Filed under: Public Relations
Cathie Beck PR has rebranded as Capital City Public Relations. According to Beck, the new brand “better reflects the firm’s growth and position in the communications marketplace.”
Filed under: Public Relations
Frankly Communications has expanded its support to the music and entertainment industries by managing bands’ social media assets, conducting brand and messaging audits, booking shows and finding opportunities for public exposure on both digital and in-person platforms so that clients can effectively share their talents with audiences.
Frankly Communications played a significant role in securing Denver-based progressive rock band Tattooed Strings lead guitarist Jordan Carrier a contract with a major record label. Frankly Communications will now also support the band full-time with their promotions, bookings and other publicity needs.
Here’s a lesson for aspiring PR professionals that they don’t teach you in college: Don’t send confidential emails to public officials who are subject to open-records requests (or this might happen). And maybe think twice about using an attorney who doesn’t already understand this.
Filed under: Public Relations
The Pac-12 Conference, which is trying to sweep under the rug allegations that its head of basketball officials put a bounty on the University of Arizona head coach.
Filed under: Public Relations
Arik Hanson offers four reasons there aren’t more men in public relations:
1. Men think there is more money in other professions – “Unlike many women (sorry, blanket statement), men are driven by money and power.”
2. PR is not a “manly” profession – “Guys see how PR is portrayed in the media. They watch movies that show women working in PR.”
3. Men don’t understand PR – “Accounting, law, engineering, and financial services are industries that, on the surface, are easier to understand. Therefore, more men seek them out.”
4. There’s a generational issue at play – “Sons grow up watching their fathers. Many fathers work in industries like finance, engineering, construction and the like.”
Filed under: Public Relations
Fast Company examines the role that trying to make clients your partners plays in successful public relations.
Filed under: Public Relations
Actual Apology:
“The derogatory comments I made yesterday were a reflection of thoughts in my head, but they are not how I feel. It has taken me seeing them in print to realize that they are hurtful and ugly. Those discriminating feelings are truly not in my heart. Further, I apologize to those who I have hurt and offended, and I pledge to learn and grow from this experience.”
Translated:
“Holy shit! Apparently the NFL and/or the 49ers can suspend you from the Super Bowl if you rail against gay people at an NFL event while wearing an NFL jersey. That’s not cool. But my lawyer says I can avoid the suspension if I give the league something to work with, so, for the record and to the extent that it keeps me from being suspended, I am sorry. Is that good enough? If not, my lawyer can add some words I’ve never used in my life, like ‘derogatory,’ ‘reflection,’ ‘hurtful,’ and ‘discriminating.’ We good?”
The Economist reflects on the role Dan Edelman played in the rise of public relations in what was an advertising world:
Mr Edelman, who died on January 15th, aged 92, was a pioneer, introducing innovations that reflected his bigger vision of PR as a more effective way to market a company’s reputation and brands than its fancier (and costlier) big brother, advertising. … Nowadays, although public relations is hardly without its critics, Mr Edelman’s view of the merits of PR relative to advertising is much more widely shared, though never as enthusiastically as four decades ago, when Charlie Lubin, the founder of Sara Lee, said that thanks to Mr Edelman, his PR budget was worth 1,000 times more than his advertising budget. Those were the days.
Filed under: Public Relations
Crisis Communications
From Managing a 24/7 News Cycle to Healing Communities
A panel discussion featuring 9News crime and justice reporter Anastasiya Bolton, Westminster PD PIO Trevor Materasso, Saltzman Communications’ Marilyn Saltzman and moderated by DStreet Public Relations’ Jennifer Dulles.
Details
11:30 – 1:30 p.m.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
The Four Seasons Hotel
1111 14th Street
Denver, CO 80202
Register
Filed under: Public Relations
Here is the list of the year’s biggest PR disasters that I shared during an interview on 850 KOA this morning:
PENN STATE
Penn State represents one of the greatest PR disasters of all time, certainly of the last decade. In fact, it has been such a debacle that the university managed to make the list both last year and this year. Last year, the university went from one of the nation’s most revered institutions to one of the most reviled in a matter of weeks due to its lack of a response to a horrible child sex abuse scandal that saw two administrators indicted, a former assistant coach arrested and football coaching legend Joe Paterno fired. This year, additional details emerged about an institutional culture that valued football success over protecting innocent children that were disturbing enough that the NCAA nearly gave the school’s football program the so-called “Death Penalty.” The result was another year of brutal headlines that will have almost everyone older than 10 associating Penn State with child rape for the rest of their lives.
