Reflecting on Bob Simon & the Art of Story-Telling
One of the many reasons I got into PR is because I have a deep-rooted love of storytelling. Stories not only reflect back our experiences, but they also shape how we think about the world. Stories help us be analytical, empathic and worldly. They empower us to think beyond our own experiences. Few understood this […]
Lessons in Leadership and Authenticity From NBA MVP Kevin Durant
On Tuesday, May 6, the NBA named Oklahoma City Thunder player Kevin Durant as its Most Valuable Player (MVP). That day, during a press conference staged by his team, Durant showed his true colors as an inspiring and authentic leader. During his more than 25-minute, unscripted acceptance speech, Durant spent little time talking about his […]
Critical Networking Know-How
One of my goals in 2014 is to more regularly connect with former colleagues, clients and journalists. It is not always easy to find time to network, but to keep a pulse on the business community as well as to maintain personal connections with the people who have made a difference in my life, it […]
Lessons From Sochi’s PR Challenges
The closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympics last Sunday marked the end of one of the most memorable games in terms of PR. The little host town of Sochi, Russia, got off to a rocky start when many of its hotel rooms were only half finished at the start of the games and the controversial […]
CVS Removes Tobacco Products in an Effort to Tie Communications to Long-Term Business Objectives
CVS recently announced its decision to stop selling tobacco products. Since tobacco previously took up a fair deal of shelf space in CVS stores, this removal was clearly newsworthy. CVS addressed the topic openly on its website. The title alone was quite a standout: “CVS quits for good. This is the right thing to do.” […]
Infographic: Must-Know Social Media Statistics From 2013
While 2014 may already be in full swing, there’s still much that can be learned from 2013. I came across an infographic from SpareFoot which summarizes some truly interesting social media statistics from the past year. As you formulate your social media strategies for 2014, consider the following: In 2013, 30 percent of traffic from […]
PR Lessons From Richard Sherman
Seahawks mania is at an all-time high in Seattle. The city is plastered with the iconic 12th man flags and not a moment goes by when there isn’t something on TV, radio or online about the team’s march to the Super Bowl. And of course, the big story that everyone is talking about is Richard Sherman’s […]
Should PR Pros Use Reddit?
We recently encountered an interesting scenario with one of our clients, who came across a relevant industry discussion on Reddit and wondered why their brand name was not mentioned. At first the answer seems apparent, since Reddit relies on user-generated content that, for the most part, cannot be controlled. But that got us thinking—is Reddit, […]
Tesla Bounces Back After Recent Car Fire
After a Tesla Model S caught fire in early October, the company’s stock prices momentarily fell as the public became wary of the Tesla brand. Numerous blog posts and websites depicted the all-electric Model S engulfed in flames on a busy highway. The incident occurred after a piece of metal punctured the high-tech armor plating […]
Your Best Digital Self: Why Online Reputation Matters
In our daily lives, we often worry about our reputation. Be well-liked and reap the benefits. Get a bad rep and never live it down. In the professional world, a company’s reputation isn’t just a valuable asset—it’s everything it has. Unlike in the personal world, companies can’t afford (literally) to just “not care what other […]