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PR is now a 24/7 industry, so should staffers be able to work from home?

April 25, 2013

Technology has changed the agency structure to enable staff to work seamlessly from home. But firms with non-traditional work-from-home policies run the risk of losing the benefits of collaboration, creativity, and camaraderie.

Is the press release dead or does it still hold relevance in today's world?

April 01, 2013

Press releases are still relevant. They provide much more information than a tweet with more convenience than a phone call, but only when used correctly. The last thing any reporter wants is an off-target or sloppy press release.

Is the traditional PR agency structure broken in the age of digital comms?

March 01, 2013

The traditional agency model is not dead, but it certainly is not uniform, either. Clients will be able to choose from not only a range of agency partners, but also different agency types as they select a partner in the future.

With Twitter feeds and a 24/7 news cycle, are embargoes still effective?

February 01, 2013

Embargoes still work, although they may be closer to extinction due to increasingly tight deadlines and the 24/7 news cycle. More importantly, they are only effective when dealing with trusted media outlets.

Can brands be content creators on the level of traditional media outlets?

January 01, 2013

Sure, brands can create content as part of their marketing and communications plans, but very few, if any, will create content that is on the level of a major media company, despite their resources. That is out of their reach - for now.

Should consumer-facing marketing campaigns use celebrity endorsers?

December 01, 2012

Celebrities can be an asset to a campaign but also a liability. If PR practitioners want to use a star to promote a brand, they should make sure he or she fits their goals.

Should PR pros demand the right to check quotes before publication?

November 01, 2012

It's understandable that PR pros worry about the images of their clients. However, journalists and bloggers are under no obligation to let them see quotes before a story is published. On the record means on the record.

Should PR agencies pay bloggers for coverage promoting their clients?

October 01, 2012

Blogger payments is a murky area for many communications professionals. However, PR pros are better off sticking to the old standard of relying on their abilities, rather than their checkbooks. It makes for better content.

Do you think that the PR industry is a boys' club at executive levels?

September 01, 2012

PR is clearly male-dominated at the top levels and that will take time to change as talented women make their way toward the corner offices. Executives should embrace the growing number of women in top-level roles.

Should a company's communications leader report directly to the CEO?

August 01, 2012

Comms leaders have influence over public perception.

Is it cost effective for large firms to apply for small clients' business?

July 01, 2012

Large agencies certainly can and should take on small clients, especially in the tech space, since today's unknown startup is tomorrow's Pinterest. Yet they should only do so if they can satisfy that client and give it enough attention.

Are focus groups still an effective method to gauge consumer insight?

May 30, 2012

Focus groups are not a thing of the past and remain an effective way to research current and prospective customers. However, the groups will need to incorporate new and cheaper technology to stay relevant.

Should clients be more understanding about potential account conflicts?

April 25, 2012

With three PR agency giants now reporting more than $500 million in revenue, client conflicts will increasingly be an industry issue going forward.

Are search consultants still a key part of the RFP or agency selection process?

April 01, 2012

Search consultants have a valuable track record as part of the RFP process.

Must brands have a Google+ page if they want to be active in social media?

March 01, 2012

With the imminent Facebook IPO valued in the low gazillions, one would be forgiven for fatalistic exaltations such as, "Game over."

Should your strategy be the same when pitching reporters and bloggers?

February 01, 2012

The principles of pitching bloggers and traditional reporters are the same, but the tactics differ.

Is it always necessary for companies to apologize following a comms crisis?

January 01, 2012

Your parents taught you that when you do something wrong, you should apologize.

Is 'agency of record' an outdated term to describe the client-firm relationship?

December 01, 2011

The dawn of the digital era has forever changed the PR landscape, not only giving rise to a new breed of firms, but also elevating the PR agency's role.

Can President Obama effect a comms reversal with voters in the next year?

November 01, 2011

A lot can happen in one year.

Should mainstream media outlets break news on their social media channels?

October 01, 2011

As the pace of journalism gets faster by the day, the ownership of a scoop becomes more and more difficult to achieve.

Should Twitter increase its character limit from the current total of 140?

September 01, 2011

It's a valid question for Twitter executives to be pondering, as they watch Google+ offer the speed of the Blue Birdy with the limitless character count and easy-sharing functions of Facebook.

Is there going to be a $1 billion PR agency within the next five years?

August 01, 2011

The challenge is not necessarily getting to a billion dollars; it is more about building a communications agency with the right people at its heart and driving an entrepreneurial culture.

Is it ever appropriate to erase comments from a company's social media platform?

July 01, 2011

Social media by its nature is open and transparent.

Should senior-level agency execs spend most of their time on client work?

June 01, 2011

Now, more than ever, having senior-level executives deeply involved in client work is vital.

Does political campaign experience make you a better candidate for an agency job?

May 01, 2011

People involved in politics and communications for a political campaign will likely shine doing agency work in the private sector. Those involved only in making policy might not.

Have clients become more vigilant in the pitch process since the recession?

April 01, 2011

Jennifer Prosek, CEO of CJP Communications, and Howard Schacter, president of DiGennaro Communications, debate whether clients have become more vigilant in the pitch process since the recession.

Can PR pros work on a flex-time schedule and still do their jobs well?

March 01, 2011

Kim Duffy, HR director at Coyne PR, and James Grant, president of James Grant PR, debate whether comms pros still do their jobs well while working on a flex-time schedule.

Is PR truly starting to take the lead in more integrated campaigns?

February 01, 2011

Matt Kirdahy, director of financial and corporate practices group at Middleberg Communications, and Mario Almonte, managing partner at Herman and Almonte PR, debate whether PR is taking the lead in integrated campaigns.

Are there crises during which it is better for companies to stay silent?

January 01, 2011

Paul Gallagher of Burson-Marsteller and Christopher White of AirTran debate whether it is better for companies to stay silent during certain crises.

Should entities seeking multicultural outreach look only to boutique firms?

December 01, 2010

Mike Valdes-Fauli and Zandra Zuno debate whether entities seeking multicultural outreach should look only to boutique firms

Is social media now a better media relations tool than the press release?

November 01, 2010

Renee Jennings, CEO and founder of R. Media Group, and Jennifer Mirabile, Assistant VP of Young & Associates, debate whether social media is now a better media relations tool than the press release.

Should PR agencies invest in search engine marketing capabilities?

October 01, 2010

Rosa Alfonso-McGoldrick and Ally Saxe debate on whether PR agencies should invest in search engine marketing capabilities.

Do PR practitioners still need to have good writing skills to be successful?

September 01, 2010

Ask any senior executive about their communications leader, and they'll probably talk about writing skills first.

Should a CEO be a company's primary spokesperson during a crisis?

August 01, 2010

Chris Gidez of Hill & Knowlton and Mike Lawrence of Cone debate whether or not a company's CEO should serve as the primary spokesperson during a crisis.

Should advertising value equivalency be used as a way to measure PR?

July 01, 2010

AutoTrader.com's Mark Scott and Airfoil PR's Jennifer Becker offer opposing views on using advertising value equivalency as a way to measure PR.

Are promoted tweets a good thing for PR professionals who use Twitter?

June 01, 2010

Ketchum Digital's Jonathan Kopp and Makovsky's David Rosen offer opposing views on whether promoted tweets are a good thing for PR professionals who use Twitter

Should PR invest to gain the technical capability needed for mobile campaigns?

May 01, 2010

Bite's David Hargreaves and Euro RSCG's Eric Edge offer opposing views on whether PR should invest to gain the technical capability needed for mobile campaigns