What do office parties, cover letters and good pets have in common? They all made my list of favorite ProfNet queries this week:

Hotel Fitness. For hotels that just need to lose those last 5 lbs.

Sticky Situation with a Teen. What situation isn’t sticky with a teen?

Products That Help Your Kids Sleep Throughout the Night. And if you can’t find one, just take a couple of swigs of vodka and you won’t care whether they sleep throughout the night.

How to Politely Decline a Holiday Office Party Invitation. “Gee, I’d love to attend, but last time I got totally wasted and wound up flashing the executive committee, so I think I’ll sit this one out. But thanks so much for the invite!”

How to Write a Standout Cover Letter. Don’t do this.

Rick Santorum’s Google Problem. I took the bait and Googled him. There are some things my brain can never unsee.

How to Get a Good Pet. Start with a bottle of wine and a candlelight dinner, then … Oh, wait, you mean the other kind of pet? My bad.

Will Greece Repeat the Argentine Story? I don’t know about you, but I just don’t think “Don’t cry for me, Greece” has the same ring to it.

Funny Slang Phrases Kids 6-12 Are Currently Using.  Funny as in “ha ha,” or as in “this soap tastes bad”?

Grandparents and Money. If you’re a grandparent, chances are you no longer have any money. Have you seen the price of Wii games lately?

* Publication names have been omitted to protect the innocent.

What were some of your favorite queries this week? Are they on this list?

Last month, as we were working on an expert roundup related to the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11, we came across several expert profiles that included video, and it got us thinking about the different ways PR pros are using video to promote their experts. So, we went right to the source and asked our members to share some examples of how they use video, as well as some tips and best practices for those of you inspired enough to give it a try. Here are their stories: 

Max Pearlstein, Mount Holyoke College Office of Communications

We use video to promote experts in a number of different ways. The most obvious one is having faculty share their thoughts, on camera, about breaking news. This clip can then be quickly edited by myself or someone else on staff, and then emailed out to reporters and editors who will know will be covering the story. It serves as a great way for television producers to see how our faculty members present themselves on camera, which is important, and can help make our faculty stand out from the print press release crowd.

With the rise of Skype/Google video chat, anyone can do a remote interview with a faculty member who is conducting research abroad, or may be working in a region in the news, and record it for inclusion in a video. The image quality may not always be the greatest, but it lends an authenticity and immediacy to the interview that you wouldn't necessarily get through quotes for a print story. In this case, the video features an alumnus who discussed her time in Yemen during the beginning of the Arab Spring: www.mtholyoke.edu/news/channels/35/stori...

One of my colleagues also produces a "Video Bookshelf" series that features faculty authors discussing their new books: www.mtholyoke.edu/news/channels/36 

Ryan McCormick, Goldman & McCormick Public Relations

In our experience, TV producers won’t even consider having you on their shows unless they see a prior video clip of you. If you don’t have a YouTube channel, you’re passing up the opportunity to be seen by millions of people.

For our clients, we bring them to our TV studio once per week and film 10, two-minute videos. The videos usually feature our client commenting on the top news headlines in their field of expertise. From there, the videos are uploaded to YouTube and their subscriber base grows (especially if the videos hit a nerve). 

Ryan Yarosh, Binghamton University

Before working here at Binghamton, I spent several years in broadcast news and have made a real effort to incorporate video into our promotional efforts at the university. When promoting faculty or gathering information for a news release, I often consider what visual elements are available to help tell the story. When gathering information, I explore whether the story lends itself to video and, if so, will the faculty member be not only comfortable on-camera, but also able to break down their research in a timely manner.

We use video to enhance the storytelling process. In the past, we would often recording "talking head" interviews to accompany a news release or to make a Web page more dynamic. When attaching video to promotional efforts, the content should contain a similar message but offer something that is not told or seen in the print version of the story.

The following video was compiled to accompany a news release which ran extensively worldwide. In this case, reporters were able to better understand the research through the video, with the option to embed it in their online coverage of the story: “Researchers Jumpstart Ancient DNA”: youtu.be/jVVIDGQHpHk

Here are a few things I have learned through the years working with video and faculty:

• Explore visual elements and conduct pre-interviews before deciding on video.
• Can video cover the topic in less than three minutes?
• What’s the timeline? Shooting and editing is a real time investment.
• Manage expectations. Show the expert past work and let them know what you can and cannot do beforehand.
• Ask: Will video enhance or offer another element to the story not covered in the press release or print article?
• Ask: Will the expert agree to have their research broadcast though channels such as YouTube?

