World Cup rant used as ringtone in China

Throughout the World Cup, the Chinese media has shown professionalism and class, as well as marketing savvy. Prior to each game, CCTV 5 (the sport channel) would have a warm-up mini show to discuss the game, tactics, the players and also on-the-spot interviews with World Cup fans in Germany!

But during Italy-Australia game, the TV announcer Huang Jianxiang had a very over-zealous reaction that made the headlines: "Gooooal! Game over! Italy win! Beat the Australians! ..... Itealy the great! ...Happy birthday to Maldini! Forza Italia!"
http://ent.xicn.net/item/2006/06/28/238293.html

Of course, the rant was also made into a ring tone in China. :) As if there was not enough noise. (www.02cq.com.cn)

Are you the PR type?

I was having lunch with two colleagues the other day, and the two of them were chatting about a mutual friend. They were saying how their friend is leaving China after job searching and that he got a better offer somewhere else. He also applied for a PR agency job, but that did not come through for some reason. “Yeah, he is not the PR type”, my younger friend said.

This got my attention. But my other colleague was quicker to react: “And you mean we are?”

This got me thinking, what is the PR type? Is there such a thing as “PR type”? Is there a "typical" PR person?

At that lunch, all three of us were so different, but all of us chose PR to work in. One of my friends is very focused, determined, sharp and witty. The other is youthful and a photo fan and loves expressing a story in photos. Myself: hm... “people-person”, very enthusiastic and easily excited about stories, new things to tell the world, new ideas.

When I look around the office, I see that everyone is different. We all have our strengths and I guess the beauty of PR is that it’s “breadth and depth” can maximize on those strength and harness them in different practices (crisis, marcomms, corp comms, GPA, etc) and client services.

My first podcast!

Interview with independent producer in China, and a good friend who agreed to help with my very first podcast, Hortense Halle!

Thank you, dear Hortense! :)

If Beijing had a river....

Artist's impression ;)

Quote of the Day

Knowledge is nothing without action. Nothing changes until you do something. What you do will directly determine what you learn.
- James A. Belasco & Ralph C. Stayer, Flight of the Buffalo

Podcasting 101

Once read somewhere a saying that you are a true photographer not if think about photography, but if you can't think of anything else BUT photography...

I have caught the podcast virus. It started by installing iTunes, and subscribing to Photoshop TV. And now, it has spread to my own mini-podcasting studio and an already confirmed interview for my first podcast!

Let me work back, as today I got the confirmation for my podcast interview offer. Last night, I made a list of people I would like to interview and just sent it out to those parties involved. This past weekend I have set up the studio-on-a-budget:

1. Philips Headphones with mike (RMB 170)
2. Converter plug (NOTE: Mac mini does not have a line-in jack for regular/round headphones plug, you need to get USB converter, RMB 50)
3. Local brand digital recorder (RMB 470)
4. Garage Band editing software (free)

So with the hardware ready, and the software installed, the only remaining thing is the idea. Luckily, plenty of those around too. :)

In the meantime, before my interview, I am "training" by listening to some of my favorite podcasts (Across the sound) and reading up.

9 months!

Today is exactly 9 months since I joined H&K, time to give birth to some points of wisdom. :) I've learned:
- I've learned, and appreciate, the differences between in-house PR and PR agency
- That research skills are skills after all and it's possible to combine it into a short summary (yay!)
- That it's better to work smart than work hard
- That communication requires a lot of question asking
- That 3rd party testimonials can do wonders
- That "if it's to be, it's up to me"
- That my alcohol tolerance has increased ;)