After the event: Objectivity, Balance and Trust...

The Christian Science Monitor hosted a panel discussion on the changing face of journalism in it's downtown reading room today.

The Christian Science Monitor exemplifies the changing media landscape. The more than 100-year-old publication has gone from offering a daily print newspaper, to offering a daily online news site, to offering the daily online and a weekly print magazine in a matter of a few years. At csmonitor.com I can sign up to recieve news updates on Twitter or become the publication's friend on Facebook. Certainly we all agree that journalism is changing.

It seems like I could go to a panel discussion about this topic each week if I had the time, but this panel was different because of the audience. Maybe it was the time of day or maybe it was the hosting organization, but I was probably the second youngest person in the room- beat by a senior at the University of Washington.

A woman in the audience raised her hand and commented on the fact that she desperately missed the print Seattle Post Intelligencer. She shared that she was willing to follow the news online at the SeattlePI.com, but had yet to arrange her internet connection so that it wouldn't interfere with her phone.

I know that my Grandpa, at more than 80-years-old, is willing to read this blog as a way to stay in touch with family. If the audience is capable and willing, how long will it be before we move all news information from ink and paper to the internet? Will you trust it Grandpa?

After the event: Professor Zaenger

On Wednesday I was invited to speak to a PR class at Seattle University.

A combination of about 20 sophomores, juniors and seniors majoring in everything from business to English listened as I explained how professional networking is a lot like corporate campaign development.

Here were my three steps in program development/professional networking:

1. Planning (Research & organization)

I explained that on a broad level planning means figuring out what industry is most important to you. Tactically, however, research and organization means completing your due diligence. Before a job seeker can even begin sending out cover letters, he or she must find basic company information and contacts and create a progress table listing:

• Companies I want to work at
• Companies I've spoken to (interned, informational interviews)
• Companies I need to speak to
• Companies I've applied at

I recommended creating a 'little black book' of admirable organizations and admirable people. For each entry, the job seeker documents what is known about the company and/or individual- past, present and future.

2. Implementation (Network, informational interview, Twitter, Internship)

I explained that implementation on an individual level lets people know you exist. Job seekers need to have experience- volunteer or paid- to demonstrate to potential employers that you have the capacity to work hard and learn quickly. The best way to find any work opportunity is by Tweeting, interviewing (others) and networking.

An easy first step is by listening through Twitter. Individuals can learn a lot about what industry leaders are saying and considering just by following the links that people post. There are helpful discussions like #hcsm and #journchat for professionals who want to connect with others in a particular area of interest. Once you find the professionals, attend a local Tweetup to meet face-to-face.

Informational interviews are the most valuable face-to-face time you can spend with professionals. Divide your 30-minutes (no more than that) into three areas: asking about the professional's background, asking about the company they work for, and asking about the industry as a whole. Always inquire about how you should be preparing for your career today.

Join local associations or social networks (like Biznik) and attend events. To me, this is 'invested networking' because you learn from a presentor and get to mingle with professionals interested in the same topics you are.

3. Evaluation (Follow up. Forever.)

I explained that following up doesn't mean just one thank you a day later, but rather relationship development on a quarterly basis. Follow your contact's business in the media and congratulate him/her when something good happens, subscribe to their corporate newsletter and then comment, recognize holidays, events and occasions. At the very least send contacts a status report on your search.

As it turns out, I love teaching adults. The class was a blast and I learned a lot from the experience. I may not be a networking expert, but I was happy to share the tactics I use.

PRSA volunteer opportunity

I blog for PRSA Puget Sound. You can check out my monthly posts here.

Care for a cupcake?

Months ago I attended a Foundation for International Understanding through Students event through the University of Washington. I met a very kind Armenian man who is studying public affairs on a special fellowship.

The man, his wife, and their two children have been in Washington now for nearly a year and this past weekend Dominic and I felt it was high time we show them a little American hospitality. After all the extreme generosity we were shown in Armenia for two years, it seemed like the least we could do to treat the family to a picnic on Alki beach.

The logistics of our American day hindered my enthusiasm as I racked my brain to figure out how I would conjure up a car seat and what we could cook for the Armenians. Fortunately, one of my part time jobs involves caring for 9-12 toddlers at a mom's group in Ballard. The reality of the situation, however, was that we had too many adults and not enough seats in Dominic's two-door Honda. For nearly an hour we went back and forth on what we could make to show the true style of an outdoor lunch and yet not expose our inexperience in the kitchen. Sandwiches--too many options, potato salad--too many steps, fruit skewers--might spoil. Finally, we settled on pigs in a blanket, fresh fruit, chips & salsa, root beer, and cupcakes to compliment the Armenian fried chicken, matsoon, salads and homemade bread. It was quite a spread.

