Jacob DengJacob Deng was seven years old in 1987 when insurgents burnt down Duk Padiet, his village. Separated from his mother and sisters he fled, on foot, across scorching Africa. He was what became known as a "Lost Boy of Sudan." Displaced. Homeless. Orphaned. Vulnerable. Many died but Jacob survived threats of exposure, starvation, thirst, disease and wild animals, eventually arriving at a refuge camp in Ethiopia. Three years later, when it too was invaded, he fled on foot once more, this time to Kenya. "I was motivated by a desire to stay alive," Jacob told me.

Writing a thesis or a book is like a long, steady cardio workout. You might chat with a friend as you are completing it. You will sweat a little but not often profusely. You will take breaks for food, water and rest, and while you will make progress, there are times it feels like the end is beyond reach.

That's why writing bursts, like blogging or short writing exercises, are so important. They rapidly strengthen the writing muscle.

Richard ZurawskiToday I was inspired.

Sometimes I get so caught up in the daily grind that I forget what that feels like. But today, I was moved by a simple conversation, one that challenged the way I think and will continue to do so for some time. Today I met Richard Zurawski, radio host, meteorologist, author, documentary filmmaker, and lecturer, and he inspired me.

My WITS approach is to lesson plan and come prepared with exercises, samples and talking points. I pack a tight schedule. But last year a little grade one girl brought my talk to an abrupt halt when I asked: "How is fiction different than nonfiction?" Her answer: "You can't have talking chickens in nonfiction." I paused, then burst out laughing. It was the perfect answer to my question, and the exact reason why I love WITS. Children give you the straight goods.

I usually meet elementary classes, and my consistent message is that to become a better writer, you have to 1. read (a lot) and 2. practice  (a lot).

The first PodCamp was held in Boston in 2006, and now they're worldwide. This was Halifax's third annual PodCamp event, and my third time attending. It's the only conference I go to where it's not only tolerable to use a mobile device during a session—it's encouraged. There's plenty of live tweeting going on, and a range of fantastic sessions you can wander between on the "law of two feet"—if something isn't working for you, use walk away and go somewhere else.

I'm active in new media and surrounded by many like-minded thinkers, so I'm stumped when someone asks me what I like about it, why it's important, or most annoyingly, why it's not just a huge waste of time.

If there were an actual physical battle pitting journalists against public relations (PR) professionals, I expect it would take place in a giant puddle in which mud would be slung enthusiastically from both sides.

The tension between journalism and PR is not new. Honestly, I'm sick of it. I've toggled between the two professions for 20 years and witnessed it on both sides. When I worked as an editor for a large magazine publisher it was commonplace for coworkers to take a call, roll their eyes, cover their mouthpieces and whisper, "Save me. It's some PR flack." If a journalist became fed up with working in the newsroom and deigned to take a job in PR, that person was criticized for, "Going over to the dark side." Then, when I returned to school for my masters in PR, I found myself in classes with students who complained of journalistic bias and that the media never told their organization's story sufficiently or accurately. Frankly, at this moment in our history, the broad-stroke stereotyping that persists on both sides is tiresome and borderline offensive. That it continues to rear its head in an age when we preach tolerance is surprising, as are the creative new ways in which it is manifesting itself in the digital age. I offer two recent examples.

Exhibit A: Freelance Nova Scotian journalist and retired King's University journalism professor Bruce Wark posted this to his blog mediaspin.ca this week: Lies, damned lies and public relations. It opens with: "If there’s any justice, the hottest places in Hell will be reserved for PR flacks—especially those who earn their pay by spinning half-truths and outright lies to the citizens who pay their salaries." He uses as his example a press release from Communications Nova Scotia that explains away the 3% cut to university funding by emphasizing that tuition won't rise, research remains a priority, and investment into sustainability measures will continue. What is unfortunate is that Wark had a valid point to make about obfuscation and doublespeak, but he degenerated his argument with name-calling and over-reaction. The hottest places in hell? C'mon. Let's debate this intelligently and look at the layers of responsibility. Marilyn More, the provincial cabinet minister who oversees universities, presumably approved the message. Why is she spared criticism, other than that which Wark originally waged against her hairstyle (before editing out that mean gibe after a reader challenged him)?

