I wrote a couple weeks ago about how word choice can lift a narrative. Forget the classic story arc for a moment. Even one word or phrase can warm up the copy or jar the reader with a bolt of incongruence. But nothing tests the ability to harmonize words in tight quarters like …more
In this corner we have those who have embraced storytelling with the fervor of foodies waiting in line at Salt & Straw for a scoop of the Freckled Woodblock Chocolate. In the opposing corner, we have the suits who find phrases such as “We’re pleased to announce” and “a leading innovator in sequencing code for …more
Your title might be PR manager, keeper of the blog, content developer or the classic copywriter. It doesn’t matter. All of us need to get the visual storytelling religion. The increasing amount of information accessed on mobile means shortened attention spans. And people want an entertainment dimension to their information, even in the business sphere …more
I have discussed the concept of a “word visual” in which the words handle the heavy lifting for an image that doesn’t require deep design expertise. For PR pros who typically major in mass communications, journalism or English, the “word visual’ establishes a path to visual storytelling that’s particularly useful for social channels. One of …more
Most of us who toil in business communications tilt toward words. We studied mass communications, journalism or English in college. When we went looking for jobs, our resumes touted writing expertise, not design. Yet, today’s world calls for equal emphasis on the visual side. I’ve always viewed my blog as a laboratory where I can …more
I’ve been collecting potential fodder for a grab bag post for over five months. Now, I have too many possibilities. Here come three vignettes pulled out of the hat. How The Economist Symbolizes Global As business storytelling goes, The Economist lands in my top five. This is a publication that adores the back …more
If it weren’t for our international offices, the business of communications wouldn’t be nearly as interesting. After 100-plus trips overseas since 1994, my senses still go on red alert when I’m boarding that United flight at SFO headed to Asia or Europe (no jokes about correlating the “red alert” to how United treats customers). But …more
I’ve advocated for the use of illustration in communications for some time. No matter how outrageous the subject matter, illustration can bring it to life. For my money, the best illustrations can be found on the covers of The New Yorker, but the publication might have outdone itself with the August 28 cover art, worthy …more
Communicators have recognized for some time that people, otherwise known as the target audience, increasingly turn to mobile devices to access content. How has this phenomenon impacted the PR profession? In a word, notmuch. As long as our coveted media targets did their part to ensure their stories were mobile-friendly, we figured our bases were …more