Dominic and I have been huge funfetti advocates for awhile, and made some beautiful spring-like cupcakes for the day. The prized dessert was a huge source of pride and accomplishment. I know, they come out of a box. They were festive.

In an effort to address the car arrangement, I volunteered one of my friends and I to sacrifice the car-ride for the Seattle Metro. The route was easy and I assumed that if I left early we'd arrive in enough time to scope out a table and playing area for the kids. Uncovered cupcake trays in hand, we set out on what I assumed would be a half hour trip.

On the way to the bus, we passed a woman asking for money. Neither of us had much, but I thought it would be harmless to offer her one of our dozen springtime cupcakes. She thankfully accepted. We joked that we were never going to make it to the beach with enough cupcakes to serve as we walked to the bus stop.

As it turns out, the number 15 bus does not always turn into the number 56 bus. This bizzare system had us stumped but we were cold and anxious and got on anway with the hope of finding a different route in downtown Seattle.

Inside the crowded bus we ended up hovering in the aisle trying to balance our weight to preserve the dessert trays. When one man complimented our colorful cakes I quickly offered one out of appreciation. What was one more right?

We arrived on 1st Avenue right by Pike Place Market. This street is a high traffic area in downtown and we certainly stood out. Much to our dismay, we realized that the 56 only comes once an hour and it is the only route that runs to Alki Beach. With a 40 minute wait and 10 cupcakes left, Jessy suggested we go in to a tea store that offers free tea tasting. I've become quite the tea connoisseur since moving to the "land of cafes" six months ago, and I gladly accepted the offer to sit down for awhile.

We placed our trays on the counter and as we sipped blueberry red tea we chatted with the waitress. She was kind and very generous (giving us each a sample of the natural sweetener Stevia to try) so we gave her one of our cupcakes in return. These little things were turning into quite the crowd pleaser!

Upon leaving the cafe, we walked back to the stop and I counted our cupcakes. I knew we needed at least 7 to feed all of our picnic attendees and by this time I was down to 9. I thought that surely we could make it, until a bus (not the 56) pulled up to our stop. A guy ran to catch it, but upon seeing our colorful treats he stopped at the door and asked if they were free. "Of course they are," I replied. "Help yourself." He took one right on that bus! I was worried about the no-food-on-the-Metro policy so I turned my head to see the driver's reaction and sure enough he was motioning to me. I expected to be reprimanded for passing out food to Metro riders, so imagine my shock when he asked for one too! He delicately placed cupcake number 8 in an old coffee cup and drove off.

Uh oh. Now here I was, an hour late to the party and with almost half of my cupcake contribution missing. Poor Jessy was hungry by this point, and it seemed crazy to carry two cupcake trays for just seven cupcakes so she indulged right there. Fortunately, this freed up the empty tray to use as a cover/shield from all the potential cupcake requests between Union Street and Alki Beach.

When we finally got to the beach we were able to serve up a beautiful lunch full of delicious food, soccer, Frisbee and conversation. The kids didn't take to the cupcakes, but we truly impressed my friend's wife, who enjoyed two! Dominic won over the kids with his pigs in a blanket and Jessy cut a beautiful pineapple Cambodia-style. It was a nice day.

I realize that most of my stories come from the Seattle Metro. To be honest, it's experiences like this one that remind me why I wanted to move to a city and why I'm thankful for the 'urban lifestyle'. I'm convinced that public transportation builds communities in a way no other service program can.

My new social media policy

All social networks are not created equal.

I believe Facebook is for real-life friends (who you've met), LinkedIn is for professional contacts, and Twitter is to learn from the world (as much of it as you want). Determining who your blog audience is takes a whole different set of priorities. This blog, for instance, seeks to address family members and potential employers under the umbrella that life is full of learning experiences.

I created my Facebook profile in 2005. Back then, you checked each of your friend's pages individually on a daily basis to see if they had uploaded pictures. You viewed your own profile to see if anyone had written a comment on your wall. Life was simple.

After graduation, I said goodbye to Facebook. I naively assumed that the platform was for college kids who wanted to chat with one another with the world watching. Since I was all grown up, I decided it was time for a LinkedIn profile. On LinkedIn, I could stay in touch with my professors, mentors and employers.

