2008 PRAM CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

Thursday, April 17
 
   
9:30 a.m.
  
Pram Board Meeting
   
11:00 a.m.
  
Conference Registration / Exhibitors Open
   
11:15 a.m.
 
President's Luncheon (Invitation Only)
Luncheon hosted by Jarrod Ravencraft, PRAM President, to honor PRAM members with the Accredited in Public Relations distinction, PRAM Past Presidents and the current  PRAM Board.

   
12:30 p.m.
 
Welcome • Rick Taylor, Executive Director,
Hattiesburg Tourism Commission & The Hattiesburg Convention Commission
   
12:45 p.m.
 
Session A • Martha Dunagin Saunders, Ph.D., APR
President, University of Southern Mississippi

Leading to a Legacy
Dr. Saunders will relate how her academic training – including her Ph.D. in Communication Theory and Research – and valuable life lessons have proved pivotal in the leadership roles she has assumed. Dr.Saunders, an accredited member of PRSA, tells of her first job in PR with other nuggets aimed for the public relations professional. In her affable style, you will enjoy this polished, impressive leader who serves as the President of the University of Southern Mississippi.
 
1:45 p.m.
 
Break - Visit Exhibitor Booths
 
2:15 p.m.
 
Breakout B-1 • Susan Sperry, APR
AT&T Market Manager, Fleishman-Hillard

Tech Tools for PR People
Communications technology is changing drastically. We will explore new and emerging technology that will help PR practitioners expand their business reach and make the most of their time. Highlights include:
  • Wired vs. wireless world
  • Devices and Smart Phones
  • Efficiency tools and techniques
  • Data security / disaster-planning
  • 2.0 – the future of communications technology
  • Do’s and Don’ts for using technology in communications
    		•
         
    		 
    Breakout B-2 • Jae-Hwa Shin, Ph.D., MPH

    Public Relations Today: Strategic Conflict Management
    Dr. Shin surveys current trends and the future of public relations and defines public relations from the perspective of strategic conflict management. Grounded in scholarship and current practice, she will discuss landmark public relations research and time-honored public relations strategies and tactics. She will also offer a comprehensive approach with up-to-date cases and award-winning campaigns that llustrate the concepts of the field. Dr. Shin will overview the public relations curriculum at the University of Southern Mississippi and conclude by exploring opportunities for the university-community partnership.
       
    3:15 p.m.
    		 
    Break - Visit Exhibitor Booths
       
    3:45 p.m.
    		 

    Breakout C-1 • Sabrina McLaughlin, APR
    Owner, Insightful Concepts

    PR Meet Advertising; Advertising Meet PR
    In a world where relationships are the fundamental principle of any marketing strategy, public relations and advertising must find a way to coexist and be mutually beneficial. This presentation examines the ideology discussed in "The Fall of Advertising and the Rise of PR" as well as the experiences of presenter Sabrina McLaughlin, APR. McLaughlin will illustrate through both local and national examples the benefits of building relationships with your audiences through public relations and then furthering that impact with advertising.
    		 

    Breakout C-2 • Ayoka Pond, APR

    Making Media Magic: How to Train Your Spokespeople to Take Control of Interviews
    Many of us struggle with trying to find the right spokespeople to conduct media interviews. Those who are most willing need the most work, and the best representatives often are gun shy about going on record with reporters. This session will help you empower both types of spokespeople by:

  • Showing how to teach and coach the willing
  • Demonstrating the importance of participating in interviews
  • Making media training fun for attendees.
  • Ayoka Pond, experienced media trainer, will show you how she makes interviewees feel as comfortable and prepared as possible through the role she played in turning an organization from media shy to media savvy.
    		•
       
    6:00 p.m.
    		 
    Networking Reception
       
    7:00 p.m.
    		 

    PRism Awards Banquet • Rebekah Staples, Emcee

    Mississippi Hospitality 2007
    In 2003, the Public Relations Association of Mississippi began the PRism Awards program to honor and recognize outstanding work in the field of public relations by professionals within the state of Mississippi. The highest award honor goes to the PRism winners followed by Awards of Excellence and Certificates of Achievement. A Best of Show is awarded as well as a Judge's Choice. In 2004, PRAM opened the competition to student members. Professionals outside the geographic boundaries of the Southern Public Relations Federation judge the awards.
    		 
    Friday, April 18
    		  
       
    8:30 a.m.
    		 
    Session D • Gerard Braud
    Braud Communications

    The Crisis in Crisis Communications
    History repeats itself with each new crisis, often with lethal consequences. Communications is slow, leaders are in denial of pending crises and the need for crisis communications plans, and communicators are confused about what a functional crisis communications plan should look like. In this session, you will:
  • Discover the characteristics of leaders doomed for failure during a crisis
  • Explore case studies from Hurricane Katrina to the latest news events
  • Learn the secrets to building a crisis communications plan that is simple to use
    		•
       
    9:45 a.m. - 10:15
    		 
    Break
       
    10:15 - 11:30 a.m.
    		 
    Session E-1 • Panel Discussion

    Claire Pittman – Past President, PRAM Northwest Chapter
    Public Relations Manager, Tunica Convention & Visitors Bureau

    Jarrod Ravencraft – President, PRAM
    Strategic Planning Director, Mississippi State Hospital

    Sabrina McLaughlin, APR – President, SPRF
    Owner, Insightful Concepts

    John Forde, Ph.D., APR – SPRF Universal Accreditation Board Representative
    Associate Professor & Head, Department of Communication, Mississippi State University
         
        Session E-2 • Ayoka Pond, APR

    Getting the Recognition You Deserve: How to Create Award-Winning PR Contest Entries
    Have you spent hours preparing the perfect entry for an awards program, only to come up short year after year? Do you want create entries judges will notice and reward? It's not just about the work. In this session, you'll learn:

  • What judges are looking for when judging entries
  • How you can make your entries stand out
  • What you can do to make the judges' jobs easier


    • Ayoka is a Public Relations Society of America Silver Anvil Award-winning PR professional. She will share tips on what makes and breaks an entry and share what she's learned after years of preparing awards entries.
         
    11:30 a.m.
    		 
    Leadership Luncheon
    Checky Herrington - Keynote speaker
    PRAM will recognize the outstanding accomplishments of members by presenting the Educator of the Year Award, Professional Achievement Award and the PRAM scholarship. PRAM members having become APR in the previous 12 months will also be recognized.