Hamilton is the story heard around baseball — drafted number one overall in 1999 by the Tampa Bay Rays, a golden boy that idolized The Natural, a fictional character played by Robert Redford in one of the greatest sports movies ever.  But, like you see in many cases, young adults with access to all the money and fame in the world never seem to turn out well. Seduced by drugs, alcohol, tattoos, Hamilton was headed down a bad road. When young sports superstars get involved with money and the wrong crowd, the media has a field day and never seems to let it go.

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We are in an industry and era where digital success equals company greatness. The hard part is proving it to the old fashioned. I just got an email from my good friend who decided to pack up and travel the world before settling down with his life. Staying in touch with someone who is traveling the world can be very tough or expensive if you dare to make an international phone call. My friend created his own RSS feed so his friends and family could keep in touch and witness his adventure through maps, pictures, and exciting stories.

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Blog written by Courtney Lawrence

One of the first things to remember in public relations is do not lie.  If you don’t lie, you don’t have to spin and it is imperative to be honest with your clients about their goals, deliverables, expectations, and outreach.  However, with that being said Harrow Communications, a PR company out of Oakland Calif. claims they have the insider tips to get you on “Oprah”.

Sure, every client dreams of an outlet like that for the world to hear about their product, but most PR agencies know not to Promise “Oprah”, even though most clients ask if their PR agency can get them on her show.

When it comes down to it, her tips all sound great, and they are something you should do for every single one of your clients.  Considering Oprah’s producers get over 15,000 pitches every day, your pitch needs to be perfect, catchy, and outstanding.

Some tips include:

• Get ready for your pitch.  Easy enough, prepare for the audience you are pitching to , you can’t pitch to an audience or publication that you are not familiar with.
• Another one is, create a press kit.  Hopefully your PR agency has one of these for you already, so easy enough.
• Next, pitch an expert and compelling story.  You wouldn’t go to a small town paper without a story, so seems only fitting you would have a story and an expert to pitch to “Oprah” as well.

All of this seems like common sense and something you should be doing for every single one of your clients.  However, if Harrow Communications wants to promise that they can get me on “Oprah”, I think I have something to talk about that is compelling, and I can even be the expert.  Now, if only they could get me on her favorite things show!

Blog written by Sydney Ayers, APR

Over the weekend, PRSA Chairman and CEO Jeff Julin was interviewed in the Denver Post.  During the course of the interview, the reporter asked Jeff about a somewhat controversial seminar the Colorado Chapter held last year entitled “Taking the BS out of PR.”  Jeff’s answer was elegant and to the point.

“There is no question that many people think public relations is simply publicity and spin.  That is a challenge to individual professionals and the profession as a whole.  For me, public relations is an overarching communications discipline that focuses on helping organizations develop strong relationships with stakeholders.  When done well, public relations helps organizations grow, prosper, and contribute to the communities in which they operate.”

Heady stuff that.  Convincing clients and others that what we do on a daily basis in’t about weaving stories, distorting facts and, well, spinning issues is a difficult assignment.  It is something we have to be committed to doing — PRSA member or not — on a daily basis.  We must make it our mission to encourage truthful, open and respectful discourse in the public arena.  Only then can we hope to turn the tide and fully restore our image as the trustworthy communicators we know we are.

Check out the full interview with Jeff Julin at  http://www.denverpost.com/businessheadlines/ci_8899305

Blog written by Shawn M. Kahle, APR

Public relations is a profession of words and actions.  Without words, our efforts to inform, persuade, or engage ring hollow.  Unfortunately, there’s a tendency to rely on words as an elixir for all that ails us. 

Words.  We speak them, text them, write them, edit them, position them.  And we worry when we don’t hear the right words, or they don’t come quickly, nor exactly how we expect them to be said or written.

Our word-craving addictions sometimes get the best of us as individuals and as a profession.  We throw words at words.  We seek out advocacy strategies rather than action plans.

I love words and respect their necessity, wit, and power. 

Yet, it is hard to refute the maxim, “Actions speak louder than words.”

Time and time again my respect first goes to colleagues and acquaintances who act with purpose and compassion.  Like Missouri, “Show Me.”

Recently, there’s been much talk about what can be done to improve the reputation, understanding, and perceptions of the public relations profession.  Has there been enough action?  What can we do?

