The Dreaded "um"

Growing up my dad was a stickler for public speaking. If you ever observe my causal speaking habits you will notice that I keep my "ums" to a minimum. During a public speaking event my dad and I would sit in the crowd, and some times still do, and count how many "ums" that speaker says. A silly game, but the reason behind it stuck. I may shake, I may stutter but during a speech you will never hear me say the dreaded word. 

For this week's post I chose the article "The Truth About Public Speaking, Someone is Watching You" by Ed Barks. The article talks about how during speeches the author will not only listen to the speech but analyze the manner which it has been given. It is my dad's little game all over again but more in depth. The author takes in account the delivery, audience attention and whether or not the audience bolts for the door after the completion of the speech. The title of the article is perfect. Someone is watching you, possibly my dad and I or this author. 

Watch out and watch your "ums", I'm counting!

The Article can be found here:     http://aboutpublicrelations.net/ucbarks1.htm

"It's a Katherine day!"

Previously, I messed up and wrote a blog on an article when I was suppose to write about myself. Therefore I do believe that it is time to write a little synopsis of who I am and how I came to create this blog. 

My name is Katherine Farmer, though, it has been a long time since someone called actually me Katherine. Katie is my name of choice presently, though according to my mother I had a hard time choosing between Katie and Katherine. I would wake up in the morning and proclaim that it was a "Katherine Day". I would refuse to respond to anything else.

I attend Georgia College and State University where there is currently only one other Katie Farmer attending. This same Katie Farmer has been following me around since middle school and I have yet to be free of her. In middle school our files and schedules would often get mixed up until she finally had to change her name to Kate. I thought I was free of her when my family moved from Duluth to Hartwell but, unfortunately, we met back up at the same college. Funny how life makes silly things like that happen.

Mass Communications is my major with a concentration in Public Relations and Advertising. I'm still dabbling with what I want to do with my major, so much so that I couldn't decide on just one concentration so I had to chose two! Law school has been the plan since I was really little and I would still like to at least attempt to pursue that. I plan to sign up for the LSAT course next semester. Wish me luck!

I have been leaning towards public relations over advertising for about two semesters now. I like creating plans and working hard to set them through. My mom always said that my goal in life should not be to be the prettiest or the smartest but to be the hardest worker. I work at my work ethic everyday to make it stronger. I'm not a girl that will sit in the corner while everyone else sets up chairs. If something needs to be done, I will do it.

Twitter

Oh Twitter. It all started the day my two little feet stepped into PR-Admin class. Thus far, it has been a struggle for me to maintain a twitter, a blog, and a facebook. Too much technology for one tiny gal. I have gotten better at "tweeting" especially after the lesson on Twitter in class. I'm not sure love would be the word I would use to describe Twitter at this point. Tolerate would be a better word but, hopefully I will develop a fascination for it later on. After reading the assignment on tuesday I was forced to figure out a way to send 15 @reply messages. A task that I didn't find easy. I persevered and I have now successfully sent 15 @ replys and 1 direct message to the professor. Job well done. Hopefully me and Twitter will be better friends soon. Happy Tweeting!

"Media to-do list 2009" By Margo Mateas

The United States economy is on the mind of the majority of America at the moment. I picked the article "Media to-do list 2009" because I found it very in-tune with todays world. Media Relations is having to adjust its pitching practices because of the dwindling economy. The article talks about how the "long cynical about corporate do-gooders and ethical leadership" media will have to change in order to adjust and start pitching positive stories about corporations doing the right things for their employees. 

Here is the list of things to do in order to be part of the new developments:

1. Prepare to have your subject-matter experts articulate your plan for the future.

2. Green and eco-friendly stores will be important, but only as they show others how to become more environmentally responsible- or demonstrate cutting-edge breakthrough that will alter the way we do things on a grand scale.

3. Prepare more minorities to serve as spokespeople and subject matter experts, because there will be a greater demand for their visibility.

Obama's campaign wrapped around "Change", but I never considered change would include myself and the profession I am aiming to be part of.