Laura Perry, UCLA School of Nursing 

Here at the UCLA School of Nursing, I am using video in a variety of ways to reach a variety of audiences:

• General audience: To tell a story. Most people have an image of nurses based on what they see on TV. At the UCLA School of Nursing, we are working to educate the general public about who nurses are and what they do. On our website, we have posted videos of nursing faculty talking about their research and students talking about their activities, including a trip to Uganda and presentations at a conference.
• Potential students: Again, the videos of students going to Uganda and Ph.D. students talking about their research is to educate, excite and recruit individuals from around the world to come to the UCLA School of Nursing.
• Faculty Recruitment.
• Fundraising: By having our faculty researchers discussing their research, potential grantors can hear firsthand what is going on and why they might want to get involved.
• Something unique: We had one faculty member go to Haiti in January 2010, 30 days after the earthquake. On a moment’s notice, I gave her a flip camera and asked her to chronicle her experience. What she brought back was amazing and, together with some additional footage, we created a video, “Healing and Hope in Haiti.” The video has subsequently been shown in many places (including to the Haiti ambassador to the U.S.) and received several PR awards. The video is getting a second life, as the faculty member decided to start a foundation based on her Haiti experience: nursing.ucla.edu/body.cfm?id=312

We also have a School of Nursing YouTube channel.

Patrick Schwerdtfeger, Author and Speaker 

The trick is to make 10, one-minute videos rather than one, 10-minute video. Better yet, make 100, one-minute videos, each optimized for a different keyword phrase. That way, you will get found by YouTube users searching a wide variety of different keyword phrases. While the number of views on individual videos may be low, the total exposure is huge.

The expert should then include his/her website address at the top of the video description, allowing viewers to click through to learn more. I did this myself, creating 80 videos for my new book, and YouTube now accounts for 30 percent of my website visitors.

Alison Cohen, Education Development Center 

We have created what we call “Staff Spotlight,” which highlights individuals across our large nonprofit organization. In addition to a written Q&A, I shoot a video piece entitled, “One Minute With..” It is exactly a minute long and is an edited conversation with the staffer. It complements the written piece by including an anecdote, story, or little-known fact about the person speaking on camera. We use these Staff Spotlights on our external website and feature them in our online communications. Here are a couple of samples: Eric Gravel and Siobhan Bredin

We have found it a great (and low-cost!) way to recognize staff and provide some focus on their work and their skills and background.

Patricia Sinnott, Sinnott Productions 

My company currently uses video to promote several expert bloggers. We do a once-a-month, in-studio video shoot with two expert bloggers. They each finish four short video scripts to allow once-a-week releases. One individual is a coffee expert (www.coffeecompanion.com) and the other is a wine expert (www.jenniferreviews.com).

Using a simple backdrop, we shoot them using a teleprompter so they can concentrate on their performance rather than their content. Video is a natural feedback system. It’s built into the process. They've already adjusted their character portrayal and are perfecting their individual styles. They are well on their way to become video media stars.

Our most unique project is Mission Coffee Can. It's the first ever reality Web series. It features a group of diverse college students who meet for the first time and travel Guatemala to discover a new coffee. They return to the U.S. and attempt to market the coffee as direct trade so the farmers receive the majority of the profit. They go on to compete in a business college competition. It’s sort of a “college Apprentice” meets “Jersey Shore.” The difference is that instead of kids behaving badly, it’s about kids behaving goodly. We think that video can make a difference in the world; it can both educate and entertain. Video combined with social media on the Web is certainly the future. We were recently honored to learn that this series is currently a finalist in the ConnectedWorld.TV Awards.

Tips:

• Planning the marketing aspect of your project before it’s completed. Often, a producer becomes so wrapped up in the art of the project they forget to market. No matter how good your work is, if people don't know about it, it will die in obscurity. I've learned that, while shooting, one must plan for the promotion. Photos on the set with updates to social media need to happen during every production day. You must involve your audience as soon as possible, even while creating the project.

• To become a great videographer, you need to shoot a lot of video. You need to be quiet and low-key, especially if you're going capture reality. Your job is to look for those interesting spontaneous moments to unfold before your lens. The producer part of me gets excited as I see the story happening before my eyes.

• Always be prepared. Keep plenty of lens-cleaning packets. No matter how careful you are, the lens is going to get smudged. Lenses get dirty and that fingerprint is forever. Extra tape and batteries are a good idea, too.

• Remember, audio is probably 80 percent of good video. Unfortunately, the microphones built into most camcorders are fairly basic. I only use the camera mike for sync purposes. Invest in a great selection of external microphones to plug into the audio jack. This collection should including wireless lavaliere microphones. Lavs are designed to clip onto the clothing of the subject near their mouth, and are small enough that you can even hide one somewhere in a scene. Always use headphone, too. I've learned the hard way. There's nothing worse than realizing you got great footage and no audio.

• A good tripod is almost more important than the camera. Shaky shots make video unwatchable. Even if the camera has built-in image stabilization, it can only compensate for so much motion. Spend the extra money for a great fluid head for smooth steady shots.

• One of the most common video mistakes is making constant movements. You should only change a shot to tell more of the story. Only use the zoom when it’s necessary to grab close-up action. There's an old rule: If you want to zoom, zoom with your feet. When you decide on a shot, leave it on the scene for 10-20 seconds to allow the action to unfold before shifting to take another shot. This will stop you from shouting at the screen during the editing process when something awesome was starting to happen and you moved away from it. Always shoot with slow, smooth and deliberate motions.

