Public Relations

This is our public relations blog.

Public Speaking? No Sweat!

by

Does the idea of public speaking make you break out in a sweat? Account coordinator Megan Keohane has become a pro, and has a few tips to ease the jitters in this week’s blog post.

Make Your Good Nonprofit Board a Great One

by

“To make the greatest impact on society requires first and foremost a great organization.”                      – Jim Collins

Consider this view of nonprofit Board members:

  • Necessary evil (for legal reasons)
  • Impediment to progress
  • Source of busy work for staff
  • Meddlesome micromanagers
  • Power mongers

As opposed to this one:

  • Stewards of public trust
  • Guardians of the mission
  • Ambassadors for the organization
  • Strategic partners with staff
  • Experienced civic leaders

If you’re on the Board of a nonprofit, I’m sure you’d rather be viewed the second way. So what can you do to make your Board great? What skills and behaviors can you bring to the Board table to ensure that your organization’s beneficiaries are being served by the best Directors possible?

Keep reading

A Change Will Do You Good

by

I wrote this blog post from the offices of Buchanan PR’s PRGN Chicago affiliate, LC Williams & Associates. In the span of a two-hour flight, my daily view went from the habitually willful “can-I-have-a-treat?” faces of our office pups, Lacey and Romeo, to sun-drenched sailboats docked along Lake Michigan.Buchanan Public Relations, Philadelphia Public Relations agency, Emily DiTomo

The inspiration – not to mention effect on my productivity – was enormous. This got me to thinking: how can a change of scenery benefit PR professionals?

Keep reading

Dog Days Dos and Don’ts

by

It’s the middle of summer and it’s my turn to write a blog post. I don’t feel like writing a blog post. In fact, I don’t feel like doing much of anything. Did I say it’s the middle of summer?Buchanan Public Relations

So – how to stay motivated and productive during the dog days of summer, when frankly we’d prefer to be at the beach or in the mountains rather than sitting at our desks?

Keep reading

Beyond the Basics: Taking PR 101 to the Next Level

by

Recently, I’ve  been lucky enough to attend some  amazing conferences in Philadelphia. These conferences have provided me the ability to do some great networking, as well as learn a lot about running businesses, using my talents and being a strong female leader. 

A common theme throughout all of the conferences, however, was that the skills workshops and forums tended to cater to  younger professionals, with a distinct lack of options in the advanced department. It got me thinking about what workshops I’d like to attend as an experienced PR practitioner. I also asked a few of my peers what they’d like to see in terms of professional development opportunities.

Keep reading

Fixing Data Breach PR

by

This week’s blog post comes from David Fuscus, president and CEO of Xenophon Strategies.  Based in Washington, DC, Xenophon is a member of the Public Relations Global Network, of which Buchanan PR was a founding member.

“Year of the Retailer Breach” was how Verizon recently described 2013 in its annual Data Breach Report, saying that it “was a year of transition… to large scale attacks on payment card systems.” The report documented 1,367 confirmed data breaches, the largest and most infamous of which was the massive amount of customer information stolen from Target during the busy Christmas shopping season.

Keep reading

The Inside Scoop from Our Media Colleagues

by

Public relations professionals are rarely offered the opportunity to gain insider knowledge from members of the media with whom we work every day.
Last week, however, as a member of PRSA Philly and a co-chair of the Nancy Bacher Long PR Institute committee, I was given the chance to mingle with a few of Philadelphia’s finest media minds at the annual media panel hosted at NBC 10’s studios. Top Secret

Moderated by Lee Marshall, a top-notch communications consultant, the panel actively discussed pitching preferences, thoughts on social media and tips for PR professionals working to build long-term relationships. Here are some key takeaways from the region’s top media professionals:

Keep reading

5 Reasons Why Babies are Like Agencies

by

I recently returned to Buchanan PR after giving birth to my son Carmen on New Year’s Eve. Upon careful observation over the past four and a half months, I reached the conclusion that working at a public relations agency is a lot like taking care of a baby. Seriously? Yes, and here’s why.

Keep reading

Reporters Are People, Too, So Stop Annoying Them with These 3 Habits

by

It’s common as an undergrad and early in your PR career to associate pitching with news releases and phone calls. But how do reporters feel about this (sometimes) old school way of doing things?

PR pros have to juggle multiple projects at once, and I often think that we can easily forget who’s on the receiving end of many of our initiatives: reporters. That’s partly why we’ve gotten such a bad rap over the years (and why PR pros think reporters are grumpy people).

Here are three things we need to stop doing – or, at a minimum, carefully consider – when pitching journalists.

Keep reading

5 Ways to Maximize Your Mentor Relationship

by

Having a mentor, especially in the beginning stages of your career, is arguably one of the most valuable assets to your professional growth. He or she can teach you new skills, introduce you to networking contacts, and help you blossom – all without passing judgment. I’m lucky to have several co-workers here at Buchanan PR whom I can count on for guidance, constructive criticism or a friendly chat.

So, to all college students, interns or professionals entering a new industry, here are five tips to get the most from your mentor(s).

Keep reading