When it comes to homecoming, Virginia Tech knows how to deliver. From spirit rallies hosted by the Student Alumni Association to the election of homecoming king and queen, the whole student body comes together to participate in one of Tech’s proudest traditions. But, how does the university go about bringing together all of Hokie Nation? Public Relations. The website made specifically for homecoming, www.vthomecoming.org.vt.edu, is the central hub for all things homecoming happening on our campus. On the website, you can find schedules, updates, tailgating information, and even information about the homecoming board itself. At a university defined by an overwhelming amount of school spirit, it’s only right that we have a homecoming that lives up to that standard. The challenge presented to the homecoming board is to generate interest and excitement within the student body, essentially getting all 36,000 hokies amped up for the big homecoming game. They did just that through the use of social media outlets, email blasts, marketing throughout campus, and of course, the spirit rally. These tactics are all forms of Public Relations, maintaining a two-way communication between the university and the student body in regards to homecoming festivities. Virginia Tech wants to create engagement between the students and the university, generating attendance at their planned homecoming events. For example, the Juicy J concert hosted by the Virginia Tech Union and the Black Student Alliance used Public Relations to get the word out about the concert. Facebook and Twitter were blowing up with excitement over the concert, creating buzz in the social media realm surrounding Virginia Tech. This was a great example of how the university created and maintained a two-way communication between the student body and themselves. The outcome of course, being students had a blast at the concert and were excited for the remainder of the week’s homecoming activities. Overall, homecoming was deemed a success. From all levels whether administration or students, the university was united by our overwhelming amount of school pride and Hokie spirit. Not to mention, we won our homecoming game! Whether people realized it or not, Public Relations facilitated the week’s events, uniting us hokies through a common theme: our love of Virginia Tech. Until next year’s homecoming! Edited by Katharina Elberti, Webmaster and Editor-in-Chief 2014-2015
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You know that song that finds its way in to your head and just won’t go away? You sing it for hours, days — maybe even weeks — and then finally you look it up and listen to it. What is it about that song that haunts you? It is good PR, my friend. Sure, the lyrics may be catchy and the tune may be easy to hum but what puts it in your head in the first place? You hear it on the radio, see a video advertised on YouTube or maybe the lyrics show up on one of your friends Facebook statuses. Then out of nowhere the song is everywhere and it lands itself right into your every waking thought. Maybe it’s controversial like this summer’s most popular song on the Billboards Hot 100, “Blurred Lines,” by Robin Thicke featuring T.I. and Pharrell. The upbeat dance song sparked much controversy among feminists and women’s rights activists everywhere because of its derogatory language and “slut shaming.” Not too long after, the number one song on Billboards Hot 100 was Katy Perry’s “Dark Horse” featuring rapper Juicy J. What does this hit have in common with “Blurred Lines” and so many other viral songs? All the trouble it’s causing, of course. A Muslim man named Shazad Iqbal is petitioning to have the song’s music video taken down from YouTube. In the video Perry portrays an Egyptian princess who turns suitors she doesn’t like into sand. One of the suitors is wearing an Allah pendant and displeases Perry, so naturally she turns him to dust. Iqbal claims the destruction of the pendant is blasphemy. In the midst of this controversy, “Dark Horse” has risen to Number one on both iTunes and the Billboard Hot 100. Perry’s PR team has released no response to the controversy, which had over 36 million views in only six days. However, the song didn’t become such a sensation on its own. Katy Perry’s Twitter account, which has 51.9 million followers, had been filled with Tweets regarding the release of the song and video days before it came out. Perry even had a contest that allowed her fans to take pictures with her “DarkHorseCam” which they were to download and then upload their pictures to Twitter where she would select and repost her favorites. This kind of fan interaction is what drives success in the entertainment industry. As a song makes its journey from lyrics and music on a page to number one on iTunes, it has significant support from PR. Social media accounts, contests and controversy are just a few aids that make a catchy little tune into a viral sensation. Edited by Melanie Ford, Webmaster and Editor-in-Chief 2013-2014 |
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