The Effects New Media has on Globalization

When the Internet came out a few years ago, the world instantly shrunk. Business was able to take place from anywhere in the world at the click of a mouse. Suddenly, there was no such thing as a big world, yet, instead, the world was as Thomas Friedman explains in The World is Flat a global village. In the last year or so, more and more technology has come to the service making a drastic difference in how public relations practitioners do there jobs as well as how our world functions.

Large corporations for years have been struggling to find ways to launch global campaigns, and very few have actually mastered it due to cultural differences. Something that is a massive success in one country could be a complete failure in another. Global PR agencies have been formed as an attempt to get an inside voice in the culture and global offices are created, which are all smart business moves, but now there is an even easier way. You can speak with the industry leaders or the businessmen/women in the industry you hope to launch in, but what about the consumers. Social networks and blogs, especially, are allowing PR practitioners to get insight into the culture and community. They are now able to read what is going on in the lives of the average consumer, what is it that they want or need, and how do they want it delivered? It is important to realize that this is not one-way communication. It is actually a two-way communication model. PR practitioners have the opportunity to discuss issues or ideas with people in the communities through blog comments or messages, which has never been an option in the past. It is really giving PR professionals the opportunity to genuinely connect with the community and cultures they wish to learn more about.



Hemingway brings up a very important point in the previous video. A PR professional needs to be aware and sensitive to the ground they are entering. More importantly, they should never lie about their intentions when contacting a blogger or during a conversion through online technology. Hemingway says "in the digital space everyone can here you scream...you really have to be honest," which is extremely interesting and true. In all the noise online, there are always lies, therefore, it is important to be a honest with your audience to set yourself apart. Also, you need to be conscious of what messages you are sending as well as where the power in the conversation is. It is important to let them run the conversation and have the power just as much as it is for you. That will be a great way of participating in two-way communication, which, in turn, will improve your chances of a strong relationship in the culture you wish to enter.

Some Insight into Obama's Campaign

Obama is not only the first African American president of America, but he is also the first president to bring the youth out of hibernation. According to the national exit polls, more youth voters cast their ballots this year than previous years dating all the way back to 1972 when the voting age was lowered to 18. The question is how has he done it? 

Whether it was Obama or his campaign managers, hats go of to them because they actually did some research into voters. The youth of America had been absent to the voting booth for the past few years and previous candidates did not seem to mind. They, as well as the majority of the elder population, don't have much faith in the youth of America. Obama saw the void and instead of ignoring them as others did, he embraced the opportunity to speak to the future of our country. "Young people do vote, they do matter, and when you pay attention to them, they pay attention to you," said Sujatha Jahagirdar, program director of the Student Public Interest Research Groups' New Voters Project. "The recognition that young people are a potent political force and that they are incredibly engaged citizens is exciting and long overdue," (Lipka, 2008)

Obama's campaign was focused around winning the youth vote, but he did it in a way that they would understand. In other words, he found where they hang out and spoke to them in terms that they would understand. He had a Facebook page,a blog, Youtube videos, and, something that in my opinion put him ahead, text messaging. Any candidate could put messages out in these mediums, but it was also the message that was being portrayed. Obama made them feel important. Students and young adults are the future of the country, they have power, and Obama has been the first candidate to praise their presence.



Not only did he make them feel important, but he opened up and showed who he was. He made it possible for young voters to relate to him.



There is a lot to be learned from the Obama Campaign, and I think that it can be said that he has now given an extra push for technology. For all of you out there who were not sure of the effects of the new media...well the results are there. Obama's campaign is not just a show of what new media can do as far as action in the polls, it also shows the way our world is moving. It is no longer the strong leaders of our country that have all the power or the opinion leaders, but, times are beginning to shift to where the general public is gaining power.

PR Banned from Second Life

Second Life is a new phenomenon that has caught on in recent years. If you don't like your real life, try Second Life. In fact, people have actually quit their actual jobs and joined the Second Life work force and built lives in a virtual dreamland where they can be anything they want and anywhere they want. Yes, it is a little bit strange, but our world is becoming more and more virtual. Since PR is so apparent in reality, why would it not be in a virtual world. There is only on problem with this, the citizens of Second Life have voted and it was decided to ban PR and marketing gurus.

The people of Second Life feel as though the PR practitioners are ruining their community and pitching ideas that are not even relevant to the community, but what does that mean for text 100 the "first" PR agency in Second Life.



As of now, no announcements have been made about how this will be regulated or who exactly will be banned. Is it just the major agencies trying to get PR in Second Life or is it any person working within the PR industry, but how can that be determined within a virtual world. Also, something that I find extremely interesting within this whole thing is why is it that Second Life feels that they have the power to regulate the Internet when it is not even done on a bigger account. Yes, they have the copyright and power of the sight, but I find it interesting that they are trying to regulate such a large world. What are they trying to say about PR in the real world? That PR professionals are ruining the happiness and function of the world?

I do agree with creators of Second Life on that fact that a PR practitioner should not be pitching wrong ideas or not be in the know of the community they are entering. A good PR practitioner should know everything about Second Life if they wish to launch a product or run a PR campaign there. So, with that in mind, it is a PR professionals fault if they did not properly do his/her job and for that I apologize on behalf of the PR community. Is it really necessary to ban all of PR from the virtual community? Imagine if the real world did that for every mistake we have made in the past. The industry would have been gone years ago. Yes, I am sure that readers out there are asking the question of WHO CARES? Well for anyone that is interested in the movement of news and the ability of easy access to current events, you should care because without PR professionals, it would not be an easy task and the world would go back to one-way biased stories.