Stephen Davies has noticed a lack of new PR student blogs (the genre he helped define only a couple of years ago). It does seem odd when blogging’s such a simple way to gain so much in terms of Google recognition. Me versus Murdoch: bring it on!
Take Katy Jameson: first in the world for her name (and first on Google images too). And all because she started a blog last year.
Paddy Doyle even entered into a dialogue with Google’s DJ Collins on Monday evening because of his blog.
That’s a summary of the upside. So why aren’t more PR students blogging?
- Social networking has moved to Facebook in 2007
- Unlike on Facebook, bloggers are too exposed to public view (I once likened it to a nudist beach)
- It’s too easy to start a blog; but too hard to keep one going
- The more lecturers mention something, the more ‘boring’ it becomes
If you are a PR student, and I’ve not put you off, I’d still recommend you read my guidelines for PR student blogs. And learn from the example of Stephen, Paull Young and others.
PR Studies 
And this post here is now the number 5 spot for Katy Jameson in Google.
Google moves fast these days!
Well noticed Paull – that is fast. When I stop learning something new each day, please put me out to grass…
(But who can explain why it takes at least 30 mins for a blog post to appear in Google Reader?).
Richard, I am PR student at Auburn University and have recently began blogging. I agree with your post and the idea that blogging can be very beneficial if used properly. I hope that my blogging will accomplish two main points mentioned in your guidelines for PR student blogs. I would like to work on developing a network through my participation in social media as well as use my blog website as part of my resume. Your blog has motivated me to blog more often and to make sure what I’m writing about is insightful and a worthwhile read. It is good to hear someone besides my professor express their views on the importance of blogging. Thank you for the words of encouragement.
Welcome Kristie. Your blog is new to me, but Auburn is the global leader in PR student blogs thanks to Robert French and alumni like Erin Caldwell and many others.
Just one suggestion on your blog: please put something on your ‘about’ page. Don’t compromise your privacy – but people are mostly interested in other people. Ideas come second.
I agree Richard, facebook and myspace are channels only relating to one thing “MY” space. People are obsessed how others perceive them, and if they can spice up pages on the internet about themselves then surely that’s some sort of thrill. Something to show off with, and pass it on as something as their own. The internet used to be deemed as something of an impenetrable fortress unless you had some intellect in internet code. I think I see past these channels, I see facebook as a mobile storage unit for all my photos and well for myspace I think the Artic Monkeys are the only good thing to come from that. But you can still find me there like every other sucker!
Having looked after graduate recruitment for a number of years for a large agency, the power of a student blog to showcase your talents and knowlesge to potential employers should not be underestimated. Facebook is great, but the greater effort required to maintain a blog says a lot about a candidate and how serious thet are about a PR career.