The grab bag returns for the second time this year. Three micro takes coming at you — Who vs. Whom vs. That Frank Bruni’s beautifully crafted essay in The New York Times laments the sloppiness in language that has seen “that” become a synonym for “who” and “whom”: “This bit of wreckage particularly bothered …more
Hey, if Bono can assemble some of his favorites into “U2’s Greatest Hits,” why can’t I do the same with blog posts? Exactly. Tapping posts published between 2012 and 2014, here’s the latest version of Ishmael’s Greatest Hits (minus the tinted shades and tattoos). The Worst Customer Service Narrative in the History of Branding United …more
As part of celebrating the Agency’s 30-year anniversary later this year, I will periodically play the nostalgia card in the blog. Such is the case today. In the course of digging through old client files, I came across the news release from our first press conference in New York City for client Meridian Data. Before …more
This quote from John F. Kennedy is one of my favorites and definitely relevant to the Agency’s trajectory. Last year was the first time in our history that all geographies — Asia, the U.S. and Europe — generated double-digit growth. From this position of strength, we’ve made several recent changes, including the hiring of Mark …more
Communications debacle after debacle have riddled the Trump administration, the latest involving the firing of FBI Director James Comey. TIME Magazine called the Comey firing “a gross miscalculation, like reaching for the gasoline can in order to extinguish a grease fire.” Naturally, Trump’s knee-jerk reaction was to throw press secretary Sean Spicer under the bus. …more
Millions of college students are about to graduate and strike out in the real world, some with shiny apples in hand. Given that the number college grads far exceeds the available entry-level jobs, finding that first gig can feel like the search for a donut at Deepak Chopra retreat. . But there’s a sure-fire way …more
Apple plays the communications game with the ferocity of the guy at the poker table with all the chips. It has a way of exerting its will on others, including journalists. Combining an unconventional media relations strategy and owned media, the company’s announcement of a fund for advanced manufacturing dominated the media at the end of …more
A corporate feature in a mainstream publication is the PR equivalent of a home run. No question, PR is constantly swinging for the fences. Unfortunately, the success rate for PR is more Duane Kuiper (below) than Babe Ruth. Obviously, a number of variables come into play in determining whether a journalist and the bosses green …more
