The New Media and Marketing Manager serves as the manager for all Department marketing and new media campaigns executed by the Office of Communications and External Affairs.

Duties include, but are not limited to developing, implementing and managing Department marketing and social media campaigns with a strong focus in researching proper messaging and message delivery for optimal results.  This position requires creativity and strategic planning with the goal of establish campaigns of varying formats that will drive traffic to Department resources.  Brand management and media relations experience are a plus! 

If you are interested, please submit your cover letter and resume to Lisa Milton at lisa.milton@fldoe.org no later than Friday, July 30. A separate state of Florida application will also be required for any new hires.

The Deputy Press Secretary will serve as secondary spokesperson for the Department under the leadership of the Department’s Press Secretary and Communications Director.

Duties include providing informational responses to members of the broadcast and print media as well as pitching stories to local, state and national news outlets and media resources.  This position is also responsible for writing, editing and releasing media advisories, press releases, press statements, media memoranda and other related materials as necessary to communicate the Department’s message.  This position requires previous “on the record” experience, as well as rapid-response writing. It is well suited to those individuals eager to find the story and tell it. 

If you are interested, please submit your cover letter and resume to Lisa Milton at lisa.milton@fldoe.org no later than Friday, July 30. A separate state of Florida application will also be required for any new hires.

The External Affairs Coordinator will serve as the coordinator for Department internal and external events and campaigns executed by the Office of Communications and External Affairs.

Duties include, but are not limited to conceptualizing, planning and executing internal and external communications events such as employee recognition events, special observances, press conferences, campaign launches, and school visits; and managing the logistical responsibilities for Department events.  This position is also ideal for any candidates seeking to further develop and diversity their writing skills.  Duties include the development of Department promotional materials, messaging and “success stories.”   

If you are interested, please submit your cover letter and resume to Lisa Milton at lisa.milton@fldoe.org no later than Friday, July 30. A separate state of Florida application will also be required for any new hires.

Click here to apply

VISIT FLORIDA

EOE    M/F/D/V

June 17, the day of the FPRA’s Capital Chapter monthly membership meeting, marked the 59^th day since the disastrous Deepwater Horizon oil spill off the coast of Louisiana and the 49^th day since the spill’s aftermath began to impact Florida’s coastlines and economy.   The meeting brought together a panel of several big-name Florida PR pros.  The panelists discussed the ongoing BP oil spill and how many members of Florida’s public relations community have addressed the devastation.

Panelists included:
- Chris Thompson, CEO of VISIT Florida, the official tourism marketing corporation of Florida;

- Carol B. Dover, FMP President/Chief Executive Officer of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association (FRLA), the trade association representing Florida’s hospitality industry;

- Nancy Blum-Heintz, Communications Director of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP); and

- Joanne McNeely, Chief of the Seafood and Aquaculture Bureau of Florida’s Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Chris Thompson noted that, from the onset, VISIT Florida was challenged with trying to separate the myths and rumors surrounding the oil spill from the reality of the situation.  VISIT Florida ran several TV ads intended to keep down the panic and to clarify that much of Florida’s coastline and beaches were still beautiful and open for business.  Thompson pointed out that by visiting Florida Live on the VISIT Florida website, concerned citizens could get real-time updates and video via live webcams from all over the state.

An immediate concern for the panelists and their organizations was the economic impact of the spill on northwest Florida’s economy, since the region’s tourism income is incurred primarily between Memorial Day and Labor Day.  Carol Dover stressed that the FRLA has made every effort to work on behalf of its members on the forefront of the oil spill disaster, representing and protecting its interests. This included a steady stream of Oil Spill Updates on the FRLA website to keep its members up to date.

“This is their do-or-die season,” Carol Dover of the FRLA noted.  “We’ve had to stay focused on their viability.”

Since the spill’s effect has been felt statewide, another area of major concern has been Florida’s seafood industry.  Joanna McNeely, Bureau Chief of Seafood and Aquaculture emphasized that their current message is that Florida’s seafood is still “safe, abundant and available.” McNeely referred FPRA members to the Seafood and Aquaculture website (Fl-Seafood.com).  Consumers can follow gulf regulatory and monitoring activities, see where the seafood is harvested and find out where it is being sold.  Webcams set up dockside allow consumers to see firsthand that the seafood is fresh and safe to eat.  Identifying blue stickers will also be appearing on packaging in stores like Publix, which identify that seafood as “Florida Gulf Safe.”

“Florida has a great foundation of agencies working together,” Nancy Blum of Florida DEP stated.  “It is really and truly a team effort.”

Blum anticipated that the spill might not be brought to conclusion until late summer, but that DEP has rigorously striven to bring together the latest, most accurate information on the DEP website, a one-stop shop for oil spill resources.  DEP also set up a hotline at (888) 337-3569 to give people answers from live experts.

