See How They Run -- Animated Maps of Voting Patters

Historians at the University of Richmond have created animated maps that chart voting patterns in U.S. presidential elections since 1840. The maps present county-by-county data for every presidential election for which information is available, and show how voting patterns shifted over time. Very cool tool.

And if you want a Clean and Fair Election, don't forget to join PRSA's Facebook Group (Clean and Fair Elections)

Wondering Why Apples Faked It

So Americans paid big bucks and waited in long lines for their Apple iPhone. In Poland, however, Apple paid people to wait in line for their iPhone.

"We have these fake queues at front of 20 stores around the country to drum up interest in the iPhone," an Apple spokesman said told Reuters.

The fake lines are part of a marketing campaign to create a buzz around the launch.

So what's the PRSA Code of Ethics take on this? The Code is clear. Disclosure of information is essential.

DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION

• The core principle -- Open communication fosters informed decision making in a democratic society.
• The intent -- to build trust with the public by revealing all information needed for responsible decision making.
• Guidelines A member shall:
• Be honest and accurate in all communications.
• Reveal the sponsors for causes and interests represented.
• Disclose financial interest -- like being paid
• Avoid deceptive practices.
• Examples of Improper Conduct Under this Provision:
• Front groups: A member implements "grass roots" campaigns or letter-writing campaigns to legislators on behalf of undisclosed interest groups.
• A member deceives the public by employing people to pose as volunteers to speak at public hearings and participate in "grass roots" campaigns.

PR Checklist - brain, heart and soul, elbows, behind.

John Bell outlines the 13 skills of the Public Relations Pro of the Future. Interesting stuff for sure.

As a second generation public relations counselor, I'm often reminded by my father Lee -- a 50-year pro -- that in the end public relations is still about connecting people and ideas. Certainly technology is a powerful tool in building relationships, but people and basic communication skills still come first.

Public relations professionals are, and will remain, the antenna, conscience and voice of the organizations we serve and represent. Technology may amplify our voice and boost our antenna but we must not forget our role as organizational conscience, reminding organizations that they operates with the permission of their various publics.

In public relations we speak of trust, ethics, reputation, authenticity and transparency... all are linked and all underscore our overarching responsibilities to those we represent and the people those organizations serve.

My father's advice still holds true. To be successful in this business you need a good mind (as John Bell notes), but you also need a compassionate heart and soul, strong elbows to force yourself through this world and into the conversation (and sometimes say no), and a good behind to get down and do the work that needs to be done.

Random Thoughts from The Web

Micro Persuasion looks at the New York Times and how they moderate comments.

PressThink probes the concept of media explaining vs. informing.

New research from Pew Research center examines key news audiences.

CHECK OUT A FEW COOL SOCIAL MEDIA MAPS

A few cool social media maps courtesy of Brian Solis

What Reports are Thinking About These Days

The Star Ledger's Kristen Alloway blogs about dealing with job cuts the economy and parenthood.

Certainly the news media has faced cutbacks and layoffs before, but not like this. No wonder the media is so focused on gloom and doom -- they are living it.

The number one media relations rule is be student of the media. Well understand this, reporters are hurting and scared. PR pros take note.

Warning to News Outlets -- Full Disclosure on Health Care Coverage

Editor and Publisher reports that the The Association of Health Care Journalists and the Society of Professional Journalists have issued a joint warning to news outlets to avoid ethical problems related to news media publishing or broadcasting stories, reports, news releases and interviews prepared or paid for by hospitals.

"The ethics codes of the Association of Health Care Journalists and the Society of Professional Journalists call for fair and accurate reporting and editorial independence. But editorial cutbacks, along with pressure on hospitals to market profitable services, may be eroding these standards."

The statement sites examples of hospitals taking full editorial control of newspaper special health care supplements without carrying a full disclosure or broadcast segments with "hazing" branding or no branding at all.

Guidelines included:

• News organizations should fully disclose the source of any editorial information not independently gathered, whether video, audio, photograph or print material.
  
• News organizations should not run prepackaged stories produced by hospitals unless they are clearly and continuously labeled as advertisements.
  
• News organizations should not favor advertisers or sponsors over competing health-care providers when choosing sources or story topics and should strive to employ a wide variety of sources.
  
• News organizations should develop guidelines for the public disclosure of sponsors and advertisers.
• These guidelines should prohibit news personnel from appearing in or participating in sponsored programming or advertisements.

