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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.
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?
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?
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?
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.
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.
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. 
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:
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.
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.
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).
A few years ago, we at Buchanan PR decided to develop an ongoing series for our blog called “Where Are They Now?” Our aim was to reconnect with former interns, review their career trajectories to-date and solicit their advice for current students looking to break into PR.
Our most recent submission is from former intern Diane Bizzarro, who worked with us during the summer of 2012. A graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University, Diane currently works as a Client Relationship Advisor at a New York City-based translation company.
Last night I saw a clip on the news of former President Bill Clinton participating in a community service project in Phoenix. During the interview he observed that “everybody can serve everywhere.” 
Being a big fan of volunteering, Clinton’s comment struck a chord with me.
This morning I conducted an unscientific and statistically insignificant survey of my colleagues about their volunteer activities. It turns out that we’re involved in a lot of them!