The general consensus was hopeful.  Florida is, and will continue to be, open for business.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement

Communications Coordinator – SES #71000150

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and three years of professional experience in public relations, public information or journalism news reporting. A master’s degree from an accredited college or university can substitute for one year of the required experience. Professional or nonprofessional experience as described above can substitute on a year-for-year basis for the required college education.

DUTIES: Serves as spokesperson for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Responds to inquiries from media, members and customers on topics related to the Department’s programs, services and investigations. Serves as an advisor to the External Affairs Director and Department leadership on media matters. Identifies and executes strategies to promote Department initiatives. Writes press releases, speeches, journal articles, editorials, fact sheets and other publications. Serves as editor of the Department’s monthly newsletter. Coordinates press conferences and media availabilities. Coordinates Department outreach initiatives and efforts. Maintains working relationship with the media and other public information officers. Updates Department’s internal and external web sites and works with webmaster to make necessary changes. Works on multi-media projects. Serves in a rotational on-call capacity.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: Superior written and oral communications skills. Excellent media relations experience. Knowledge of AP style. Ability to handle multiple projects at once. Ability to work under tight deadlines and in a fast-paced environment. Must possess basic computer skills, including Microsoft Office.

NOTE: Successful applicant must pass a drug screen and background investigation. The elements of the selection process may include a work sample and/or interview. Applicants may be notified by email to participate in a selection process. Failure to reply within a designated timeframe may exclude the applicant from further consideration. Future vacancies may be filled from this position advertisement.

SPECIAL NOTE: Preference given to candidates with prior experience serving as a media spokesperson. Previous service in Florida state government, with a law enforcement or criminal justice agency and directly with the print or broadcast media also preferred. Advanced computer skills and knowledge of social media platforms a plus. Successful candidate may be hired above base salary in accordance with their qualifications and experience.

LOCATION: Tallahassee

SALARY RANGE: $35,518 TO $73,543

CLOSING DATE: June 23, 2010

FDLE is an Equal Opportunity Employer / Affirmative Action Employer / Drug-Free Workplace and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace. FDLE hires only U.S. Citizens and lawfully authorized alien workers. If you require an accommodation to participate in the application/selection process, please notify the hiring authority or the Office of Human Resources in advance.

Apply on-line via the People First website( https://peoplefirst.myflorida.com/logon.htm) or fax a State of Florida application to (904) 636-2627 by 11:59 p.m. EST on closing date. If you have problems applying on-line, call the People First Service Center at 1-877-562-7287. Mailed paper applications will not be accepted.

To view the interest form, and all of the available board positions,  click here or email terriea@moore-pr.com.  The interest forms are due to Terrie Ard by May 21 and the nominating committee will announce the slate in early June.  If you have any questions, please contact Terrie Ard at 224-0174.

The 2010-2011 FPRA Capital Chapter nominating committee includes:

Terrie Ard, APR, CPRC (Immediate Past President and Chair of the Nominating Committee)

Ivette Marques, APR (President Elect)

Michelle Bono, APR, CPRC

Judi Spann, APR, CPRC

Rick Oppenheim, APR, CPRC

In a Nutshell

Facebook’s changes can be summed up like this: information you choose to make public on your Facebook profile can be used to “personalize” your web experience. This is done through social plug-ins on non-Facebook sites publishing content you “like” to your Facebook feed, and the “Open Graph,” which is designed to integrate external websites with Facebook by identifying “objects” (companies, people, music, movies, etc.) on their pages in a way that Facebook will recognize them. The idea is that when you visit a website that is optimized for Facebook, you will be provided with content that matches your interests, including relevant content about your friends. In a way, Facebook seeks to dominate the personalized social web experience by becoming not necessarily the source, but instead the traffic director,  of all things social. This brings up some important issues.  Will Facebook’s Open Graph leave a trail of casualties, including SEO, Google search, personal information privacy and proactive discovery? Or will it lead to the ideal internet experience, the semantic web, and social discovery like we’ve never seen before? Let’s open the debate!

Private Information vs. Open Information

In order to experience Facebook’s personalized web, you’ll need to provide it with personal information, which will be shared (if you choose) with websites you visit that are optimized for Facebook. In fact, the more info you give, the more personal your web experience becomes. Although many people already share large amounts of personal information with Facebook, not everyone is comfortable making this information easily accessible to other websites. Since many people will want to have their cake and eat it too, the business of social media security — with a new focus on Facebook and the Open Graph — will continue to grow. Users will want to decide what information is shared with whom and will seek the services of those who can help. Businesses looking to provide customers with an Open Graph-personalized web experience on their website should remember to communicate the importance of the security of their customers’ valuable personal info.