• Good shot composition begins by using the “Rule of Thirds.” Think of the screen divided into a Tic-Tac-Toe pattern. When framing a person, their eyes should be on the top line and the center of their head on the left or right line, not dead center. You want a properly balanced shot.

• Lighting is key. At least three LED lights, to allow for three-point lighting, should always be part of your gear. If you're roaming, a small LED light that sits on your camera will do wonders. Remember not to shoot anyone with a window directly behind them; the person’s face will be lost in the mud. If possible, ask them to move. Anytime you’re outdoors is a good time to get some great shots using the sun as a light kit. Try to shoot in the morning or late afternoon, when the sun is lower. When it's directly overhead, it casts unflattering shadows on people’s faces and everyone will look harsh; but if it's a cloudy day, you may be in luck!

• If you're interviewing people, be sure to ask for permission before you start shooting. It's always good manners and can be used in place of written models release. Stand as close as possible and ask the person to look directly into the camera. You may need to gently remind them to do this, as they will tend to try to look at you while you are asking them questions. Try to make the interview conversational. Since lavaliere microphones are cumbersome to clip on and off, it might be a good idea to use a wired handheld microphone. No one minds if the microphone is in the shot and they usually pick up sound better, both from the person and anyone nearby who chimes in, which can add to the fun of an interview.

• Visit the venue or location before shooting. You need to know where you can store your gear. Your need to see where you will set up your shots and what the lighting conditions with be. We had one client that wanted an exercise video shot in a health club. The room had lots of mirrors and windows. It was a shooting nightmare. It took a while, but we finally found the one spot in the room where we could get a decent shot. That pre-site visit saved the video.

• Be sure to shoot plenty of B-roll. These shots can cover a multitude of sins when the tape is being edited. B-roll is anything that is interesting at the site. Oh and don't forget to get establishment shots, both outside and inside. People want to see where you are taking them. If the action includes something like a box being opened, be sure get a close-up of what's inside. Inquiring minds what to know.

Jared Wadley, University of Michigan News Service

Promoting experts through multimedia is an important component at the University of Michigan News Service. What I like to do with my experts who are interviewed for the first time on video is ask them to summarize and recite their key points as if they are teaching a class. Oftentimes, this means the person is walking back and forth at the front of the class (or in this case, a room) and using their natural hand movements. I will also tell them to be conversational, as if they are talking to their friends and/or significant other. When they appear comfortable, I'll ask them to maintain that relaxed feeling while sitting for the interview. This tactic has been successful.

When I do expert videos without B-roll, I want the faculty member to speak for 90 seconds to two minutes without interruptions (stopping or stumbles, i.e., "ahh" or "umm"). Since we don't use teleprompters, what I've found successful is preparing a script with key points written in large type that I hold behind the camera. Not only does this allow them to remember everything they want to say, but they know how long they have to complete the interview. I have found the expert can do the entire interview in one take.

Kenneth C. Wisnefski, WebiMax

I use video heavily both to promote myself as an entrepreneur and expert in our industry, and to promote WebiMax. The significant advantage/purpose of using video is that it delivers the message and speaks to your credibility. Speaking into a camera provides so much more information by your body language. If you can speak comfortably, you’re obviously well educated about your topic. If you speak clearly and deliver your message for the audience to easily receive, you reinforce that you’re an expert.

We use YouTube heavily, and I also am interviewed on major news networks (FOX Business, CNN, MSNBC) almost monthly. The use of video has definitely helped us and has further promoted me as an expert in my industry.

Some clips:

Pentagon Sets Cyberwar Guidelines - FOX News

Your Online Business and Website Design - MSNBC

Small Businesses Reluctant to Move Forward - FOX Business

Speaking on Reputation Management - YouTube

Speaking on Natural SEO - YouTube

Maureen Bennett, Summit Medical Group

Summit Medical Group launched its "Medical Monday" video series in May 2011. The two- to four-minute videos feature one of our physicians discussing an illness/condition or test/procedure. When making the videos, I choose the physician with the most expertise in that area. It gives the physician an opportunity to share their expertise and educate our patients, as well. Medical Monday-Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: youtu.be/qlBvfNyL9Fw

Another way we have begun to use video for our experts is in response to breaking news. Perhaps you read about the triathletes who died during a recent NYC triathlon event. We have many doctors who are athletes here, and one of our physicians has also participated in triathlons. Using a Flip camera, we interviewed that physician, as well as one of our cardiologists, on how endurance athletes can better prepare themselves for safer participation. I pitched the clip to a local news station, and while they didn't run it (we were preempted by severe thunderstorms/floods!), we are going to work on a story about doctors as athletes! Triathlon Safety Awareness: youtu.be/oOlb2hXTJxY

Of course, all our video work is posted to our website home page, our YouTube channel and shared via social media. I also send links to my local broadcast stations whenever we post a new video, to keep our health/medical experts top-of-mind.

