High Point University's Communication Week Presents: Rae Bazzarre

Crisis communication can be compared to putting out a fire, which needs three things to burn: heat (energy), fuel, and oxygen or a catalyst like oxygen.  In a crisis communications situation, something has gone wrong and your brand or company is metaphorically on fire.  There is something wrong (the fuel), there are negative public opinions (the heat), and then there’s your speed of reaction to the specific problem (the catalyst). 

And like real fires, if you deny it any of these sources, the fire will ultimately burn out. 

Rae Bazzarre
Photo cred: Linkedin

On Wednesday, April 2, in the Phillips School of Business room 120, Rae Bazzarre will be speaking at High Point University as a part of the now 2nd annual Communication Week.  

The lecture that Bazzarre with present is part of Communication Week, which includes six events hosted by the Nido R. Qubein School of Communication during the week of March 31.

Her topic? Crisis PR.  Bazzarre is a communications expert with more than 15 years of experience is media relations and public affairs for world wide known non-profits.   She was just recently named PRWeek’s “40 Under 40” list as a person who is leading the charger for the next generation of communicators, like myself. 

Rae Bazzarre will be speaking about how she most recently served as the Director of Communications & External Affairs for the LIVESTRONG Foundation among other things.  Also, How she built and executed a crisis communications and rapid response plan to help the organization move beyond the controversy around the career of Lance Armstrong. 

The School of Communications hopes to make Communication Week an annual week long event with other events this year like: the First Amendment Free Food Festival, a lecture by Pulitzer Center speaker Jason Berry, a video game tournament and the School of Communications awards banquet as the final closing event.

The hope for this week is that numerous students, including communications students but also business or other majors who are interested in learning about multiple aspects of the communications field.

This year’s events, including the lecture from Bazzarre about Crisis PR are expected to have huge audiences.   So, be sure to mark your calendar for these events this week.  It’s not something you’ll want to miss out on.

 Details:

Who: Rae Bazzarre
What: Crisis PR Lecture
Where: Phillips School of Business, room 120
When: Wednesday, April 2 at 7:00 P.M.
Cost: FREE
Info: Michelle Devlin (336) 841- 9043

If Veronica Says It’s Good, It’s A Must See

The voice of "Generation Y"

Veronica Grossman
Photo Credit: Elite Daily

Day after day, Elite Daily posts blogs, articles and trailers about all sorts of up and coming movie and television premiers as well as some blog posts about what those stars are up to.  One of Elite Daily’s contributing writers, Veronica Grossman, posts a majority of the above-mentioned reviews and blog posts.  In my opinion, hers are the reviews we should be reading.  She writes them in such a way that reaches out to “Generation Y”.  Veronica knows what our generation wants to read in a review; instead of reading long boring reviews with no “umph” in them, she provides short, sweet and sometimes hilarious reviews.   She uses our language and not only writes what you would typically expect to see in a review but adds a little something extra.

"Light's Out" short horror film screenshot
Photo Credit: Elite Daily

She starts with drawing us in with clever, and amusing titles, like “This Short Horror Film Will Ruin Your Chance Of Sleeping InUnder 3 Minutes” (which it did, so she was right) and “These New Clips From‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2′ Will Leave You Either Really Excited Or ReallyConfused.”  Then most of her reviews have videos to go along with them, most of which are trailers.  Used to pull you in a little more and undoubtedly make you want to see the movie or TV show if you haven’t done so yet.  Those two features alone, especially the videos really resonate with Generation Y.  We’re a very visual generation, if we can watch a video about something rather than read about it, we’re all for it.

