This news really made my day, and it made me realize the work I had created for Discovering Public Relations (DPR) really is paying off.
I got the news that DPR has won one of TAAA’s Most Promising Textbook Awards for 2021.
What does this mean exactly? It means the committee has recognized excellence in its first edition and learning materials. I am truly honored to get this award.
However, this award is *extra* special for me in so many ways. Here’s some of the reasons:
PR is a really hard field to break into, but you can break down the field’s artificial barriers. I have learned this over the years about the various barriers, cliques, and struggles many of my fellow colleagues experience building their brand, name, and expertise in the field. My team at SAGE told me that breaking into the PR market was going to be harder to do since it was more established.
I have learned over the years that there are certain programs, professors, and groups who essentially “decide” who is going to be the next big star in the field. Who will be the next thought leader we will all be writing about, citing, and inviting to speak at keynotes? Who will be the next leader in PR as a leading practitioner in the industry? Who will be the next professor who will be the face of the field?
I can guarantee you – my name has never been part of that conversation.
Why? There were several factors. First, there was always someone (or people) in my classes in all of my programs that were deemed to be “the one” who will be changing the field. Second, it has been due to the unconventional approaches I have taken to get to where I am. I always felt I was never someone who fit in one box in PR. I was not a practitioner, but I felt I wasn’t 100 percent an academic. This was something I have fully embraced in my years as an educator.
Third, I also view PR in a different way and take certain steps that may be viewed as nontraditional when it comes to my research, teaching, and service. I have no problem trying something out and learning from the experience – whether or not it has succeeded. Trust me, there have been a lot of things that have not worked, but have given me the lessons I need to be able to improve and grow from the experience.
But here is the thing: It’s because of these unconventional, non traditional, and even ” out there ” approaches that have allowed me to succeed in the field. I knew I could never do what some of my other colleagues have done in their career and get away with it. I *always* had to do more – more research articles, more conference presentations, more work to get an ounce of respect compared to those who graduated from “acceptable or established” PhD programs.
While it took some time to brake the barriers here for PR, this award has shown me that yes, it can be done. It just takes a little hard work, persistence, and dedication each and every day.
Trust your gut always wins. I know this was a big thing when it came to my PR book, and I am really glad that I did it. There will always be people in life who will say – you can’t do this or that – because it has never been done that way. Or – they may say you are approaching things the wrong way because “the experts” say it is the wrong way.
In life, I’ve always believed you get to learn a lot about how people feel about your work. Some will love it, some will hate it – but you have to determine what your gut has to say. There were some things I knew I had to cover in DPR that were to be expected in most introduction to PR books. However, when it came to the sprinkles and additional elements to be added, I knew this would either be loved, or hated, but audiences.
What has been the consensus so far? Well, people have loved it! With DPR, I’ve had a lot of people who have shared with me not only have they enjoyed the book, but their students have. In fact, several professors have shared that their students have said they would be keeping the book after the semester is done because they liked it so much. I’ll take this viewpoint any day over what the “experts” have to say.
This award shows I can write about more than social media. I am very, very proud of the work I have been able to do in social media. My social media book has done exceptionally well and has also won some great awards. It has been adopted all over the world, and is respected and used in the industry, which has been one of my ultimate goals in writing the book. Social media has been one of the main areas I have worked in for decades – and I am grateful for the opportunities it has afforded me.
Yet, when it came to getting reviews from DPR as it was a work-in-progress, I did notice a few things from some of the reviewers (and some from others in the field) as well when it came to evaluating whether or not I would be qualified to write a PR book.
Some of the comments ranged from across the board, but this is one of my favorites:
What is a social media professor doing trying to write a PR book?
I find this quote to be motivating for the following reasons: First, I am glad I have been able to establish myself as a social media professor! Second, why can’t a social media professor write a PR book? I’ve shared how all of my degrees – Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD – are all in PR. So, why wouldn’t I write a book about PR to add to my library?
In summary, I am really excited and thrilled to have this award for DPR. I look forward to seeing what other students, educators, and professionals think about the book as we continue our work this semester.
Thank you again to TAAA for the award! I am truly honored.
Have a great day!
Best Wishes,
