Communication World articles from September 2007

Communication World archives from September 2007

Take the test.(Editorial)(Viewpoint essay)
September 1, 2007... Try this. Take a close look at all the communications that you either delivered, developed or reviewed in the last week, and ask yourself this question: Was the message explained in clear and simple language? Was it clear how the recipient will...

Focusing on the future: at the 2007 International Conference, communication and community take center stage.(inbox: IABC NEWS & EVENTS)(Conference notes)
September 1, 2007... What does the future hold for the communication profession? That was the key question that speakers and attenders tried to answer at the 2007 IABC International Conference in June. More than 1,100 people from 41 countries met in New Orleans,...

Building on our strengths: new IABC Chair Todd Hattori and Research Foundation Chair Jan Thibodeau outline their visions for the coming year.(inbox)(Interview)
September 1, 2007... IABC Chair Todd Hattori IABC's incoming executive board chair, Todd Hattori, is the technology acquisition services manager for the Washington State Department of Information Services. In this role, he manages the customer relations...

The value of accreditation: IABC members cite greater recognition, career opportunities, earning potential.(inbox)(International Association of Business Communicators )(Survey)
September 1, 2007... Many communication professionals question the need for accreditation, arguing that prior study and experience are sufficient, and citing time pressures and monetary considerations as reasons for postponing or skipping the process. At the same...

Live-blogging goes, well, live: bloggers are posting their comments on conferences and more in real time. Does that give you a rush or a migraine?(tech talk)
September 1, 2007... If you could avoid the jet lag and long taxicab lines, and save the cost of a souped-up laptop, would you skip going to a trade conference and choose to "attend" it online? That seems to be the sticking point about allowing digital media free...

What to do when your CEO melts down: think it can't happen to you? Think again--and be prepared.(in retrospect)
September 1, 2007... Lord John Browne, the man credited with single-handedly taking British Petroleum (BP) from a second-tier oil company to the very top of the industry, was forced to resign in May after revelations involving his personal life came to light--a...

Picture perfect: work with illustrators and photographers to get an image that complements the story.(editor's angle)
September 1, 2007... Every picture tells a story, don't it? You can blame singer Rod Stewart for the grammar in that lyric, but you have to admit he has a point. Pictures, whether they're illustrations or photographs, make a story more interesting. Sure, there...

A PR handbook that delivers: fresh material and examples make this guide useful for novices and veterans alike.(The Public Relations Writer's Handbook: The Digital Age )(Book review)
September 1, 2007... about the book The Public Relations Writer's Handbook: The Digital Age by Merry Aronson, Don Spetner and Carol Ames Jossey-Bass, 2nd edition, 2007, 368 pages I read The Public Relations Writer's Handbook wearing the hats of both a...

Jamaica.(global perspectives: What are some communication mistakes that leaders make?)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... It's said that doctors make the worst patients. In our profession, this translates to communicators make the worst communicators. We either do not communicate enough, leading to disillusionment, or we create information overload, resulting in...

Colombia.(global perspectives: What are some communication mistakes that leaders make?)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... In order to achieve goals and steer their groups through demanding times, leaders need to be surrounded by people who trust them and whom they trust. Leaders cannot afford to lose the trust that a team has invested in them by not telling the...

Hong Kong.(global perspectives: What are some communication mistakes that leaders make?)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Leaders who fail to understand the needs, fears or frustrations of their audience, be it employees or customers, end up speaking out of context. How and when to deliver information requires a great deal of understanding and situation analysis....

United States.(global perspectives: What are some communication mistakes that leaders make?)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... All leaders want to be great. The organization, and everyone in it, needs them to be great. These realities influence common mistakes that leaders make: * Leaders often talk at people instead of with them. Many seem fearful about sounding...

Connected to the people: 2007 EXCEL Award winner Stu Reed shares how straight talk helped Motorola bring multiple business units under one roof.(2007 excel award)(Interview)
September 1, 2007... When Stu Reed took the helm as executive vice president of Motorola's Integrated Supply Chain in 2005, he had his work cut out for him. Charged with turning supply chain operations into a competitive advantage for Motorola, Reed, who had spent...

Taking the long view: companies are increasingly emphasizing proactive approaches to crisis communication.
September 1, 2007... Corporations have long understood that they must be prepared to respond effectively to crises. But today many are emphasizing anticipation, prevention and mitigation of crises as well. Communicators in particular have an opportunity to help...