PRSA's code of Ethics include similar guidelines including:

• Be honest and accurate in all communications.
• Be honest and accurate in all communications.
• Reveal the sponsors for causes and interests represented.
• Disclose financial interest (such as stock ownership) in a client's organization.
• Avoid deceptive practices.

Rule of thumb -- disclose, disclose, disclose.

More on Newspapers -- See Today's Story in PR Tactics and Stategist

See PR Tactics and The Strategist Online story "Newspapers being supplanted as providers of “social currency” Here's some of what the story says:

The problem for newspapers has become that other institutions now do far better jobs at issuing social currency. Shafer calls Facebook “the Federal Reserve Bank” of social currency; like cocktail chatter, a well-executed Facebook presence conveys the message “I am here, listen to me,” and demonstrates one’s status within one’s existing social network. “These days,” Shafer writes, “you can’t raise your status more than a bump by carrying The Wall Street Journal under your arm.”

Thinking About -- The Changing Newspaper Newsroom

It's no surprise that newspapers are changing... they have to. Fully 85% of the dailies with circulations over 100,000 have cut newsroom staff in the last three years. Just look at a few papers here in New Jersey. The Star Ledger, New Jersey's largest daily, just a few weeks ago announced they are looking to cut 200 jobs and/or sell the newspaper. At the same time, the paper has launched "Ledger Live" and what is billed as "New Jersey's only local news webcast."

The Record Newspaper, another large New Jersey daily, recently sold and vacated its flagship headquarters and transitioned reports to "MOJOs" or mobile journalists working from the field. Publisher Stephen Borg said simply that he wants reporters out in the field and not sitting in a newsroom. Initial feedback from a few friends at the paper is that they welcome the new opportunity. Borg also told me that the newspaper is arming reporters with video cameras and expecting more than just a print story, but video too.

These New Jersey examples are not new and certainly not unique, but they are telling and have a major impact on the public relations profession.

Despite some of these changes and shrinking circulation, don't discount the power and reach newspapers. Key influencers, community leaders and the political and business elite still read newspapers. Their numbers may be declining, but they still carry a lot of weight. Newspaper have tremendous content that is in great demand. The problem is they just have not figured out how to make money off the Web.

So how are these changes going to impact the public relations profession?

• Fewer reporters translate into a shrinking news hole and fewer media opportunities in traditional media. While I think public relations pros realize they can no longer depend on traditional media, we now need to educate our clients and the c-suite.
• With fewer reporters, beats will be eliminated or merged. Don't expect reporters to be experts or have the time to learn. Be prepared to educate and package your stories.
• You can expect to see younger less experienced reporters. Again, education is key. These reporters are also more tech-savvy, so speak their language and embrace their communication methods.
• Yes, things will be faster and we'll all be using new technology, but strong communication skills -- especially writing -- are essential. Don't dumb down your skills. In fact, now is the time to re-tool and improve them.
• Data indicates that local news is key. Localize every story. Today, more than ever, all news is local.
• Think visual. The Star Ledger and The Record are but two examples of a growing trend. Newspaper are hungry for rich content -- video and audio. If you don't provide the video, think visually when meeting with print reporters, they just might be carrying a video camera.
• Newspaper are hungry for new business opportunities and revue streams. Be creative and come to the table with mutually beneficial ideas.

Certainly times are a changing, but opportunity abounds.

PRSA Tactics & Strategist Online Looks at SEC Ruling

PR Tactics and The Strategist Online looks at the birth of the “social media release” thanks to the SEC ruling allowing companies, under certain circumstances, to post financial information on their Web sites and blogs and still meet public disclosure requirements.

50 ONLINE APPLICATION

Blogger Chris Brogan shares a list of 50 online applications and sites. Advice for all social media novices... just go for it. Go native and give it a try.

One site I would add to the list is zamzar.com, a free video conversion site -- a great tool for converting Youtube videos into other formats.

Reading the PR Bloggers This Morning

Two interesting stories:

Shannon Paul's blog calls for more PR for PR. The blog looks at An article in Advertising Age by Michael Bush which reveals statistics regarding pay for play coverage among chief marketing officers and marketing directors.

(NOTE: PRSA is listening and stepping up advocacy efforts. Stay tuned.)

PR Communications looks at a newsroom Data Analysis by project for the excellence in journalism by the Pew Research Center's Project for Excellence in Journalism (PEJ). Click here for the changing Newsroom Report.