(Live blogging from the PRSA International Conference in San Diego)
3,000 public relations practitioners – including 1,000 PR students – are packed into the Opening General Session in San Diego for the PRSA International Conference with PRSA Chair & CEO Mike Cherenson and Arianna Huffington, founder of Huffington Post (7million visitors/month) and best-selling author and co-host “Left, Right & Center”
Series of quotes / statements from Arianna…
‘There’s a level of gullibility in the public and you have to be careful how you exploit it’ – joking about those who believe she cultivated her accent.
‘No matter who you are – no doubt that the people you are communicating to absorb news differently now.’
You consume old media sitting on the couch – you consume new media galloping on the horse – (will.i.am statement via Arianna Huffington)
‘The great thing about the current state of communication is that things can be course corrected almost as fast as they are disseminated.’
We are all so used to massive streams of information there now must be drama for something to stand out (aka ‘Balloon Boy). All information must be framed in a dramatic way to draw attention to the core issue you are communicating.
How can we use the reality that people respond to drama to put the spotlight on issues that need to be addressed?
We all have the capacity for empathy… touching people’s hearts is so much more important than touching people’s minds. It’s the most powerful way to get people to act.
It’s about listening – not just talking. When you listen it is amazing how much wisdom is out there. Creating the circumstances where you listen is just as much important as anything else.
(Arianna called out PRSA in a great way at the end – because she was only speaking to the crowd and not given the chance to engage and hear from us back. Great point.)
We are no longer living in the ‘either / or’ world – the new economy is the linked economy. People who get that will change our profession. It’s not just about proprietery content anymore.
Promiscuity may not be good in relationships but it’s very good online
- Jess
“If you’re talking, then you’re not learning.”
Lived by that quote for years.
Comment by dangerready — November 10, 2009 @ 2:45 pm |