Instagram is certainly not the new kid on the block anymore. With 400M-plus active users a month, it has established itself as a robust engagement platform and one of the most popular social media networking platforms out there, not far behind Tumblr and Facebook (its...
Sometimes, when I try to interview a journalist about their preferences for dealing with PR people, they boil it down to two simple pieces of advice—"Know what I cover and read my stories." That, and maybe, "Send me an email." Usually, it means they’re pressed for...
Baseball is back! So many of us look forward to the start of the season because it signifies warmer weather, family fun, fan optimism, and—being a former professional baseball player in the Dodgers and Rockies organizations—I just love the game. Often I tell my...
Journalists often speak of their interest in covering trends, and tying your clients to larger issues in the news can be a fruitful tactic. This was probably the thinking when I received a press release about a Pennsylvania hospital’s efforts to "go green." Normally,...
I began my career in television, which lent itself to the near-decade I would later spend as a media spokesperson for several very large energy companies. During that period, depending on the day, I could be speaking to reporters on issues as mundane as a random power...
With recent news that Caribbean cruises will soon set sail for ports of call in Cuba, both vacationers and cruise operators alike are, understandably, salivating at what could be the U.S. tourism industry’s ultimate greenfield market. After all, it’s a country that...
With a Bay Area news media career spanning nearly 35 years, Lisa Wrenn has had a front row seat in the late 90’s newspaper “glory days,” the 2000’s rise of digital media and consolidation of print publications, and today’s competitive multichannel news industry. The...
Media’s use of PR-generated sources continues to evolve, with traditional press releases now taking a back seat to more engaging multimedia content, a research from global comms agency TheNewsMarket finds. The firm asked journalists to rate different types of media...
While “liking” something on Facebook is nothing new, users will now be able to express themselves on posts much more clearly than ever before and for PR, marketing and communications professionals, there will be no doubt as to how an audience feels about the content...
Over the past few weeks, we’ve watched as details around the water crisis in Flint, MI have emerged. Cover-ups regarding the amount of lead in the water to the blatant denial by government officials have resulted in very sick families, a state of emergency and a...
I like to write and I like to eat. As a result of these two interests, I’ve been blogging about dining out and cooking since 2009. Because of that, pitches from fellow PR folks often land in my inbox. When I receive good pitches that align with my interests, I try to...
For those who follow the MLB, you’re likely aware that Toronto Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista has presented a one-time, take-it-or-leave it contract demand to his current employer. Bautista, of course, let Jays fans know of his contract demand by publicly stating his...