One of our own PRSSA members, Kelsey Boyd, attended the PRSA 2008 Southwest District Conference. Below are her thoughts from attending:
“April 9-11, I had the privilege of attending the PRSA 2008 Southwest District Conference in Little Rock. The conference topic was “Public Relations in the New Media World.” Throughout the week, speakers discussed the importance of new media such as blogging, podcasting and social networking.
One of the most influential lessons I learned from the conference is the growing need for honest, open communication in blogs. I learned that though blogging is risky business, it is necessary in the new media world. When bloggers receive negative comments from readers, they must respond to them truthfully and attempt to address the readers concerns. After all, a public relations practitioner’s primary concern is with his or her public, so what better way to relate to that public than to directly, ethically respond to a blog comment?”
Kelsey Boyd
PRSSA ChapterPresident
Arkansas Tech University PRSSA Chapter
Blog readers and bloggers out there, what are your thoughts?