Josh, we'll be glad to see you at UGA. And, just so you know, some of our faculty are using blogs in class now-- my own is members-only this semester while I get the hang of it-- so I hope our students will be more prepared than the ones you met.

Thanks, Josh.

I think it is growing these days. With Karen's example and Kaye moving to UGA, they will likely start to take a leadership role.

SMU started this semester, too.

All in all, academia is often slow to adopt/adapt. But, once they adopt it into the curriculum, I believe we will see many more positive public faculty and student blogging examples.

I'm excited about the possibilities, beyond just blogging.

Thanks for sharing this. All the best.

Hi Josh,

Here some feedback from the other side of the Ocean...

I give guest lectures (on a voluntary basis) at PR schools every year and last Monday I was at the Artevelde Hogeschool in Ghent for the 3rd or 4th time. I had 3 classes of about 20 final year PR students, each group 1H30 to get them up and running with blogs and RSS and how these tools relate to their future profession.

Every year I ask who has a blog and behold, this year several students had one... The thing is, they blog, sometimes without even knowing the term/concept and most of the time they do not stand still on the impact these new communications tools have on the profession they are studying.

I always think we're way behind here in Europe (and certainly are when we would compare courses) but it gives me some hope when I read your experiences.

Shouldn't there be more of an exchange between our universities and PR schools on these topics ? It seems that blogging, RSS and other "new media" are a perfect topic to form virtual experience groups...

Josh, you're spot-on. I'll be at American U. here in a couple months for the second year in a row spreading the good word of "new school" PR, as I have out at BYU in Utah. And I agree with Robert, while we're in early adoption mode in higher ed, the ball is rolling and I think we're edging closer (albeit slowly) to that tipping point where such forms of experiential learning and movement beyond just preaching from our father's PR textbooks will become a reality. These students are starving for such exposure and "real-world" knowledge. Keep fighting the good fight.

Great presentation, thanks for sharing it. I'm surprised this isn't part of every PR/Marketing syllabus already?

Yup...you pretty much hit the nail on the head. It wasn't until this semester (which might I add is the last semester of my senior year) that I was even remotely introduced into much of which you are speaking about. As popular and accepted as blogging has become in the PR world, many professors are failing to incorporate the importance of blogging into their teaching methods.

But I am a fortunate enough to be a student at Auburn, and have two classes with Robert. For my Survey Research methods class we are required to blog once on our own website (http://monica.prblogs.org). However, for my Style & Design class we are required to blog twice on our website about PR, once on the MarCom blog (www.marcomblog.com), and then once on a relevant MarCom contributor's blog (i.e. yours!).

As a new blogger, this work load was extremely overwhelming and left many of us wondering what the heck blogging was going to do for us, except create piles of busy work. It wasn't until last week, when I attended PRSA's "Real World" conference that I truly realized that how valuable and unique my learning experience with Robert's classes were. So many students were asking themselves why they weren't being taught things like the value in PR blogging and other numerous things that are important to know in the real world.

As I am beginning to interview for jobs post-graduation, one of the things I am trying to incorporate into my resume and interview sessions, is my knowledge and experience with blogging and PR.

I consider myself to be a lucky student because I am learning to blog from Robert at Auburn. But I didn't realize that all universities didn't teaching blogging until Josh answered a previous comment of mine. Robert had said it, but it hadn't sunk in. I now have a new criteria for where I want to go to graduate school. Without Josh's helped I might have ended up as one of those students asking "how come they don't teach us any of this?" I really appreciate you helping me make some important post-graduation decisions.

I have often asked this question about a number of things; but fortunately I do not ask this question when it comes to PR. Auburn seems to have a great program/curriculum put together for PR majors. During the last two years I have had the opportunity to meet students majoring in communications, marketing and PR from various schools throughout the country, and after talking to them I truly feel that Auburn has one of the stronger PR programs that I am aware of. I have looked into transferring to other schools for various reasons, but none of the schools I considered had comparable programs. Auburn combines journalism, communications, radio, TV, film, and PR along with either marketing or management classes.

From my real-world experiences thus far, I have found that Auburn has adequately prepared me for the career I will pursue. Unfortunately this is not the case for all students, but this can change. I, too, would encourage students to speak out and make suggestions on how to better the PR curriculum at your school. It can't hurt you, but it can benefit you and future PR students at your school.

I must say I agree with Wes and consider myself a lucky student to be learning these things in class. I was a skeptic at first to whether these things would be beneficial or not, but after seeing so many posts from important people in the PR world showing us how learning the art of blogging and the web will put us ahead in the competitive arena of finding a job. I too did not fully grasp the concept that other universities do not have this class. Even my other professor in my PR classes praise Robert for his efforts with PR blogging/Style and Design. I am finally understanding how important this is and how beneficial it will be to me in my future.

Josh, I really enjoyed watching your webcast from UF. I think it's important that professionals like yourself are reaching out to university students to teach them about the blogging phenomenon.

One aspect of blogging that you touched on in the webcast is the fact that consumers are more interested in what their friends have to say about a product than believing a multi-million dollar advertisement. It is true that people look to real people for advice. I find it interesting that most things that come up in Google searches aren't created by advertisers. I could see a great advertisement about a product, but after reading a couple consumer reviews that diss the product, my opinion is changed in a second. The same goes for blogging. Everything is based on human connection.

I agree with you that spreading the word about blogging offline needs to be done as well. I recently attended a PRSA conference in Atlanta and I sat next to a PRSA member who recently moved to Atlanta from Canada. He told me he is a journalist who writes about food, wine, entertainment and restaurants. I thought for sure he would know what blogging was, but he had no idea. After explaining how blogging could benefit him, he gave me his business card and asked that I e-mail him more information about blogging. I think that word of mouth is a great way to get more people in the blogosphere.

