On my fourth anniversary of taking a full-time lecturing job, how am I doing?
That I’m still doing the same job in the same place suggests a lack of progress and ambition. But perhaps that’s because I enjoy and value my role as an educator, and don’t aspire to either of the two paths to promotion open to me (academic outputs or managerial responsibility).
Besides, last week was particularly fulfilling. In addition to the usual teaching, I saw some happy faces when distributing copies of Behind the Spin to contributors; there was a guest lecture from an alumnus and I made two outside visits. The first was to a public sector employer to visit a placement student; the second to a growing PR consultancy to discuss social media opportunities.
This week I’m welcoming Paull Young to Yorkshire on his blogging word tour – that’s sure to be fun. No time for introspection…
PR Studies 
Congrats on your four years! Here’s to another four.
Btw I thought this edition of BtS was the best I’ve read so far (ahem, apart from the Sunderland Uni edited issue of course). 🙂
Not sure why I’m still receiving it though but glad all the same.
Thanks, Stephen. You’ve featured in two recent issues of Behind the Spin, and we’d welcome future contributions.
You’ve highlighed a subtle editorial change: it’s now the ‘public relations magazine for students and young practitioners’. This issue went out to a wider readership than usual, thanks to support from the CIPR and PRCA.
Wider still and wider shall thy bounds be set…
Congrats too, Richard.
You could argue that ‘academic output’ kind of comes under this blog. I know quite a few people studying who read it and find it invaluable.
Congratulations from the U.S., Richard.
The view from overseas says, “You’re doing terrific!”
I’m envious of your publication, and would love to see it. May we subscribe? We need to start one here. Currently, our students work on the department wide newsletter (tabloid, approx. 40 pages), the campus newspaper, yearbook or several other campus student publications. But, we don’t have our own PR publication. So, I follow your work with interest.
Also, I’d strongly agree with Simon’s comment. I know many that read your blog and wiki efforts. I certainly refer it to very many people. Quite often, too.
So, you’re doing great from where I sit. Congrats and best wishes for another four, fourteen or forty, if you desire that long a tenure.
Take care.
Robert
It must look like I’m fishing for compliments (never mind, this feels good).
Robert – I’ll post some copies of our PR student magazine to you in Auburn, Alabama. Please note that it’s a collaborative effort started by a colleague who teaches public relations in Plymouth (the far corner of our country from me). It’s partly a conscious effort to produce an old-style print publication for fear that some skills and processes are dying out. Editing, anyone?
Thanks, Richard. I look forward to sharing the publications with the others in the department. I hope it will encourage them.
The idea of editing, layout, style & design is something we still teach, too. I agree we shouldn’t let that much needed skill/art slip away.