestions on where I can find some studies on the subject of public relations and diversity...please contact me.

I am in need of some reassurance that diversity matters and that research is being conducted in the field.

Asian American Student Association PR efforts

2008-08-29T07:42:00.001-07:00

I know this is a blog about PR and diversity, but I wanted to speak about the successful PR efforts of the UGA Asian American Student Association.

Before anything, I want to give a little background about the The University of Georgia Asian American Student Association [AASA].

It was was restarted in 2003 and it has had a difficult time reestablishing itself due to a few variables including but not limited to the plethora of language barriers, the spectrum of majors for Asian students and much more, however this year the executive board has done a fantastic job in recruiting freshman and current UGA students.

First from a PR standpoint, we had to look at the whole group. Minorities are different--that is the first premise people must acknowledge, however keeping that in mind, the sender must also acknowledge that they also share similarities with the majority.

So with this in mind, how do we get hundreds of students excited about an Asian organization when they don't relate themselves with the Asian race but instead think of themselves as a subset of the race like Filipino, Taiwanese, Chinese, Korean, etc?

And moreover, these subsets already have organizations themselves.

Hmmmm, interesting right?

Well, the approach was simple. First know that they are students first. Don't over complicate a situation. What do students want?

They want help. They want resources. They want a reason to join.

We, as AASA, must provide them [students] with what they want.

After assessing this--we looked at ways we can incorporate this with their culture.

The goal became clear--AASA is to be a resource for Asian students to succeed in school, while gaining friendships, along with becoming more aware of Asian issues across the board.

We implemented a mentoring program [FoundAsian] for freshman and upperclassmen, where freshman became mentees and upperclassmen became mentors. This was phenomenal. It did a few things. It broke the 'model minority' stereotype. It allowed members to feel needed. And lastly, it became a resource to build resumes and garner relationships.

Second, we looked at all the other Asian clubs [Filipino, Korean, Vietnamese, etc.] and assessed what AASA can do for them.

It was simple--these clubs are small. AASA is big [or is suppose to be].

We had to bridge the gap. We had to welcome other organizations and explain that AASA is trying to help them succeed by allowing them to be part of a community.

One voice versus many voices?
Which louder?
Their issues will be heard,if they buy into the unification that AASA is trying to do.

Soon, we saw response and though it was slow, response was there.

As more organizations joined in, more organizations wanted to be part of the movement.

This Thursday on August 28th, UGA AASA had the biggest turnout in the club's history.

People were genuinely excited--PR efforts are still happening, but the beginning of the year has begun. I cannot wait to see what AASA will do next!

This is an example of minority PR, and how looking at the target audience allows the goals and objectives to be defined.

Diversity Comittee

2008-08-27T17:58:00.000-07:00

Approximately, 2 hours ago (6:30 pm), UGA PRSSA had its first meeting!

WOOT WOOT!

It went off with out a hitch, but in the meeting, the NEW diversity initiative was announced! I was so proud! I think I cried a little.

Anyway, I am heading the diversity committee this year, and I am so excited to get started in promoting diversity in public relations. I feel UBER passionate about multicultural PR so this was a culmination of everything the executive board, Dr. Jones, and I have brainstormed!

I didn't see the entire list of people interested in the diversity initiative, but I saw MILLIONS of people signing up...so WOOT WOOT again!

If you are a UGA PRSSA member, and would like to get more information, please do NOT hesitate to email me at Debbielobo@gmail.com. I heart emails!

Some of the ideas that we may be implementing this year are the following:

1. Workshop for minority organization's on campus about PR and what their organization can do to promote themselves.

2. Minority Scholarships for PRSSA dues.

3. Attend the GSPA conference and speak about diversity and public relations in Grady.

4. SO MUCH MORE!

The Democratic national convention uses minorities to recruit voters

2008-08-27T04:57:00.000-07:00

The Democratic national convention uses minorities to recruit voters.

http://www.angryasianman.com/2008/08/convention-via-youtube.html

I was browsing around a favorite blog of mine www.angryasianman.com, when I came across a post about youtube videos that displayed prominent minorities urging others to get out to vote.

I posted this because it displays two things that I saw as very relevant to Diversified PR. One involves the use of new media [i.e. youtube] to get minorities to vote. As many of you know, new media is booming--and this is a prime example of how a PR tactic is being utilized toward minorities.

I am passionate about voting so this struck me as an AWESOME outreach tactic for the Democrats. Obama is really utilizing new media, and involving minorities in his campaign is crucial.

During the primaries, Obama lost to Clinton in California--this is huge since the Asian and Latino population is astronomical in Cali. Therefore, he did not reach out to those voters. He is changing that with his efforts now!

So kudos Obama and the Democrats!

Way to be aware of minorities in the U.S.

UGA PRSSA MEETING

2008-08-26T19:44:00.000-07:00

UGA PRSSA will have it's first meeting this year at Sanford hall Wed. 6:30 pm and guess who is talking about the new diversity committee?

Hmmmm...if you said me, well...your SO SMART!

I will trying to recruit me in my efforts to increase diversity in PR as well as to spread the wonderful name of PRSSA to multicultural organizations at UGA.

How can you get involved?

hmmm...well, come to the meeting!
Listen to me along with a handful of other great people and if anything peeks your interest, then contact me.

I can't wait to get everyone excited about diversity and PR!

Public Relations Society of America Strives for Diversity

2008-08-26T09:36:00.001-07:00

http://www.prsany.org/index.php?s=diversity

I searched in GOOGLE for diversity and PR today and found a website for the PRSA NY chapter. The site includes research about the diversity in PR and what is being done about it. Its quite interesting and a breath of fresh air, for me, to know that PRSA is aware of the problem in relation to diversity.

Here is a quote from the site:

"The findings revealed significant dissatisfaction with the PR profession's commitment to diversity, perceived pervasive discrimination, and widespread concern that multicultural practitioners are relegated to a slow professional track."
~Diversity in Public Relations - A Call to Action

Why diversity and public relations?

2008-08-26T07:54:00.000-07:00

Why did I create this blog?

I had an idea for this blog in early summer, but never got around to writing about diversity in relation to public relations until now.

Why do I care about such a specific topic in PR?

It began when I sat in my first PR class in the wonderful Grady College at the University of Georgia. Don’t get me wrong–I love GRADY!!! I love…love…love it! BUT, I felt alone. I felt like I could not be myself. I could not talk like I usually talk. I could not act like I usually act. Why?

I was one of a only a few minorities in my class.

It was disheartening when I looked at the person to my left and right, and saw no one like me. I have always been active on campus with multicultural organizations, however I lacked proffesional development because I HATED going to a meeting or class because I felt like an outsider.

THIS WAS NOT RIGHT!

I should excel. I should be comfortable. I should be able to be myself.

So, early summer I began to contact our PRSSA chapter in order to increase diversity not just in Grady but in the PR major as well.

I talked to Dr. Jones who is one of the most open advisors I have ever spoken too, and she encouraged me to take action.

I did.

With the help of my wonderful mentors Mr. Bill Imada and Mr. Kim L. Hunter, I took action.

I drafted a proposal to give to PRSSA and…guess what happened?

We now have a diversity committee for PRSSA!

This blog is to going to speak about trials and tribulations of increasing diversity in an organization and in a college!

Wish us luck!

Debbie Ebalobo