Not to toot our own horn, but I like to think that when it comes to Auburn we are ahead of the game. With such fine professors as Robert  employed here at Auburn we, the students, do get a chance to stay one step ahead of everyone else. Maybe it is Robert's attitude toward the future that influences our curriculum weighing heavily on technology, but it seems to me that he is right as more and more PR professionals seem to be getting on the web. I was in the class that you spoke to a couple of years back at Auburn, and was not surprised when you commented that a lot of the programs at other universities seem to be lagging in some departments i.e. preparing us for the real world. I actually had the chance to speak with a PR professional out of Atlanta over the weekend, and she made the comment “well I wish they would have taught me that while I was in school.” That is why I found it so coincidental that you happened to be making this post.

After speaking with people pursuing the same degree as me, I was stunned that many of the classes we take aren’t even offered there. More emphasis is weighed on marketing at some and more on communication focused courses. Although, I do believe that these are essential classes to fully develop ourselves as a well-rounded, well-prepared individual as we enter the work force, I just believe that our program here at Auburn may be leading the pack.

It is a pleasure to hear such things from actual PR professionals about our program. With such a highly competitive job market, posts like these really teach you to appreciate the things that are at our disposal. Although sometimes I think, and I know Robert will agree, that we, as students, take many opportunities presented to us for granted, all in all I think we owe a lot of thank you’s to a lot of people.

I am hoping that you will be able to make it to Auburn to speak with us, and I am very appreciative of this post. Its things like these that smack us in the face and tell us to wake up and smell the coffee and be happy that we do have these experiences under our belt. Blogging and learning more and more about technology can do nothing but help us and due to posts like these I am proud to say I am from Auburn…and I won’t be ashamed to put that on my resume.

I agree with Lara that Auburn is ahead of the game when it comes to technology offered to us. However, while I realize that I am very fortunate to learn all this information while I am a student, there are times when I feel lost and overwhelmed when learning about all the new tools out there for us. Perhaps I'll have a good handle on it when I get out into the "real world" and can help everyone else learn it.

At Auburn, we have amazing opportunities to communicate with other PR professionals and learn about the newest equiptment and software available. Yet, I think it is also important that we have such qualified people working within the department to prepare us for what we will be facing once we graduate. To me, learning about the press/media kit was just as exciting as learning about the blog. Not only are we getting the basic fundamentals, but our education includes cuttting edge innoventions.A well-rounded education is important, and our public relations department is determined to ensure that their students are well-versed in the field. From our marketing/management classes to blogging, I feel we are going to be prepared for life after graduation.

I agree with Philippe Borremans that there should be more communication between universities and PR schools. Communication is the first step to improving education. There should also be more communication between professionals and universities. PR professionals should let schools know what skills they are looking for in graduates.

The last conference I went to for PRSSA, the speaker emphasized skills like blogging that are useful for real world PR. It meant a lot for me to hear what he was looking for on resumes. That allowed me to get opinions from professionals and teachers. So, when you go and speak at schools, students and faculty can hear what they need to work on in their cirriculum. It might be too late for me, but I hope you come to Auburn before I graduate!

I realized over a year ago that Robert was doing us a favor by making us blog. I also realized that no one else new about blogs or took any part in them. I have to say that although blogging is not the highlight of my week, I do see it is a beneficial.
Every time I mention blogging or something I read on a blog I get odd looks, from my parents, friends and new acquaintances. It is then that I remind myself how much I know about technology and computers in general.
I was talking to a graphic design major last week and I asked him a question about Photoshop and InDesign. After he helped me he asked why I wanted to know. I explained to him that it was for a class and he thought that it was great that PR students at Auburn were required to take a class that involved such programs.
I think people overlook Auburn in all aspects, but definitely in PR. I was always told to go to the Univeristy of Alabama for communications and PR studies, but I have news for them: They better watch out when they are interviewing for jobs against an Auburn grad!

Please let me continue on the positives that everyone else have mentioned. As students at Auburn University, we are definitely exposed to the world of blogging. I am learning more and more about what a beneficial method blogging is every time I blog.
I think blogging can be compared to any new invention. When you think about it, not too long ago iPods weren't very common. Few people had them, but the few who did were COOL! I feel like blogging is the same way. There aren't many people who blog yet. It is slowly catching on. However, the few that ARE blogging are cool :-)
I am always baffled when I mention to someone that I have a blog and they ask, "What is a blog?" I feel like blogging is catching on in so many businesses, and the public will soon follow. Most all news stations have blogs now. Several businesses hire employees to blog. ALL they do is blog-fun, huh?
I have learned so much about Public Relations, technology, and the world through blogging, and I look forward to the future of blogs.

Late to the discussion, but I will humbly point you to the Bad Pitch blog
badpitch.blogspot.com

It intended to be entertaining and educational. As it relates to media relations, students are finding it helpful and I encourage everyone...student and practitioner...to stop by and join the discussion.

Thanks Josh.

Well, I guess I must agree with many of the other Auburn students. We have such an amazing opportunity to learn about new technology in Robert's class. While blogging sometimes is the last thing I want to do, I know that in the end, I will be thankful that I am up-to-date on the lastest communication techniques. Auburn is also one-step ahead because Robert has set up a great opporutnity for us to communicate with successful PR professionals. Their feedback and comments help us sharpen our skills as soon-to-be PR professionals.

I think that maybe sometimes PR students feel out-of-the-loop about PR happenings because communication techniques in this day and age change rapidly. As soon as you get a class established, the rules could have all changed. It can be frustrating. That's why I am thankful that Robert's class is dedicated to teaching us the newest skills!