Social Media Release
L.A. area professor uses social media to reach Kutcher
June 20, 2009
RIVERSIDE, Ca. — Karen Bergh, a public relations administrator at California Baptist University, posted information on Twitter, Facebook, and her blog this morning as first steps in her campaign to reach celebrity producer Ashton Kutcher. Playing on the "six degrees of separation" theory, Bergh said she is seeking connections and ideas for securing Kutcher as the featured speaker at a fall awards banquet being hosted in the Inland region of Southern California in October 2009.
The event, an annual recognition of excellence in public relations, is a production of the local chapter of the Public Relations Society of America. It is proposed as a star-studded night of entertainment and networking at the Castaway restaurant, a landmark cliff-side establishment with sweeping views of the inland valley, nestled in the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains. The event is scheduled for October 21, with networking, a silent auction, and cocktail hour starting at 5 p.m.
"Our theme is 'A night with the stars' because of the incredible view of the night sky that you can see from Castaway, but also because we are recognizing the talent of our peer public relations practitioners in the region," Bergh said. "We work behind the scenes at our jobs, making huge impacts that rarely are recognized--this is our night to shine, and get a little kudos from our fellow public relations professionals."
Bergh, who is president-elect for the Public Relations Society of America/California Inland Empire Chapter, is on the planning committee for the awards banquet, and took on the assignment to secure Kutcher as a sort of new media challenge, using the tools of the PR trade to interest the actor/producer who is well known for his presence on Twitter and for his approachability as a "real person" among the trappings of Hollywood fame.
"This is a chance to test our networking abilities, the power of the tools involved, and our belief that the Internet and related technologies have helped open communications across geographies, industry sectors, and social classes in a way unprecedented in history," Bergh, who also teaches new media and public relations courses in the Journalism program at CBU, said.
"What a great case study for the students this will make," she laughed, as she polished the final sentence of her post on her new Presskit'n newsroom.She is using the links from her online newsroom to post to her other social media sites.
"The awards planning committee thought about asking Tom Hanks to headline because of the Castaway name, but decided Ashton would be much better, because he's so in tune with the media we use for our jobs, and is funny besides. Plus, if he could donate a Nikon as spokesman for the camera company, what an amazing coup that would be for our tiny public relations club!"
Bergh said she encourages anyone with a direct connection to Kutcher, who thinks he would like to visit with this group for about a half hour on a Wednesday evening in October to contact her.
Reach Karen Bergh at:
karen@praxiscoaching.com
@ProfBergh
www.professorbergh.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/ - search Karen Bergh
About Professor Bergh
Karen Bergh is a student of life.
