The 2019 PR/Media Quiz

Some years ago, frustrated by the lack of a mechanism to assess prospective PR agency candidates, I developed a questionnaire on media and PR trends that served as a non-scientific barometer for hiring. It was not intended as a measure of whether a candidate will ultimately succeed in the job, but rather one that speaks…… Continue reading The 2019 PR/Media Quiz

Facebook PR Exposed

Nick Confessore, one of The New York Times’s better-known investigative reporters, appeared on MSNBC’s “All in with Chris Hayes” within hours of The Times publishing its bombshell exposé on how Facebook dealt with the Russian crisis. The story was aptly titled “Delay, Deny and Deflect: How Facebook’s Leaders Fought Through Crisis.” Its verdict: FAIL. After six…… Continue reading Facebook PR Exposed

Europe’s Biggest Tech Conference

For those who follow my social streams, you’ll know I spent the better part of last week in Lisbon attending the massive Web Summit. It was my 4th visit to the Dublin-born tech conference, and it continues to inspire. First and foremost, the 70,000 attendees of the sold-out event are treated to a feast of…… Continue reading Europe’s Biggest Tech Conference

Do Paid Media Walls Further Divide Our Nation?

Hardly a day passes without my seeing a tweet from or about Civil, a new enterprise that will use blockchain technology and the sale of tokens to revive and sustain the badly battered journalism profession. Reimagining the news with #blockchain-based architecture https://t.co/xx50xG4ntU — Civil (@Join_Civil) August 24, 2018 Today the purveyors of high quality news are not only…… Continue reading Do Paid Media Walls Further Divide Our Nation?

Facebook’s Short-Term PR Has Longer-Term Consequences

  In her eye-opening piece this week, The Guardian’s SF reporter Olivia Solon opens the curtain on the draconian efforts by Google, Facebook and presumably others to muzzle their employees from speaking publicly about their company’s doings. Aptly titled “‘They’ll squash you like a bug’: how Silicon Valley keeps a lid on leakers,” Ms. Solon…… Continue reading Facebook’s Short-Term PR Has Longer-Term Consequences

Rachel Maddow, Journalist First

A common refrain from the media cognoscenti goes something like this: Try listening, reading or watching those whose views run counter to your own. It may open your eyes to how others see the world. I hear this constantly from friends, family, and way too many social science pundits.  To them I say: bullshit. I will…… Continue reading Rachel Maddow, Journalist First

Pitch Imperfect: PR’s Lost Art

In previous end-of-the-year assessments of the public relations biz, I’ve tackled the following trends and developments: 2015: The need for PR pros to consider paid digital marketing schemes to advance their client’s communications objectives, i.e., “we no longer can rely solely on the benevolence of journalists to tell their stories (“New Media & The PR…… Continue reading Pitch Imperfect: PR’s Lost Art

What These Media Business Insiders Said

In 6 years at @mashable, I have covered some stuff. Here’s some of the evidence. #artifacts pic.twitter.com/jbadCOzxgE — Lance Ulanoff (@LanceUlanoff) December 6, 2017 Unlike Lance Ulanoff, Mashable’s intrepid, yet soon-to-be missed chief correspondent, editor-at-large, and industry conference impresario, I tend to be more solicitous (and less ubiquitous) when it comes to the tech and media…… Continue reading What These Media Business Insiders Said

Making a Name for Your Startup

For those of you with whom I’m connected on LinkedIn, you probably noticed I recently returned from the Web Summit in Lisbon. It was my third year in attendance. Before I get into what I was doing there, you should know how big the Web Summit has become. First, I’d venture to say that it…… Continue reading Making a Name for Your Startup

Fake News & The PR Professional

IABC New York recently convened a panel exploring the subject of fake news and, specifically, its relevance (and danger) to the public relations professional. Joining the session, held at Fleishman-Hillard’s NYC offices, were: FH executive and former New York Times veteran editor Tim Race,  Brett Lofgren, President, North America and Global CRO of NewsWhip and PR industry…… Continue reading Fake News & The PR Professional