Thinking Back 5 Years: Global PR Blog Week

John Cass has asked alumni of the first Global PR Blog Week to answer some questions.  I find it impossible that it has been five years since that great event!

1) What was the significance of the Global PR Blog Week for you?

It was the first time the nascent PR blogging community came together to work on educating our peers.  Those of use who were early bloggers saw the potential of all the emerging conversational media, and were eager to share it, as well as frustrated by the huge amount of skepticism we were running into every day.  Now, five years on, our enthusiasm has been vinidicated.  But there is still lots of work to be done!

2) What were the lasting effects of the Global PR Blog Week?

Many fruitful collaborations were birthed as we all got to know each other and met new people.  I think we made a read impact on the global PR community, and many of us continue to strive to educate, encourage, criticize our peers.  The spirit of open collaboration and open learning continues.

3) How did the Global PR Blog week influence you and the industry?

I'd like to think it was successful in opening people's eyes to the possibilities of social media (before that term was widely used).  As I review what was written, much of it remains valid today.  Certainly we have seen changes, successes and failures, as well as a myriad of new tools, but many of the fundamental attributes -- or perhaps I should say attitudes -- of the online world haven't changed at all.

4) Reviewing the post(s) you wrote for the Global PR Blog week what has changed? What has not changed, since you wrote the post?

Certainly I think that people have become more sophisticated in their knowledge of how social media works, how to successfully use the various tools and so on.  But I think the emphasis on a human-centric approach has not, and will not, change.  That is the most important, and most difficult thing about communicating with people.  We still have a long way to go in loosening control and changing our mindsets about our "audiences".

5) Give an update on what you've been doing in the last five years, and what you are doing now?

The biggest change for me has been becoming a mother.  My daughter was born 2 1/2 years ago, and you can see the dramatic downturn in my blogging frequency since then!  I use Twitter and Facebook to fill in the gaps, but time for the type of writing I do has been difficult to find.  I miss it very much, but Ellora takes precedence.  The other big change has been my becoming a teacher.  I teach at two schools in Paris: ISCOM, which focuses on marketing and communications, and the Paris School of Business.  I really love it and feel like I am making a positive impact on my students' lives.  I keep a hand in by consulting, and I finished my master's degree and am working on my PhD.  No wonder I don't blog as much these days!

Comments

[John Cass]

Great responses Elizabeth. I was thinking your point about being able to criticize colleagues and friends in the blogosphere is very important. I don't know if this is true, but to me a lot of the early bloggers really understood the value of debate. We also had a few misunderstandings, but in the end the discussion resulted in learning on all sides.

I think that one of the stumbling blocks with educating business people in how conversation works, is that they are not used to having a debate or disagreement in public. Certainly that happens internally, but external disagreement is seen as a weakness, or there's a fear that people will perceive your company to be too combative. While it is all how you handle a disagreement, I do think this point is very important, you don't have to be afraid to disagree and that disagreement may in actual fact bring you closer together. Rather the concern should be in not voicing any disagreements because otherwise you stifle conversation.

[Dennis Phillips, Ph.D.]

For those of us new to the blogging world, it is amazing the amount of time required to stay involved in the "noise." Your comment about changing priorities (child, teaching, etc.) is right on with growing and maturing in this or any endeavor. Thanks for sharing.

[Public Relations]

i think the bolg or internet change our lives,in order to keep the good relationsip with others, we have to improve our skills ,so you choose to study the master's and work in the school. for all of us the blogging influence our daily life,we can write our thougts and feeling about our life,and we can make more people konw much more about us.