Davos 2012: The great transformation

Mark Penn, Burson-Marsteller February 03, 2012

With record snowfall, spirited Occupiers, and thought leaders from across industries and around the globe congregating in Davos, Switzerland, this year's World Economic Forum was laser-focused on current worldwide crises at hand.
 

Countries must initiate a different conversation

Ido Aharoni February 01, 2012

Every brand has a DNA and every place has a personality.
 

A shoe in the door for the cobbler's child

Dan Orsborn, Orsborn Partners January 27, 2012

Most successful agencies are great at communicating on behalf of their clients.
 

The importance of a healthy agency partnership

Eileen Sheil, Cleveland Clinic January 20, 2012

If you're lucky enough to be in a position to hire extra outside help for your efforts to enhance your reputation and accomplish important business objectives, be sure you're well prepared and know what you need.
 

How do you define 'great' PR leadership?

Bruce Berger, University of Alabama January 13, 2012

PRSay recently predicted 12 trends that will change the industry in 2012. Lodged in the list of digital media predictions was this: the need for "great industry leadership."
 

How PR pros can make Wikipedia better

Tom Biro, Allison & Partners January 06, 2012

Earlier this week, Phil Gomes of Edelman took to his blog with an "open letter" to Jimmy Wales regarding how communicators and those involved with the development and editing of Wikipedia need to get along.
 

Trust is a commodity businesses must value

Roger Bolton, Arthur W. Page Society January 01, 2012

The Occupy Wall Street protests have given voice to a sense of unfairness that is widely shared, according to public opinion.
 

It's starting to look a lot like 1992

Mark McKinnon December 29, 2011

In 1992, the heavyweights of the Democratic Party chose not to run, largely because early on when candidates were making decisions, President George H.W. Bush had very strong approval ratings as a result of the Gulf War.
 

Only a straight-flush will knock off Romney

Nick Ragone December 29, 2011

This has been one of the most interesting and unusual primary seasons in recent memory.
 

Train wreck politics

Robert Mathias December 29, 2011

The never disappointing, always entertaining and sometimes enthralling reality show known as the Republican presidential primary will soon lose its train wreck persona and return to a more traditional campaign where the American voter will finally be able to compare and contrast the views, policies, and personality of the Republican nominee with those of President Obama.
 

Companies that listen are new harbinger for success

Bob Feldman, PulsePoint Group December 29, 2011

The new year will bring a growing realization among corporate executives everywhere that the underlying catalyst behind Occupy Wall Street, the Arab Spring, and other forms of protest will actually begin to impact the private sector.
 

Think before you link to avoid violating copyright law

Michael Lasky, Davis & Gilbert December 22, 2011

Often, the fastest way to communicate information digitally is to "link" to it. However, making a digital copy of copyrighted material and forwarding it by email can be a violation of copyright laws. So where does lawful linking end and unlawful copyright infringement begin?
 

Iraq war changed the way conflict is communicated

Rob Tappan, The Tappan Group December 16, 2011

The war in Iraq has come to a close. After nine long years, we can breathe a collective sigh of relief that this chapter of conflict has finally come to a conclusion.
 

Supporting the pitch team will up your new business win rate

Dan Orsborn, Orsborn Partners December 09, 2011

The RFP comes in, and after a moment's celebration, panic sets in. In this challenging economic environment, every account team is stretched to the max with billable business.
 

Protecting your own reputation during external collaborations

Eileen Sheil, Cleveland Clinic December 02, 2011

Quite often, nonprofit hospitals are approached by outside companies to take part in joint news releases, educational videos, case studies, satellite tours, or a number of other promotional activities that can be mutually beneficial.
 

PR is now a stable force in a world of volatility

Sir Martin Sorrell December 01, 2011

Basically, the future of PR and public affairs is bright and different and better than at any time in the past.
 

Finding the spotlight in a flash mob of anxious job-seekers

Bruce Berger, University of Alabama November 18, 2011

Differentiation is the name of the game in a job market with too few jobs, according to Ron Culp, a long-time practitioner.
 

Reach business goals in 2012, not just digital metrics

Tom Biro, Allison & Partners November 11, 2011

Social media is so much more than how many "likes" you can score on Facebook. It's much more than your Klout score. It's also more than how much "voice" your brand has within the digital space.
 

Get beyond the tasks at hand when making your next hire

Bob Feldman, PulsePoint Group November 04, 2011

Not too long ago, I asked the CEO of a major business if she thought creativity was an important part of the skill set required of a successful communications professional. Absolutely, she said.
 