Then I left the country for two years.

Much to my surprise, America greeted me in 2008 with people all a-twitter over microblogging. Even more shocking was the fact that my friend's parents were inviting me to be their Facebook friends.

Wait. What did professional adults have to do with Facebook? Afterall, the last Facebook group I joined in school was based on how many Chipotle burritos I could eat in one sitting. Facebook reminded me of my friend's birthdays, promoted my favorite movies, and hosted last weekend's photos in creatively titled albums.

Today, I think Facebook is out of control. I have invitations to: receive 'flair', find my look-alike, and create a pet society. Sure, there are invitations to support causes, but they're lost in all the ridiculous applications and clutter fed into my homepage.

Last week I thought about establishing my own befriending policy on Facebook. I think that a week is an appropriate amount of time to worry about a social media identity. That policy is at the begining of this post. I'm sorry if you met me at a PRSA networking event and want to see my photos from childhood. You belong in my LinkedIn network. I'm sorry if you were my friend at Thomas Worthington and we haven't seen one another in a professional setting in 5 years. You belong on Facebook.

There will come a day when all these networks will figure out how to play nicely with one another. Until then, lets chat on Twitter.

After the event: Root causes of health disparities

Gilda's Club Seattle hosted Dr. Maxine Hayes, the state health officer, last night for a lecture on the root causes of health disparities in society.

This lecture was the third session in a four-part series based on the Unnatural Causes documentary.

Dr. Hayes was a fascinating speaker who actually published an article in the Buffalo Physician about today's health buzz back in 1971. She realized back then that people weren't dying for medical reasons, they were dying of poverty. She described a program where she took government funding to plant gardens-not write prescriptions.

"Medicine contributes the least to health," Dr. Hayes said. Fifty one percent of what influences our health is healthy behavior (environment is 22 percent and genetic makeup is 17 percent). Interestingly, health care only has a 10 percent influence rate. McGinnis, et.al, 2002

For the past 50 years, our health policies have focused on: 1. Health behaviors & personal risk factors, and 2. access to health services. Today, however, people are noticing other influences: Institutional biases, stress, environmental risk, language, education, mental health & social support, economic opportunity & equity, and trust in the health system and research. These are called social determinants of health.

"Genetics loads the gun, environment pulls the trigger," Dr. Hayes said.

We can't blame poor health on lack of health care. There must not be a change in health care policy, there needs to be a change in health policy.

"The choices people make are based on the choices people have," Dr. Hayes argues. If people can't walk on safe streets will they exercise? If people are surrounded by fast food restaurants will they eat a variety of fresh foods?

I must admit, I left last night's lecture feeling rather helpless in addressing this issue. Dr. Hayes works on a policy level with people like Ron Sims. After two years in the Peace Corps I want to know what I can do on a community level. Isn't there a need for a brochure or Web site? Perhaps a group or committee?

If you knew that you could change the health of this nation by improving an urban planning or zoning policy, what would you change?

After the event: IABC Seattle Social Media Seminar

Chris Brogan doesn't scare us with tips about how to implement social media strategy because he's a really nice guy.

As an associate working on behalf of Shiftpoint Strategies today, I had the opportunity to attend the International Association of Business Communicators social media seminar "Harnessing the Power of Web 2.0".

It was my job to help with set up, Tweet, and interview speakers and organizers from the event. I I went into the day intimidated by some of the blog personalities and Twitter presences I'd be interviewing, but as it turns out, the real people behind @shellyshelly (Shelly Farnham, PhD), @Tosolini (Paolo Tosolini) and @Chrisbrogan (Chris Brogan) are very real and very helpful. After all, they're in the business of network building, information exchange and relationship development too right?

What do I take away from the event beyond the social media tactics? How fun these people are! Chris Brogan and I talked about our favorite movies (his: Fight Club, mine: Life is Beautiful); Paolo Tosolini shared how he gets excited when he can blog about Italy and travel. I guess what it comes down to is that online tools can only take you so far--people need personal interaction. Dr. Shelly Farnham, a luncheon panelist, referred to this as neighboring. Neighboring is to what extent we go to one another's homes. It's what real people do.

