I offered some thoughts this week on the PR value of an apology, to a reporter with The Chicago Tribune. That got me thinking…when won’t an apology suffice? A sincere mea culpa has always been one cornerstone of any crisis communications plan, but there are times when...
How to deliver a compelling PR pitch
I've been a journalist for more than 30 years, and I've also interviewed hundreds of other journalists about their preferences for dealing with PR professionals. So I think I can say this with some authority: If you want to grab our attention, forget the fancy...
Executives are more active on LinkedIn than you think
A new primary research study, conducted by marketing strategy consultancy FrogDog, found that the majority of C-level executives across companies of all sizes do find time to be active users of LinkedIn, primarily to take advantage of the business-oriented social...
The ‘modern romance’ of PR: The challenge of today’s media relations
What I like most about Aziz Ansari’s freshman novel is how it can be reapplied to so many vocations, not just our romantic lives. Social media has become as essential to public relations as the morning jolt of caffeine. While there is still a great value in working to...
10 ways your competitors are optimizing their content marketing
Creating a content marketing strategy requires a great deal of time and research. By continually re-evaluating your strategy and implementing the latest optimization techniques, you can mitigate growing pains and continue trending towards success. What if we told you...
Rebranding: Consult the pros and think strategically to avoid pitfalls
Revitalize, revamp, rebrand…whatever you call it, at some point your company’s public face may need an update. If your organization is undergoing or about to undergo change—perhaps a merger, repositioning in the market or just suffering from an outdated image—a few...
Media relations perspectives: Generating press when you’re not newsworthy
Whether you’re guiding a Fortune 500 company through their product release strategy, or you’re part of a three-person team working in the founder’s basement, the game is still the same for the PR professional: get the company noticed, and for the right reasons. Public...
Heavy lifting with Phil Ho
When you wake up in the morning, does the thought of media monitoring look like a 50-pound dumbbell sitting in the corner of your office? If so, you’re not alone. I happen to be a morning person: I’m at the gym lifting weights for two hours starting at 5 am each day...
Amazing Race Canada, Season 3 Ep. 10: Penticton — Execs bug out & bros hug it out
***Spoiler Alert*** After Wednesday’s airing of episode 10 of the Amazing Race Canada in B.C.’s Okanagan Valley, we’re down to the final four teams with only two episodes remaining. Unfortunately for ex-boyfriend and girlfriend Dujean Williams & Leilani Ross, they...
Managing public relations on an international scale
If your company operates on an international scale, managing public relations becomes a more energy intensive task. Here are some tips on how to effectively manage public relations on an international scale while sticking to the principles and aims of your company. Be...
The PR campaign: Getting it right
“When you know better, you do better.” Maya Angelou’s powerful advice rings true for any PR professional who has watched their big campaign tank. When late hours and big bucks add up to a whole lot of nothing, it’s easy to get discouraged. But the truth is,...
Building a good crisis management strategy
Not all news is good news, particularly when it’s a crisis involving your client’s company. No matter how long it took for a brand to build credibility, it can all be washed away with one swift wave of negative press. With agencies of record often not specializing in...