First ladies can shine as champions of change

Sally McDonough, George W. Bush Institute November 01, 2011

World leaders convened at the United Nations headquarters in New York City for the 2011 High-Level Meeting on Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases.
 

Review the consequences of hiring an unpaid intern workforce

Michael Lasky, Davis & Gilbert October 28, 2011

What do AT&T, IBM, the Cleveland Indians, and more than 800 other employers have in common? They are all openly seeking unpaid interns on Craigslist and Monster.
 

Feisty GOP debate sets bad precedent

Rob Tappan, The Tappan Group October 21, 2011

During this week's Republican presidential debate in Las Vegas, Ronald Reagan's dictum about the Eleventh Commandment ("Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican") was largely ignored.
 

Prepare for a crisis before it happens

Eileen Sheil, Cleveland Clinic October 14, 2011

I was saddened to see that the top three news stories were a helicopter crash, an abducted baby, and an employee shooting at a company meeting.
 

Lessons to be learned from GolinHarris' new agency model

Bruce Berger October 07, 2011

GolinHarris' new G4 agency model for the future has garnered widespread publicity.
 

Outreach scores well on S&P's priority list

Catherine Mathis, Standard & Poor's October 01, 2011

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services realized the need to do a better job of communicating what our ratings are, how they are determined, and how they had actually performed.
 

So Facebook has changed (again)... Now what?

Tom Biro, Allison & Partners September 30, 2011

For the last, well, however long it's been, many of us who touch social and public relations have been asked to help organizations gain "so-and-so likes on Facebook."
 

Check the attitude at the door: the responsibility of comms pros in business units

Bob Feldman, PulsePoint Group September 23, 2011

When it comes to communicators in business units and their relationship to "Corporate," too often the interaction is passive, at best, or dysfunctional, at worst.
 

Trademark protection in the new domain frontier

Michael Lasky, Davis & Gilbert September 16, 2011

Due to two new developments involving domain names, PR agencies that have not already filed a federally registered trademark in the name of their firm now have an added reason to do so.
 

Obama's job-creation speech: subtext is everything

Rob Tappan, The Tappan Group September 09, 2011

Amidst all the partisan bickering, I wanted to listen to President Obama's address on job creation with an open mind and a heart full of hope that this would (finally) be the beginning of a constructive dialogue.
 

Putting your best face forward

Eileen Sheil, Cleveland Clinic September 01, 2011

Cleveland Clinic was preparing to tell the world that it completed the nation's first near-total face transplant on Connie Culp, who was shot in the face.
 

Addition by subtraction: a formula for success

Lisa Rohrer, Hildebrandt Institute September 01, 2011

Taylor undertook a dramatic transformation of its business model.
 

How employers recruit students - and what students can do

Bruce Berger, University of Alabama August 26, 2011

Here's one approach to finding a PR job that may help: learn how employers are recruiting.
 

Conveying PR smarts as digital know-how

Tom Biro, Allison & Partners August 19, 2011

For me, one of the most exciting things in agency life is the new business process.
 

The role of "Corporate" in a comms organization

Bob Feldman, PulsePoint Group August 12, 2011

The adage, "I'm from Corporate and I'm here to help" is understood for what it implies: Corporate help is an oxymoron.
 

A troll is at your PR doorstep with a patent-infringement claim

Michael Lasky, Davis & Gilbert August 05, 2011

There are two reasons for the sharp uptick in the number of patent claims against PR firms.
 

PR brings new life to St. Jude's mission

Richard Shadyac, ALSAC August 01, 2011

"There's nothing more we can do." Jordyn's parents heard those devastating words in November 2009 and lost hope for their little girl who had been bravely fighting acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
 

The debt ceiling vote: a study in crisis communications

Rob Tappan, The Tappan Group July 29, 2011

Right now, in the midst of the political fight over raising the nation's debt ceiling, we are witnessing a true financial and political crisis unfold.
 

There's no substitute for doing your homework

Eileen Sheil, Cleveland Clinic July 22, 2011

We've all received a dreaded call from a reporter on an issue that impacts the organization.
 

Employee communications is the real Rodney Dangerfield of PR

Bruce Berger July 15, 2011

Wanted: Talented young professionals for positions in employee communications.
 

The pace keeps changing, but our goals don't have to

Tom Biro, Allison & Partners July 08, 2011

In PR, we pride ourselves on delivering results that are less "short-burst" and more "long-term."
 

9/11 Memorial accentuates NYC's image restoration

Mayor Michael Bloomberg July 01, 2011

In the wake of the worst terrorist attack in the nation's history, New Yorkers faced a fundamental choice: would we allow fear and terrorism to permanently alter our city's character or would we honor the victims by making Lower Manhattan a living testament to the city's resilience?
 

