Let’s see what’s abuzz in the blogosphere these days - search engines, spam, and social media - good stuff:

• The Role of SEO in PR - PR Meets Marketing
  If you work in Public Relations, should you even care about search engine optimization? I think so. I’ve even mentioned here before that I’d consider SEO to be a PR function rather than a marketing one. What do you think?
• Careers in Public Relations: An Intern’s Core Skillset - The PR Distinction
  Some of us have recently been talking about educating students more about what PR really is, whether that be to diversify the PR crowd or fend off ethical issues with new professionals in an effort to improve our industry’s image. This is a short (less than 2 minutes) video discussing a bit about what PRs do. Do you think it gets the point across? Where might it be lacking?
• Social Media’s Delusion of Grandeur - Mashable
  Can social media really change the world, or should you get off your asses and actually do something? I always love a good reality check.
• Stopping the PR Spam: Jason Falls - Copywrite, Inc.
  Here’s another recently hot issue in PR - press release spam. Spam - it’s such a nasty little word, isn’t it? Do you agree that if the PR industry (and professional organizations within it) don’t address the issue in the next several months or so, it’s going to destroy the industry? I don’t. Why? Because so much PR spam these days has nothing to do with PR firms and professionals - The vast majority I see (either getting it through email for my various sites or through search engine spam-style releases on distribution services) seem to come directly from the company and from marketers (some of whom I know quite well - some of whom I even consider friends - none of whom have any intention of stopping, no matter what PR organizations have to say). The problem’s beyond us as an industry, because we allowed it to happen - no taking that back now. What we can do is be more careful about our own distribution, and I don’t think we need professional organizations to tell us to do that.
• Do You Really Understand Social Media? - Wannabe Mogul
  This is a video called Social Media in Plain English. Too adorable for words - dumbing down social media by comparing it to ice cream.
• It’s Time to Retire the Press Release - Flacker
  Oh brother. More of this garbage? Been there. Done that. Again… and again… and apparently again. Gag me.
• Starting a Social Media Strategy - Chris Brogan
  This post isn’t tailored specifically to PR pros, but that’s what I like about it. I think a lot of folks in PR need to become better versed at how the rest of the world is using social media (especially in business), and this gives you a nice starting place.