How to Make a Press Release Newsworthy: Creating Content That Gets Published

Why Creating Newsworthy Press Releases Is Vital

In the competitive world of public relations, no one wants to be the person known for wasting the time of reporters and editors. Yet that’s precisely the reputation many PR professionals develop after sending out countless press releases with litt… Read more

Public Relations Basics: Preparing for a Media Interview

Recently, I was transcribing a very casual media interview; it was an amiable chat, even when the questions got tough. Listening to the tape, I was struck by my constant “um’s” and “ah’s.” I came to the interview well-prepared, and I still sometimes sounded as if I … Read more

Blind Dates: Preparing for a Media Interview

If you’ve ever been on a blind date, you know it can be a harrowing experience. You’re thrust into a situation — one you may not even want to be in — and the only information you usually have is second hand. You want to make a good impression — unless you’re trying to get h… Read more

Public Relations Basics: Mastering the Television Interview Process

During my first television interview, the producer had one piece of advice for me: Don’t use profanity. During my second television interview, the producer had another piece of advice for me: Be controversial. Public relations consultants should take both of pieces of advice to heart. But there… Read more

Note to PR Pros: Keep Your Key Messages Consistent

Consistency in public relations is important. Public relations consultants and corporate executives are often told to “stay on message” and not to stray from a script. Companies and organizations put an enormous amount of time and energy into hammering home a consistent key messages, be … Read more

Public Relations Basics: Avoiding Press Leaks and Fixing Mistakes

In the world of public relations, press leaks can be damaging affairs. Sensitive internal information being sent to journalists can wreck a company’s reputation, cost it customers or clients, or even land it in legal hot water. But how can public relations consultants prevent press leaks, or at l… Read more

Having the Right Attitude in Public Relations

Over the past decade, I’ve been yelled at by many people, and in many capacities. As a journalist, I had CEOs, public relations consultants, and lawyers heaping verbal abuse on me every week. Every one of those incidents served to remind me that people have different ideas of what is appropriate beh… Read more

The Value of Loyalty in Public Relations

Several years ago, I had a stunning conversation with someone who worked in the public relations industry. She was employed by a large technology company that I was covering closely as a journalist. Her company was in trouble, and all signs pointed to something deeper than a sagging global economy as the r… Read more

A Public Relations Guide to Dealing with Layoffs
(Including Sample Layoff Press Release Copy)

Handling Public Relations when Announcing Layoffs

Dealing with layoffs can be a draining experience for public relations consultants. The distraction of your own job being on the line — and the internal climate change that follows such announcements — make it difficult to concentrate on … Read more

Six Months of Public Relations Lessons

Looking back on the past six months, I’ve come to the conclusion that I’ve learned more about public relations during the time than any other period in my professional life. Here are ten things I’ve learned about public relations in the last half of the year.

1. If You Let Them, Journali… Read more