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. 

Dave, ACL and mosquito bites

Yes, I know my title is random, but I am not the most creative when it comes to having to think of a title to describe my weekend.  I had such an AMAZING weekend! I am so incredibly blessed by friends, family and school (yes I said school) so forgive me if I blog for a little longer tonight :)

 I guess I should start with the most exciting event: DAVE MATTHEWS BAND.

That's right, I went to my first Dave Matthews Band concert.  Not only did I go to my first DMB concert, I was in the PIT!!! Just check out the pictures below... they speak for themselves:

Now let me describe the "Pit" to you.  The "Pit" is where all of the really intense Dave fans stand.  They

often refer to Dave Matthews as DMB (and expect everyone else to catch on, which took me a while) and are constantly trying to guess which song is going to come next in his "set" for the night.  The "Pit" also consists of the people who are willing to drive far and near to see DMB and it is on average their 10th concert to attend.  So by this time, of course, I am feeling very out of place, but it was not until my friend Colby announced that it was my first time that I felt semi awkward.  One lady even told me I was "spoiled" for getting to be in the "Pit." So having said all of this, I took complete advantage of my amazing opportunity! 

Next order of business: AUSTIN CITY LIMITS

I have to admit that I have a small bucket list for my senior year and one of the items on that list is to attend Austin City Limits.  As of today, that is a definite possibility.  I will not be attending all weekend, but my two best friends and I have tickets for Sunday.  Performers on Sunday include Norah Jones, Switchfoot and The Eagles.  Not bad if you ask me!  

Vertical Ministry 

I love Mondays for ONE reason: I get to go to Vertical Ministries.  It is such a refreshing and encouraging way to end my not so encouraging Monday.  We have been so privileged to have Jeff Johnson Band and Afshin Ziafat lead worship and minister to us every week.  Seriously, we are not deserving but WOW does the Lord provide! Tonight, however, I left Vertical with 50 (not exaggerating) mosquito bites.  They were out in full force tonight! And yes, I will admit that I complained (and I might still be complaining) but it is causing me to lose focus.  I just had to through that in there to explain the "mosquito bites" portion of my title.  The point of this section is that I left Vertical tonight feeling refreshed and ready to face the week.  This week's lesson also convicted me a little bit.  It made me realize that I am relying fully on Sunday church and this weekly ministry to provide me with my "Jesus Time" for the week and that is just not ok.  The Lord has so much more to teach me than can be fit into a couple hours a week.  So if you are reading this, hold me accountable! 

Until next time,

a.n.d. 

Busy, Busy, Busy!

Wow.  That is the only word to describe how crazy my semester has been so far.  Balancing school, Chi O, Baylor Activities Council, work, friends and my other extracurricular activities has proven to be a lot tougher than I originally thought.  I feel like I am always rushing from one place to another.  I have been asked on more than one occasion why I like to pack my schedule so full.  The answer was easy:  I love being involved and I love working with people that I would normally not interact with.  For example, I just recently became a part of Baylor Activities Council.  I originally joined because it would give me event planning experience and look good on my resume.  After working with them last semester and the first few weeks of this semester, I realized that B.A.C. is a very unique group of people.  No one is alike and it is so cool to see twelve completely different personalities come together and mesh as well as they do.  So needless to say, my schedule will continue to be jam packed, and I am going to enjoy every minute of it.

Moving on, this past Tuesday my media programming class had a virtual interview with Sandra Ordonez from ourblook.com.  We will be creating a PR campaign for ourblook this semester and it was very beneficial to find out more about the history of ourblook.  We held the interview via Skype.  It is CRAZY to see the direction that our technology is moving.  Sandra explained the history and purpose behind ourblook.com.  She also explained her personal goals for ourblook.com and what she wants us to achieve through our proposed PR campaign.  Ourblook.com is composed of two different parts.  The first is an area for students where they are able to ask questions and recieve feedback.  The second is a database of different articles and interviews written and recorded on a variety of different topics.  Sandra said that she would find it very successful if the student resource center received approximately 300 hits per week.  She wants us to combine old PR tactics, such as press releases, with new media tactics, such as twitter and facebook.  I am excited to get started on this project.  I am working with three other very proactive people and I cannot wait to see the final product come together!

I am currently sitting in the Floyd Casey Stadium Press box watching Baylor dominate Sam Houston State :) I love college football and I am hoping for a successful Baylor season.  If I knew how to put pictures on here I would post a picture of my view, but that will have to come in another post.  There are so many exciting things about Baylor football: my sister ran the Baylor Line for the first time today, our "Rise Up" campaign is getting everyone pumped up, and it reminds me that I have the most awesome job in the world.  I work for Baylor Athletic Communications and get to interact with players, coaches and media for all Baylor sports.  This is going to be a good year for Baylor athletics, I can feel it!

I will admit though, I am trying to multitask by powering through my homework while enjoying the game.

Until next time,

Peace. love. Sic 'em.

Attempt #2

Hello All,

So as some of you know, I attempted to start a blog earlier this summer.  This attempt, obviously, did not go so well.  I have decided to (well actually I am having to blog for a class) start blogging once again.  Hopefully this time will be more successful :)

I have just begun my senior year at Baylor and I am beyond excited.  I have quickly realized that this year is going to be more jam packed than any other year.  I am involved in a number of organizations and I always feel like I'm going from meeting to meeting.  And as weird as it sounds, I really enjoy it.  I cannot wait to see what the year has in store for me!

In my media programing class we talked about new media and social media.  The types of new media just amazes me.  I have been familar with Twitter for about a year and a half, but I saw this website really take off within the last six months.  Even though I have had a twitter for a while, I did not know what a hashtag was.  A hastag is a simple tool used for tracking topics.  For example, if I was blogging about the Texas Rangers and I wanted to track how much I loved baseball, I would say #ilovebaseball.  This is a new concept for me so I will be learning right alongside you. 

Aside from Twitter, a blook is a new form of social media that is becoming very popular.  A blook is a book blog with different web pages about a topic that combine together.  I am excited to get to work with ourblook.com this semester so that I can learn more about this form of media.  And lastly, GoogleDots is a form of media where one can create spreadsheets in which multiple people can access them.  This is also an application that I am not familiar with, so it looks like I have some learning to do :)

Well I hate to say, but I have to cut this VERY interesting blog entry short.  I promise that my next one will be a little more entertaining.  But until next time, HAPPY MONDAY!