MAPRenee's Blog Critique

Roses & Lemons Blog Critique

New Media Strategies PRL-540

California Baptist University 

August 2015

It's been interesting reading your blogs and I want to lead with this concerning critiquing others:

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 

Ephesians 4:29 

So my Roses & Lemons Blog Critique is intended to build you up and give you grace. My scale of Roses and Lemons (and lemon related treats) is based on the following criteria:

• Content: How did I like your subject matter and the # of posts .
• Layout: I'm a visual person, so I like appealing looking blogs with pictures, links and video.
• Overall: Would I follow your blog?

Before I go in I want to comment on writing as I will not mention it again in my critique. Writing is a critical skill in PR. I continuously labor over my writing and always seek feedback on grammar and punctuation. I strive to actively and accurately express my point and in public relations writing can take your career far. I hope everyone keeps writing and keeps working to perfect this important PR skill. (I know I will.)  I recommend this book as a quick read and tutor on the importance of grammar, punctuation and use of the active voice --it's funny too! Eats, Shoots & Leaves is a best seller and writer's favorite.



Toressam333
https://torressam333.wordpress.com

Sam, your personality shows through your work. Your style is likable, sincere and believable. I give you a dozen Roses on that point alone.   Early on you made it clear of your interest in the corporate side of public relations and I believe your blog remained true to that interest. The articles you blogged about were interesting and I actually found myself getting involved with your content. Roses again on content. I think if you had a blog on corporate PR issues, I would follow. I actually like the template style of your blog, but wished for pictures and video links.

I can't give you any lemons, because anything lacking was made up with sincerity and focus, so I'm giving your blog: 

 25 Roses and a tall glass of sweet Lemonade! 



Hotdoglifestyle
hotdoglifestyle.blogspot.com

Kai, I can't say I understood upfront where you were coming from following the Donald. Politics isn't my favorite subject, but I do love reality TV and I am sad that Donald isn't sticking to the Apprentice franchise. However, following your blog helped me see that Donald Trump's direct, aggressive and sometimes arrogant style is very consistent. Donald's political persona is the same in politics as it is on reality TV -- entertaining but short on substance.  I give you Roses on sticking with a topic and forcing me to pay attention!  I would have loved to see some video and or photos (lemon here)--but you deserve Roses for the brilliant way you set yourself up for success in the semester by using the blog in your critical assignment! Your blog gets: 

30 Roses, 1 Lemon & a Key Lime Pie! 

Cvanvorce
http://cvanvorce.blogspot.com/


Christina, this class really placed a lot of demands on our time and posting 5 times a week was tough.  I wish you had the opportunity to post more often. I'd have more to consider:) I'm not too fond of stories of death, murder and kidnapping, so I don't think I'd follow your blog. However, I do appreciate you using the same blog design template. It shows me you have a good eye and I love that you used photos. That's worth 2 dozen Roses in my book.  

24 Roses, 2 Lemons and Lemon Bars!

Now Finish the Work

This is the last and final post required by class. I started this blog with a scripture from the book of Joshua about new adventures.  I am still on that journey and 2 Corinthians 8:11 reminds me to finish what I started with the same eager willingness to complete it as I had at the start.  This is an important encouragement for me at this time as I dive into final projects.  I did start with a lot of 'eager willingness' and I am certainly still eager and willing to be finished! God also calls me to finish according to my means.  How wonderful it is that the Word of God is in season for moments like these, reminding me to give it what I have and not to 'skate.'

Here is to finishing strong, giving my best and the new land on the horizon!

Peace, love and blessings,

Renee
Blogger, www.maprenee.blogspot.com

Take Me to the King

I love the lyrics to this Gospel hit from 2013.  It certainly represents the way I feel sometimes.  I love gospel music and the people this form of worship springs from.  I often find great peace at church when the music and words of a gospel song pierce my heart.  So I'm sharing it with you as I have throughout this blog experiment -- to reveal to you more about me and to hopefully encourage you today.

Take me to the King
I don't have much to bring
My heart is torn in pieces
It's my offering
Take me to the King

Truth is I'm tired
Options are few
I'm trying to pray
But where are you?
I'm all churched out
Hurt and abused
I can't fake
What's left to do?

Truth is I'm weak
No strength to fight
No tears to cry
Even if I tried
But still my soul
Refuses to die
One touch will change my life

Lay me at the throne
Leave me there alone
To gaze upon Your glory
And sing to You this song
Please take me to the King

Truth is it's time
To stop playing these games
We need a word
For the people's pain

So Lord speak right now
Let it pour like rain
Oh, yeah, we're desperate
We're chasing after you

No rules, no religion
I've made my decision
To run to You,
The healer that I need


Take me to the...

Lord we're in the way
We keep making mistakes
The glory's not for us
It's all for You

Emoji Soap Update: Project Incomplete!

Several weeks ago my 10-year old daughter "K" and I  started a project to make emoji shaped soap... I called the blog post, "Project Complete", but the project isn't complete yet.  While the video was less than 7 minutes long, it took us much longer to gather up the supplies and get our project off the ground.  In fact, we are now waiting for a mail delivery of the soap coloring we need to color the soap.  Here are a few shots of what we have  completed so far:

So sorry you won't get to see the final project, since this blog will end this week and we won't complete it until the coloring come in (in about 1 week)....

A Logo Re-Fresh!

     My work as Director of Public Relations at Los Angeles Christian Health Centers is always in motion.  I shared with you that we are launching a new website and that I formed a special task force of internal colleagues to help.  Well, I am also working on re-branding the organization and this is the approved 'refreshed' logo for the organization.  This is my first experience with re-branding an organization and being in class has been such a great support.  This new logo is an important next step in the new website too --- MAPRenee's Blog will be done by the time the new website launches, but I welcome you to visit www.lachc.com again in fall to see how things change.


     We will officially launch the logo at the end of this month at a staff retreat.  I'm working on the style guide and the production of new promotional items for the clincs.  Re-branding on a budget is the way of the nonprofit sector, so our process might differ from other commercial rollouts, but I am hoping to make a splash through new t-shirts, social media, letterhead, bloggers, LACHC testimonies, annual report and our electronic newsletter and of course the website.

     For reference here is the old logo.  We feel the new logo is just meant to be a 're-fresh' and updates our look and eliminates a few problems we had with the old one.  It was a group process that required the board of directors approval.  The tagline, "serving all, with open hearts" will now be just that, a tagline and not a part of the logo.  This was important to address as the organization moves into it's 20th year of operations. 

MAPRenee's Blog coming to a close...

My time on this blog and my first semester at Cal Baptist is coming to a close.....Whew! There are still a few hills to climb (final projects, reports, etc.) But I have enjoyed it.  I think my favorite part of the New Media Strategies has actually been this blog. I had the opportunity to practice old journalist skills in new media and actually felt like a 'producer' again.

My next best experience was live tweeting! Keeping up with the reading, critiques and discussion boards was the biggest challenge, but also the place where I was challenged to process and learn the most.

I hope you have enjoyed my blog...there will be only 4 more posts till the final sunset on MAPRenee's Blog!

Sunday Sanctuary: A Meditative Walk with Jesus

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.

Psalm 19:14 

I walked this labyrinth a few weeks ago.  It was a surprise treat at a location I visited for a bridal shower. The location included the labyrinth and a meditation garden.  It was a rainy afternoon and I walked and prayed and meditated on the goodness of God.  I'm grateful for the rain and the sun and the storms and the valleys and grateful for Jesus.

Happy Sunday!