Ross Perich, Trainer Communications

The most widely watched videos are not only succinct, but also entertaining, so one advanced technique is to blend engaging video and cartoon-style animation to create an “edutainment” piece.

Trainer recently won the 2011 Videographer Award of Excellence for producing a Modern IT thought leadership video/animation for Nimsoft. Trainer’s approach was to combine the credibility generated by IT executives interviewed in the video with a humor-based animation designed to entertain the viewer.

You can also see some of our other videos here.

Rob Frankel, Branding Strategist, RobFrankel.com

I use video a lot. It's on my home page, my site and on several expert sites. However, even promotional video and all the clips at www.robfrankel.com/video.html don’t get clients to call. Video tends to tip them into my bucket, though, because it does tend to "legitimize" my claims when FOX, CNBC, NBC, MSNBC, CTV and the like feature my opinions.

David Spark, Spark Media Solutions

My company's motto is "content is the currency of social media and search." Organizations want to be traded in social media and visible in search. Creating some kind of media allows that to happen. At Spark Media Solutions, we have found our clients just love video.

The biggest cost suck in any content production is actually getting the subjects you need to create the content, whether it's materials or a person to interview. We have found that live events are a great way to reduce those costs while also connecting with industry influencers. We essentially flip the standard PR relationship of "Will you pay attention to my client?" and say "We want to pay attention to you." It's a great way to start a relationship and, as a result, I have hundreds of relationships with media that love the content we create for our clients and happily republish it.

For more on what we do at Spark Media Solutions (tons of samples and testimonials), and what you can do check out these links:

Live event reporting (testimonials and samples) with Spark Media Solutions

How to get recognized at your next conference

How to be one of the most respected companies in your industry (case study of Tripwire)

Do you have any stories or tips of your own? Please share in the comments below.

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Most of us spend the day typing away – on keyboards, cell phones, tablets – so is it any surprise that cursive is a fading skill? We posed the question, and a few others, to Michael Ray Smith, distinguished scholar at World Journalism Institute and distinguished visiting professor at The King's College.

Smith has been a reporter and editor for more than 10 years for mainstream newspapers, and is a popular speaker at writing conferences. His book, “A Free Press in Freehand: The Spirit of American Blogging in the Handwritten Newspapers of John McLean Harrington 1858-1869,” explores the handwritten newspapers of a Civil War-era journalist who took on the printing press -- and failed.

Michael, the book covers quite an interesting story. Can you give us a quick look at some of the history?

Imagine receiving a personal letter from a journalist on events of the day. Now imagine that the journalist handwrote the information for you. That’s what John McLean Harrington did from 1858 to 1869, not just for one reader, but for nearly 100 subscribers. Untrained but quite brilliant, Harrington used the downtime at his post office 30 miles south of Raleigh, N.C., to write news, editorials, short stories, poetry, jokes and advertisement in a county of about 8,000 residents. Here’s one of his jokes from the April 1858 issue of “The Young American”: “Two well draped shoemakers being in company, [sic] were asked their profession by a very inquisitive personage. Says one of them, ‘I practice the heeling art.’ ‘And I,’ added the other [sic] ‘labor for the good of men’s soles.’”

An eager Confederate, Harrington supported his area in the grim business of war only to write President Johnson in 1865 and ask for a pardon. He told the president that he evaded service in the Confederate army by working as a postmaster but he was always a faithful Union defender. 

In the 11 years that he wrote, Harrington produced 302 handwritten newspapers, more than anyone at any time in the United States; however, during the last season of his life, he abandoned the press, sought appointments as census taker and sheriff, and died single, alone and as a drunk. His community found his lack of service as a Confederate and his renunciation of the cause to be less than noble, but Harrington made his mark on publishing by producing newspapers that look like a combination of calligraphy and folk art.

For the first time, the Common Core State Standards for English do not require cursive writing to be taught. In your opinion, is this a negative development?

All but six states have adopted the Common Core State Standards that don’t require school districts to teach cursive writing. Some areas, such as Harnett County, where John McLean Harrington made his mark with handwritten newspapers, will continue to teach cursive writing. The benefit of handwriting is that it can help students with thought processing, using a part of the brain that isn’t used when a person types on a keyboard. Cursive writing tends to be faster, and the faster the writing, the more likely thoughts can be captured and recorded. Speed is crucial in timed tests such as essay writing for the SAT, but speed is helpful in recording notes from class, meetings and in any venue where notes are welcome. Some knowledge of cursive is important for routine tasks required of adults, like signing documents. The next generation will need some access to cursive just to survive in the democracy and survive in business.

Adults today remember the excitement of leaving print writing behind and entering the adult work of cursive writing. It was a rite of passage and it took time, lots of time, to master this stylish writing. Some children, boys in particular, find cursive to be difficult. The fine motor movements must be learned and practiced, but the discipline pays dividends in growth as a thinker, with a speedy left-to-right movement that contributes to cognitive development.

