RepMan

This Podcast is MUST Listening for Any College Student Thinking of a Career in Public Relations

OK, I’m prejudiced, but I think the attached podcast prepared by Peppercom’s most recent cast of college interns is outstanding. Sure, it suffers from some amateurish production (but so does Repchatter). And, sure our erstwhile interns aren’t saying anything necessarily new or profound (ditto for Repchatter). But, this 20-minute discussion is incredibly insightful and helpful and, I believe, should be made mandatory listening for any college student seeking a career in PR.

You’ll hear Jackie Holmes and the other interns tell you exactly what to expect from your internship and exactly how you can best leverage your internship to gain full-time employment. ‘Nuff said?

One last point: I would have killed to have known some of these things before starting my first professional internship.

Media fanning the flames of a recession

Steve and Ted discuss whether or not there is a direct correlation between media and the downturn of the economy.

The discussion centers on the abundance of doom an gloom stories many media outlets have been writing on the present state of the economy.

Are they fanning the flames of a recession or are they just stating the facts? Is this negative press putting citizens in a frenzy?

Canadian dollar looking strong, but is anyone looking?

Steve and Ted are joined by a special guest from Canada, Esther Buchsbaum, to discuss the strength of the Canadian dollar and what this means for their country’s image and reputation.

The discussion is centered on the fact that the Canadian dollar is stronger than the U.S. dollar for the first time since 1974.

How does this sway the U.S. perception of Canada, if at all? How do Canadians feel about the fact that they have a higher value in the dollar than their American counterparts?

Sue Simmons curses like a sailor causing concern for her image and reputation

Steve and Ted discuss the Sue Simmons blunder and how it will affect her image and reputation.

The discussion centers on Sue’s recent and unsuspected use of profanity during a live promo for the nightly news.  The New York Post later wrote an article detailing numerous accounts when Sue was seen drinking before her 11pm news segment.

Is this the end of Sue Simmons career or just a minor bump in the road? What can she do to make amends?

Employees struggle to maintain work-life balance

Steve and Ted sit down with guest, Melissa Vigue, to discuss the importance of a healthy work-life balance.

The discussion centers on recent articles that question whether or not spending time at home can be hazardous to one’s chances of climbing the corporate ladder.

Is it possible to successfully balance work and home? Are workers pressured to stay late and/or on weekends in order to achieve success in the business world?  Can choosing time with family over work cost you a promotion?

Presidential candidates searching for right message

Steve and Ted sit down with guest, Gene Colter, to discuss the Presidential election and compare and contrast the reputation and image of the three remaining candidates.

The discussion centers on the candidates and their stance on the economy pertaining to the pocket books and wallet of the general public. Are the candidates weak on this issue? Are some just focused on Iraq?

Is this one of the worst batch of Presidential candidates in American history?

Students determined to be more successful than their parents

Steve and Ted sit down with University of Vermont students to discuss their job perspectives and whether or not they believe they will be as successful as their parents. 

This discussion centers on the latest student survey that shows that this is the first generation that does not believe they’ll do better than their parents in terms of financial and job success.  What are the reasons for this?

Is the recession causing concern for young job seekers? Perhaps Generation Y has a different definition of success?

Youth could hold key vote to presidential election

Steve and Ted discuss the remaining presidential candidates and the impact of young voters on their candidacy. 

The discussion centers on the candidates efforts to reach the younger generation.  Which candidate creates the most appeal to younger voters?

Are there digital capabilities that can be utilized to reach the masses?  Will there even be enough attendance at the polls from the younger audience to create an impact on the elections?

Rumblings of a recession cause discomfort

Steve and Ted discuss the present state of the economy and the possibilities of a recession. What impact could this have on the PR industry?

This discussion centers around the recent doom and gloom stories presented by the media at top tier publications.

Should we be worried about our jobs? Is the media contributing to the problem by hyping the recession to a point where it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy?

The workplace becomes hotspot for dating

Steve and Ted discuss workplace romances and the impact they have on their companies.

The discussion is centered on a Miami Herald article by Fred Gonzalez in which he references a survey (conducted by Glamour magazine and Lawyers.com, no less) that reveals that 41 percent of employed Americans ages 25-40 admit to having an office romance.

Is it difficult to separate work from personal time?  Can office romances lead to poor production for companies?