Three ways to speed your company's embrace of social media

Bob Feldman, PulsePoint Group June 30, 2011

I've noticed that many companies that know they should be active in social media are taking tentative steps forward, but would like to move faster.
 

Protective agreements: don't let the courts define things for you

Michael Lasky, Davis & Gilbert June 24, 2011

Many companies require employees to sign restrictive or protective covenants as a condition of employment.
 

Wise moves for Facebook

Robert Tappan, The Tappan Group June 17, 2011

Facebook's recent announcement that Joe Lockhart and Joel Kaplan will join the company not only fulfills the social-network behemoth's ongoing desire to hire some of the best and brightest strategists in the political world, but is a testament to the high stakes the company faces, now and further down the road.
 

Communicating change without losing public trust

Eileen Sheil, Cleveland Clinic June 10, 2011

When it comes to healthcare, what might be a sound business decision can be misunderstood as intentional disregard for the community.
 

Don't play games with an irregular competitor

Richard Telofski, The Kahuna Institute June 01, 2011

There's a new competitor in your game, but it looks very different to all predecessors.
 

Big Brother is watching... and complaining about social media privacy

Michael Lasky, Davis & Gilbert May 13, 2011

It is hard to believe that social media is less than seven years old. Facebook now claims more than 500 million users and there are no fewer than ten other social networks that claim more than 100 million.
 

New avenues of outreach tell a record-breaking tale

Samantha Fay, Guinness World Records May 01, 2011

One of the biggest challenges for today's marketers is the rapid pace and total change in the consumption of entertainment media.
 

Twitter: The best thing for PR people since restraint

Tom Biro, Allison & Partners April 15, 2011

A few years ago, when half the PR and marketing world was rushing off to purchase land with all their newly minted Lindens, it became abundantly clear that those taking a shortcut would fail miserably.
 

More ways PR firms can help their new-business win rate

Bob Feldman April 08, 2011

My column last month focused on insights for agencies that find themselves competitively pitching business. This month I'll extend that and concentrate on the actual final presentation.
 

PR firms can protect their speculative work in new business pitches

Michael Lasky April 01, 2011

Now, more than ever, PR firms are involved in creating speculative original work in the new business process for an ever-increasing number of competitive pitches and RFPs.
 

Plain talk helps 'say on pay' mean something

Bob Dannhauser April 01, 2011

Think about it: what board wants to oppose a clear expression of shareholders' views? With newfound rights to vote on executive compensation arrangements, investors are making their voices heard as the annual proxy season gets underway.
 

Today's students are tomorrow's workforce

Robert Tappan March 25, 2011

Earlier this week, I served as a facilitator at a gathering just outside of Washington, DC, called the Young Professionals Conference.
 

It's people! Social Media is made out of people

Tom Biro March 18, 2011

With apologies to Charlton Heston's "Detective Thorn" character from "Soylent Green," I thought it was necessary to slightly alter one of the more well-known quotes from the film to echo some sentiments I heard around South by Southwest's Interactive festival this past week.
 

Six ways to say "no" to an unethical assignment

Bruce Berger March 11, 2011

How do you say "no" to a boss or executive who asks you to do something unethical and still keep your job?
 

What it's like on the other side of the search

Bob Feldman March 04, 2011

I spent many years on the agency side - at Burson-Marsteller, Ketchum, and GCI Group - pitching business and always wondering what it would be like on the other side of the table.
 

Trio of traits will help new PR pros tell their story

John Doorley March 01, 2011

In the 1956 movie The Man In The Gray Flannel Suit, Gregory Peck returns a hero from World War II to a job that does not pay enough.
 

Updated employee handbooks are vital communications tools

Michael Lasky February 25, 2011

Employee handbooks are a company's first opportunity to introduce staffers to the culture and expectations of their new workplace.
 

Revolution: politics as aromatherapy

Robert Tappan February 18, 2011

I've always been fascinated by how products and ideas come to be named in order to appeal to the media and to global audiences.
 

Digital addiction can be cured by talking to yourself

Bruce Berger February 11, 2011

Susan, an excellent student, recently left school for a week. Why? "To find time to talk to myself and reflect," she said.
 

Fans and likes are great metrics, but not outcomes

Tom Biro February 04, 2011

Recently, some colleagues and I were introduced to someone in our space whose firm was primarily focused on social media strategies and activities.
 

