Category: fun

“Writing is still important” or “Writing is like hygiene”

Over the last several months, notwithstanding going solo recently, I’ve spoken with a number of agency higher-level folks and internal recruiters  about the job market and the candidates they’re seeing and seeking.

Regardless of the position (Entry, SVP or Director) or company (from various agency-types all the way to in-house) or type of work (media relations to a social media specific position) the one thing I keep on hearing, in various forms, is “we’re not seeing a lot of candidates with really good writing skills.”  Continue reading “Writing is still important” or “Writing is like hygiene”

This is a Call (Out)…

I’m frequently asked why I don’t name names when addressing bad marketing / PR practices.  The answer is usually in part because this person may have mitigated what seems like bad conduct elsewhere and I may just not have found it or I see no reason to call someone out for an innocent blunder (at least what I consider, IMHO, to be a blunder).

Usually it’s something I’ve seen elsewhere, to some degree or another, but there’s always one particular incident that stands out and I base the post on that, without calling anyone out.

That’s not a strict policy.

It’s all case by case, and will continue to be.

But today we break the 4th wall and go deeper than ever.

Why…because when it’s obviously not innocent, obviously offensive, resorts to ad hominem attacks, and is against someone I know and trust (who I know wouldn’t deserve such conduct) it’s time to point out the line in the sand that’s been crossed…and to do so with gusto, if at all possible.

That it also happens to be bad PR and is just plain ol’ shi#y, just makes it all the more fun.

If you’d like a soundtrack with this post, try this….play it loud…

[clearspring_widget title=”Grooveshark Widget: Single Song” wid=”48f3f305ad1283e4″ pid=”4a8c8ee2fb328e34″ width=”400″ height=”40″ domain=”widgets.clearspring.com”]

Continue reading This is a Call (Out)…

PRCog’s Basic Guide to butchering English for 140 chars….

I’m a long-winded SOB…..so twitter frequently doesn’t give me enough elbow room to do my wordsmithing (or add comments to a RT, etc.). So, I butcher English instead and abbreviate the heck out of everything I can. @PRDude is also a frequent violator, perhaps even more extreme in his abbrs than me.

This, as you might imagine, frequently causes confusion and apparently a productivity loss with some (sorry Arik!). It has also inspired some fun mockery & an odd flrry o disc. on whthr this pst itslf shld be wrttn in Cog-esse.
& So, w/o further butchering, the “Basic Guide” (post may be updated as I’m reminded of other abbrvs. Advanced guide e-book available for $19.95, with a mini book light included with your credit card order 😉
Basic Rules
Go with accepted abbreviations:
  • WSJ (Wall Street Journal);
  • NYT (NY Times);
  • State abbreviations (remember, Missouri is MO, not MI; MI is Michigan; not Mississippi; which is actually MS — not Missouri);
  • w/ (with);
  • w/o (without);
  • PRC (PR Cog) [that is an accepted abbreviation, yes?)
  • WTF
  • WTH
  • Eff (tho writing this one out can feel better)
Write it like it sounds, or should/would sound:
  • Tho (Though)
  • 2 (To/Too/Two–context helps)
  • Thru (Through/Threw)
  • NE1 (Anyone/any one)
  • U (You)
  • U’r (You’re)
  • Ur (Your)
  • L8 (Late)
  • c8r (cater)
  • Caveats – Abbreviations that make it look like you have a 3rd grade education are NOT acceptable — e.g., never use “Rite” for Write or Right. “Rt” is acceptable for Right. Wood for Would is a no-go, but Wld for would is fine (see below); Abbreviating names w/ phonics is frowned upon, go with initials if necessary. [UPDATE: As @tjdietderich points out RT maybe can be confused for a Retweet. Context is important]
The Apostrophe is your friend — when your meaning is clear
  • G’Morning (Good Morning) [It does help if they’re southern expressions]
  • G’day (Good Day)
  • M’dear (My dear)
  • M’Goodness (you see where this is going…)
Drop your vowels — at least 1 language I know of doesn’t use vowels (above school grade writing). Sound/Meaning is derived from context and the approximate sound
  • Mrkt (market)
  • twttr (Twitter)
  • Dsk (desk or disk depending on context)
  • Abt (About)
  • Trn (turn)
  • Arnd (around)
  • The lst is endlss
  • Caveat(s) — Do not drop a vowel when it will make a different word – “they” cannot become “thy.”
That covers the basics for ‘Butchering English to fit in 140 chars or less’ during ur lnch hrs — more &/or updts l8r as they bcome req’d or cm 2 my attn. 😛