Last week, I came across a blog entry titled, “Why Public Relations Isn’t Working.” As I read the first paragraph, the author referenced BP, Tiger Woods and Goldman Sachs – definitely three big PR disasters of 2010. But as I read the blog entry, I was struck by the fact that it wasn’t that PR [...]
CHANGE IS GOOD
During the next few weeks, About.com will roll out a new campaign – “Need. Know. Accomplish.” – designed to make its brand message clearer. As a site that bills itself as “a valuable resource for content that helps you to solve the large and small needs of everyday life,” the change is a much-needed evolution [...]
BP MIGHT AS WELL STAND FOR BAD PRESS
While BP has beefed up its online presence and continues its advertising campaign, now featuring a BP rep from the Gulf (gee, maybe that should have been your first move?), the company is still facing much public scrutiny. Yesterday, I read an article about how BP sent a letter to Florida Governor Crist, refusing to [...]
TOP FIVE MOST HOTLY CONTESTED AP STYLE WORDS IN MARKETING
As a writer, I’m often challenged when words are changed to reflect AP Style, which can change from year to year. For example, this year, Web site changed to website. This change caused arguing and much buzz among journalists, PR folks and obsessive advertising people. Although, most news organizations, including the New York Times, have [...]
THE THREE R’S OF MEDIA PITCHING
A large portion of a public relations professional’s job continues to be media relations. This means we are always on the lookout for relevant and timely news hooks to help pitch our clients and their products to the media. But, every once and a while, you read a story about a really bad pitch and [...]
THE ART OF KRAFT-ING A SOCIAL MEDIA RESPONSE
For the last two weeks, I’ve been watching with great interest a situation taking place on Kraft Foods’ Facebook page.
It seems that, in the end of May, a Florida mom found a gross blob in a package of Capri Sun juice. According to reports, that mom reached out to Kraft Foods – the maker of [...]
BLAME IT ON THE ALCOHOL?
Gen. McChrystal’s “rolling” PR disaster came to a halt today as he was relieved of his command. This announcement comes one day after his PR aide – responsible for setting up the controversial interview with Rolling Stone magazine – resigned.
According to an article in MSNBC, Rolling Stone reporter Michael Hastings had unprecedented access to the [...]
HOW SOCIAL MEDIA GOT ME TO WATCH TV
Okay, okay, so that headline is kind of misleading. Pretty much anything can get me to watch TV. Sadly, I feel the need to see just about every show that graces the airwaves – from trashy reality TV to quickly canceled serialized dramas to shows that promise to be the next Lost.
But, what I don’t [...]
TWO SPLIT-SECOND DECISIONS IN MOTOWN
On June 2, a split-second decision by umpire Jim Joyce resulted in a blown call costing Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga a perfect game. Media outlets across the country swarmed to the story, dissecting the call and praising Galarraga for demonstrating a level of sportsmanship so rarely seen in today’s professional athletes.
The blown call was [...]
WHITE SOX/CUBS TROPHY IS SPONSORED…BY BP???
Interleague Baseball returns tomorrow, with one of the major cross-town rivalries, the Cubs vs. the White Sox, among the match ups.
Games between National League and American League opponents have enjoyed higher attendance than traditional intraleague match ups during the past 14 years, especially in regional rivalries that attempt to approach the excitement of those found [...]