 

Spider Man 2 screenshot
Photo Credit: Elite Daily

When she finally gets down to it in her reviews, Veronica gives us everything from the story line, to character development and then even a little gossip from the sets here and there.  But with all of those elements, her reviews are nothing if not short, sweet and to the point.  I don’t know how she does it.  In her (short) reviews she’ll tell you her professional opinion about a film, “The “X-Men” franchise has the uncanny ability to make sequels, prequels and even prequels to sequels without ever ruining the series…The film series just keeps getting better and the most recent installment, “X-Men: Days of Future Past,” seems like it will be following in its predecessor’s footsteps.”  Then with the little something extra, she’ll add amusement and gossip, “I can honestly say that I have enjoyed every “X-Men” movie to date, from the very first all the way to “X-Men: Wolverine” (I mean who didn’t enjoy that one? Hugh Jackman was half-naked the whole time).”  This is something you don’t see very often in any normal review, which is why I choose reading hers over anyone else’s you might see on Rotten Tomatoes or a different website.  The fact that she writes her reviews in a way that reaches out to our generation is both different and significant.  I would suggest reading her reviews to anyone who doesn't enjoy reading those other long and unexciting reviews.

"Southernisms"

Ever taken a trip down South and have no idea what people are saying to you?  I know I have.  It seems as though the South has a language of their own and once you live here long enough, maybe you'll get lucky enough to figure out what some of it means.  I thought it would be helpful to explain a few of the most popular Southern expressions I've heard since moving down here four years ago.  Also, the picture below is linked with a hilarious youtube video just to show some examples of things Southern women say on a daily basis.

Ain't that the berries! - That is great!
Barking up the wrong tree - You are wrong
Chugged full - Full and overflowing
Don't count your chickens until they hatch- First know the results
Even a blind hog finds an acorn now and then - Everyone is sometimes lucky
Every dog should have a few fleas - No one is perfect
Fly off the handle - Angry and lashing out
Go hog wild! - Have a good time!
Got your feathers ruffled - Upset and pouting
Happy as a dead pig in the sunshine - Doesn't grasp or worry what's going on
In high cotton - Rising up in society
Like a bump on a log - Lazy and doing nothing
Like two peas in a pod - Act and think alike
Sight for sore eyes! - Nice to see you!
Stomping grounds - Familiar territory
That takes the cake - Surprised
Too big for one's britches - Someone taking themselves too seriously
Two shakes of a sheep's tail - Done quickly
Well, shut my mouth - Shocked and speechless

Hope this helps on your next visit to the South!

Carolina Cup: A Southern Tradition

Carolina Cup is this weekend.  Are you ready?

The cup is one of the most southern traditions in South Carolina.  It's an annual event hosted in Camden, S.C. and a place where mass amounts of college students love to enjoy a sunny day with friends food and drink.  Just about every greek organization from pretty much every school in the Carolinas will be there, including myself.  For those who have never had the pleasure of attending Carolina Cup, it's basically an all day tailgate party no matter the weather.  Even if your a seasoned attendee or a first timer, here are few tips for you to make sure you enjoy your time at Carolina Cup.

1. Dress Southern.  What you wear makes Carolina Cup the event that it is.  It's important for guys to show off their best pastels and bow ties. And for you ladies out there, it's your chance to show off your best Lilly dress and as always your Jack's or Tory's.

2.  Bring a cooler.  Whether you had a date paint you one or not, I suggest you bring a cooler packed to the brim with food and drink of all kinds (ESPECIALLY water).  It's a necessity.

3.  Have fun with your date.  Though its not necessary, most people bring dates.  It's important to make sure they have a good time.  If its your first time, chances are it's your dates first time as well.  So hangout with each other and party together guaranteed you'll have a blast.

4. Buddy system.  It's as easy as that, STICK TOGETHER and all will be right in the world

5.  Rep your school.  There is nothing wrong with having your organizations flag raised high (the higher the better).

6.  Remember it's a horse race.  Most people say that if you see a horse at Carolina Cup you're doing something wrong.  I disagree.  Try and go see the horses, I promise you won't regret it.  It's actually really cool to experience the event in it's entirety.

7.  Cookout.
 If you can, bring a grill and tailgate.  Chances are if you're in college park you won't have easy access to food and trust me, you'll need it!  Bring burger and dogs and everything in between, this is why you bring a cooler.  Got to have something to keep the food cold, right?

8.  Embrace the whether.  Recently at the Cup there has been nothing but rain, and the Cup has become a huge muddy mess.  So embrace it and enjoy it, it might not be sunny but it'll still be fun.

So for a quick review, get a date, dress like a southern gentleman or lady, and keep the food and drinks flowing and I can guarantee that you will have a memorable time at Carolina Cup.