Exhibit B: This one is from Ragan Communications, and appeared in my Twitter feed innocently enough with the title: 12 things PR pros wish the media knew. Scan the list and you'll see "1. That PR is not journalism's bitch," or "8. That I cannot always track down a spokesperson in two minutes just because you have a deadline," and my favourite, " 9. That PR is not the enemy of journalism." If they aren't enemies, why write such an antagonistic, inflammatory and rude post?

It would be easy to find countless more examples but I'm sure you get my point. I wonder in the digital age whether it's worse now than ever, given that it's easier to name-call and insult someone in a medium that tolerates—if not encourages—people to communicate with strong and often unsubstantiated language.

In my own experience, the vast majority of journalists I have worked with have been incredibly bright and dedicated people, committed to telling news that matters. They fight for social justice, the environment, political accountability, and better health care. Likewise, most of my colleagues in public relations stand by Canadian Public Relations Society Code of Ethics, which states: "A member shall practice the highest standards of honesty, accuracy, integrity and truth, and shall not knowingly disseminate false or misleading information." They, too, hold high ideals and work hard for causes they care about.

Just this past week I was writing a magazine article about mobile medical care and worked with several fantastic media relations professionals at various hospitals and nonprofits who sent me timely information and found me sources I would not otherwise have had access to. I contacted them early, was polite with my requests, and told them I appreciated their help. Call me crazy, but I believe they appreciated my manners and would be willing to work with me again.

Fellow journalists and PR pros, we depend on one another and are more alike than we care to admit. Let's not forget we are all professional communicators with jobs to do and stories to tell. I'd rather we slung some mutual understanding and respect at one another rather than mud.  

This blog post first appeared on Jan. 20, 2012 at www.symmetrypublicrelations.com

The meals were always satisfying but the best part of the experience was sitting in SuperWaiter's section. SuperWaiter purportedly had a law degree but continued to wait tables. It appeared to be his true calling. When you sat down, regardless of how many months it had been since you'd last been to Le Bistro, he'd remember your last meal. "Good evening! Can I get you a Cesar salad to start, followed by the mussels?" he'd ask. You felt welcomed and valued in Super Waiter's section.

Thankfully, there are things you can do to banish Christmas burn-out. I suggest eliminating the activities that you don't enjoy or that are too time-consuming or expensive. Although I still love receiving Christmas cards, I promise I won't be upset if you don't send me one.

And then there are acts of goodwill. I don't mean to sound preachy, but if you have the means to help, now's the time to do it. I heard a couple of stories recently that reminded me that even here in Canada, in one of the world's richest nations, people go without the basics.

The first story came via my cousin who is an elementary schoolteacher in a mixed-income catchment area. She encouraged her students to bring food bank donations to class. When the pile of non-perishables was amassed, one under-nourished child was shocked and excited because it was more food than he had ever seen in one place at one time. My cousin rerouted all the donations to this child's home.

The second story is about an international university graduate student here from Africa who is due to have a baby on Christmas Day. With very few resources and no family support close-by, she was woefully unprepared. A group of her fellow students and professors quietly asked their friends and family to step up. She now has a superior place to live, enhanced care, and after a surprise baby shower last week, many of the things she'll need to help her care for her baby.

There are undoubtably countless more stories like these. And sure, there have been other stories in the news this year about people faking cancer for attention or money, and charities that have spent millions on their operating costs. The world isn't perfect. But rather than being jaded, why not investigate and discover legitimate and effective ways to donate your money or time? If you want some suggestions, some of my favourites are Feed Nova Scotia, Canadian Blood Services, Canadian Red Cross, Plan Canada, Camp Brigadoon, and Mount Saint Vincent University.

Happy holidays everyone, and may you enjoy peace and good health in 2012.