Truth: PR is key in campaigns against tobacco industry

Cheryl Healton February 01, 2011

The tobacco industry spends more than $34 million each and every day in the US on its marketing efforts.
 

Can you be both a tactician and a counselor?

Bob Feldman January 28, 2011

Research among CEOs and line-of-business executives reveals the single-most common criticism of communications professionals is that below the CCO level the function is primarily occupied by tacticians.
 

What's in a name? A valuable asset

Michael Lasky January 21, 2011

What do Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide, Burson-Marsteller, Peppercom, Waggener Edstrom, Porter Novelli, Cohn & Wolfe, and Ruder Finn have in common?
 

Tucson tragedy: will it change our civil discourse?

Robert Tappan January 14, 2011

In the aftermath of the tragic shooting-spree in Tucson on January 9 that killed six people and injured 14 others (among them Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who was critically injured and now is courageously fighting for her life as I write this), most of the legislative machinery in Washington this week came to a somber and appropriate halt.
 

A plea to PR pros: please respond to students

Bruce Berger January 07, 2011

A PR student recently sent me an e-mail response she received from one of the best-known companies in the land.
 

CEOs must lead the way in reputation management

Daniel Diermeier January 01, 2011

CEOs and board members routinely list reputation as one of the company's most valuable assets. The only other item CEOs rate comparatively is "people."
 

Being "first" or "last" isn't an excuse to not do something

Tom Biro December 23, 2010

Anyone who's familiar with business knows about the concept of "first mover status" and how it's perceived by many to put a company or brand at the head of any given industry or marketplace, and perhaps give them a "head start" that they need.
 

What it takes to be a true leader in social media

Bob Feldman December 17, 2010

There's an old adage that "leaders act like leaders." I was thinking about that the other day during a conversation with some colleagues about social media.
 

Various approaches will help smart PR firms retain their rainmakers

Michael Lasky December 10, 2010

As we witnessed this summer with LeBron James' decision and as we saw again this month with the Derek Jeter-New York Yankees saga, it can, at times, be tough for companies to retain their top-producing talent.
 

Consumers add crucial flavor to marketing

Keith Belling December 01, 2010

All this low-fat health talk had been taking the fun, not to mention the flavor, right out of snacking.
 

Using the "40 Under 40" in the classroom

Bruce Berger November 19, 2010

PRWeek's annual "40 Under 40" list of young leaders, which ran in the August issue, can be very useful in PR classes. I've used the list to teach simple content analysis, stimulate reflection on leadership, and construct a student-produced online book.
 

Wait, so implementing social media isn't always free?

Tom Biro November 12, 2010

"There's no such thing as a free lunch."
 

The rising priority of social media risk management

Bob Feldman November 05, 2010

October's issue of Risk Management magazine devoted its cover and most of its contents to the risks of social media.
 

Constant connection with fans is a key goal

Gary Bettman November 01, 2010

It still might be true "absence makes the heart grow fonder," as English poet Thomas Haynes Bayly wrote in the 19th century, but one of the National Hockey League's priorities today is to make it easier than ever for our fans to stay "present" and closely connected with the game.
 

The FTC says it's hard to be green

Michael Lasky October 29, 2010

The FTC wants to revise its environmental marketing guides to make them easier for businesses to understand and encompass claims not previously covered.
 

Capitalizing on the rise of the Hispanic market

Lori George Billingsley October 22, 2010

Within the past 20 years, statistics have shown the dramatic increase in the Hispanic population and its significant influence and purchasing power on a number of fronts.
 

The new sobriety and the power of 'small'

Robert Tappan October 15, 2010

No matter which party prevails in the November midterm elections, proposing and enacting drastic reform in the housing and mortgage finance industries are going to be front-and-center items on the legislative agenda for the new 112th Congress as it begins its session in January 2011.
 

Culture experiment

Bruce Berger October 08, 2010

I lunched recently with four former PR students who work in Atlanta. Much of our discussion focused on organizational culture. Two of the young professionals were delighted with their work cultures, but the other two were seeking work elsewhere, largely due to cultural issues.
 

Where's the risk tolerance in social engagement?

Tom Biro October 01, 2010

For the last four or five years, almost every time I've had a client or agency colleague speak with me about "getting into" social media, it's almost always with some sense of doing so because the "cost" - typically of a hard dollars perspective - is low, or at least perceived to be.
 

A powerful conversation needs more than just talk

Jeffrey Hollender October 01, 2010

Companies will always need to sell products. But to succeed these days, they need to sell something more. Companies need to market ideas bigger than themselves and to promote their organizations as the vehicle through which those ideas flow
 

Balance management with lobbying to optimize the comms function

Bob Feldman September 24, 2010

In conducting research recently on best practices in corporate communications functions, one thing in particular struck me.
 