I won't recap the whole event because you can watch it for yourself here, but if you're in Seattle I will encourage you to check out Biznik, a social networking site similar to LinkedIn. If you're like me (a freelance professional or small business owner), Biznik provides you with a place to network both online and in person through local events. The site's co-founder, Lara Eve Feltin, spoke to the value of connecting. My favorite quote was: "Collaboration beats competition." She proved this truth by citing the fact that professionals joining Biznik jumped from 40/month in 2008 to 100/month in January and February 2009. In a rough economy people rely on their network and the more widely accepted social media becomes the more people will turn to platforms like Biznik.

Me with social media experts: Dr. Shelly Farnham (social media consultant), Lara Feltin & Dan McComb (Biznik founders), Chris Brogan (president, new Media Marketing Labs)

Look at how excited Brian Westbrook (@bmw) is to show off this new flip stand to Paolo Tosolini (@Tosolini)--they're just people who have fun with technology!

Thank you, IABC Seattle, The Adobe Group, Watchdog Graphics Production, Shiftpoint and Digital Marketing. This was a fantastic event!

After the event: BusinessWire gets back to the basics

A lunch panel discussion, "From the News Cycle to Spin Cycle: What I learned working both sides of the pitch", reminded about 40 PR professionals in Seattle today how to relate to journalists and pitch our client/company stories.

Chris Elliott, David Postman and Marty McOmber-all former journalists- spoke to both new and experienced PR professionals about the dos and don'ts of making a successful pitch.

The meeting was a helpful reminder that we should always know with whom we're speaking. It was good to hear that PR professionals should be aware of how a day works for reporters in print and television media, that we should serve as a trustworthy resource, and that we should make our subject line and first sentences captivating. All this information, however, we learned in PR 101.

I was most interested when panelists provided specific examples of relationship building that they respected. David Postman, for example, shared that he was much more willing to read an e-mail that acknowledged a recent piece he'd written followed by some type of resource or valuable information than he was to open an impersonal e-mail blast. His example described the pay it forward concept, the moderator called it "making deposits in the bank of goodwill", but the truth is that it's all about relationship building.

The panelists introduced us to The Poynter Institute, taught us how reporters respond to media kits and print releases, reminded us that not all journalists are created equal, and even addressed the current unanswerable question: "Broadcast follows print-if print goes away, who leads?" [Mr. Postman said, "Everyone."]

Although journalism is in transition now, I was thankful for the new perspectives and timeless PR fundamentals that BuisnessWire's event reinforced today.

A little push

You never know who you'll meet on the Seattle Metro.

Last night, I was riding the bus home from work when we stopped for a substantially longer pause than the normal red light. I didn't think about it until the friendly, older-looking driver got out of his seat and walked down the aisle to announce that there was an accident ahead and we'd have to wait for a push truck.

I wondered what a push truck was but rationalized that maybe this man was just confused and meant to say 'tow' truck-referring to the cars involved in the accident. In a matter of minutes, however, his adjective was proven correct as a small white truck with flashing yellow lights pulled up behind our bus-not in front where the accident was located.

I always knew that there are Metro buses that run on electricity, but I never considered what might happen if one needed to be rerouted (like in the case of an accident blocking an intersection in Belltown). Sure enough, I heard two men unhooking the cables that connected us to the power lines above the street. I was curious, and the bus was nearly empty, so I moved to the back to watch the action.

For nearly three blocks, our push truck, bumped us along the street. Like a little kid I was bouncing around in the back of the bus watching the truck maneuver us around corners and up slight inclines. Once we were back on our normal route, the bus stopped and the men got out to hook us back up. They must have been entertained by my interest in their career because one wrote me an 'I love you' message on the back window (see photo).

The Metro just moved right along like nothing had happened and amazingly no one on that bus seemed to care that we'd just been pushed like a train car in the middle of downtown Seattle. Maybe it was late, but I was really interested in this process so I moved back to the front to inquire.

Laury Minard, 82, has been driving Seattle Metro buses for 24 years (I googled him after I found out his dedication to Seattle Metro). He just happened to be my driver and was willing to entertain my questions about Roy (our push truck technician), the push truck process, and his experience as a driver. Sure, it was a short conversation but here is my favorite part:

Laury- "They roll pretty easy."
Me (shocked)- "Yes, but it's a bus! We're so much heavier than that truck!"
Laury- "Well, you and I couldn't get out and push."

We chatted for another stop or two about his career with Seattle Metro and how neat it is to meet new people on the bus.

It sure is, Laury, thanks for the great commute!

House guest perspective

There’s something refreshing about spontaneous house guests. They consume your time, your home and your attention--but the distraction is so enjoyable.

