Blog lists, Twitter widgets, and print versions

Here are a few interesting ideas, tools, and resources I came across from around the web this week:

• Get a start on navigating blogs, etc. with ten New Media blogs: Blogs.com
  
• Bring all that Twitter content you, your followers and/or your event attendees are creating to your website: Duct Tape Marketing
• PrintFriendly makes blogs printable, so when you print out blog posts and clips to show linkphobic colleagues, there won't be SECRET TO A FLAT BELLY OBEY ads that make it 25 pages long: Mashable!

Hve you found any useful apps or lists lately?

Great Online Sources for Women's News

This afternoon I attended The Working Lunch, Women Employed's annual fundraiser. This "power luncheon" brings together women from all over the city to affirm their commitment to ensuring economic advancement for all women.

I couldn't help but be inspired and appreciate being around smart, driven women. Its a shame we rarely hear critical stories that impact women - usually they take a back seat to the latest gossip or fashion trend.

When I seek relevant and engaging information specific to women's' issues I turn to a few key sources...check them out after the jump.



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Tuesday Blast - the Chicago Foundation for Women's weekly E-Update. My favorite section is their weekly take on a media story; CFW deconstructs reporting on women's issues and uncovers the myths and stereotypes that still get perpetuated. Last year after the Eliot Spitzer scandal, CFW notes the real issue left out was how women get caught up in the sex-trade industry in the first place.

Jezebel - Now this website may first strike you as a landing place for all things fluff, but its written with such sass and wit, its almost laughing at you not with you. While giving you the latest celebrity and pop culture news, the bloggers touch on very important issues of self-image, domestic violence and gender equity.

Women Employed - Check them out on Twitter and read tweets about important issues regarding pay fairness. I'm partial to WE because I serve on their Advocacy Council, but they are truly are a valuable resource for information affecting working women.

Viva La Feminista - Chicago mom, activist and Latina blogger (and fellow WE Council member) Veronica Arreola shares powerful commentary on issues surrounding diversity, feminism and parenthood.

Julie's Health Club - Chicago Tribune fitness and health writer Julie Deardorff's blog is my go-to spot for personal health information. Julie touts her blog as the place where "alternative and mainstream health meet." From best foods to eat after working out to best fitness apps for iPhones, Julie covers a wide range of issues for health-conscious women.

Again these are my favorite sources - I know there are tons of others. Tell me what you like to check out in the comments below!

Image by www.webtvwire.com

Attracting web readers with smart titles and headlines

Communications folks moving from brochures and press releases to blog posts and tweets need to consider key differences between writing static printed content and dynamic web content. SEO, RSS, metatags and other web doodads might take a while to internalize, but one thing social media newbies (or n00bs, in the parlance of our times) can optimize right off the bat are titles. Poynter Online's E-Media Tidbits blog pointed out a good list of things BBC web editors do well with their headlines - these are also good for communicators to consider when titling a blog post or other piece of information:

• Keep it short so that it can be read quickly and fit into aggregators and social media tools.
  
• Clearly summarize your item and make it understandable out of context - most folks will come across your item in an aggregator, social media site, search, feed, widget, or some other way - don't get so artsy or clever that a person seeing the title alone won't know what the heck it is.
  
• Front-load the title with the most important keywords, since most people when reading lists of titles just scan the first couple words. This also helps Google and other search engines find you.
  
• It should be predictable. Make sure those who click on your title get what they were told they would and are not disappointed when they come to your content.

For example, I wanted to title this post "Crafting a crafty title can make your content fly into the world wide web like a majestic eagle, or magical fairy," but I didn't. With this shorter and more explicit title, you can share this post on Facebook, Twitter, Digg, etc. (just click on "SHARE THIS" below) and your friends, pseudo-acquaintances and other readers will know what it is about and if they want to click.

Remember: if you do things right on the web, your content is not only sitting on your website or blog waiting for people to find it - it's showing up in searches and Facebook feeds and aggregators and sharing sites. A thoughtful web-optimized title makes a big difference in who and how many engage with your message in the pixelated world.

How to manage media at your big event: Different journalists, different needs

One of VDC's most interesting clients is The Chicago Council on Global Affairs, who bring world leaders and leading thinkers to Chicago. Since they do so many programs about so many topics, we work with a wide range of local, national, ethnic, business, and foreign press on any given day.