PR receives greater attention from marketers, clients, and the FTC

Michael Lasky September 17, 2010

PR executives were justifiably pleased to see the September 9 New York Times headline, "Growing Appreciation for PR on Madison Avenue." The article was yet another example that marketers continue to view PR as taking on higher strategic importance based on its unique role in amplifying a brand's message and in building relationships.
 

Axing the capabilities deck is just the first step

September 03, 2010

Earlier this week, many of us in the agency world probably stumbled upon this smart piece in AdAge, where Darryl Ohrt, president at Humongo, suggested (with great reasons why) that we all ditch the capabilities deck.
 

Social media can help, not hinder the job of journalists

Darryl Siry September 01, 2010

While social media is still the new shiny toy for communications pros and investors alike, we can't become distracted from contemplating the broader shifts taking place in journalism and media relations, and how the industry must adapt to be more effective in the future.
 

'Lame-duck' midterm vacuum may define next two years

Rob Tappan August 27, 2010

In the public affairs business, most of us are trying to anticipate what, where, and when the next great legislative fights are going to be.
 

A glimpse at global PR education

Bruce Berger August 20, 2010

Public relations is a global profession, and the number of PR students, teachers, and education programs worldwide continues to grow.
 

Contracting conundrum warrants attention

Michael Lasky August 13, 2010

You interview a stellar candidate for a project and your firm offers him or her the job. But here's the catch - the candidate will only accept if they can be classified as an independent contractor, not an employee.
 

A higher purpose is PR's World Series

Bob Feldman August 06, 2010

As we continue a slog through a tough economy, I've noticed a dilemma facing many companies vis-à-vis motivating their employees. Whereas the sports world affords the clarity of a tangible, meaningful goal, such as the World Series or Super Bowl, in which every member of the team is in complete alignment to pursue, business doesn't have it that easy.
 

Much can be learned by looking at the package

August 01, 2010

Increasingly, consumers today are less enticed by products that simply fill a need than they are by products or services that provide an experience that fulfills their desires for being responsible shoppers. One of the most obvious examples is in food and beverage purchases, where packaging plays an important role in helping brands deliver on meeting such goals.
 

Old Spice sets a new bar for agency collaboration

Tom Biro July 30, 2010

A little over two weeks ago, Old Spice took the Internet by storm with a flurry of creative, customized videos on YouTube, directed at bloggers, celebrities, and others.
 

From now until November, the action's not "Inside the Beltway" - it's out in the states

Robert Tappan July 16, 2010

The mid-term elections are just over 100 days away, and coalitions and advocacy groups have already taken their cue from candidates and lawmakers - they're taking their issues out on the campaign trail and into states and congressional districts around the country.
 

The little lady who opened big doors for all of us

Bruce Berger July 09, 2010

Betsy Plank, APR, Fellow PRSA, passed away on May 23, 2010. She was one of the most recognized and beloved leaders in our field.
 

Providing guidance in digital, not just adopting shiny objects

Tom Biro July 01, 2010

Recently, I had the privilege of speaking with a group of PR and marketing professionals at an IABC luncheon in Phoenix. We discussed mobile technology and how it was changing the way we all have to do business as communicators.
 

Creating a bond with the female blogosphere

Lisa Stone July 01, 2010

How you treat a woman who blogs will determine how much she - and her readers - can trust you?
 

The quantified SWOT: Try it, you'll like it

Bob Feldman June 25, 2010

We've all been through SWOT exercises and, if you're like me, you've often wondered if the process - sometimes painstaking and laborious - really yields actionable insight.
 

Immediate employer concerns under healthcare reform legislation

Michael Lasky June 18, 2010

Massive healthcare reform legislation signed into law on March 23, 2010, imposes significant new responsibilities on employers that will likely, over time, fundamentally alter the nature of employer-sponsored group healthcare.
 

Leveraging US' burgeoning love affair with soccer

Lori George Billingsley June 11, 2010

For the next month, the world will tune in to watch the 2010 FIFA World Cup, arguably the biggest sporting event on the planet.
 

Women will respond to social media's call to action

Jodi Kahn June 01, 2010

Social media has become the new normal, changing the way we connect, conduct our business, and even manage our daily routines. Online communities have become the new world we live in - blogs and message boards have now become the centerpieces of our "online" lives.
 

How to integrate research into practice

Frank Ovaitt May 21, 2010

Research is all about the questions.
 
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