The Lead

So the question is, will people REALLY use blogs to seek out additional information to add to the overload? I guess the jury is still out, but hey, I guess we’ll never know unless we give it a shot.

Lots of questions came up when Bob asked us to be the initial posters on Padilla Speer Beardsley’s foray into the blogosphere (what a stupid word!). One of us wanted to know if we could mention clients (we can, but we need to disclose they’re clients). Another wanted to know if we could mention competitors (yes, feel free, if they’re doing something interesting, but be nice). I was wondering if we could drop an f-bomb here and there (apparently not).

The biggest question, thought, came when we discussed topics. Can I talk about the latest issue of “Desperate Housewives?” (Eva Longoriahhhh!)? Can I “dis” the Vikings (longtime Packer fan)? Can I describe what I had for breakfast (egg beaters and wheat toast)?

The answer, we were told, is “whatever we want,” as long as it has some relevance to the field of strategic communications.

That got the wheels spinning (it happens occasionally). I teach an introductory class in public relations at the University of Minnesota (beer money), and during the first lecture, I described how everyone is exposed to public relations and strategic communications on a daily basis (most of us dozens of times a day). In addition, regardless of whether we go into public relations as a career, or choose another path – law, human resources, marketing, accounting, etc. – there’s a need for all of us to understand what role public relations plays in literally every career in our economy. PR is, after all, a tool for management to use in effectively running an organization.

So, here’s my logic. If postings on this blog need to relate to strategic communications, and if strategic communications indeed impacts literally every aspect of society and our economy, well then shouldn’t I be able to write about pretty much anything I want? I mean, if A=B, and B=C, then A=C, right?

At least that’ll be my defense the first time I get a call from our CEO about one of my postings…

Thanks for visiting…lock the door when you leave.