This photo from a recent Vanity Fair article (2013) shows the glare from a building, that has resulted in a PR controversy.
By Lisa Faulkner-Dunne, Lisa Faulkner-Dunne and Associates Public Relations
It certainly seems like common sense, and basic ethics, to avoid making up names and posting rash and inflammatory comments on your client’s digital media pages, or even worse, on their adversary’s or competitor’s pages.
Yet this ridiculous junior high type behavior happens. In Dallas, a former NBC anchor-turned-PR-specialist (hired, no doubt because he had “good media contacts,”) recently disgraced himself, the law firm that hired him and a high profile client... ⇢ read more
Ever since man gathered around the fire and scratched cave wall drawings, stories unite, educate and inspire us. Storytelling is a PR person's best device for sharing a message... and in the digital age, we tell stories weaving text, sound, video, photos, data, and emotion.
As public relations professionals, we know people consume messages and use media differently than in the past. In order to tell our clients' stories in a more compelling way, we must shift our narrative away from selling (the press release) and toward more visually interesting, shareable digital content. By expanding beyond the written word, the standard... ⇢ read more
By Ellie Rand, Public Relations Accounts Supervisor, Deveney Communication
As published in Bulldog Reporter Daily ‘Dog on June 25, 2013
PR does not stand for “press release.”
Although that fact may be obvious to us practitioners, many people assume media relations, including the writing and pitching of press releases, is the primary function of a public relations professional.
I understand the confusion. While other PR tactics, such as partnerships, internal communications and social media efforts, are often employed as part of a comprehensive campaign, the work we do with the news media is often the most compelling.
Media relations efforts can be offensive or defensive.... ⇢ read more
By Jim Gregory, James Gregory Consultancy LLC
As a former daily newspaper reporter, I have formed some opinions about what makes a good press release and what doesn’t. It is interesting to note that the Twitterworld and social media have not yet totally replaced the press release as a communications tool for PR types.
Short, 25-30 word leads still work best in press releases. And leading with the “news” works, too. In that regard, one approach really bugs me. That’s when the press release writer’s first sentence says, “XYZ Company announced that” it did something momentous. Hey, the news isn’t that it... ⇢ read more
By Claude M. Gruener, PR Albany
What’s the best way to get your news releases, speeches or your internet posts ignored, or worse yet, ridiculed?
Beyond being irrelevant, wrong or dated, it’s very simple. All you need do is to include a few punctuation, grammatical or spelling errors.
Our savvy PR professionals at PRCG know all this, of course, but it doesn’t hurt to remind ourselves about a few we need to watch for when writing or reviewing what our clients write that may be seen or heard by the public or media.
Probably the most common mistake I see is the use of... ⇢ read more
By Natalie Ghidotti, Ghidotti Communications
Bloggers in Boots
The bloggers at Arkansas Women Bloggers Unplugged show off their free Country Outfitter boots.
Stephanie McCratic, blogger at Evolved Mommy and the brainchild of the Country Outfitter blogger boot giveaway, participates in #FoodieFriday with the author Natalie Ghidotti of Ghidotti Communications.
It’s no secret that pitching bloggers is much different than pitching traditional journalists. The days of editorial vs. advertising/promotion are quickly fading from memory. With the blogosphere, there’s a melting pot of traditional earned media, paid media and product placement. The lines are blurred, and public relations practitioners must determine what is appropriate, ethical and,... ⇢ read more
By Brendy Barr, President, Brendy Barr Communications LLC
I finally jumped on the “fun gadget bandwagon” and bought a Kindle Fire…now we’re inseparable!
And while I enjoy instantly watching movies, checking my Facebook newsfeed and playing “Plants vs. Zombies” with my 11-year-old, I’m truly addicted to creating different play lists of music. I have one I call “Stressed-Out Mom Mix,” another called “Top Down Jeep Tunes” and dozens more!
Just when I thought I had the ultimate collection of playlists, I came across this great article recently posted on PRDaily.com…
“How to Create the Ideal Playlist for Writing and Editing."
Read it and let me... ⇢ read more
By Deb Trivitt, TrivittPR
Oh, that PR professionals had as much influence over journalists as they say we have! Keith Trivitt (no relation) debunks the myth that is evidently circulating among the journalists.
I don’t hear it from PR professionals!
There are several reasons we ask questions of journalists when they ask to interview clients or CEOs or anyone else in our realm of influence. One is to be sure they are prepared. We don’t want to say “I don’t know the answer, I’ll call you back.” That wastes everyone’s time.
Another is to be sure we are making the right person available to... ⇢ read more
By Marisa Vallbona, APR, Fellow, PRSA
This blog post first appeared in PRSAY
In an age of declining journalism standards, where anything goes and credibility is in serious question, it’s about time we see a network take the high road and announce it’s going back to the true practice of journalism. According to The Daily Beast, ABC News division president Ben Sherwood has decided the network will do just that and no longer pay for interviews or images, a practice called “checkbook journalism” that has become all-too-common in recent years.
ABC spokesman Jeffrey Schneider told The Daily Beast: “We can book just... ⇢ read more
By Brian Chandler, APR, President, Commonwealth Public Relations
Is Traditional Media Dead?
It’s a question that many PR people are asking these days, so here are some insights into what I have personally experienced during my day-to-day practice in public relations.
My short answer to the question is “no,” at least for now, and here’s why.
Traditional media is changing and adapting to social media and Web 2.0, just like the rest of us. Major corporations, nonprofits, small business and others are all working hard to figure out what works best to drive profit through the Internet. This diversification is allowing traditional media to... ⇢ read more
By Deb Trivitt, Trivitt Public Relations
Recent lists of clichés we can do without and words that are over-used got me to reminiscing about my first semester of high school journalism.
Our teacher, Gunnar Horn, was considered the “dean” of high school journalism teachers and newspaper advisors. He, yes, literally, wrote the book. One of our requirements was to make a notebook of examples of the things we learned in class.
Along with the clippings of parodies, straight leads and inverted pyramids, we were to come up with 500 synonyms for “said” and 500 clichés. Was it pure busywork? Maybe, but it still... ⇢ read more
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