I didn't know what to do with myself when I found out Thursday I had house guests coming on Friday. My apprehension stemmed from the fact that I don’t live a proper entertaining lifestyle. I don’t own any dishes, cookware or bath towels and my mattress is delicately placed on the floor due to lack of box springs. My theory is: just make do, this is fine for now.

I knew my situation wasn't much to show off, so I created a plan for helping our guests feel welcome. I washed sheets, grocery shopped and even made a draft itinerary for their stay. All this was unnecessary as Mark and Lina are so easygoing, pleasant and fun to be around that we probably could have hosted them in a reserved parking spot and they would have had a good time.

The weekend was terrific. Saturday we had a dinner party with friends, roommates and family members. I got to wedding dress shopping with my future sister-in-law and we even hiked little Mt. Si in Snoqualmie.

The entire weekend, I didn’t check Twitter, I didn’t read emails, I didn’t even scan Google headlines... and to be honest, it was refreshing. I think sometimes we get so caught up in focusing on what’s going on, what needs to be read, or what the breaking news is that we miss the real people who are right in front of us. I’m thankful for this weekend’s reminder that everything’s not virtual.

Hiking Mt. Si

What a lovely view

Nice Glass!

A Chihuly glass admirer since college, I was treated to the Museum of Glass in Tacoma for Valentine's Day.

Expecting a typical showcase of glass art, I was shocked to enter a beautiful amphitheater-the world’s largest hot shop amphitheater actually- and second row seats to watch a world-class artisan blow glass art.

We sat for hours watching the heating, shaping and smoothing process unfold as the piece grew from a small stone-sized project into a 3 ft bubble. All I could think was-- don’t drop that glass!

After the demonstration concluded, we walked through the gallery with a renewed appreciation for the time and attention that goes into glass art. We saw Dante Marioni’s Form, Color, Pattern exhibition full of colorful, opaque vases with crazy handles and intricate designs. I chatted with an artist as she worked on an intricate bead with a small torch. She even gave me a handmade bead for free.

The fun didn't end at the Museum of Glass. Tacoma goes one step above normal museum tours by offering a self-guided walking tour of Dale Chihuly's art in the entire museum district. The best part is that you can call in the guide on your cell phone! Even from your home right now you can learn about Chihuly's spectacular artwork by calling 888.411.4220. You'll learn about his pieces displayed in an outdoor bridge of glass, the Tacoma Art museum, and inside Union Station. There are interviews and commentary. I advocate for cell phone tours in all museums.

Visit Tacoma for a day of beautiful art-it's worth your time.

Chihuly glass. Gorgeous.

The man on the short seat in red is blowing, the man with gloves on in gray is buffing.

Chihuly Bridge of Glass

Timeless Hopper

Last night, in appreciation of the First Thursday Free program, we went to visit the Seattle Art Museum.

The museum has had an Edward Hopper exhibit since November, and we'd been looking for the perfect opportunity to visit the show. Although small, "Edward Hopper's Women" included some impressive pieces that we both enjoyed.

My favorite painting they had (below) was interesting to consider in today's context. The museum had posted this interpretation:

"War and economic necessity changed the place of women in American society, impelling them out of the home, into the workplace, and onto the road to seek a better life. Hopper's women are figures suspended in time, subjects that embody educing associations with girlhood, motherhood, and home and earth, but now-as occupants of offices, cheap restaurants, movie theaters, rooming houses, or motel rooms-they are women strangely out of place."

Automat, 1927

I couldn't help but think about how things have changed from 1927 to 2009, and particularly in the last few months. I find that there are more and more women (and men) spending time in coffee shops throughout the city, libraries and cheap restaurants. The difference between the audience I'm describing and the casual coffee drinker is that we're not sitting down to relax. Our gaze is directed at a laptop screen instead of the tabletop. We spend long afternoons searching-just like this woman portrays in her contemplative stare-but for employment.

Job hopping

In late December, I decided I would need another temporary position to help me sustain the job search lifestyle. I used my background in youth lacrosse coaching and healthy life skills teaching to obtain a position as a substitute teacher in Seattle's private schools.

I must admit, it's rather fascinating to sing Old McDonald in a Y-PreK (3-year-olds) classroom one day, interview business owners in a client meeting the next, and serve dinner at a fundraiser gala the following evening. Talk about wearing different hats.

I'm learning about myself and what grabs my attention.

