With phones, internet, e-mail, social networking sites, blackberry's, blog's and twitter the digital world has become an integral part of our daily working and social lives.
The introduction of technology has undoubtedly made the exchange and transfer of information much quicker and slicker - but what are the consequences of the digital age?
Sitting in the comfort of our swivel chair behind the portal of a computer screen with our blackberry in our pocket and the World Wide Web at our finger tips, we could want for nothing more when it comes to ease of communication. Sitting at our warm and cosy desk, there is a certain level of comfort involved within the working day. You never have to move more than a click of a mouse or the dial of a button to create or make the news. As such, the age of digital PR has helped to create a faceless arena of communication. Cyberspace is the new social sphere and has replaced the lunch time meeting or office to office appointments.
Heaven forbid a black out occurred and the internet short circuited! We may actually have to revert back to having personal face to face conversations with people rather than exchange information between a name and a number!
Therefore in this world of digital communication the human interaction element of business and media relations has become very much diluted. With this dilution also comes an opportunity.
If every worker in every desk job - particularly in the media - sits behind their computer screen and doesn't directly engage with their contacts then they too present themselves as just another name and number in the system. In order to break the mould we have to go back to the old fashion way of getting out there and meeting and greeting people.
In terms of public relations, the role of a PR agency is to offer their clients a direct route to the media. Anyone and everyone can send an e-mail or make a phone call but not every publicity agent will make an effort to develop relationship and really get to know the press.
For effective public relations we need to use the digital world as a tool in which to create more face to face opportunities, rather than hide behind it and become more recluse in our roles.
The introduction of technology has undoubtedly made the exchange and transfer of information much quicker and slicker - but what are the consequences of the digital age?
Sitting in the comfort of our swivel chair behind the portal of a computer screen with our blackberry in our pocket and the World Wide Web at our finger tips, we could want for nothing more when it comes to ease of communication. Sitting at our warm and cosy desk, there is a certain level of comfort involved within the working day. You never have to move more than a click of a mouse or the dial of a button to create or make the news. As such, the age of digital PR has helped to create a faceless arena of communication. Cyberspace is the new social sphere and has replaced the lunch time meeting or office to office appointments.
Heaven forbid a black out occurred and the internet short circuited! We may actually have to revert back to having personal face to face conversations with people rather than exchange information between a name and a number!
Therefore in this world of digital communication the human interaction element of business and media relations has become very much diluted. With this dilution also comes an opportunity.
If every worker in every desk job - particularly in the media - sits behind their computer screen and doesn't directly engage with their contacts then they too present themselves as just another name and number in the system. In order to break the mould we have to go back to the old fashion way of getting out there and meeting and greeting people.
In terms of public relations, the role of a PR agency is to offer their clients a direct route to the media. Anyone and everyone can send an e-mail or make a phone call but not every publicity agent will make an effort to develop relationship and really get to know the press.
For effective public relations we need to use the digital world as a tool in which to create more face to face opportunities, rather than hide behind it and become more recluse in our roles.