Employee communication is no small wonder: a new IABC study finds that while small businesses are doing many things well, there is room for improvement.(International Association of Business Communicators )
September 1, 2007... Back in 1999, Harry Matlay's article in the journal Employee Relations, "Employee Relations in Small Firms: A Micro-Business Perspective," posited that owners and managers of small firms have more independent management styles, they recognize...

How do blogs measure up? Forget reach and frequency. Success in today's marketplace is measured not by how broad your reach is but by how deep your network is.
September 1, 2007... Just mention the word blog and watch the fear that spreads across many people's faces. But relax--this article isn't about blogs; it's about social media. There--isn't that better? Of course, social media includes blogs, but it also...

Dollars and sense: IABC's profile survey finds a majority of members satisfied with their jobs and earning more.(profile: an iabc research foundation survey)(Survey)
September 1, 2007... After a five-year hiatus, the IABC Research Foundation partnered with ResearchWorks Inc. to undertake a new Profile survey about salaries and job satisfaction in the profession. And the results were encouraging: Overall, IABC members are...

Positive growth for IABC.(IABC 2006 ANNUAL REPORT)(International Association of Business Communicators)(Financial report)
September 1, 2007... The financial statements on these pages reflect another positive year for IABC in 2006. The association achieved a surplus of revenue over expenses that exceeded expectations. Membership grew 7.7 percent, with new developmental chapters...

Charting a course to success: map in hand, a Calgary nonprofit followed its own path when it needed to convey project details and highlight its role in the community.(case in point)(Calgary Exhibition and Stampede )(Organization overview)
September 1, 2007... The Calgary Exhibition and Stampede (CE&S) is a volunteer-supported nonprofit organization that preserves and promotes Western heritage and values. Now a CDN$100 million organization, it began as an agricultural fair in 1886, and continues to...

Finding a genuine response: convey emotion with gestures, body language and expressions.(photocritique)
September 1, 2007... Skilled photographers are consistently able to find spontaneous human responses that convey emotion and human values. They find energetic gestures that symbolize meaning and capture body language that may tell us what people are really like....

Creative Minds, Inc.(CREATIVE SERVICES)(provides power point services)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... We're PowerPoint experts! Whether you need a quick makeover for a presentation tomorrow, a from-scratch custom show or presentation assistance during your next meeting, Creative Minds, Inc. can help. Visit our web site for presentation...

University of Lugano Executive MScom Program.(EXECUTIVE EDUCATION)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... The Executive Master of Science in Communications Management is a one-and-a-half-year, part-time program for experienced communications managers. The program focuses on strategic communications. There are seven one-week sessions at the...

Tribe Pictures.(FILM/VIDEO)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... A [moving] picture is worth a thousand words. We artfully craft films that solve our clients' communication needs. We transform complex information into clear, emotive messages. In business 20 years, we have worked successfully with Lucent, GE,...

Be prepared!(MEDIA & PRESENTATION TRAINING)(employee training by Impact Communications )(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Impact Communications trains your spokespeople to successfully communicate critical messages during print, TV and radio news interviews. Videotaping/critiquing. Groups/privately. Make your next news interview your best. More than 25 years of...

Karen Friedman Enterprises, Inc.(MEDIA & PRESENTATION TRAINING)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... Communicate your way to success to leave a lasting impression every time you speak. Whether talking to 60 Minutes, delivering business presentations, seeking product approval or addressing the public, hands-on techniques developed by...

UniKeep LLC.(PRODUCTS FOR EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION)(bookbinding)(Brief article)
September 1, 2007... The ONLY binder you will actually love for creative presentations, employee manuals, corporate publications, reports and document archiving. Fully enclosed to hold more than just pages. Durable poly construction is archival-safe. Full wrap...

Joan Detz Speechwriting/Coaching.(SPEECHWRITING SEMINARS)
September 1, 2007... The Master Class in Speechwriting, Nov. 5-6 The Business of $100,000+ Speechwriting (a brand-new class for staff or freelance), Dec. 3 www.joandetz.com

Embracing change: this communicator recognizes that life and attitudes evolve.(personality)(Interview)
September 1, 2007... In this issue we hear from Chris Forrest, communications manager at the Canadian 4-H Council in Ottawa, Ontario. What historical figure do you most identify with and why? I've always been interested in Beethoven. As a creative dreamer...

Communication and IT: taming the three-headed dog.(in my opinion)
September 1, 2007... The battle is nearly as eternal as the epic struggle between the forces of all that is good and right in communication, and those of our traditional archrivals in the legal department. However, this opponent physically controls something we...