Today, for example, I was having lunch at the French-American school on Mercer Island debating the idea of a four-day school week. I've always shied away from the educational system, but I found myself passionate about school scheduling.

The P-I published an article on January 27th that proposed this shorter week as a money-saving effort for districts in Washington State. I don't know much about the American system (I'm thankful for what it's given me) but my initial reaction was negative. I had no idea that there are nearly 100 small, rural school districts in 17 states that hold a shortened school week. Apparently New Mexico used the schedule to save money during the 1970s energy crisis.

"What about extracurricular activities?" I asked.

The teachers in the break room replied that students could meet on the 'fifth day' of the week.

That seems impossible to me. What athletic team practices one day a week? When would they compete? If there are schools that choose the schedule and others don't (it's an opt-in system) how would they have games, matches or performances against regualarly scheduled schools?

I would really like to hear your opinions. Parents, would you be worried about finding childcare? Teachers, would you be able to capture students attention? Students, what would you do with your day off?

Unnatural Causes: Is inequality making us sick?

We all know that Seattle is an educated city and very progressive in its priorities, but last night I had the opportunity to witness the benefit of these demographics personally.

In 2008, California Newsreel produced a seven-part documentary called: Unnatural Causes...Is Inequality Making Us Sick? Last night, I joined about 30 people at Gilda's Club on Capitol Hill to view the documentary and participate in a dialogue session facilitated by a Public Health Educator Consultant from King County.

According to The Seattle Local Health Guide's overview, the documentary: "Goes beyond the traditional causes of poor health and takes a look at the relationship of housing, income, stress, discrimination, racism and policies that can affect life expectancy." The facts are startling.

The U.S. ranks far below other developed nations in terms of life expectancy, and in our country today, there is a growing disparity between the rich and the poor.

Since the 1970s, researchers have been able to prove a direct correlation between how social influences affect disease. For example, how a lower grade of employment (or unemployment) relates to a higher rate of not only heart disease and diabetes but all causes of death. People 'at the top' are healthier. According to the documentary, more than 70 percent of affluent people-making more than 80k/year-report greater overall health as opposed to the 37 percent who make 20k/year.

There are social gradients that affect health everywhere. The documentary cited the fact that college graduates live approximately 2.5 years longer than high school graduates. Although your life expectancy shouldn't be determined by the resources available to you, there is this underlying idea that how one can control his/her destiny ultimately leads to how healthy they become.

This correlation is supported by stress research. We all know that stress is a helpful bodily response. Stress raises cortisol levels which in the short-term can enhance immune function, increase energy and provide motivation. The natural response is for the response to occur when called upon, but then shut off when it is unneeded. When cortisol levels remain high for long periods of time (for some, entire lifetimes), however, people suffer from all kinds of issues including chronic fatigue, weight gain, impaired immune function and increased risk of diabetes and heart disease.

It's all about control. When people have the power to create an optimal environment for themselves they are able to build a sense of security that leads to better health. A perfect example of this is my life today. I am very fortunate to be able to live in a safe neighborhood just outside of downtown. I feel comfortable jogging outdoors in the morning, walking to the farmers market and going alone to the neighborhood library. How would my health be affected if I was afraid to leave my home, if I only had access to convenience stores (due to lack of public transportation and inappropriate city zoning) and fast food restaurants, and I couldn't access information?

The city is currently focused on policy. At the end of the documentary, I asked the King County Public Health representative how Seattle and the county handle the balance between implementing social justice through policy changes and empowering individuals to make a difference in their own situations. The response was a description of how the growing focus in this area is on policy change. There is a need to break the link between wealth and health by providing childcare, access to recreation, emergency preparedness in vulnerable populations, appropriate housing and transportation. People need to realize out of self-interest that if I live in a just society I'll benefit too.

There's a national program called Place Matters and a call for volunteers to facilitate these types of dialogue discussions in our communities. I hope to share this information with my neighborhood. Are you ready Queen Anne?

After the Event: PRSA Panel Discussion

This morning I attended the Puget Sound PRSA seminar "Back to the Basics: Job hunting strategies in a tough economy" at The Seattle Times. It was a session made for me, and I was pleased to learn about the best approaches from both a tactical and an ideological approach. 

As a PRSA programing committee volunteer, I had the pleasure of welcoming the group and introducing the panelists:

Judith Cushman, president of Judith Cushman & Associates, told attendees how to crack the HR system through narrow casting, strengthening our stories and focusing on time. She was able to provide advice for seekers in the market today. 

