I’m working on PubCast #53, and it should be posted tomorrow.
In the meantime, I conducted an email interview with the Chair of Public Relations for Portus 2008, Aziza Aba Butain. I had to cut part of the interview from the Suite101.com article, so I’ve included that part below. It’s some interesting insight into what goes on behind the scenes in the lead-up to a major HP conference.
What is your position on the Portus staff? What are your duties? Is this the first time you’ve been on staff for a Harry Potter conference?
I am the Chair of Public Relations for Portus 2008. In a nutshell, I have two primary duties. The first is to ensure that everyone gets all the information they need about Portus – attendee or not.
Portus is not my first time on staff for one of these conferences. I became addicted to these during Lumos 2006 in Las Vegas. I went to that conference a complete newbie to the whole conference experience and ended up volunteering more than participating. After Lumos was over I suffered from the most severe of post-con depression and found the perfect cure for it – joining the orgnizational staff of every upcoming HPEF event possible! I immediately signed up for Prophecy, Portus and eventually, Infinitus (I’ll be taking 2009 off to enjoy Level Two as an attendee).
I do this in a multitude of ways, the primary being our newsletter, The Portal. In addition to the Portal, I maintain our MySpace, Facebook, Livejournal, and other “mini” sites by accepting friend requests, creating posts/blogs with the most recent Portus news, etc. The newest addition to PR this year is the official podcast of Portus, The Portus Previews, where I chat with some of the featured presenters, podcasters, wizard rockers, and others bringing the magic to Portus. One of our recent episodes was a joint interview with MuggleCast and Jim Dale. You can download all of the Portus Previews editions through iTunes. (At the moment we are still recovering a lot of data from our recent server crash so I can’t guarantee that they will be immediately available).
My second responsibility includes managing all press surrounding Portus. This includes sending press releases and other Portus related material to local, regional and national media outlets in addition to various fansites. Of course, that also includes the coordination of interviews between members of the press and the Portus staff – even myself! On-site, I make sure that the members of the press have all the information they need for their coverage. I’m basically their “Portus guide.” On-site however, many of us (meaning the Chairs) help each other out in their areas in addition to our own responsibilities. We’re all a close-knit bunch so whenever someone else needs help in their area, we’re all right there to pick up the pieces.
Travis Prinzi on 
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Travis, looking forward to the new pubcast. I hope you’ll include some discussion of Dr. Kaberle’s presentation at Convention Alley. BTW, did you know that, over on his website, John assigned you the duty of putting something up about that?
Oh, c’mon, Reverend! It was a “hope” not an “assignment.”
I’m thinking I need to give you an assignment…
John, hoping Travis wasn’t ticked off by this BTW
Forgive me, John. I was deceived by your language. But I did put up a smiley face to show I wasn’t taking your words too seriously.
Although I certainly do want to see a discussion of the issue. And just not in regard to Dumbledore & his preferences. I know we’ve covered it a lot here & at Hogwarts Professor, but I think it’s an important issue, how we read & all.
Not ticked off in the least! Like I said, I note it briefly in my podcast, so either discussion will organically evolve from there, or I’ll post something lengthier on the 4 ways when I have more time.