Okay, now we are not paying the salaries of 2 Human resource heads, BUT Now we are paying the salaries of 2 people to do the VP for Research job.  Are we saving money for Instruction yet?

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Originally posted by: Green Hornet
"Congrats to Russ Willis. He's a fine individual and deserving of this promotion (again) Not to take away from Mr. Postlewate, why the short info on Russ's promotion????????????????? SLM afraid to memtion that Russ WAS the director in the past? What a "spin"!!! "

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Oh, for heaven's sake. My name was on the release for contact information. Why not just call and ask me this question rather than assuming it was some small part of a grand PR "scheme?" Geez.

Russ wanted to get down to doing his job. The small part I included in this release about Russ had to be beat out of him. He just wanted it noted that he was now director so that people needing help knew who to contact. He's not a guy wanting a lot of attention - he's efficient, nice and darn funny. I was glad he let me put down anything at ALL! (Congrats, Russ!)

Another writer in our department suggested that I cut down Postlewate's bio because it was so massive compared to Russ'. So, if you want to blame someone, pick on me, because I decided to leave the release as is because of two things:

1. The lack of "national searches" is always mentioned on this board. Rusty Postlewate found the Southern Miss job when it was listed on a professional facilities management job board (i.e., national search).

2. Not only is Rusty highly qualified, he's a hoot, too. Wait until you meet him - he's so excited and happy and kind. He's truly thrilled to coming back to the South and he so wants to be part of what's good around here. I wanted to show in the release that he is quite capable and suitable for this job. His experience is amazing. Since Russ has been with Southern Miss for a number of years, he only wanted the basics listed. For Rusty, I told you everything I could in the story so you would know, well, everything. He's new. Russ wasn't. So, I decided to try to give as much information as possible so that he would be welcomed without suspicion. And still, there is criticism.

I'm sorry, but I'm tired and life kinda sucks right now, you know? If I don't get my comps grades pretty soon, I think I'm gonna blow. I felt at least I wrote a good, productive, informative story today (so day wasn't totally wasted), and now I find out it wasn't so hot, either. Arg!!!

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Originally posted by: nepolk
"I take it back (but not all of it): shelby has, at last, done something right! How did this happen?"

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Originally posted by: Ya can't win
"Angie, you posted a great biography on Rusty.  Your writing skills are excellent, so please put this terrible time in history in perspective.  We are not picking on you, however, you do kind of work in a place we do pick on. (for good reason) We would never discount your skills.  If it makes you feel better, just seperate your skills from your work environment.  They are not the same.  You are not who you work for. Now for the bad news, I ran a lite search on Rusty tonight and I'll be if he was not part of the Oakland University - Thomas Cooley School of Law consortium.  It's just too close not to laugh about.  It seems that Thomas Cooley is going to be the death of us all. Have a good night and keep up the good work. We really like you, we really do!"

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What a nice thing to wake up to - thank you! And without knowing my explanation ahead of time, the question as to why Russ' bio was so short was valid. So, sorry about the whining. I think I'm having a mid-life crisis or something. My granddaughter turned 1 Thursday and I'm just now finishing master's comps. I think I must be the slowest person on earth. Perhaps I'll finish my doctorate when my GREAT-granddaughter turns 1????

The things we do so that we might teach .... it's worth it, right?

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Originally posted by: Green Hornet
" Angie, My apologies for my earlier post. "Ya can't win" said it best. It was not your writting that was suspect, just the times we live in. Again my apologies and good luck on your comps. "

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I understand, and thank you. No hard feelings.

Maybe it could help if I kinda explained how our department works?

Each writer in our department puts his or her name on the releases he or she generates and is responsible for the content. If a writer's name isn't on a release somewhere, he or she didn't write it (though we proof each other's stuff).

Our department's writers usually - 99.9 percent of the time - generate their own new releases' subject. We work with people in colleges and departments on our beats to keep tabs on the pulse of that area, so we know what information should go out and when. (But anyone from any area can call us about story ideas, of course.) So, if a college is having, say, a reception, we plan for that release to go out the day after, and so on, so it's timely. 

Only on rare occasions do we get a call from the boss about doing a story; she depends on us to do our job - keep tabs on our areas and produce stories that help make them shine. She did call and tell me she wanted a story to go out the next day on Willis/Postlewate. That's the extent of the conversation. She didn't tell me how long it should be, or who to focus on, or anything. She never does that. She has her job and we have ours and she leaves us to it. (So, the lopsidedness of the story is all on me!)

In PR classes, I learned that 1. Good writing is essential to good PR, and 2. Trust is the vital backbone of a department's relationships with its publics. (Thank you, Dr. Mayo.) Those are two things I cherish - and why I post to this board. 

Oh, and I've heard that I'm egotistical because I put my name on everything I write. I don't care. I'm a writer, and if I wrote it, my name is on it. It is mine to answer for, and I don't think that being responsible for it is a bad thing. So, there you have my speech for the day. Coffee's ready, so I'll hush now.