In a day when most prose is Times Roman font, produced on a computer, a person’s handwriting sets her apart. By the time a person is an adult, she has personalized the handwriting to be novel to her. Handwriting and the all-important signature can mark each of us as an original, not dependent on clothing, speech accents or any of the other markers that tend to set us apart.

You’ve also mentioned there are economic issues with preserving cursive. Can you explain?

Not all students have access to computers, and fewer have access to computers at home, but everyone can afford a pencil. You can upgrade your oversized pencil to a pen, create a customized font by personalizing your handwriting, and delight yourself in storing information in an easily retrievable form not dependent on technology -- paper. The pad and lead pencil is the most economic way to take notes and compose prose, and no electricity or batteries are required. Perhaps it’s time to let low-tech show us the way to excellent writing in a budget-strapped climate.

Students who want to learn cursive have a couple of options, either outside home or inside home:

Outside the home: Parents can contact the school superintendent and request that cursive be taught. In addition, parents can work through the Parent Teacher Organization and ask about handwriting instruction. Should a student have difficulty with penmanship, the school district may see that issue as part of a larger problem and create a Personal Education Plan that may include instruction in cursive handwriting.

In the home: Parents can help third-grade students, the typical age a student learns cursive, to shape letters by practicing the shapes using a sample alphabet downloaded from the Web. The Palmer alphabet is a good place to start. Parents can begin the instruction by helping students practice the shape of the letters using the index figure and a baking pan with shaving cream, salt or sand on it. After the student has gained a little confidence with that medium, drawing in the salt, for instance, the parents can move to paper and pencil. The alphabet from the Web can be used as a worksheet to help the student practice the curves, loops and connections of the cursive alphabet. With time, the student will learn to write cursive and gain an edge in this competitive world.

Thanks, Michael. You can expect a (handwritten) thank-you note shortly! 

Social media has changed the way journalists, bloggers and other writers develop story ideas, manage resources, and promote their work to a wide cross-section of readers. But with the number of social media platforms increasing by the day, how can writers wade through all the social-media noise and find the ones that will be most useful to them?

Social media has changed the way journalists, bloggers and other writers develop story ideas, manage resources, and promote their work to a wide cross-section of readers. But with the number of social media platforms increasing by the day, how can writers wade through all the social-media noise and find the ones that will be most useful to them?

That was the focus of our latest #ConnectChat, which featured award-winning investigative reporter Dave Copeland, author of “Blood & Volume: Inside New York’s Israeli Mafia.”

Copeland teaches college-level writing and journalism classes, with an emphasis on social media and writing for online audiences. He writes regularly about social media for the recently launched Daily Dot, and has written for a wide range of publications, including Boston Globe, The Wall Street Journal, London Telegraph and Boston magazine.

Following is a recap of the chat.

ProfNet: Hi, Dave. Thanks for joining us!

Copeland: Thanks! I’m really happy to be here.

ProfNet: You’ve used ProfNet many times before, so it’s nice to talk to you about something other than queries!

Copeland: Figuring out how ProfNet worked way back in 1998 is still one of my happiest days in journalism.

ProfNet: Let’s jump right in. Most journalists seem to use Twitter as a promotional tool, but it’s more than that, right?

Copeland: It’s really a way to connect with sources and stay ahead of trends. Self-promotion is an afterthought. This study found Twitter can predict stock movement: tinyurl.com/3975voa  And other studies have found it’s ahead of traditional news organizations: ow.ly/6tnyH

ProfNet: There's so much "noise" on Twitter. How can a writer wade through all that to find what they need?

Copeland: You need a system. Social media can take over your life. I cover social media, yet I try to keep my time on it to less than one hour a day. It takes some time to figure it out, but the key is to know what works and what doesn't before news breaks.

ProfNet: Can you tell us a little about how you use social media in your own reporting?

Copeland: There are lots of tools we can talk about today that will help people be efficient in their social media use. For example, when the Bruins won the Stanley Cup, I wanted to pre-interview people going to the victory parade. The #bruinsparade hashtag let me "meet" people and coordinate places to meet them during the parade.

ProfNet: That underscores the importance of using hashtags in tweets.

Copeland: I use [hashtags] to test story ideas. If I have a hunch about a trend story, I see if other people are talking about it on social media. [Another tools is] Kurrently, a real-time social-media search to see what people are saying about a topic. It is also great for breaking news.

ProfNet: It's pretty neat. I like it because you can search by words and terms, not just hashtags.

Copeland: Kurrently also lets you see beyond Twitter onto other social networks, especially Facebook.

ProfNet: I hadn't noticed that. That certainly comes in handy if you're looking to spot trends or ideas… Let's say you've decided on a story topic. How do you then manage all the info you find? It has got to be a lot.

Copeland: You can’t keep up with everything from everyone you follow. The trick is knowing how to find the info you need, when you need it. I follow thought leaders in industries/beats I cover.

ProfNet: Are certain social media sites (Facebook, Twitter) better for certain types of reporting/info gathering than others?

