Internal vs. External PR Roles
The overarching goal of a public relations team is to provide strategic support for a company and its products and ensure the highest quality of communications to foster a positive public perception of the company. When organizing a PR team, there are many factors to consider. There is no right or wrong organizational structure for […]
The Joke Press Release – Is it Appropriate for April Fools’ Day?
A few years ago one of our clients approached us about developing and distributing an April Fools’ Day “joke” press release. Clearly there are pros and cons to these types of announcements. A successful joke press release can garner significant attention and build dramatic awareness for a company. However, a joke release in poor taste […]
Digital’s Role on Public Relations
Given the current economic conditions and the demise of many print publications, conversations are increasingly taking place online through networks and platforms such as Twitter and Facebook. We recently wrote a blog post about the power of Twitter and the impact of Facebook on companies like Coca-Cola. There’s no doubt social media is a hot […]
Working With Journalists
There are numerous factors to think about when pitching a story to a journalist, corresponding with them via e-mail or even speaking with them during interviews. Some of us have learned this the hard way, and some of us will learn from other’s mistakes. There are a number of journalists who have publicly blacklisted individual […]
How to Pitch a Reporter
Peter Shankman, host of the popular HARO service, recently hosted a call with a panel of journalists to share advice on how to pitch reporters effectively. On the call were journalists from NPR, Reuters, Crain’s New York, the Indianapolis Business Journal and the St. Paul Pioneer Press. The journalists unanimously confirmed that pitches remain a […]
Tips for Working With Broadcast Reporters
Last week we had the opportunity to sit down with a local broadcast reporter and secured her perspective on current trends within broadcast media and offered tips for working with broadcast reporters. Below I have outlined some of the information from that discussion. Trends The economy is affecting broadcast media. There has been wide coverage […]
PR in a Recession: How Organizations Can Continue to Derive Business Value From PR
Every day we hear news about the recession: the current state of consumer confidence, how many people are being laid off and how the economy is impacting various industries. PR is certainly no exception. A recent PRWeek article reports that many companies are asking their PR agencies to go on hiatus this year in an […]
Writing the Winning Press Release
As a best practice, we like to ask our clients a set of questions before we begin writing a press release on their behalf. We consider this a Communiqué PR best practice with three significant benefits. Shared Expectations First, the process of asking these questions ensures that we are on the same page with regard […]
Client Service and Boutique Agencies
A recent article in PRWeek titled “Client Service Remains a Staple for Smaller Firms” makes a great case for why small PR firms are the best choice for many companies, especially in a down economy. The article points out several reasons why small firms have a competitive edge, including: Client Service – Small firms can […]
What’s Good for PR Can Be Good for the Planet
What’s Good for PR Can Be Good for the PlanetIn 2006, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment released a documentary film titled, “Who Killed the Electric Car?” The film examined the creation and demise of General Motors’ EVI electric car in the 1990s, blaming the auto and oil industries. In response, General Motors claimed a lack of […]