Communication World articles from July 2007

Communication World archives from July 2007

Listening and learning.(from the editor)(Editorial)
July 1, 2007... I once worked with a woman who drove me crazy. Let's call her Donna. Due to a reorganization, our respective departments had been put in a position of competing for staff resources. Frankly, I felt I had been dealt the bad hand in this deal. At...

Credibility, straight talk earn Motorola exec an EXCEL Award: IABC committee says Stu Reed seems to live and breathe communication.(inbox: IABC NEWS & EVENTS)(International Association of Business Communicators )(award for organizational communication)
July 1, 2007... IABC has named Stu Reed, executive vice president of Motorola's Integrated Supply Chain (ISC) organization, the recipient of the 2007 Excellence in Communication Leadership (EXCEL) Award. The EXCEL Award, the highest award given by IABC to...

Suzanne Salvo recognized with IABC Chairman's Award.(inbox: IABC NEWS & EVENTS)(International Association of Business Communicators)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] IABC Chair Glenda Holmes, ABC, has selected Suzanne Salvo as the recipient of the 2007 Chairman's Award, presented on 24 June at the opening general session at the International Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana....

Eckard and Rosen named IABC Fellows.(inbox: IABC NEWS & EVENTS)(Connie Eckard and Sheri Rosen joins International Association of Business Communicators)
July 1, 2007... IABC has selected Connie Eckard, Ph.D., ABC, and Sheri Rosen, ABC, as IABC Fellows. The IABC Fellow designation is the highest honor the association bestows on an individual and acknowledges outstanding leadership, professional accomplishment...

Exciting new partnership brings IABC accreditation to China.(inbox: IABC NEWS & EVENTS)(Shanghai Public Relations Association and Shanghai Public Relations Association )(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... IABC has partnered with the Shanghai Public Relations Association (SPRA) to bring IABC's accreditation program to China. Leaders of both associations signed an agreement stating that IABC will conduct a training program to help SPRA members...

Mark your calendar.(inbox: IABC NEWS & EVENTS)(International Association of Business Communicators )(Brief article)(Calendar)
July 1, 2007... 18-31 July Online seminar: Leadership and Coalition Building 25 July Web seminar: Dark Sites: Using the Web in a Crisis 8-21 August Online seminar: Managing Projects with In-House and Outsourced Teams 22 August Web seminar:...

Brand vs. image.(from our readers)(Letter to the editor)
July 1, 2007... Debra Semans' book review in the March-April issue of CW of Brand from the Inside by Libby Sartain and Mark Schumann is an accurate summary of what I recognize as a superficial gallop through the important process of engaging with employees to...

IABC works with ISO to develop standards for social responsibility.(inbox: IABC NEWS & EVENTS)(International Association of Business Communicators)(International Organization for Standardization)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... IABC has teamed up with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) for the development of a future ISO 26000 standard that will provide organizations with guidance for implementing social responsibility. An IABC subcommittee, led...

If you text it, they may come: talkers give way to texters as technology turns lowly cell phones into multidimensional communication tools.(tech talk)
July 1, 2007... It's always dangerous to predict that one medium is about to replace another, or how one technology is about to rearrange our communication org charts. But considering people's insatiable appetite for real-time information, it's safe to say...

Stand from the e-crowd: your audience is likely overwhelmed with e-mail and more, so make your communications a must-read.(editor's angle)(Viewpoint essay)
July 1, 2007... If you've been reading this magazine for any length of time, you probably know that information overload, especially in the form of e-mail, is a big problem for communicators. About a year ago, IABC surveyed members about e-mail--how much they...

The PR response to Virginia Tech and beyond: this latest tragedy showcases the need for comprehensive crisis communication plans that take technology into account.(in retrospect)(public relations)
July 1, 2007... Imagine you're the engineer in the cab of a freight train locomotive. Your 8,000-ton train is moving at 50 miles per hour, and with 400,000 tons of momentum behind you, the immutable laws of physics dictate that it will take several minutes and...

The case for collaboration: the authors of Wikinomics contend that web sites have become passe, and that communicators must build thriving online communities instead.(Wikinomics: How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything )(Book review)
July 1, 2007... about the book Wikinomics: How Mass Collaboration Changes Everything by Don Tapscott and Anthony D. Williams Penguin, 2006, 320 pages Effective communications have traditionally depended on an ability to relay information to a large...

How does your company use new media to connect with stakeholders?(global perspectives)
July 1, 2007... United Kingdom We have individual blogs and wikis for all our clients. We share photos of our workforce and their families with clients on Flickr, we post videos of our Norwegian research team on YouTube, then "mash" them with soundtracks...

Gold Quill Awards showcase: original, creative and in some cases working on a shoestring, this year's winners represent the best in business communication.(Awards list)
July 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "And the Gold Quill goes to..." The IABC Gold Quill Awards[R] international competition is the highest level of professional acknowledgment within business communication today. For more than 35 years, this...

Drive away hunger.(the best of the best)(Leanna Korevaar from Farm Credit Canada)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Entrant's name: Leanna Korevaar This entry did so much with so little. This small-budget, big-results project makes it the perfect feel-good success story. Farm Credit Canada's Drive Away Hunger campaign is a...

Taking the trans out: U.S. soybean growers deliver healthy options to the food industry.(the best of the best)(Diana Steeble from United Soybean Board)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Entrant's name: Diana Steeble Communication strategy took a potentially devastating business issue and turned it into a positive opportunity. Not only were the results superior, but the work sample was very clear...

A Canadian first: cementing Listerine's position in the oral hygiene routine.(the best of the best)(Liz Carson from Environics Communications receives award)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Entrant's name: Liz Carson The use of research and its ability to direct success is the backbone of a good communication program. Without the right baseline, success is hard to measure and planning strategically is difficult. This program...

