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Here are some favorite sites: for learning, for reference, and just for fun. Follow the links and explore. If you have any comments about what you find, or want to add some, email me.

Communication Links: These are links to some public relations related web sites that I've found interesting and useful.

Public Relations Society of America: This is the principle public relations association. Includes links to professional resource pages, the Public Relations Student Society of America, job hunting, and PRSA publications.

Jack O'Dwyer's web site offers an up-to-date view of the public relations profession. Includes rankings of the top firms, professional issues in PR, and opportunities to buy O'Dwyer's guide books to public relations firms.

PR Links--This is a collection of web sites compiled by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). Includes allied organizations, discussion groups, search engines, trade publications, and professional services (e.g., media monitoring, wire services, etc.)

PR Place--Another collection of PR links, including media directories, organizations, and PR publications.

National Communication Association--The NCA is a national organization of communication scholars and others. The NCA Public Relations Division is the largest group of PR educators. This site provides general NCA information as well as information on its convention.

NCA Peace and Conflict Communication Commission--An interest group within NCA that's devoted to research and action related to peace and conflict. This site traces the PCCC's history and let's you know what we're up to now.

Community Learning Links

American Association for Higher Education--The AAHE has initiated a service-learning project, which includes a monograph series on service learning across various disciplines and partnerships with professional organizations to develop service learning.

Campus Compact--A national organization that supports community learning for students, faculty, and institutions.

Invisible College--It sounds mysterious, but the IC is actually a coalition of faculty across the country involved with community learning.

Mike's Fun Stuff Links:  When I'm not in the classroom, I have many interests, including…

Music…

Chet Atkins: 1924-2001

Chet Atkins:  As Garrison Keillor noted in his eulogy, Chet Atkins was “the guitarist of the 20th century.”  This site was the official Mr. Guitar web site, now a tribute to a remarkable musician, producer, and person (married to the same woman for over 50 years).  

 

On-line Guitar Linksmy favorite instrument

John McCutcheon Home Page--One of my favorite performers. My favorite parts of the site are his "library," an eclectic collection of reading for those on the road, and the "community" page, which has links to many interesting social justice organizations.

Harry Chapin Memorial Page--My musical and personal hero.

Sample me:  An experiment in putting my music online…

Over the Rainbow
 

Running…

Runners World Online: My favorite running magazine. Filled with daily news features and some links to races. STUDENTS: Check out Rodale Press, the RW publisher, for job opportunities.

Mid American Conference (MAC) Track and Field: My undergraduate alma mater, Central Michigan U., competes in this conference. Find out about CMU and the other MAC teams here.

Road Runners Club of America: The RRCA is a club for runners of all kinds. One great feature is that you can locate local RRCA affiliated running clubs so you can get a group to train with.

USA Track and Field: The governing body for the sport in the United States. Training for the Olympics? Check out the US Olympic Trials qualifying standards! Links to other international track and field bodies as well as information on the Olympics and other championship events.

Cartoons…(If you can't laugh a little once in awhile…)

Non Sequitur: One of the most observant critics of media and modern life. If you go to the archives, you'll find a great collection of media and work life cartoons.

The National Cartoonists Society: The best daily strip and editorial cartoonists are members of this organization.

Cagle's Professional Cartoonists page: Daryl Cagle is a recent president of the NCS, and maintains a website of updated editorial cartoons on topics ranging from hackers to Campaign 2000.

Dilbert: Another wise cultural critic--well, organizational culture critic--is Scott Adams, creator of the Dilbert empire. Click here to see current strips, take the quiz of the day, or write your own mission statement. This site also has links to dozens of other comic strip sites.

Doonesbury: Still the champ after all these years. This site has been updated to celebrate 30 years of Doonesbury.  A comprehensive archive plus ways to become involved in issues.

Calvin and Hobbes:  I’m still experiencing CH withdrawal.  The wisest comic ever to grace the pages.  Nice archive of old cartoons here.   

Baby Blues:  I think Jerry Scott and Rick Kirkman have planted a camera in my home—Baby Blues offers great insight into the joys of parenting.

For Better or For Worse:  Another long-running favorite.  One of the few strips to actually show its characters growing up, growing old, and passing through life’s changes with wit. 

Radio . . .

I've always been a big fan of radio--listening to Ernie Harwell call a Detroit Tigers' game, Garrison Keillor spinning tales of life in Lake Wobegon, the sound of gunfire in the background of an NPR reporter's story make the listening experience come alive. Here are a few of my favorite radio sites--tune in their programs and listen (most of these shows have RealAudio downloads for your sampling pleasure).

A Prairie Home Companion: Home of Lake Wobegon, MN, "The little town that time forgot and the decades cannot improve, where all the women are strong, all the men are good looking, and all the children are above average." Not to mention some of the best radio sound effects since the 1930s and the wittiest jokes around (check out the annual Joke Show listings).

This American Life: Part humor, part pathos, all authentic contemporary Americana, this program is a quirky trip through the side stories lurking just outside the media's spotlight.

National Public Radio: Aside from having the most authoritative newscasts on the air (TV or radio), NPR sponsors a series of delightful, informative programs. Check out Car Talk, Fresh Air (broadcast from here in Philly), the Thistle and Shamrock, and On the Media.

Marketplace: Another public radio program. This is how I keep up with business and the economy. Marketplace is a business show for people who don't know much about business. A painless way to keep up with important news, especially for public relations practitioners.

 

About me…Click here to view my vita. Under Construction!