Fast Eats in the Big Apple

So, you’ve laid the groundwork by networking with experts in your field and managed to land yourself your dream internship in New York City. Now what? How do you perpetuate those connections you’ve established throughout your internship search? How do you meet others in the very busy office you’ll be working at?

For public relations practitioners, New York City is one of the most popular places to network because of the number of agencies located there. There is a plethora of eateries littered all over Manhattan that are perfect for networking or spending time with colleagues outside of the office. However, lunch breaks or the 30 minutes you have before your train comes are not exactly ideal for a full-course meal in the city. That’s why Joe and the Juice and Momofoku Milk Bar are the best places to visit if you’re a bit pressed for time.

Let’s talk about both eateries:

Joe and the Juice

With over 20 locations in Manhattan, Joe and the Juice is undoubtedly one of the best coffee shops to stop at with a coworker. It has a millennial aesthetic that is perfect for a quick Instagram Story of your trip. According to Adweek, “one of the things the proliferation of Stories has proven is the value of real, uncut content in the eyes of audiences, so documenting your journey with Stories make your brand approachable.” This is beneficial for you personally because your followers are able to catch a glimpse into your city life, and it also promotes the idea of a positive company culture for perspective employees. Author Regina Luttrell recommends that companies use Instagram to “encourage employees to share any interesting PR – or marketing related photos from company events.”

Showing the perks of working at a company is certainly appealing to the company’s social media followers!

Photo from wellandgood.com

Additionally, Joe and the Juice is filled with outlets and boasts free Wi-Fi for people to bring their work with them on the go while enjoying a nice cup of “Joe”. Not a coffee enthusiast? That’s where the “Juice” comes in. Their juice menu is just as long as their coffee menu which allows for a lot of choice and experimentation. The environment is on the quiet side as customers are typically seen collaborating on a project or talking amongst themselves. Bringing someone from the office to Joe and the Juice is perfect because of its extensive menu and quiet environment.

Momofoku Milk Bar

Photo from spoonuniversity.com

If you’re looking for a place to grab a quick sweet treat, Momofoku Milk Bar is the perfect destination. Milk Bar is known for their “hole in the wall” exterior storefront with delicious baked goods made fresh inside. This walk-up counter is great for making a stop on a walk with friends from the office as it has tons of cookies, cakes, ice creams, truffles, and more! Milk Bar is truly a staple in the dessert world of NYC because it balances convenience and deliciousness. Walking around the city can be one of the most exciting things to do with a coworker because there are endless things to look at which can yield interesting topics of conversation. Places like Milk Bar make it easy to stop for a cookie or two. The chefs at Milk Bar “pull inspiration from simple ingredients, like the grocery store staples we grew up with.” This furthers the idea that familiar foods from other times in our lives have the power to bring people together! So, grab some Cereal Milk soft serve or a Compost Cookie with your new friend in the office.

Controlling the Power of Data Analytics in a World of Technology

While at home for spring break, I got a new phone. I got the iPhone XS, complete with Face ID as a form of unlocking the phone, accessing Apple Pay, and serves in place of inputting passwords to some of my apps. When Apple first released Face ID. I remember discussing with my family how creepy the concept was and we all agreed that we weren’t sure if we would be jumping on that bandwagon. Now, a few years later, I’m obsessed with my new phone that can recognize my face instead of analyzing my fingerprint. How did this switch happen? How did I change my mind within a matter of a few years? These are questions that I try not to think about because it would facilitate my acceptance of a society that can store and manage my data without my complete understanding. My short anecdote serves as one that I am sure many other people can relate to. It’s true – Face ID is really cool but also a bit creepy. Nevertheless, it’s Apple so we should believe that they’re protecting our data and not selling photos of our faces to other companies. Because they wouldn’t do that, right?

Mike McDougall, founder of McDougall Communications and APR and Fellow of PRSA is a highly decorated public relations professional with a passion for the reshaping of reputation management and data security. On Tuesday, March 26, McDougall spoke about the role that public relations practitioners must assume in a society that is quickly changing and evolving to catch up with the growth of the data analytics industry. McDougall posed questions to his audience that were meant to elicit thoughts of our own personal security and our confidence in our knowledge of data. The audience was flabbergasted to say the least – how could these companies be collecting all of this data without our knowledge?