1)    Do you know a wonderful cause with limited donor support because too few are aware of the need?  Volunteer your time actively every week.

2)    Is a friend starting a business but cannot get the local paper to share the news?  Work as a pro-bono advisor to build an action plan for communication, one that draws customers and attracts interest.

3)    Are you tired of politicians who embarrass or disappoint?  Find a candidate who gives you hope, role up your sleeves and do the work to get elected – knock on doors, stuff envelops, work the phones, put some skin in the game.

4)    Elevate your professional skills by pursuing your accreditation in IABC or PRSA.  Why?  You will reflect, you will learn, and there’s a very good chance that you will gain an appreciation of the history and actions of the true pioneers who set the foundation for our contemporary words and actions.

5)    Mentor a student at a local high school or college who wants to enter the profession.  Pay the way for your student to attend a monthly luncheon or program of your local PRSA or IABC chapter.  Review resumes, pass along job leads, coach on interviewing skills.  Be the one who your student calls or emails for advice and support.

         6)    Recognize the actions of others – in your firm, at your local meetings – who are moving the profession forward through their                      personal community engagement or leadership. 

What do you suggest?  What are you going to do?

Show me.  Let’s grow the list.  Let’s create a true action plan.  Let’s talk less about what others say, and instead do what needs to be done.

That’s what’s best for the public relations profession.

Blog written by Sydney Ayers, APR

A recent column by Maureen Hall in Ad Age discussed the fact that the words “public relations” had, unfortunately, lost their meaning.  I would pose that they didn’t so much lose their meaning as we haven’t really safeguarded it.

Too frequently a client prospect will come to us and say, “We need some PR” when what they really mean is, “We need some media relations.”  Instead of taking the opportunity to fully educate these prospects regarding the full depth and breadth of public relations, we say, “Sure.  We’ll leverage our contacts and get you great coverage we’ll measure in impressions and ad equivalency.”

When are we going to stop letting everyone else – from Washington lobbyists to Hollywood publicists, ad professionals to interactive specialists – define our job? 

Our friends Cutlip, Center and Broom tell us, “Public relations is the practice of building and maintaining mutually beneficial relationships between an organization and its various publics.”  Nothing in that definition says the only accepted tactic for achieving this is media relations. You know why?  Because it just isn’t.

Is media relations important?  Yes, it is.  But so are community outreach, special events, employee communications, issues management, crisis communications, word-of-mouth marketing, social media and other public relations tactics that enhance brand and protect organizational reputation.

When prospects come to us, we should not be afraid to help them broaden their definition of public relations.  It certainly would go a long way to helping us better position our clients, our profession, our firms, and ourselves.

Blog written by Lindsay Brown

Public relations…relating to the public.  The best way to relate to the public is face-to-face.  This allows for a more candid, but intimate meeting.  A comment lament from PR professionals is why some reporters badmouth and label them “annoying flaks.”  The answer is simple, take a look at a reporter’s inbox on a Friday afternoon.  Thousands upon thousands of unsolicited news releases from PR professionals who would rather send an e mail than set-up a face-to-face meeting.  This is what separates the good professionals from the bad.

By sending those releases again and again, you might get coverage for your client or even your firm, but it could be the result of the reporter trying to dig up negative dirt on your event or announcement rather than promote it to the fullest extent because they are annoyed by you, the flak.

PR professionals are known for their excellent communication skills and outgoing personalities.  If you woo a reporter with your skills, you develop a lasting relationship.  The reporter is then able to put a face to a name on those press releases and might even start to think of you as a friend or at least a trusted source and no longer a nameless “flak.”  With all of the PR professionals out there trying to land stories, take initiative, and stand out from the crowd.

Gawker.com hits the nail on the head and reaffirms my testament.  So what is good PR?  Start networking and find out.

Blog written by Cory Sealey    

In case you don’t read Gawker.com (shame on you) or consider yourself out of the PR loop, let me fill you in on the most recent Edelman controversy.  Edelman is one of the largest and well recognized PR firms in the world.  They have worked with iconic corporations and have won numerous awards.  To many people outside of public relations, Edelman is the standard bearer for the entire industry.  Apparently, that’s not saying much. 