These busy past couple weeks are a good example. VDC managed press for addresses by Former UK PM Tony Blair and Chinese Minister of Commerce Chen Deming, and a panel discussion on the Financial Crisis featuring Caterpillar CEO James Owens.

These events attracted very different groups of journalists with their own needs - communicators who find themselves working in press situations like this should try to anticipate them and adapt accordingly. More after the jump.




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Two things to do for any event that could be attended by a variety of press are:

• Try to get RSVPs from press by including language encouraging or requiring them in your press materials. This will help you plan your event and keep interested media abreast of changing event or security situations.
• Make sure you are properly staffed. One person dedicated to 4 camera crews, 10 writers, 3 radio reporters, and 8 photographers won't cut it. Recruit staff or volunteers dedicated to managing the media at your event.
  

A major world leader such as a current or former head of government or head of state (HOG/HOS, as they are known in the business) like Tony Blair come with a lot of rules - security, protocol, etc. Many media people don't enjoy rules, but if you are up front about them and maintain constant communications before and during the event, they are usually more amenable. HOG/HOS events can attract a lot of attention from a wide range of press outlets - three in particular are good to consider:

• Camera crews for local and national stations need space, light, and decent sound to get the footage they need. If you are expecting camera crews to your large event: create a space or press riser for them to set up, make sure the lighting of your stage or podium is not dim, and reserve a mult box and hook into the PA system (most hotels have this in-house).
  
• Wire photographers, who take photos for services like Getty Images or Associated Press, want good, iconic shots of leaders that can be used in current and future stories about that person, so they want to get very close to the speaker and, since they are used to fighting for shots in tightly-packed throngs of photographers and camera crews, they can be pretty aggressive. If you expect wire photographers at your event, create space for them in the floor plan where they can get their shots without disturbing your audience. If that isn't possible, set rules before the event and make sure they know you will work with them as best you can to get them to the angles they need.
• "Fakers" - sort-of-journalists who just come to your event as media to get in free or to get a better seat - are a complicated set. They'll come with a beat up old business card from their cousin's suburban ethnic paper that hasn't been published in two years and expect the same treatment and access as The New York Times. You want to be open-minded and helpful to all media, but you don't want these folks to take time and space from real press and, in a HOG/HOS situation, you don't want to comprimise security protocols. To deal with Fakers, establish clear identification rules (ex: must have photo ID and business card from currently published organization) ahead of time and include them in press materials - this will filter out many of the more egregious cases.
  

Some foreign leaders, like the Chen Deming of China or some HOG/HOS speakers, bring their own press corps as well as attracting local ethnic press.

• Local ethnic press are usually excited for the opportunity to speak with an important person from their native country or region, but sometimes aren't as professional as some of the major media. Give them all the opportunities you can for access and make sure they have all press materials so they get all the details right.
  
• Foreign press corps follow their subject around the world for weeks in a very controlled environment, looking for any nugget they can to send home. They will usually totally ignore prepared remarks and look for an opportunity to rush the stage or ambush the speaker, which will encourage the domestic press you're working with to get that access. They also usually don't speak a lot of English (or looking at it another way, you don't speak their language). Try to establish good contact with the local consulate or other representatives of the speaker to gauge how many press people are coming and how they will fit into the structure of the event. When surprised by a large, aggressive group, try to bend, not break - mitigate the chaos, because you aren't going to stop it.

The words of a speaker or panel of speakers who are prominent in the business and financial world, like representatives of The Fed or a CEO of a major international company, can be important and timely - business writers for wires and bureaus need to get the information out quickly.

• Wire reporters for outlets like Reuters or Bloomberg want to update stories by the minute. Make sure you have electrical outlets and if possible, internet access available if you are expecting these types of journalists. They may want to write, post, and update their stories on their laptops during the event.
  

When you find yourself if a big-time media situation, knowing who's who can help you help the press while keeping the event pleasant and your VIPs happy.

(photo from Associated Press via LA Times)

Five Great Event Spaces in Chicago

Who doesn't love a great party?