Mark Tranter, partner of CFO Selections, told attendees to build and brand and develop a philosophy. He also reminded us that we should network by "giving to get"--or always asking others how you can help them. He was able to focus our attention on how to manage networking for future success. 

According to Mr. Tranter's handout, "61 percent of new positions are found by networking".  Communicators are a tight group. Today, as I found myself catching up with a new friend from last week's Save the News event and a different contact from October's PRSA South Sound group event, I felt great that I'm starting to have a new network here. I am glad to see that slowly but surely I'm breaking 'the freeze' and making connections in Seattle. It feels good.

Save the News Event

No News is Bad News.  

To me, the title chosen for a new initiative taking place in Seattle has two meanings: 1. It could refer to the fact that there is no such thing as bad news.  Meaning, if it exists then it is good for us. 2. It could mean that it's awful if we don't have any news.  

Agreeing with both statements, I found myself chatting with fired-up bloggers and journalists last night at Odd Fellows Cafe on Capitol Hill.  I went out of curiosity after hearing Monica Guzman speak at an IABC event on Tuesday, but stayed for the energy and enthusiasm that came from being involved at the start of something significant.  

I'm not sure what will result from the conversation last night.  Perhaps a Town Hall meeting, maybe a march to save the P-I... in any case, I'm anxious to see what happens as we watch traditional media die. 

Just as the No News is Bad News Web site says, there are details still yet to be determined.  As I learn about them, I'll share here.  

After the Event: Learning about the future of the written word

I attended IABC Seattle's Morning Manager event this morning at Waggener Edstrom. The topic on the future of the written word was very pertinent given the recent Seattle P-I announcement. Four panelists spoke to the future of blogging, print newspapers, books, and sustainability in all three areas.  

Monica Guzman was introduced as the first 'all digital' reporter to work for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.  She maintains this blog for the paper and offered attendees perspectives on her position, the difference between journalists and bloggers and how the two interact.  

Jim Vesely, the Seattle Times editorial page editor, followed with great opinions on who the information gatekeepers were/are and how readers use blogs and online outlets as a self-identifying tool. He argued that blogging has a strength in it's immediacy but we need to be aware of the tool's foundation.

Kim Ricketts, the founder of Book Events, described the book industry under turmoil and the impossible truth that book stores and publishers can no longer control where and in what form people get text.

Andrea Gates Sanford, principal of Watchdog Graphics Production, taught that sustainability is not about the green but rather is a method for getting current economic needs met while working to maintain a good quality of life for future generations.  She shared that people have become accustomed to cheap computing, but acquisition, maintenance and disposal are issues to be noticed.

So, what did I learn?

Before the panel even began, I was speaking with someone who noted that the loss of journalism is a loss of democracy.  At first I didn't agree, given the fact that now, more than I've ever noticed before, people really are 'professional communicators' working to get information to the people they care about.  Later, Ms. Gates Sanford articulated what I had been thinking: that it's about a 'loss of medium, not a loss of message'. By the end of the presentation, however, I realized that investigative journalists, these 'smart people' do provide a foundation for everything we normal people write about online.  Mr. Vesely correctly pointed out that very few bloggers or Tweets come from someone uncovering news on their own, oftentimes what we write about is a reaction to what we've read from a credited source.  Maybe our democracy will suffer after all.

I learned about the importance of medium today.  Ms. Ricketts drew attention to a successful bookstore in San Francisco where prominently displayed in the center of the store is a computer kiosk with Amazon.com on the homepage. She mentioned that books will become a luxury item and most material we will download when we need it.  

I learned about the journalist's new job description today.  According to Ms. Guzman, journalists in the past would hold on to articles until they were complete and perfect.  People today won't wait that long.  Whereas in the past there would have been time to wait for quotes and interviews, the online audience today would rather accept a portion of a story with a 'to be continued...' notice and a follow up post than wait for the finished product.  In the same way, online audiences, she said, are more forgiving with accuracy.  The reason being, if a writer is constantly making factual errors and asking for forgiveness, eventually trust will be lost and the writer will be gone anyway.   

The audience was concerned about the public becoming less informed by online outlets. I am guilty of reading what I want and skipping over less interesting content myself. I think of this discussion as the argument for a liberal arts education vs. going to a technical school.  Liberal arts degrees take more time, cost more money and some classes aren't always as interesting. A technical degree is applicable now, focuses on what you want to learn, and is quicker to obtain. Graduating from a liberal arts university meant I had to sit in quantitative reasoning even though I wanted to be in my campaigns class.  In the same way, reading print material forces me to at least skim different opinions, headlines or advertisements. Print media forces me to broaden my perspectives the way my favorite site or writer may not.   

