It sounds like an oxymoron. Words constitute an element of writing. Visuals deliver the ultimate “short cut” in communications. You never hear someone say, “A word is worth a thousand pictures.” Yet, business communicators can absolutely depend on words to carry a visual. Given that the vast majority of PR professionals hold mass communications or …more
Here’s my second grab bag this year. I use these posts to cobble together three takes that don’t have enough depth to stand on their own. Steinbeck Writing Tips for Business Communications While John Steinbeck offers six tips to assist aspiring novelists, there were a couple worth highlighting for communicators: Write freely and as rapidly …more
You can find a gazillion books, trainers and gurus all geared to make you a better public speaker. Don’t read your slides. Stop jingling those pesky coins in your pocket. Use visuals, not bullets. Practice in front of a mirror. Etc. For the right price point, there are even experts out there who can get …more
My own career as a reporter was short-lived, not even three months at the “El Independiente” in South Tucson. Still, I enjoy sharing an outsider’s perspective on the plight of journalism. Curating these posts on our journalistic brothers/sisters, I’ve captured five takes with a PR bent. The Wall Street Journal Tries BuzzFeed Storytelling When I …more
The grab bag makes its 2014 debut today. Three takes coming at you. A Little SEO Humor Marcus Thompson II, the San Jose Mercury News sports journalist, showed his storytelling chops with a terrific column on Barry Bonds lending a helping hand to the Giants during Spring training: “At a news conference to kick off …more
The intelligence community devotes massive amounts of time in trying to decode information from the bad guys as well as advancing their own encryption technology. The communications business – and specifically the client/agency relationship – has its own code. With the help of the worst mathematician in the world – that would be me – …more
The Year of the Horse officially kicked off on January 31 with the 15-day celebration coming to an end today (known as the Lantern Festival) Our Singapore team saw an opportunity to bring the Chinese New Year and the PR profession together as an infographic, part of our push to experiment with visual storytelling using …more
I’ve been told that documenting New Year’s Resolutions increases the likelihood that they will happen. Consider this a test for business storytelling that we’ll revisit in December. Here’s what I’m hoping to change and improve upon in the coming year: Bulldoze the “Look and Feel” of the Blog: Friends, family members and complete strangers have …more
I shared the first half of my best 2013 posts on Monday. Again, “best” doesn’t mean most viewed. The algorithm that determines “best” puts a premium on personal amusement. With that as the backdrop, here’s the rest of the list: You Don’t Need New Hampshire to Find Your Voice Voice is tricky. It’s always there. …more