Copeland: I use HootSuite (some like TweetDeck) to better manage my tweets and incoming social media streams; Facebook, because everyone is on it; Twitter, because smart people are on it. LinkedIn is crucial as a business journalist covering layoffs. Google+ is cool, but not enough people are on it to make it my first check. I recommend knowing how Tumblr works if you cover education – it’s fast becoming a big thing among people under 25. Reporters who cover a lot of meetings love Foursquare, as you can often tell if a person you need to speak to is there. Otherwise, use the sites you're already on and like. You can't be on every site, as you still have to do the actual reporting.

ProfNet: Otherwise you'd spend all your time on social media and have no time for actual writing and reporting!

Copeland: A lot of people get hung up on being early adopters. Why? You can't use every bit of info you find on social media in your stories.

@AlyssaatUNT: Great discussion going on between @bloodandvolume and @profnet regarding social media and journalism. How prevalent is social media as a reporting tool? Has it become the norm, or is there still some resistance?

Copeland: It’s just another tool. Some people still resist CAR and spreadsheets. I like it because it’s quick and efficient, but others are going to find it’s more trouble than it’s worth. I always stress, use what you’re comfortable with. There are no right or wrong tools, just right and wrong ways to use them.

@AlyssaatUNT: Very true. Thank you!

ProfNet: Do you think reporters should have separate social media accounts, one for personal and one for work?

Copeland: It’s personal preference. So many of us work for multiple organizations these days, I find it easier to manage one account. I have a separate Facebook profile for work. But most of my reporting info still comes via my "regular" Facebook page.

ProfNet: Do you think social media is more effective for reporting on breaking news than on everyday stories?

Copeland: Is the telephone more effective for reporting breaking news or everyday stories? It’s just another tool to connect with people and sources, so it can work for all types of stories.

ProfNet: In your webinar, you also discuss best practices for tweeting as a journalist. What are some of your tips?

Copeland: 1) Be interesting. There were 6,000 tweets per second during the Virginia earthquake last month. Do you really need to be tweet No. 6,001? 2) Don’t be vain. I get more value from the quality of people I follow than from the number of people following me. 3) Know what you’re doing. @sree once said, “When the plane lands on the Hudson, it’s too late to figure out how to use Twitter.” 4) Good tweets invite a response, share info and start a discussion. To do that, I keep them under 120 characters, and always try to include a hashtag, link and @ mention of another user. That increases the chances it will be read/shared. Remember, most people won’t read most of what you tweet, so the trick is to increase the likelihood by making them useful.

@LeslieWimmer: What’s the most challenging part of teaching social media to students?

Copeland: Keeping up! Also, that they have to pay attention to privacy. They don't want to know everything about you and vice versa. Some are very resistant, and feel like you are invading their world. I avoid Facebook for that reason. Finally, they can't get too bogged down in social media. They still need to focus on the basics of reporting and writing.

ProfNet: In your webinar, you also go over some of the tools reporters can use to manage all of the info they find. Can you share some of those tools? What are your favorites?

Copeland: I love HootSuite to manage Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc. I can schedule tweets and it’s easier to tweet pages I like. Trunk.ly helps me keep track of links I share and organizes them by tagging them with the hashtag I used. Twistory backs up/shows me what I’ve tweeted, right in my calendar program (it works with most major calendar apps). 14 Blocks helps you figure out when to tweet to increase the odds of it being seen. Twiangulate can help you figure out if you have a mutual friend with that source you desperately want to interview. I keep a frequently updated list of these tools, with a section for journalists, at my blog, Cope Writes. (The direct link to the newsroom tech list is here.)

@AlyssaatUNT: Any tips for public relations professionals wanting to connect with reporters on social media?

Copeland: A lot of the same: We're all storytellers, and this is just information that helps our audience better understand. That said, I like a relationship with my PR person before they start messaging me via social media. And PR people need to give and share in their tweets too. All pitching all the time makes me hit unfollow.

ProfNet: Is building trust ever an issue when reporting via social media? If so, how do you build trust via social media?

Copeland: The trend of email/social media interviews by some news organizations scares me. There’s no way to know you are talking to the person you think you are. I use them as tools to connect and reach out, but always prefer a phone or in-person interview.

@GnosisArts: How best should a PR person approach/get to know you on Twitter?

Copeland: I would rather we connect, talk, share info and links before someone lays into a pitch. E-intros are fine. But just in the course of this chat, I've been social-media-pitched by someone I have never worked with/heard of before.

ProfNet: I guess that would be like someone going up to you at a dinner party and pitching a story w/out knowing you...

Copeland: The other thing is people "know" a lot more people in social media. You can't assume I'll always remember you, as sad as that is. If your story is worth my time, you can write an email or pick up the phone. Less than 140 characters makes me feel cheap. :-)

ProfNet: Will social media ever be a suitable replacement for traditional forms of reporting, or just another platform?