In the past few years, the firm has received a heaping spoonful of criticism from a large number of people, groups, and industries, PR included.  In 2006, Edelman paid a blogger to write positive reviews about a client, Wal-Mart, and tried to pass the blog off as independent.  When they were caught, they admitted to it and apologized, but the damage had been done.

Once again, Edelman finds itself in hot water.  The most recent controversy stems from supposed directives from executives at Edelman to tell clients to lie as a part of their media training.  Any PR professional immediately sees this as a GIANT RED FLAG.  Lying not only makes you look like a hack, but if and when you get caught, you are professionally screwed. 

I am not going to weigh in with my opinion on whether I think Edel-Execs told their clients to lie.  I used to work at the firm and like Vegas, “What happens at Edelman, Stays at Edelman”.  From my experience working there, the firm is a well-oiled machine and nothing slips past the radar of executives.  The firm’s president, Richard Edelman, issued a note to gawker.com (which should have been spellchecked!!!!) refuting these claims.  He also called out Gawker.com for posting a story from an anonymous source, even though some of the comments left by readers supported a certain shadiness they felt when working with Edelman.  Feelings and opinions about Edelman have been carried over to other firms and contribute to the overall mistrust people tend to feel about the industry. 

Edelman and the PR industry had already received a serious black eye and had been tried and found guilty by a jury of gawker.com readers (who tend to be well-connected and informed in the media industry).  What are mid and small sized firms supposed to do when the large firms create controversy and make the industry look bad?  Do people think I am a less than honest person because some giants in my profession decide to operate sans scruples?  The industry needs to do everything in its power, besides a public castigation, to ensure one bad Edel-apple doesn’t spoil the bunch.    

Blog written by Josh Culver

Recently I read a very interesting blog posting about the effectiveness of the current system of measuring the success of a PR campaign. In this article, the second on the subject, (and according to Francis the author, more to come) the author believes that finding the number of impressions is an inaccurate way to measure successful PR, showing two different examples from personal experiences.

In example A, a client embarked on a PR campaign and was very happy with the many different stories placed and the number of impressions. What disappointed the company was how little change they saw in actual sales. In example B, the same company was highlighting a new product that was very much the one used in example A, it was a free, downloadable improvement on an existing product, but with one large difference. As it turned out, one of the visitors to the site was the largest software company in the world and thought the product was so fantastic, bought out the company, resulting in a HUGE return on investment. 

I agree with Francis, on many points in the article, namely the need to tweak monitoring the changing and emerging media to show clients how effective a PR firm can be, I am left scratching my head with this particular case of cause and effect. While the story is a great anecdote and even better sales pitch, I’m not sure it is the best example of successful PR. Yes, it was the PR company’s job to get more exposure and make the tech company more money, which Francis was successful on both counts, but I don’t think it really gets to the heart of the matter in terms of better measurement. Getting a company noticed by a larger one and then counting it a success when a buy-out happens doesn’t seem like the goal of every PR company.

Francis does make some good points and although I disagree with his final results I do believe he is on to something and at the heart of the matter, asking the right questions. Obviously, I don’t have a clear answer, but appreciate the fact that his work brings into focus on the right track a difficult beast to tame. Maybe with more discussion and work like this, all of us in the industry can show the importance of PR.

Blog written by Thomas Short

I was surfing through some public relations industry news and came across an article talking about how PR is dying and “had a good run.” Mike Magee, the author specifically stated, “We can do without the middle person, or why deal with PR people when vendors just send out news releases or advertise themselves?”  The “middle person” they are accusing is actually the link to credible news. PR is two-way communication between a PR professional and their client or media. Rather than companies sending out news releases to every media outlet in the world, you have a credible PR professional researching, building a relationship with a reporter and presenting the facts through a specific channel to build awareness. Now don’t get me wrong, we all know advertising is a great form of building awareness, but how many advertisements really make you take action? There is always a story behind the advertisement and PR professionals tell that story.

PR is more personable than any other form of building awareness. Once you build a relationship the facts become credible and believable.  Reporters do not want to be bombarded with news releases, they want to have relationships knowing pitches are factual, news worthy and research is already done. If there is no “middle man” where does the credible relationship building take place? I can only imagine a reporter’s day with no facts or credibility. PR is real. Spinning the media can only allow your audience to think twice when it comes to your company’s reputation.