Google gives journalists a rare view of team at work!

Google invited a number of journalists to Building 47 at the Googolplex for a rare view of the team at work. These places are usually restricted for general access. This media tour is part of promoting experimental Gmail toys. Google has set up a good example of two way symmetric communication with the media and its customers by seeking their participation in the testing process of its new applications.

For corresponding BBC news article click here.

Glass Celing- Is America ready to break it?

The news of Mr. Barack Obama's win of democratic nomination was greeted by many with fervor and cheer and to me it was a moment of felicitation. But it made me ponder, "Did Mrs. Clinton lose as a presidential candidate because she was a women?" Is it a defeat of gender or a cover used by her supporters to hide their discomfort? Is it really the glass ceiling that led to her defeat or is it the excuse used by her admirers?

Craigslist hits back EBay's allegations in a blog

I am a social networking supporter (so Go Social Gators!) and am always looking for news that gives opportunity to claim my point (actually claim it over and over again, until it hits the mind of close minded traditional jerks!) and here I am with yet another proof. Well, first of all if I am faced with legal allegations from a minority investor in my business, what do I do at the very first place- Call the lawyer! right? And I am sure the company in this news did that too. But would you think of rebuffing your attack on a blog!!!!! Wow! and I really mean it! Wow! Craigslist did exactly that, when it responded to EBay's allegations and the response was posted on company's blog site. See that is my point! Social media is the future! is the present! wake up my friend, before its too late. For the news read this: EBay sues Craigslist ad website

$5 billion spending on Social Networking tools by 2013!

Believe it or not, but its true! Businesses are set to spend about 5 billion USD on social networking tools by 2013 according to BBC News report. Gosh I don't even know how many zeros this figure has! If anyone does write back to me! And we in Public Relations are busy learning traditional media writing skills!

We have to accept it (if you don't, my friend, you are no better than an ostrich trying to escape the reality in front of it), face it, and learn to tackle it! Social media is the future of, well, I think everything! (if I am exaggerating then at least somethings!). So what do you all think are the skills needed to tame this big monster in front of us as PR professionals? (besides spending our days and nights on Facebook reading other people's walls and status messages, ofcourse!)

What makes Facebook tick

If you are a user of Facebook, which I bet you are (if not, stop reading & sign up for it first!). Okay, so now that I have my Facebook -user reading this blog, let me ask you this question- What made you put your profile picture on Facebook? Interestingly, this precisely is the topic of discussion for a group of students at Stanford, enrolled in the course designed by Professor B J Fogg, a pioneering persuasion psychologist who founded the Persuasive Technology Lab at Stanford. The objective of the class is to learn what makes Facebook tick, which according to Prof. Fogg, is the science of "Mass Interpersonal Persuasion".
In a world of Second Life and Social Networking, Prof. Fogg's class takes the greatly desired step of offering academic stepping stone to future professionals. Increasingly, skills of social media are becoming the differentiators for Public Relations professionals. However, as always the academia is lagging behind and is barely catching on with the latest trends, which makes me wonder if we as professionals would ever emerge out as front runners, or would we always be termed laggards when it comes to technology!