As VDC's resident "event guru," I manage and coordinate special events for our clients. From a 900-person conference to an anniversary celebration, I've helped organizations plan dynamic events at some of Chicago's most unique venues.

I'm also a self-proclaimed social butterfly and love going to networking events around the city to check out new spaces. Here's my pick on five great places to hold your next meeting or fiesta.



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Midtown Kitchen + Bar

If you're looking for a trendy and fun (but not pretentious) place to host a mingler or cocktail hour, Midtown is the spot for you. The upstairs space offers plenty of room for networking, I've coordinated two events here for Women Employed's Advocacy Council. Wide windows offer a great view of the Loop and provide nice natural light. It's also conveniently located on Lake and LaSalle streets, near all major CTA train lines. Midtown also has great drink and food specials - I recommend the brie-apple quesadillas. 203 N. LaSalle St. (312) 379-5086.

National Museum of Mexican Art
Located in the heart of Pilsen, the former Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum, is the nation's largest Latino arts institution. I've been to several events here and its always a treat to view the amazing exhibits and learn more about Mexican culture. And you can cater in delicious Mexican fare from local restaurants. 1852 West 19th St. (312) 738.1503.

UIC Forum
Hosting a conference or symposium at one of the usual Loop hotels doesn't have to be your only option any more. The UIC Forum, UIC's newest event venue on Halsted St. and Roosevelt Rd., offers a convenient space for large meetings. I coordinated one of the Forum's first major events last year with the New Communities Getting It Done conference. While I did encounter some glitches (usually associated with any new place), the accessibility to downtown and public transportation, as well as spacious, versatile rooms make this an ideal venue for a large gathering. 725 W Roosevelt Rd. (312) 413-9875.

Catalyst Ranch
Need to spice up a meeting? Check out the quirky and creative rooms at Catalyst Ranch. I never knew this place even existed, but the had the pleasure of spending time here during a board retreat for Women Employed a few years ago. Its like preschool all over again - fun, kitschy decor and toys from head to toe, including hammocks, play dough, tinker toys, and candy. Definitely a fun environment to foster some creative brainstorming outside the conference room. 656 W. Randolph St. Suite 3W. (312) 207-1710.

The Grand Ballroom
An urban jewel, the Grand Ballroom is tucked away in the Woodlawn community; one step inside and you're transported to a whole new world. The vibe is old-school Chicago jazz glamour: gorgeous hard wood floors, a 60 foot long bar, band shell stage, and ornate light fixtures. The Ballroom dates back to the 1920s when it was formally known at the Cinderella Dance Hall (note the slipper accents in the decor) and was fully restored in 2005. We hosted the Chicago Community Loan Fund's 15th anniversary here in 2006 and it was a magical evening. 6351 S. Cottage Grove Ave. (773) 324-0000.

What are your favorite event spaces in the city? Comment and let me know. I'm always looking for a new spot to check out.

Photo by John Booz for LISC/Chicago's New Communities Program

Framing A Social Change Message

How target audiences view your issue depends in large measure in how you "frame" it.

People use mental shortcuts to make sense of the world. Since most people are looking to process incoming information quickly and efficiently, they rely upon cues within that new information to signal to them how to connect it with their stored images of the world. The "pictures in our heads," as Lippmann called them, might better be thought of as vividly labeled storage boxes - filled with pictures, images, and stories from our past encounters with the world and labeled youth, marriage, poverty, fairness, etc. The incoming information provides cues about which is the right container for that idea or experience. And the efficient thinker makes the connection, a process called "indexing," and moves on.

Put another way, how an issue is framed is a trigger to these shared and durable cultural models that help us make sense of our world. When a frame ignites a cultural model, or calls it into play in the interpretation, the whole model is operative. This allows people to reason about an issue, to make inferences, to fill in the blanks for missing information by referring to the robustness of the model, not the sketchy frame.

This quote comes from FrameWorks Institute, which is devoted to the science of how audiences take in and process new messages. Check out their issues page for important suggestions on your issue and other excellent tools located on their website.

(Image via Frameworks Institute)

A surefire way to get cameras to your press conference

Bring a baby leaf monkey, obvs:



I mean, I know it is really cute and everything, but does The Media really need one hundred cameras taking one hundred photos per second? Imagine if he also tried to sell a Senate seat...