Mike McDougall. Source: NewhouseSpeaks Email

After talking through many examples, McDougall explained that there are two sides to data collection. Data collection can be analyzed and implemented positively, such as more accurately targeting a specific audience, easing the use of previously more complex services, and customizing service to speed up performance. These are all valid uses of data and serve as great examples for communications teams to become more effective overall. However, there are negative ways to use data which result in overall societal mistrust and conflict. Selling data is one of society’s biggest fears and occurs often. Additionally, blackmail and identity theft occur frequently due to breaches in data.

In “Social Media: How to Engage, Share, and Connect”, by Regina Luttrell, the importance of data analytics to curate social media advertisements is essential for any communications team. She writes, “The mounting convergence of traditional media platforms, in conjunction with new media technologies, has created a rich mixed-media environment, promoting communication and even collaboration with an audience through the web.” McDougall would say that one of the more prominent issues in this mixed-media environment is deciding what extent to use a user’s data to target them for advertisements. Although he could not provide a cut and dry answer of when to abstain from using data in communications, he did provide tips on how to control data.

As PR practitioners, we are tasked with evolving just as fast as data is evolving. McDougall explains that strategic thinking is the best way to do so. Although we cannot accurately predict the rate at which data will grow, thinking strategically gives us a way to problem solve when needed. Additionally, learning about the trajectory of data analytics and education your organization’s audiences is a great way to keep your audience’s trust and remain in control of a situation. Protecting your audience’s data and implementing policies to do so keeps organizations accountable and reduces negative data use.

Data is a topic that is difficult to understand, but Mike McDougall perfectly summed up the need for tighter data security within the public relations industry.

All About the Atmosphere

One of the most stressful parts about meeting a professional at a dining establishment is the overall dining experience. The vibe of the venue you choose to meet someone tells a lot about what you want to accomplish. For example, the lighting, noise level, and type of service provided by the location all give the person you’re meeting a sense of how formal or casual their experience will be. Coffee shops and fast-casual dining experiences are the two easiest ways to meet an industry professional. Here’s why:

1. Coffee Shops

Coffee shops are typically the most casual place to meet someone. It tells them that the conversation does not hold much pressure, and the calm atmosphere of sharing a pastry and hot beverage with someone typically sits well with everyone involved. All of the other guests at the establishment are typically completing work or school assignments or dipping in quickly to pick up an order. There is no worry about what to order or how to enjoy your food while having a productive conversation. My personal favorite coffee shops in the Syracuse, NY area include Starbucks and Recess Coffee. Starbucks is a well-known chain eatery that most people have visited, so the conversation will typically only focus on the topic at hand. According to author Regina Luttrell, Starbucks “connects with its fans by illuminating the intimacy of friends enjoying the coffee experience together.” Luttrell highlights the fact that the chain’s most reputable aspect is that it brings people together! Recess Coffee is not a chain, but it has all of the cozy vibes of an independent coffee shop. Networking is fairly easy in these settings because of the casual nature of the venue. According to Brickhouse Coffee’s blog, it truly is hard to say no to a coffee. Meeting someone for the first time can be stressful but doing it over coffee makes it feel much easier!

starbucks.com

2. Fast-Casual Restaurants

Fast-casual restaurants are typically chain restaurants that operate on a relatively quick food service with an area to sit down and enjoy your food. Many of these chains claim to be healthier than fast food such as McDonalds or Taco Bell, and the atmosphere lends itself well to eating a meal uninterrupted by restaurant staff. In the Syracuse area, I would choose to visit a restaurant similar to CoreLife Eatery. The chain serves healthy food in an assembly-line fashion and is great for choosing the ingredients that you prefer. The vibe of the restaurant is casual and personal, and there are typically many other people enjoying their meals with friends and family. According to Inc., food fosters a bond between people, so having a meeting over a meal creates fond memories with that person, thus eliciting positive feelings towards that person. Positive vibes are definitely a good sign when networking and furthering your career.