Copeland: No. People call themselves “social media experts.” It’s like going back 40 years and saying you’re a touch-tone dialing expert. Social media is just another reporting tool -- a powerful tool -- but not a substitute for sourcing and interviews.

ProfNet: Since time's almost up, tell us about your next webinar.

Copeland: It’s 90 minutes, covering everything we discussed here and then some, on Sept. 28 at 7 p.m. EDT: ow.ly/6tsqn. The recording will be available for anyone who registers but can't make the live webinar.

ProfNet: Dave, thank you so much for joining us! You definitely shared some helpful tips and tools.

Copeland: It’s been a lot of fun. Hope it was helpful, and hope people who were hanging out with us will follow me!

ProfNet: And thanks to everyone who participated in the chat! And don't forget to follow @bloodandvolume and to check out his next webinar: bit.ly/rlFtSV. We now return you to our regularly scheduled tweets. #ConnectChat over.

We regularly update our ProfNet Connect calendar to include any PR/media-related events coming up each month. Following is a summary of the events taking place over the next week:

Publicity Club of New York presents "The Healthcare Beat," Tuesday, Sept. 13, from noon to 2 p.m., at 3 West Club. Panelists include journalists from Bloomberg TV, Huffington Post, Wall Street Journal, WNYW-TV (FOX5) and Woman’s Day. Details

PRSA Orlando is hosting a free social mixer on Tuesday, Sept. 13, at Taps Wine & Beer Winter Park Village, Winter Park, Fla. Mingle with PRSA Orlando members and see what a PRSA membership could mean for you. A drink ticket and raffle entry will be provided at the door. Details

Mediabistro.com is hosting a cocktail party on Tuesday, Sept. 13, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at Medjool, 2522 Mission St., in San Francisco. RSVPs are required. Details

National Association of Broadcasters and Radio Advertising Bureau present "2011 Radio Show," Sept. 14-16, in Chicago. Highlights include: The Marketplace, where you’ll have access to an exhibit floor featuring equipment and services, meeting rooms, a networking lounge and special events; breakout sessions covering sales and marketing, advertising, finance, management, engineering, legal and regulatory issues, programming and the digital landscape; special events, including the keynote, advertiser luncheon, leadership breakfast, radio luncheon, and the NAB Marconi Radio Awards Dinner & Show; super sessions on the industry’s hottest topics; and professional development courses. Details

PRSA Orlando presents "Booked! Inside Secrets to Morning Show Buzz," Thursday, Sept. 15, at the Citrus Club in Orlando, Fla. Christie Hyde, public relations manager for AAA’s automotive, driver safety and motorsports programs, will discuss the secrets for winning over the media as a repeat source and spokesperson on the trifecta of national morning TV shows, and more. Details

PRSA Georgia is hosting its monthly meeting, "10 Insights for Creating Authentic Brand Personality through PR," Thursday, Sept. 15, at Maggiano’s Buckhead, 3368 Peachtree Road, NE, in Atlanta. Rohit Bhargava, a founding member of the Ogilvy 360 Digital Influence team, will share insights for practitioners about creating a more “human” brand, and the real business value of creating brands that put people first and shed their faceless armor. Details

American Press Institute and Scripps Howard Foundation present a one-day workshop, "Building Your Journalistic Brand," Friday, Sept. 16, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at API, 11690 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, Va. Attendees will learn: why it is dangerous to be generic in an age of specialties; how an authentic and relevant personal brand will give them a competitive edge; steps for identifying brand characteristics that will set them apart from the crowd; tools that will help them solidify and spread a consistent professional message across multiple media; concrete steps to build their professional brand and create a successful future. Details

To view all upcoming events on our calendar, go to our home page and scroll down to the Upcoming Events tab on the right. And if you’ve got a PR/media-related event (such as an IABC meeting, PRSA luncheon, etc.), please send the details to us by email, and we’ll do our best to get it listed.

What do knock-offs, hot hair and Eddie Murphy have in common? They all made my list of favorite ProfNet queries this week: 

Celebrities with ‘Hot’ Hair. Surprisingly, Carrot Top did not make the list. What is this world turning into?

How Kids Can Become Millionaires Before Age 21. Step 1: Change your last name to Bieber.

Eddie Murphy Hosts the Oscars. Dear Eddie: 1987 called. It wants its Oscars back.

Hot New Exam-Room Products. “Those House of Deréon exam gowns are très chic.”

Medical Marijuana. Sure, I’ve gained some weight, but my headaches are gone!

Simple Ways to Maintain a Healthy Weight. Step away from the bong…

Eagles Fan Gear. [Insert your own Michael Vick joke here.]

Taxing of Illegal Activities. [Insert your own Michael Vick joke here.]

How to Spot a Knock-off or Fake Perfume. Hint: If it’s called Chanel No. 6, it’s probably fake. 

* Publication names have been omitted to protect the innocent.

What were some of your favorite queries this week? Are they on this list?