Facebook vs. Google

With the Open Graph and Social Plug-ins, Facebook is fighting for online consumer attention in the battle between proactive search and web personalization. With these developments, Facebook is really taking on Google more so than Twitter. In her recent article, “5 Reasons Why Google and Search Won’t Dominate the Next Decade,” Mashable Editor Yuli Ziv explains that a personalized web experience will greatly diminish the need for search engines, and the need for proactive search in general. After all, why would you need to search for new music or a new restaurant when Pandora and Yelp are making great recommendations based on your self-identified interests? While I think proactive search will always play an important role in consumer behavior, I also agree that the more Facebook and other social media networks integrate with web content, the more Google and other search giants will have to share online consumer attention. I wouldn’t write off proactive search just yet, though. First of all, people like to step outside of the boundaries every so often, even those which they themselves have created. Also, people may search for content of interest that they have decided not to include in the Open Graph. And finally, old habits often die hard, even when presented with more efficient alternatives.

SEO vs. SMO

Search Engine Optimization, or “SEO,” has become a popular service helping companies increase their chances of appearing at the top of search engine results and, therefore, driving more traffic to their content. As Facebook’s Social Plug-ins, the Open Graph and social personalized web content gain in usage (see Facebook vs. Google), Social Media Optimization, or “SMO,” will become more important as well. Just as meta tags search-optimize web content and hashtags optimize tweets, certain bits of code will Facebook-optimize website content, that is connect it to the Open Graph. I see “FBO,” or Facebook Optimization, coming to a store near you.

Personalized experience or sheltered experience?

If the Open Graph model becomes so effective that it does indeed greatly reduce desire for proactive search and browsing, what effect would it have on internet users? Keep in mind this is already happening to a certain extent with Twitter feeding info only from those you follow; RSS feeds delivering content from only those blogs/sites to which you subscribe; and Pandora playing only music styles that you have identified to have liked (just to name a few examples). On one hand, some will say that it’s wonderful to finally have the internet, as they want it, come to them — without all of the other noise and irrelevancies. Others will say that such an experience could lead to a sheltered view of things where new ideas are hindered and selected ideologies are simply reinforced over and over again. What about new discoveries? On Pandora, I’m pretty sure you can’t discover Owl City by listening to the Johnny Cash station. But then again, that’s where friends come in, right?

Let the Debate Begin!

What are your thoughts and opinions on these topics? Feel free to comment below. You can also share your thoughts with me on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

April 15, FPRA members gained insight into communicating effectively with Florida’s Hispanic community, an often untapped and overlooked market, from Univision’s, Myriam Masihy.  Masihy credited much of Univision’s success to targeting the rapidly growing Hispanic-Latino population in the U.S.’s unofficial second language – Spanish.

Myriam Masihy, a Broward Bureau Correspondent and investigative reporter for Univision’s South Affiliate, Noticias 23, shared first-hand, personal knowledge of the Hispanic community.  Masihy has been recognized for her work with two Emmys, five Emmy nominations and an Air Award for “Best Spanish Newscaster.”

“To get to the Hispanic market, or the Hispanic media,” Masihy said, “you need to find someone who speaks Spanish…Hispanics tend to trust someone who speaks their language.”

Quite simply, Hispanic-Latino people do not want to translate English, they want to actively communicate with someone. Masihy stressed that if you don’t cater to them, it affects your message.  She emphasized seizing or creating opportunities to connect with Hispanic people.  For example, Best Buy and its PR affiliate, MSL Worldwide, made themselves and Best Buy stores very accessible to Masihy and Univision.  Having Spanish-speaking personnel on staff to cultivate the relationship, Best Buy was able to promote its brand in Univision’s video footage, helping the company to further identify with the Hispanic community.

Offering access helps in these efforts, including access to: live interviews, surveillance videos, behind the scenes and exclusive coverage.  Masihy reminded FPRA members to keep the Hispanic community in mind and bulleted four main tips to getting a message out to the Hispanic community:

-       Talk to them in their language;

-       Show them they can identify with your company or product;

-       Have Spanish on your website; and

-       Have Spanish speakers answering your phones or hotlines.

She urged FPRA members to “be there and be seen,” networking within the Hispanic community, citing the excellent work of Deputy Attorney General of South Florida, Cindy Guerra, directly connecting with angry Hispanic citizens during the loan modification scandals in Spanish.

With more than 30 million people in the U.S. speaking Spanish, this is a not a community to ignore.  And getting the attention of the Hispanic community requires that the issues concerning Hispanic people be acknowledged and addressed. Atención por favor!