What NOT to do when a Reporter Rejects Your Pitch

Rejection isn’t something that most of us handle well. From the time we were kids and a little boy or girl we had a crush on shot us down, we’ve never gotten used to the painful sting and disappointment of rejection. And the fact is that any kind of rejection sucks. It’s not just in love. Rejection in your busine… Read more

The Role of the Media in PR

The relationship between public relations and the media has always been a symbiotic one, with both parties receiving help from the other in various ways. While it doesn’t always seem equal if you’re a PR pro trying to get a story in a major media outlet, you would without a doubt be worse off without access to … Read more

Operation Mockingbird: How Much Can the Government Influence the Media?

In the early years of the Cold War, a secret American project called “Operation Mockingbird” began. This was a program intent on buying the influence of all major media outlets by recruiting and paying off news organizations and journalists. These men and women of the advertising world basically became … Read more

How Often Should You Send Press Releases?

At what point does “sending out a lot of press releases to gain exposure” (which generally is a good idea), become “I just angered every single journalist that covers my industry”? It’s easy to blacklist yourself and your entire company by constantly sending out press releases to newspapers, especially … Read more

PR Oops: How to Correct Misinformation in a Press Release

In the fast-paced world of media and public relations, the accuracy of a press release is paramount. However, mistakes can occur. When they do, it’s essential to address them swiftly and effectively. Here’s a guide on how to correct errors in a press release.

There’s nothing more heart-sto… Read more

5 Ways PR Pros Use LinkedIn

Public relations has always been all about “the Rolodex.”  PR old salts have amassed a Rolodex full of important contacts while newbies struggle to do the same. But nowadays, Rolodexes are more than a jealously guarded little box of file cards. They are, due to sites like LinkedIn, public kn… Read more

21 Media Relations Do’s and Don’ts for Optimal News Outcomes?

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You hope the strong news release you have worked so hard to polish will generate media interest and inquiries. But if it does, and if your spokespeople aren’t prepared for the media, your best effort can get derailed in a hurry.… Read more

Public Relations vs. Journalism: Clashing Agendas

It’s perhaps one of the longest running questions in public relations: How do you deal with a journalist who has an agenda? Some journalists do have agendas; columnists are paid to comment on the news and provide opinion, not just report the news. Even in traditional reporting, sometimes a persona… Read more

In Public Relations, It’s a Fine Line Between Gift and Bribe

There is nothing wrong with giving gifts–unless you work in public relations and your recipient is a journalist. There is a very fine line between a token of appreciation and a bribe. It is a line that once crossed can cause problems not easily rectified, problems that go beyond a public relations sn… Read more

Crisis Management Can Help Avoid PR Nightmares

When the phone rang at midnight, I knew something was wrong. The caller was a spokesperson for a large, public technology company based in Silicon Valley: “We’re filing for bankruptcy in the morning. I wanted to let you know. We’re announcing it at 7:00 AM EST. Get the word out.” … Read more