Web and Internet Terms

I know, I know; long time, no blog.  Have no fear, I am back and ready to discuss the rule of AP style as they refer to web and internet terms:

• Capitalize and punctuate frequently used words including: Web, World Wide Web, Internet, URL, HTML, HTTP, and PowerPoint.
• Put quotes around computer games, but not around software programs.
• Web addresses should be italicized and not preceded by the http:// browser command: www.baylor.edu
• Capitalize web addresses and e-mail addresses according to the way they are provided  by the source.  However, all lowercase is usually preferred.
• Avoid pointed brackets (< >) in the text of documents that might be posted on the internet.  These marks are reserved for HTML browser commands only. 

What's next in the AP style series? You will have to stay tuned to find out!! 

What AP Style says about Media References

Are you ready for the next post in this oh so exciting series?! Well hold on tight because today I will be telling you everything you need to know about referencing the media when writing.

• The media are plural.
• A newspaper is a medium.
• Newspapers and magazines are media (not medias).
• New media is a singular noun that refers to a collection of new technologies and takes a singular verb.
• Avoid references to "the media" as institutions that operate in concert.  It is best to be specific!
• Spell out television in first references. TV is acceptable in most second references.
• Cable refers to a category of TV networks.
• Broadband is now the preferred term for coaxial cables that bring telecommunications into homes and offices.
• Write Channel 7, KUSA-TV Channel 9, KCSU-FM 90.5, NBC Television Network (official name), ESPN, Fox News Channel, radio station KLOX.  In second references, say the station, the channel, the network, etc.

I hope you have learned something new today! Tomorrow's post will include information web and internet terms.  Until then, have a great Sunday!

"Public Relations" According to Ap Style

Who knew that the term 'public relations' had so many rules according to the AP Stylebook? I am here to fill you in on what this coveted handbook has to say about the term 'public relations:'

• The term public relations should be lowercase in all situations.  The P is capitalized only when it is at the beginning of a sentence.
• Spell out public relations in first references.  The abbreviation PR is acceptable in second references. 
• In the abbreviation PR, use capitals without periods or a hyphen.  
• Public relations is always singular (be careful when you spell check!).
• PR is never used as a verb.
• Public relations workers are practitioners.  Alternatively, say PR professionals, workers, etc. Never use perjoratives unless it is in direct quotes.

 Next time on Ashley's AP Style blog: The Lowdown on Media References

Why AP Style?

If you are interested in pursuing a career in the journalism or public relations field, the AP style book should be your best friend.  This handbook is considered a newspaper industry standard and is used by reporters, editors, broadcasters, magazines and public relations firms.  It is updated annually by the Associated Press editors.  This update usually takes place in June.

The AP Stylebook serves as a guide for grammar, punctuation and principles and practices of reporting.  It includes an A-Z listing of guides to capitalization, abbreviation, spelling, numerals and usage.  There are reference sections for Business Guidelines, Sports Guidelines and Style, Guide to Punctuation, Briefing on Media Law, Photo Captions, Editing Marks and Bibliography.  

It is important for future journalists and PR practitioners to understand how to utilize the AP Stylebook.  It is my goal to teach my readers the tricks of AP Style so that they made be successful when writing for PR.  

Stay tuned to my next few posts!

Does it pay to be Thin?

Does it Pay to be Thin?

That is the million dollar question today.  The Wall Street Journal recently posted a study on how employee's weight affects their salary in the work force. Ultimately, women who weigh 25 lbs less than normal receive roughly $15,000 more a year than average-weight women.  In contrast, men who weigh 25 lbs less than average earn roughly $8,000 less than average-weight men.

This study shocked me. I always knew that it was important to stay in shape and have always been aware of my appearance.  I like to be put together and I feel like I am going to be very successful in my post graduate work.  However, I do not consider myself to weigh 25 lbs less than the normal woman.  


When I think of women who weigh 25 lbs less than normal, I picture underweight celebrities such as Nicole Richie or Mary-Kate Olsen.  I do not want to look like these women.  I have the skills necessary to succeed in the work force and I am excited about what skills I have to bring to my future employer.

This article was very disheartening.  It just feeds the fire of what I am researching for my crisis paper.  Women will go to any length to have the perfect appearance.  Adding the motivation of a higher paying job makes this obsession worse.  Maybe I will have to use some of this information in my paper.  

For the full story:
http://blogs.wsj.com/juggle/2010/10/06/for-women-it-pays-to-be-very-thin/?mod=wsj_share_twitter

A new reason to never want plastic surgery

I have never been a fan of plastic surgery.  I just do not understand why someone would want to alter the body that God created for them.  When picking a topic for my research paper for media programming, I immediately began to think about celebrities who have become so obsessed with their physical appearance that they would go to extremes to perfect it.  What better example than Heidi Montag.

For those of you who do not know who Heidi Montag is, she is a reality television star who is most famous for her starring role on "The Hills."  She grew up in Crested Butte, Colorado and eagerly made the move to California after her high school graduation.  Upon arriving in California, she became fast friends with then "Laguna Beach" star Lauren Conrad who had just started filming her spin off reality show "The Hills." 

Personally, I believe that Heidi Montag's obsession with beauty began when she started dating Spencer Pratt... he makes me cringe every time I see him on the show (thankfully the show ended after last season).  Together, these two were media obsessed.  They went to extreme measures to make sure that their names were on headlines.  Their spur of the moment wedding was believed by many to be one of their publicity stunts.  No wonder Heidi has already filed for legal separation.

Now back to plastic surgery.  Celebrities have always turned to surgery to improve their appearance.  From breast augmentations to liposuction to the ever so common botox procedure, celebrities will go to any measure to ensure that they are satisfied.  This even means going under the knife multiple times. 

Now DO NOT be scared of the pictures I'm about to show you.  They are just examples of plastic surgery gone wrong:

Who would want to look like that? Seriously.  Hedi Montag definitely took that risk when undergoing 10, yes 10, procedures in one day.  She received much scrutiny and publicity for her actions.  The goal of my research paper is compare how the media framed her plastic surgery with how they have framed similar cases in the past.  I am also going to look at how her PR rep. handled the bad press and what attempts they took to salvage Heidi's once wholesome image. 

Heidi Before and After

I cannot discuss this matter anymore because it really grosses me out (especially after seeing the before & after picture again).  I will let you know how my research is coming along in a later post. 

Social Media & NYC Fashion Week

Wow! New social media is even effecting New York's Fashion Week! 

I ran across an article earlier this afternoon titled "Fashion Week: Social Media Changes Event Coverage."  It was a brief press release that proved that changes in fashion trends were not the only differences in Fashion Week this year.  This press release focused on how social media effected the biggest week in fashion.

The article focused on how social media forms such as twitter and various blogging sites has converted the internationally renown event from an a series of events for insiders to a live global spectacular for consumers.

Blogging actually turned into a competition to see who could upload the best pictures and capture the best story.  New York Fasion Week even encouraged crowdsourcing this year.  They wanted fans to upload pictures of their favorite fashions.

It is incredible to see how social media is affecting this once very private and exclusive event.  Now, anyone can get a glimpse of fashion week through youtube, facebook and twitter.  This is an exciting time for social media and I am looking forward to seeing how social media continues to change events such as Fashion Week.