For years when I had the freedom of a freelance writer, I would begin each year by drawing big black Xs on my calendar through the first week of March. In Philadelphia, that’s when the Flower Show comes to town.
Public Relations
This is our public relations blog.
Giving Good Face
I like to think of myself as a Rita Hayworth of public relations. I give good face.
No, I’m not lauding what my mama gave me. I’m talking about the care I take to, as often as possible, meet the reporters I regularly work with or those with whom I want to work. But, it’s not about impersonal networking and pitching my clients. It’s possible to accomplish challenging media placement goals via email or over the phone, but isn’t relationship building at the very core of our profession?
Social Media: Helpful or Hindering in a Crisis?
With the speed at which today’s news is shared via social media, channels like Twitter and Facebook that offer instantaneous broadcast capability are critical assets to have in one’s crisis communications arsenal. Unfortunately, these same channels can do more harm than good when fact-checking falls secondary to being first to “break the news,” and false information is reported.
Mentoring the Next Generation of PR Pros
Public relations is very much a “learn by doing” industry. While taking communication classes can certainly help undergraduate students learn why it’s a valued profession, often it’s the internships we complete that truly teach us how to be a PR pro – a testament to those in the field who oversee our work and help us develop along the way.
Public Relations-ships on Valentine’s Day
Love it or hate it, Valentine’s Day is impossible to ignore, even if you wish you could. Flowers, chocolates and stuffed animals flood grocery and gift store aisles. Promotional messages continually urge us to make the holiday special – whether or not you have a valentine.
This February 14th, you may be dining with a significant other, hitting the town with your single friends or refusing to celebrate the holiday entirely. Either way, Valentine’s Day offers three major lessons for public relations practitioners:
Where Are They Now? (Part 4)
For the fourth installment in our “Where Are They Now?” blog series, which highlights the career trajectories of former Buchanan PR interns, we feature Kellie Connors, who interned with the agency from November 2007 through February 2008. Read on for Kelly’s experiences working in PR and her advice for those just starting out in the field.
The Do’s and Don’ts of Email-Pitching Reporters
As communicators, it’s our job to not only ensure we’re emailing the right reporters, but also that our pitches are written in a way that draws interest. Improve your email-pitching skills with the following tips.
MLK Day the BPR Way
January 21, 2013 marked the 27th anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, a national day of service. Although the Buchanan PR office was closed for the holiday, we chose to spend the day together doing something to give back to our community. Since 2011, Buchanan employees have celebrated MLK Day by making casseroles for the homeless.
Where Are They Now? (Part 3)
We continue to be impressed by the accomplishments of our former interns. Our blog series, “Where Are They Now?,” highlights their career trajectories – showcasing what they have accomplished since their time with us, their biggest takeaways from their experiences here and their advice for those just starting out.
This week we hear from Megan Hanks, a graduate of Lehigh University who interned with us in 2011.
A Week in the Life of a PR News Junkie
As public relations professionals, it’s our job to wear many hats simultaneously – media relations specialist, social media community manager, website copywriter, event planner, SEO consultant. You name it, we probably do it.
But one role permeates each hat we wear: news junkie. We scour the news to spot opportunities for our clients, keep tabs on reporters and stay abreast of the happenings in our communities. We do this not only because it’s our job, but also because we crave new and interesting information about a variety of topics.
Since we’re often immersed in the business of clients, it can be difficult to stay on top of the latest news within our own industry. Here are some of our favorite stories about the communications industry so far this year.