The lazy (?) blogger

Hey bloggers,

Into the final stages of my placement, and I am surprised to see I haven’t blogged anywhere a much as I intended to!

I think there are a few reasons – I’ve been working long hours in front of a computer most days, so when I get home the last thing I want is to do it all over again. At uni I am on facebook a few times a day. Since starting my internship, I have been on maybe five times in total - and never during the week. Even my friends have noticed, which I think shows the lifestyle change!

I also haven't had too much to write about the work. I have learnt more about my writing style, and how systems work within large companies, but it is a quiet time of year, so there hasn't been a lot to write about.

Mostly, I have also gone to blog, or make comments on other people’s posts, and then stopped myself.

It sounds funny, but I am very hesitant to write about the company, because I am worried I might say something that is misinterpreted or confidential. And those thoughts have made blogging really challenging for me. I scrutinise everything I write at least ten times!!

Communications and External Relations is strategic communications. Especially in a time where the company is receiving so much media attention, I would rather say very little than say the wrong thing.

I guess, from that point of view, my time here is reinforcing the importance of professionalism and confidentiality.

Many people within the company see Communications and External Relations as the people who might know what is going on in times of uncertainty. We were warned to be careful of speaking in the lifts or in cafes around the building, because gossip can soon become gospel if it appears to be from a credible source.

While I am just a student, being the most inexperienced one here has made my fear of being the ignorant one to stuff up more real. I think it has really prevented me from sharing a lot in this forum. I am not lying when I say I have posted what I thought to be completely innocent material with the faint thought of “what if?” What if it ends up in The West? What if I thought what I said was innocent but unknowingly have said something I shouldn’t have?

It is irrational - I am only a student, and not that important, but I figured I would throw my thoughts into the blog to find out your thoughts. I guess it also touches on the issue of ethics within PR. How much information is public property, how much do you retain?

I find it really interesting how I have been feeling, and wondered if anyone else was in the same boat. I am quite happy to share my thoughts and experiences about my time here verbally with people I meet, but hesitate when it comes to a written record.

I guess in hindsight, I should have consulted more with my manager as to what I was posting – but she never brought it up, and she is so busy that has only just occurred to me as I typed this. Another solution would have been to not name the company in the first place… but one lesson I have definitely learnt from the company during my stay is retrospect doesn’t count for a lot in the real world!!

Let me know your thoughts!

Good luck to those beginning and finishing their placements as we head back to class.

:-)