Help Call Out Bad PR at SXSW

SXSWi is many things, including inspiration, participation and celebration. And then there's that unseemly underbelly of bullsh!t, blathering, broadcasting of self-importance and bad pr.

And that's where we come in. Richard and I have split up to do twice as much damage, uh, justice in Austin this year. We're sitting on different panels -- assuming they make the final cut.

And this is where YOU come in. Please check out the following panels and vote with your heart. Comments are also encouraged as we want to know what you think of each topic.

Richard Laermer: PR Eats Its Own: The Worst of 2010
We're told Chris Anderson will be attending the web's funeral during SXSW this year, so someone has to out the PR folk.

Kevin Dugan: Influencer Throwdown: Proving Influence Once & For All
I'm joining David Binkowski, Krista Neher and Saul Colt on the dais as we call bullsh!t, uh, clarify a few things about influence. It's important to note this panel will not be the usual death by powerpoint and we'll also have some constructive conclusions. It won't just be a "clarification session."

You'll have to register to vote and comment But once you do, you can also consider these PR savvy panels.

Serena Ehrlich: The Social Media Dilemma for Publicly-Held Companies
@Serena is a Bizwire veteran cum social media sophisticate. And she’s been immersed in IR since before Sarbanes and Oxley started pushing legislation together. She knows things.

Colin McKay: Trust and Control -The Future of Privacy Online
@Canuckflack is forging the future of Canada’s privacy. He’s in a section of the online world that changes every minute. And I can’t wait to learn more from him.

David Armano: Why PR’s Future May Not Look Like PR
@Armano is to PR as Jane Goodall is to gorillas chimpanzees. ]UPDATED: thanks to the reader that corrected us on the error.[ Armano’s presentation will provide a new view of public relations and hopefully give the audience a push towards said future. Or he’ll just hand out bananas.

Sarah Evans, Jason Kintzler: Spin Doctors: Best Practices for Social Media
@SarahEvans and @pitchengine on the same panel?! ‘nuff said.

Alan Weinkrantz: Why PR Should Own Social Media Initiatives
The key is that SOMEONE needs to own it, but multiple silos in a company need to be involved. @alanweinkrantz puts forth his take on why PR should indeed own it.

Lucretia Pruitt: “Killing Clark Kent; When You Outgrow Your AlterEgo”
The cottage industry that’s sprung up around the “personal brand” – from its lovers to its haters – is just silly. Some very level-headed professionals are getting their knickers in knots over what I consider to be semantics. That said, @LucretiaPruitt will hopefully set aside semantics and give some clear cut advice so folks can navigate this concept without coming off like a schmuck.

So weigh in with your thumbs and your comments. And in your scads of free time, feel free to tick through some of the other 2,300+ proposals that have been submitted for your consideration.