If you do NOT live in Indiana and know the title of this blog is the name of a song then you’re 45 or older. More like 50. Face it – the mirror and the high school yearbook photo look like chalk and cheese. It’s sad getting old!
But if you are from Indiana then you probably hear this song blasted in the Brickyards or while cruising up from Louisville or over to Indianapolis.
And if you’re one of Jim Bright’s students at Indiana University, you can leave comments on the topics or questions you have for an “around the world – twice” public relations guy!
6 responses so far ↓
Alex Brown // Jan 25th 2010 at 9:20 am
How does media in Australia work differently than in the U.S? We’ve been learning a lot about Japan and the challenges that reporters face trying to obtain information. A guest speaker told us about his experiences and how Japanese newspapers are more so outlets for the government to communicate information that CHOOSE to share with the public. What is it like in Australia? What were some of the greatest challenges you faced working as a public relations professional when you first started working there? Thank you and I look forward to hearing your thoughts in class!
Walter // Jan 25th 2010 at 10:44 am
Australia has one of the freest and fiercest media regimes in the world. We founded “A Current Affairs” and brought investigative journalism to the world. Many journalists approach their role with the view that they act as bastions between corporations & government and the public. It’s their role to protect, defend and vociferously tell the truth.
Moving to Australia the greatest challenge I faced was cultural. Australians looked & acted like Americans – but there were profound cultural differences that inhibited my socialisation at first. People here are somewhat British meets American. Loud & outgoing in public, but naturally reserved and discrete at home. It takes time to prove I wasn’t another flash in the pan Yank and that I was committed to my time in Australia.
I look forward to meeting you in the lecture next month!
Sam Glover // Jan 27th 2010 at 2:39 am
Dear Walter,
My name is Sam and I am one of the students in Jim Bright’s international public relations class. For the last few days I have been scouring not only your blog but the Fleishman Hillard website as well. First off I have to say that I am super jealous because you get to live and work in Australia. I was there recently and fell in love with the culture, people, food and oddly enough the slang (which I think was the toughest part of adapting there). Secondly, what advice can you pass along to someone like myself who has an insatiable desire to work abroad and who has been unsuccessful in landing an internship. Thank you for your time and I look forward to talking to you soon.
Ashley Nichols // Feb 3rd 2010 at 12:06 am
Hello Walter!
It seems sad to me that in a class of 13 girls and three boys, the guys have been the only ones to chime in with a question. I thought I had better give it a shot!
What is it like being an American working in another country, particularly during these turbulent times? Do you stand out very much, or are you able to just blend into the crowd?
What are the challenges of working at a Public Relations firm abroad? Does the Australian culture have a different standard of Public Relations or is it similar to ours?
I’ll come up with some more questions and post later: I have to get to class! Thank you!
-Ashley Nichols
Angela Solomon // Feb 17th 2010 at 1:28 am
Walter -
My International PR class and I look forward to our Skype conference tonight! Thanks in advance for taking the time out to talk with us. Maybe you can address the following question: looking back over your career, what were two or three “key moments” that you think lead to your working in Australia?
(Another question - do they really say “g’day mate” in Australia?)
-Angela Solomon
Alexi Turbow // Feb 17th 2010 at 8:27 am
Dear Walter,
I’m Alexi Turbow and I would like to say in advance thank you for taking the time to speak with our class. I know you are a busy person and we really do appreciate you taking the time to speak with us. I have a few questions for you after looking over some of your blog posts. First of all, why were you the chosen one to move to different countries to work? It’s obvious you are good at your job, what I mean is was there something specific that you think you had or did that made you stand out to your employer to be chosen to work in specifically Australia, then Asia, back to North America and then finally Austalia again? Have you always worked for Fleishman-Hillard? How did you get to where you are today? Finally, I read your blog about sharks and I love sharks, but am afraid to go too far into the ocean despite all of the years of Shark Week that I’ve watched and books/articles that I’ve read. Have you seen a shark while you were out in the water and if so, were you fearful for your life or did you realize that they weren’t showing aggressive behavior and that you would most likely be okay? Thanks again for taking the time to meet with us and I look forward to our conversation today!
Alexi Turbow
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