It’s interesting to look at everyday news happenings and think about how it relates to the world of PR. And there is plenty of news — mostly bad news — to consider. There’s LeBron James and his mishandling of the public announcement of his decision to leave Cleveland — and the Cleveland Cavaliers owner’s emotional public reaction. There’s the ongoing and unchecked Mel Gibson saga, where we’re now seeing his plummeting public image taking a toll on his work (Leo DiCarprio backing out of a Gibson film). A few weeks back there was Apple icon Steve Jobs awkardly trying to side-step reported iPhone problems and getting slammed by critics. And this week there are all sorts of PR issues resulting from Red Sox hero Curt Shilling’s decision to take his gaming company across the border to Rhode Island. There was anger directed at Shilling (for turning his back on Boston), at Massachusetts government officials (for letting him go) and from some in Rhode Island who disagreed with the deal they made to lure the company down the highway. Best of all (especially for a NY Yankee fan like me) there were the comments from RI gubernatorial candidate and former senator Lincoln Chafee who went on a Providence radio show and questioned the famed Shilling “bloody sock” while criticizing the RI deal. The lesson learned here: be careful with your public comments — especially when you’re dealing with a beloved piece of Massachusetts sports history.

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I’m a Harry Potter fan and I’m not afraid to say it. I’ve pulled more all nighters reading Harry Potter than I have studying for college exams. Something about that crazy wizard just reeled me right in. Maybe it’s the lightning shaped scar on his forehead, maybe it’s the whimsical wizarding world or the all-knowing headmaster Dumbledore or the struggle between good and evil…or maybe I am just a true geek at heart.

Anyway, in the spirit of the next upcoming release in the movie series (Deathly Hallows premiers Nov 19), I’ve compiled a list below of wizarding spells that I’d like to use in the PR world.

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Article scriptorus – articles write themselves

Mobilicus smarticus – turns your mobile phone into a smartphone

Readify – allows you to read all your emails at the speed of lightning

Pitchorphus- instantly gets your story coverage in any publication you want

Twitterbipple – populates your twitter account with key reporters and influencers

Blogify – compels readers to leave comments on your blog posts

If you’d like to see some *ehem* real spells from the book, check out this site

What spells would come in handy for you?

Blogify!

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In this episode, Alison Raymond, Joanna DiTrapano, Tony Sapienza and Renatta Siewert talk about if marketers are using twitter effectively, how the iPad could help researchers, if mobile is saving the world and more. Here are our topics for the week:

Twitter and Marketing: The Real Story (or so says a new study) – A recent study by digital marketing agency, 360i, said that while twitter does have potential as a marketing tool, there is a huge gap between how consumers use it and how marketers are using it. The study, which analyzed 1,800 tweets found that consumers are using it to converse, while marketers are using it to broadcast. Is 1,800 tweets enough to base a judgment on?

Ask.com Reinvents Itself with a Focus on Community Q&A – Ask.com is taking a new direction and refocusing their search strategy around a more social experience with a new beta version. PR-wise, we’ve had a lot of clients building communities for a more interactive experience with their customers. What are your thoughts on online communities built by companies?

Facebook reaches out to the Public Relations Industry – Facebook has now created a page for PR professionals to go to – to have conversations, swap tips with other PR people. Have you checked it out? Would you? How would you leverage the page?

Market researchers get new tool in iPad – Researchers at malls have been able to draw people in– without having to approach – by using the iPad, rather than the pencil and paper kind of surveys. Would you participate in a survey because the surveyor had an iPad?

Why mobile technology is still going to save the world – People are now more accepting of mobile technologies. These technologies are now more affordable and accessible than ever before. Mobile tech is becoming more and more capable of doing things than they were just a few years ago. Are mobile technologies going to save the world? Where do you see mobile technologies heading?

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Technorati Tags: Mel Gibson, Mobile, PRobecast, Twitter

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