This time of year can be an expensive one, with kids going back to school and holidays just around the corner. We asked Regina Novickis, an expert on consumer savings, to share a few tips on how we can get the best deals while shopping, both in stores and online.

Novickis travels nationwide, teaching shoppers how to get the best prices on everything from travel to electronics, subscriptions and shoes. She is regularly featured on news segments across the country, including on NBC, CBS, FOX and CW. Her websites, PromotionalCodes.com and CouponWinner.com, offer shoppers the latest in promotional codes from leading stores.

As an avid shopper, I’m always looking for a bargain. Can you share some general shopping advice on how to get the best deals?

If you're not already doing so, shopping online is a great way to be a savvy shopper. Right at your fingertips, you have the ability to compare products, prices and services. And you can use online coupons or promotional codes to take your savings even further. When you're shopping online and you get to that retailer's checkout page, you may see a box that says "promotional code" -- don't skip over it; you are missing out on savings if you do. Go to coupon aggregator sites (like PromotionalCodes.com and CouponWinner.com, of course!) to find tens of thousands of codes for everything from clothing and shoes to travel, and even to services such as online dating sites, weight-loss programs and babysitters.

My favorite savings purchase was a pair of designer sunglasses. I saw them at a brick-and-mortar, well-known sunglass retailer for $220. I searched for a sunglass code online, found the exact same pair at an online merchant's site, where they were priced for less; found a code for 35 percent off; and, coupled with free shipping, I ended up paying $110 for the exact same pair of sunglasses I'd seen in-store. And it took less than an hour to comparison-shop and save.

What one thing do people overpay for the most, and what are some tips for not doing so?

There are several bad buying behaviors people can break to help save more money. The first is to avoid impulse purchases. Always shop with a list. And if you're shopping online and you get that "frenzy" feeling about something you hadn't anticipated purchasing, put it in your cart, but then walk away from the computer for about 15-20 minutes. Chances are, the feeling will have passed, and you'll have saved yourself the regret and budget-blow of an impulse purchase.

If I have to limit it to one category, however, seasonal items are one of the top things for which people overpay! Shop at the end of every season to get the best prices. For example, right now is the best time to shop for summer items such as patio furniture, pool equipment, gardening supplies, etc. Most retailers have deep discounts on these items, since they are clearing the shelves for the fall and winter seasons. If you plan out your seasonal needs at the end of each season, you can find great savings.

Also, if you have a major purchase to make, such as an appliance or technology item, shop during holiday sales. We just saw some great offers during Labor Day; and around the holidays, you can find great deals on technology purchases.

Have you seen “Extreme Couponing”? What do you think of the people featured on that show? Is that much frugality a good or bad thing?

I have watched it, and the show certainly depicts the "extreme." The good thing about a show like this is that it's raising awareness about the power of couponing. Even though the average consumer won't take it to the extreme, "Extreme Couponing" exposes people to the potential of saving money with coupons.

In addition, I've heard many inspiring stories of the show's impact. For example, I was just in Philadelphia doing some interviews and the savings reporter told me she'd just interviewed someone who started a coupon ministry at their church, inspired by the show. People who couldn't necessarily make a monetary contribution were invited to put their coupon print-outs in the collection basket. Then, several members would use the coupons to the "extreme," and donate the "purchases" to a battered-women's shelter.

Certainly, there are many good acts that are coming from the show. That said, there are also people who are taking the extreme to a negative level. For example, people are stealing newspapers from neighbors; paying for one newspaper in the newsstand and then taking all the copies; photocopying printable coupons from online sites; and so forth. These types of acts are impacting the average consumer because stores are taking measures to restrict coupon usage. That said, our hope is for continued responsible coupon use, and we anticipate that the possible negative acts that may have been inspired by the show will not outweigh the good; and that these acts will not ultimately negatively impact consumers in the long term.

Thanks, Regina. Happy shopping, everyone!

Our next #ConnectChat will take place Tuesday, Sept. 13, and will focus on social media for writers and journalists.

Join us as award-winning investigative reporter Dave Copeland explores how writers can use social media to develop story ideas, report more effectively, and promote their work to a wide cross-section of readers.

The author of "Blood & Volume: Inside New York's Israeli Mafia," Copeland teaches college-level writing and journalism classes with an emphasis on social media and writing for online audiences, as well as ways to improve journalism education and student media production.

Since 2004, Copeland has worked as a freelance writer. He writes regularly about social media for the recently launched Daily Dot, and has contributed regularly to the Boston Globe's business desk since 2008. His work has appeared in a wide range of publications, including The Wall Street Journal, London Telegraph and Boston magazine.

For more on Copeland, visit his website at DaveCopeland.com.

To join the chat, just follow the #ConnectChat hashtag to view all updates from @bloodandvolume, @ProfNet and the rest of the chat participants. We'll start off the chat with a few questions for Dave to get the conversation going, but feel free to ask away!

If you do not have a Twitter account or won’t be able to make it to the chat, you can find a recap on ProfNet Connect the following day. To view past #ConnectChat recaps, click here.