PFS Marketwyse

We’re approaching the last #PRStudChat of 2009.  It’s been an exciting year in the community and we’re gearing up for even more dynamic PR discussions in 2010.  On December 16^th, you’re invited to our #PRStudChat New Year Celebration: Give the Gift of Learning.  Because Valerie (@valeriesimon) and I both want to show our appreciation to all of the dedicated members of the community, we’d like to introduce some special gifts of learning from #PRStudChat to you.  It’s our way of saying thank you for your contributions and also for helping us to learn and grow.

The first gift is for everyone.  We’ve created a #PRStudChat wiki with a member directory that Valerie has been compiling for the last week or so.  Now, new members can go into the directory and add their own information to share and current members can always update their profiles.  There is also a section with helpful resources that we hope you will add to, including your favorite books, articles and blogs.  And, if you have any book reviews, it’s a great way to share your ratings on the best PR books you’ve read (and feel free to include whitepapers and e-books too).  Wikis are an easy way to keep everyone collaborating and informed.   We hope that our #PRStudChat wiki brings you a tremendous amount of useful information.

The next two gifts are for the winners of our December 16^th #PRStudChat contest.  The contest consists of our members nominating the top contributors in the community (Valerie and I are excluded, of course).  Submit your nominations by DM to us, and whoever gets the most votes is our Grand Prize winner of a $200.00 scholarship courtesy of BurrellesLuce (this includes continuing education too).  So make sure you put in your nominations before December 16^th at noon.

Our 2^nd prizewinner will receive a virtual basket of learning courtesy of PFS Marketwyse.  We’re compiling some of the best books that we think will help you manage the changing PR landscape, to learn new tips and techniques in PR and to review insightful books that will provide you with the best practices. With so many excellent books, it’s difficult to decide.  Here are our top picks:

• The New Rules of Marketing and PR by David Meerman Scott
• Putting the Public Back in Public Relations by Deirdre Breakenridge & Brian Solis
• Trust Agents by Chris Brogan & Julien Smith
• Twitterville by Shel Israel
• The New Community Rules by Tamar Weinberg
• 2011: Trendspotting for the Next Decade by Richard Laermer

We’re very excited about the December 16^th New Year Celebration and we look forward to welcoming 2010 as a year of PR learning and success.  Let’s keep the conversations and collaboration going and continue our lively discussions!  Looking forward to chatting with you on the 16^th.  It’s going to be a great PRStudChat New Year!