Sherrilynne Starkie

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August 8, 2006 by sherrilynne Leave a Comment

Telegraph travel incorporates reader generated content

I keep an eye on the travel sector media because Strive consultants work for client Luxury Explorer, the world atlas of luxury travel.  generated content in newspapers with coffee

I was pleased to see Francisca Kellett, online travel editor at the Telegraph, is adding a bunch of new features to the Web site.  “Your Heaven & Hell” will let readers contribute their own travel stories and pix.  There is a monthly holiday prize as an incentive. Bulletin boards and podcasts are given more prominence, and Francisca promises to launch travel blogs very soon. It’s all good.

Editor’s Note: I updated this article on March 16, 2019 to make it easier to find. 

Filed Under: Media, public relations Tagged With: Media, PR, public relations, Telegraph, Travel

July 29, 2006 by sherrilynne Leave a Comment

Getting LinkedIn

A friend in the US sent me an invite to join LinkedIn this week, and I decided to go for it.  It’s an online network of 6.5 million professionals around the world representing 130 industries…a MySpace for grownups if you like.

The idea is that people hook up online to build networks for business referrals, job opportunities etc.  It’s just good, old fashioned networking that is assisted by technology. LinkedIn icon

I quickly established 12 connections that plugs me into a network of 103 people (friends of friends).  Taken a step further, I’ve got more than 38,000 new connections (friends of friends’ friends).

The next thing for me to do is learn how to use this tool to make the most of these connections.  Has anyone out there had any success?  Please share your story.

It’s free to join, but there are some premium services that are paid for.

And, if any Strivers or other bloggers would like to connect with me, ping me an invite.

Filed Under: LinkedIn, public relations, Social Media Tagged With: LinkedIn, PR, public relations, Social Media

April 19, 2006 by sherrilynne Leave a Comment

Womenomics: The next 10 years

“Arguably, women are now the most powerful engine of global growth.”  So says The Economist in its recent look at women and world econcomy.  (12 April 2006)

I’m sure all you female Strivers are saying, “So, tell us something we don’t already know.”  The article cites statistics that prove that more women are in paid work than ever before in western countries and that employment among men is on the decrease. Also, it points out, “…most working women are still responsible for the bulk of chores in their homes.” Oh Joy.women

Despite this, it seems that we working women are responsible for generating a hugh boost in global economic growth. Since 1970, we not only have added more to GDP than men, our growth in capital investment is higher as is our contribution to overall productivity.  I guess this is not surprising when you consider the cultural changes since that time.

Women Sacrifice Leisure

But I wonder how much further we can take it?  We have become adept at balancing corporate life with family life. Women sacrifice leisure time, contract out child care and, at times, seemingly live on the road. But we Strivers have got virtuality on our sides to redress the work/life balance.

More organisations should entertain the idea of going virtual.  It just makes good business sense if you want to tap into “girl power”.  The Economist cites Catalyst research that, “American companies with more women in senior management jobs earned a higher return on equity than those with fewer women at the top.” Indeed! We Strivers have embraced virtuality and our clients reap the benefits.

Technology allows true liberation. But, Strive is at the thin end of the wedge.   The next 10 years are going to be so exciting!

UPDATE:  I just noticed that Todd Defren on PR Squared is STRIVING “to be as flexible and supportive as possible, while running a profitable business that is fair to everyone.”  He raises some good points, is 20 hours facetime really necessary to lead a solid team? I think not, with the right use of technology.

Filed Under: public relations Tagged With: Marketing, Media, PR, public relations, Trends, womenomics

April 3, 2006 by sherrilynne Leave a Comment

Is gender STILL a workplace issue?

Is there a difference between male and female public relations professionals?  I can’t really believe that in the year 2006 we are still considering gender as a professional issue, but the question has come up three times since Friday.

First of all, Friday morning I was having a chat with an associate (male age 60+) about how much the CIPR has grown over the past five years.  His comment was that the big female influx was the major driving force in the Institute’s growth.  To me that raised the question, where were all the women before 2001? We most certainly were toiling away both in-house and on agency side.  Why weren’t we adequately represented in the Institute of Public Relations? What’s happened since then to change this? woman and man gender

Then, later that same day, down the pub, I got talking to a local doctor (male age 40+) who said, “I’ll bet all men in PR are born liars.”  I didn’t know how to react. Why would he assume male PRs are liars and females are not? Is the PR profession not deemed as worthy for a man of integrity, but all right for women?   It was one of those comments that makes you go hmmmmmmmmmm!

PR Stereotypes

Then yesterday, I came across Susan Getgood’s blogsite. She and I worked together in a previous life, and so I was interested to see what she is doing these days.  I was a bit shocked to read the Women PR bloggers don’t like stereotypes entry on her blog. Why, in this day and age, does this recognised industry leader, who has successful track record as long as my arm, feel she has to defend women as professionals?

I guess my point is this. The human population is made up of men and women.  Our profession is made up of men and women. This is 2006 not 1956. I would have hoped that we’d progress through the biases of the past to the understanding that in the workplace, gender is not an issue.  Are my expectations too high? Please set me straight.

Filed Under: public relations Tagged With: Gender, Opinion, Women in PR

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