Given the journalistic hoopla triggered by Facebook’s PR campaign against Google, one would think national security is at stake. The Wall Street Journal ran the story on the B section cover above the fold with the headline: “Facebook Hired Firm to Target Google” Really? This constitutes a surprise worthy of 30-point type? Here’s a “news …more
I appreciated Paul Holmes asking me to serve as a judge for the Sabre Awards this year. After reviewing the award submissions for my assigned categories and participating in a task force to select the winners, I wanted to share a few tips that will help a submission gets its due. Before going further, I would be remiss if I didn’t say that …more
There. I’ve said it. Taking liberties with the Hans Christian Andersen emperor story, why do professional communicators continue to worship the message? Every PR agency offers a messaging workshop. Every corporate communications type has spent the requisite two agonizing days in a hotel conference room eating bridge mix while debating the merits of “innovate” over …more
Want the media to pay attention? Offer a compelling story. Want the media to really pay attention? Deliver a really compelling story. I get this concept. But to say Julian Assange dominates the headlines because WikiLeaks is a world-shaking story shortchanges Mr. Assange’s PR savvy. As Reuters pointed out, Assange “has masterfully manipulated elite media outfits.” Digging deeper, Assange …more
I’m convinced that storytelling in news releases increases syndication. While the wire services don’t track this type of data, our own experiences support the premise. Apparently, Gold’s Gym agrees, applying storytelling techniques to a news release distributed yesterday with the headline: Are You Fit Enough For Your Own Phone? Gold’s figured out announcing yet another discount on membership fees …more
This topic initially stumped me. Specifically, what exactly is a “practice?” I finally settled on this definition: The act of repeatedly engaging in an activity for the purpose of improving or mastering it. So what are the five things that today’s communication practitioners should be doing again and again with an aim to master? 1) Know …more
Avery Dennison dominates the market for mailing labels and the like. The company rung up roughly $6B in sales last year. With that said, I think it’s fair to say that the sticky label space fits into the commodity quadrant. I’m also guessing that the margins on those “Hello My Name Is __________” tags aren’t …more
A study led by University of Pennsylvania Professor Deborah Small caught my attention. The study examined how different types of content influence people when it comes to charitable giving. Check out the following passage which personalizes the need: Any money that you donate will go to Rokia, a seven-year-old girl who lives in Mali in Africa. Rokia is desperately …more
Everyone left the news release for dead years ago. Then Enron imploded, Sarbanes-Oxley arrived and the need for public disclosure resurrected this humble servant. That’s why you saw Berkshire scooping up Business Wire some years ago. It was a form of “forget mining for gold, let’s sell the pans and sluice boxes.” But not even …more