Thank you, IABC, for a fascinating morning.  Let me know if you ever need a volunteer!

Picking Preferences

I think I've learned a lot about my personal preferences by being out of my element the past few years.  I guess the ability to choose a new way of doing things provides me the perfect platform for deciding what I prefer.

My question is: Do you have to find yourself in a new environment to feel compelled to change? People talk about how difficult it is to break habits, but I wonder if preferences are the same.  I'm thinking of preferences in daily life, like college students who redefine their image freshman year or professionals who relocate for greater growth opportunities.

For example, my church in Ohio encouraged hospitality by asking all members to change seats every week to accommodate guests and facilitate new relationships.  For nearly 20 years, not only did I sit in the same side of the church, but I sat in the same row and the same chair.  This little 'hospitable action' was asking a lot.  When I found a church in Seattle, however, it wasn't about my preference for the right side or second row, I went to a completely different place and even tried the balcony... that is... until I started to establish a favorite pew.  The past few weeks I've been making a new preference here!

Here are some others:

Sorry clothesline, I tried line-drying in Armenia and will always prefer the dryer.

Sorry elliptical machine, the treadmill wins my exercise time.

Sorry plastic bag, reusable is much more durable.

Sorry rainy weather, I thrive in a sunny environment.

But wait!  I could see these preferences changing with a change in my environment.  I could skip the dryer if I had a little breeze, I would use the elliptical if I had sore knees, I would grab plastic if I forgot my canvas bag and I could easily prefer rain if there weren't this unemployment lag. Sorry about the rhyme.  

So, my conclusion is that we change when we're forced out of our comfort zone.  We learn faster, work harder and live better when we're motivated by some kind of environmental change.

Am I right? 

Quarterly Review

I realized that yesterday was the three month anniversary of my move out to the coast.  In three short months, Seattle has given me several positive experiences.  In addition, I have gained:

An intense fear of moss

It's everywhere!

A new favorite color

This city is green!

A caffeine addiction

So many cafes I can't pick a favorite.

A disregard for traffic laws

What side of the street is this anyway?

A sense of humor

I can't imagine UW gets much use out of this enormous sundial.

More patience

When a boat's gotta go a boat's gotta go.

A strong sense of hope

The city sure seems to think I can do it!

Three Words

I learn a lot about social media and current events through blogs.  One person in particular, Chris Brogan does an excellent job of teaching through examples and providing additional resources online.  His blog entry from January 1 was helpful as he differentiated between setting resolutions and setting three word goals for the new year.  

Brogan wrote, "Think of how you want to be successful in 2009.  Then, thy to think in even broader terms.  Extrapolate on the broader terms, and find one word to hang the idea on."  

So he follows up by explaining his words for this year- equip, armies, needles- and how they apply to the goals he has set for 2009.  

Despite my 2006 and 2007 resolution successes, I failed miserably with my 2008 goal to take a daily multivitamin.  Plus, when it was all over and the ball had dropped, I wouldn't have been that much better off because of that measly resolution.  I tend to eat a balanced diet.  

So, I have three words for you, 2009.  They are: cross. catalog. carrot.  Don't mind the alliteration.  

Cross represents my idea of finding a stronger faith this year by daily reading of the Bible in chronological order.  I wanted to use my Bible in a Year book to set a devotional habit years ago, but I always seemed to fail by the time I got to Exodus.  This year the cross will remind me of both this goal towards a more faithful lifestyle as well as a motivation to connect with the church community in my neighborhood.   

Catalog is the goal to organize my free time towards the future by studying for the GRE.  It is a goal to improve my vocabulary and quantitative reasoning skills with the hope of finding professional development opportunities.  

Carrot is for cooking.  Chris Brogan has nothing on my mom, who constantly challenges and inspires me to improve my life regardless of what day of the year it is.  This idea for a nutrition goal comes from her resolution to try a new recipe each week.  I will use my carrot motivation to help remind me that learning to cook using fresh foods will not only help me avoid the multivitamin fiasco of 2008, but also help me improve my hosting capabilities.  I would like to have more 'cross' people over this year.

I'm rather visual so the idea of having words that I could easily associate with images seemed like a great way for me to remember the goals.  

What are your 2009 words?