Walk the talk to sustainable growth: blog blast '06.(the best of the best)(K. Benda from Coca-Cola)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Entrant's name: K. Benda This is a highly engaging, incredibly creative program designed to involve people around the world in creating the behaviors that allow people to live the company's values. The work is...

10,000 sleeping bags for Pakistan.(the best of the best)(Tina Lazovic from Pristop gets award)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Entrant's name: Tina Lazovic This entry demonstrates a clear understanding that effective community relations reaches beyond a single event or media relations effort to motivate a community to act. With beautifully crafted communications,...

Customer experience employee guide.(the best of the best)(Lane D. Stockbrugger from Farm Credit Canada gets award)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Entrant's name: Lane D. Stockbrugger I couldn't put this entry down. Every time I turned the page I was more impressed by the thinking and clarity in execution. This is a brilliant piece of employee...

Keep the drive U.S.A.: empowering teens to drive change.(the best of the best)(Kelly Puspoki from The Allstate Foundation receives award)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Entrant's name: Kelly Puspoki This work plan clearly identified the need and had research to back up a detailed description of its target audience. The solution was creative and well suited to the needs of the audience: teenage drivers. ...

All Gold Quill winners.(special awards)
July 1, 2007... All Gold Quill winners are considered for the IABC Research Foundation's Jake Wittmer Research Award and the Business Issue Award.

The Jake Wittmer Research Award.(special awards)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... The Jake Wittmer Research Award recognizes outstanding research commissioned or developed by an organizational communicator to effectively develop a successful communication program or project. This year's Jake Wittmer Research Award went to:...

The Business Issue Award.(special awards)(Pieter Pretorius from Eskom)(Sylvia Link from Peel Distric School Board)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... The Business Issue Award recognizes an entry that exemplifies the most outstanding work and strategic involvement on a critical, current business issue that poses a significant threat to the economic well-being and/or continued viability of the...

The Sharon Berzok Student Award.(special awards)(Shaun Bruce )(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... The Sharon Berzok Student Award is the highest student award given by the IABC Research Foundation. All student entries are considered for this award, which is judged on overall excellence and creativity. The winner receives US$500 for...

Forward: Living Life After Transplant.(the best of the best)(Tracy Kurschner from Weber Shandwick receives award)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Entrant's name: Tracy Kurschner [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This entry seemed to be authentic in the way it dealt with a very difficult topic. It puts a name to the emotions that people feel when faced with this type of crisis. The project...

'We liked them, we really liked them!'.(gold quill awards / behind the scenes ...)
July 1, 2007... The Blue Ribbon Panel: a gathering of 35 of the most highly regarded communicators on the planet to select the year's winners of the Gold Quill Awards-the Oscars of business communication. For two intense days, the panel members pored over...

Resolved: using mediation to settle conflicts: communicators' skills lend themselves to managing professional mediation between internal or external groups.
July 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Communication professionals and mediators have for years been on parallel paths. Yet only recently has any literature even mentioned one in terms of the other, though they have much to offer one another. ...

Rescuing PR's reputation: multiple challenges have put public relations practitioners on the defensive--but there are ways to save the profession's credibility and integrity.(public relations)
July 1, 2007... Corporate communication is facing a credibility crisis, and public relations practitioners are especially vulnerable. This crisis stems from a significant gap between theory and practice in the profession. Issues of identity, ethics and...

Delivering on the promise: financial results and membership growth highlight IABC's continued progress.(IABC 2006 ANNUAL REPORT)(International Association of Business Communicators)
July 1, 2007... Every year IABC makes a promise to its members: to provide services that help them succeed in their careers. In 2006, the IABC staff and board not only worked to fulfill that promise, but also worked with more than 3,000 IABC members on a...

A focus on the issues shaping our profession.(IABC 2006 ANNUAL REPORT)(International Association of Business Communicators)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Branding. Advocacy. International growth. These are a few of the issues that topped IABC's agenda in 2006. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of countless volunteers at the chapter, regional and international levels as well as our association...

Research Foundation develops new studies in communication.(IABC 2006 ANNUAL REPORT)(International Association of Business Communicators)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... In 2006, the IABC Research Foundation continued its mission to provide the thought-provoking and credible research that is vital to the practice of organizational communication. Progress started with streamlining the research process and...

Giving power to the people: when South Africa's electric utility faced severe supply shortages, communication was a cornerstone of the emergency strategy to avert large-scale power interruptions.(case in point)(Case study)
July 1, 2007... Eskom is South Africa's national electric utility, supplying approximately 95 percent of the country's electricity. The Western Cape province receives about 36 percent of its electricity supply from Africa's only nuclear power station, Koeberg....

Integrating choices in time, light and space: tell the story with subtle clues about the subject and environment.(photocritique)(Personal account)
July 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] When we make a photograph, we simultaneously make choices in time, light and space to tell our story. These choices are governed by the nature of the subject, and the point we are trying to make to our viewers. ...

Farcus.(Cartoon)
July 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "I know it's from the cafeteria, but this isn't the turnover we wanted you to study."

The measure of a word: this "storyteller" believes you should never underestimate the power of the pen.(personality)(interview with Kimberly Cooper of American Water )(Interview)
July 1, 2007... In this issue we hear from Kimberly Cooper, director of external communications and corporate responsibility of American Water in Voorhees, New Jersey. What historical figure do you most identify with and why? The first figure that...

Strategies for keeping your cool with difficult clients.(in my opinion)(Viewpoint essay)
July 1, 2007... As communication consultants, we're trained to be diplomatic in all circumstances. Is that, a realistic expectation? Personally, I dont think so. Inevitably, you run into that one internal or external client who pushes you to the breaking...