Welcome to 2012!

As we leave behind 2011, with new resolutions and a whole new year in front of us, it is time to do some housekeeping. As professional communicators, we know what we need to do and we understand the need to do things efficiently and timely.

Now is the time to put some serious thought into what you intend to do in the new year and how best to go about it. Setting goals, evaluating audiences and budgets are important, but the best way to ensure success is in the time you put into planning.

Read more: Welcome to 2012!

Have you ever heard of a species of fish called Anableps? If you haven’t you’ll be amazed to learn that Anableps have a unique form of vision. Commonly called “four-eyes”, these surface dwelling fish can simultaneously see both above and under the water contributing to their success. Their lower eyes remain focused in the water seeking food and doing other normal fish things, but the upper eyes are alert to danger from swooping birds that might fancy them for a meal. There’s a lesson in communications to be learned from this species of fish. Like Anableps, communicators not only need to focus on originating the message they want conveyed and the message itself, but they need to be alert to the medium or platform to which the message is delivered and how the message is received. These four components are critical because communications cannot effectively take place between the communicator and the receiver if the message is not understood.  

Read more: Being a More Effective Communicator

SCHOOL DISTRICT, CCC conducting writing competition

The Boise School District and a local group of professional communicators have joined forces to conduct an annual student writing contest.

The District in 2006 approved a proposal by Capital City Communicators (CCC) to stage a writing competition every year in October among ninth graders at a different local school. West Junior High was chosen this fall as the participating school for the sixth year of the competition.

Read more: Board Update - CCC Writing Competition

The conversation surrounding social media strategy seems to center on the whys and hows of the various (and ever-changing) online communities.

How do I editorially manage the content in our social media channels? Why are we focusing on Facebook over Twitter? How many tweets should I post on weekends? Why are we involved in this social media mess in the first place?

Read more: Social Media: Give ‘em Something to Talk About.