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
Tag: PR
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
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
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
Cool Tools for the Curious PR Pro
One of the daily email newsletters to which I subscribe is Product Hunt, founder by Ryan Hoover. This carefully distilled selection of serendipitous new gadgets, apps, podcasts, and productivity tools rarely ceases to surprise me. Invariably, they make my professional life easier and home life more enjoyable. Product Hunt eliminates the frustration we all have felt…… Continue reading Cool Tools for the Curious PR Pro
Podcasts for PR Peeps
It’s no secret that podcasting, once left for dead, has a new lease on life now that our mobile devices serve as the primary vehicles through which we acquire news and information. One NYU student writer recently extolled the podcast as “the future of journalism.” The buzzworthy “Missing Richard Simmons,” Buzzfeed’s “Another Round,” and the #1-rated “S-Town”…… Continue reading Podcasts for PR Peeps
Fake News and Its Threat to Democracy
My first social media post of the day happened on Facebook and involved Twitter. It cited USA Today’s story on Twitter’s audacious decision to ban from its platform hundreds of offensive “alt right” accounts. My morning gripe had less to do with Twitter’s sudden cleanse of hate-spreaders on its platform and more about the absence…… Continue reading Fake News and Its Threat to Democracy
Trump: The Art of the Lie
It’s hard to imagine how Mr. Trump can survive the incessant onslaught of negative media coverage until the GOP Convention in July, let alone the general election. (I imagine GOP kingmakers are currently conspiring on how to blackmail their controversial candidate to bow out of the race and begrudgingly endorse a Ryan or Romney in…… Continue reading Trump: The Art of the Lie
StubHub Throws Away Its Shot
It’s no secret that consumer-facing, social-savvy brands treat “influencers,” i.e., those with sizable followings on Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and elsewhere with greater respect than other, more casual users of these channels. Even minor influencers, e.g., like me, obtain special treatment when publicly grousing about a disappointing experience. Case in point: last week, I ordered an…… Continue reading StubHub Throws Away Its Shot
Schumer’s No Trainwreck
My wife and I finally had a chance to catch up on some flicks during last weekend’s rain-fest in New York. (There’s only so much bingeing one can do on “House of Cards,” “Billions” and “Vice.”) We decided to test our tolerance for the tasteless “Trainwreck,” the tortured NYC love story written by and starring…… Continue reading Schumer’s No Trainwreck