SUSAN G. KOMEN FOR THE CURE
There are few things tougher for a brand than allowing yourself to become a political football. But one of them is when you are the one to turn yourself into the political football. Susan G. Komen for the Cure learned that lesson the hard way when it tried to eliminate $680,000 in grants to Planned Parenthood for breast cancer screenings and education programs. Suddenly, Komen was at the heart of the abortion culture wars, and it saw its reputation and support reflect that. Four days after announcing the grant cuts, the Komen board reversed the decision, but the damage was already done. Donor support dropped significantly, and ultimately several high-level executives resigned, including Komen’s CEO.
PINK SLIME
How important is marketing? For more than a decade, the meat processing industry served Americans “lean finely textured beef,” the industry term for meat recovered from beef trimmings using a process that involves a centrifuge and ammonia gas to kill bacteria. But when critics, including celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, embraced the alternative term “pink slime,” it drew national media attention and outraged consumers. Restaurants and grocery stores refused to offer the product, and it took just a few more months before layoffs and bankruptcies left the industry in tatters.
CHICK-FIL-A
Chick-fil-A is a Southern-based company with a reputation for supporting conservative causes. But as franchisees spread north and west, the company tried to downplay its political leanings. That all changed when the chain’s president and COO (who is also the son of Chick-fil-A’s founder) went on a conservative radio show and railed against gay marriage. Chick-fil-A quickly tried to back-track, but the damage was done. Activists targeted the company, and politicians in major markets like Chicago and Boston threatened to try to block new franchises in their cities. And polling done after the dust settled showed that nearly 40 percent of respondents had an unfavorable view of the company and 15 percent said they were boycotting the chain.
Traction Communications’ Kirsten Hamling has been sentenced to 90 days of jail/work release and 10 years of probation, and she also is required to pay $250,000 in restitution. Hamling was the founder of what turned out to be the fraudulent firefighter calendar charity Fired Up For Kids, and earlier this year she pleaded guilty to a felony charge of theft for stealing money raised for the burn unit at The Children’s Hospital.
Filed under: Public Relations
Barefoot PR is celebrating its second anniversary, and the firm announced several client wins: ASR Companies, Inc. (brand enhancement through messaging, public relations and community involvement) and WorkLife Partnership (increase brand awareness through targeted message development, public relations, and partnership facilitation). Barefoot also expanded its work with The Space Creators to include community involvement and strategic partnerships.
Frankie Cervantes has launched Frankly Communications, a full-service digital engagement, marketing and PR consultancy firm. The firm works with a variety of B2B & B2C clients, including a well-known music label, an aerial imagery start-up and an IPTV Spanish-only programming company.
Filed under: Public Relations
Clement Communications has acquired California-based brand and digital agency HON Marketing. The firm will be renamed HON Digital and will be a wholly owned and independently run subsidiary of Clement.
In addition to the acquisition, Clement announced that Hen House Ventures founder Tara Spalding and NextStep founder Nancy Friedman will join the HON Digital board of advisers.
Filed under: Public Relations
JohnstonWells Senior Associate Dan Peterson died from injuries sustained in a hit-and-run bicycle accident this weekend. He was 30. JohnstonWells released a statement saying that, “Dan will be remembered for his dedication to his clients and his love of the outdoors, especially the Colorado mountains.”
The still-unidentified person responsible for Dan’s death was a white woman with blonde, shoulder-length hair who was driving a green or dark-colored Subaru hatchback with a bike rack. The car likely has front-end damage. If you have any information, please contact Denver police.
Update: Members of Denver’s biking community have placed a “ghost bike” memorial for Dan at Lincoln Street and Sixth Avenue:
Filed under: Public Relations
Utah is about the last place I’d expect to find a pants-optional PR agency, but desperate heat calls for desperate measures.
Katie Shapiro, who formerly handled public relations for Denver Magazine before it was acquired by 5280, has officially launched Katie Shapiro Media, a boutique agency that focuses on freelance writing, public relations and events. Clients include SOL (The Store of Lingerie) in Cherry Creek, 303 magazine, Aspen Film, and Reel Social Club.
Filed under: Public Relations
GroundFloor Media has added Highlands Ranch, Colo.-based Similasan USA as a client. GFM will develop and execute a strategic communications program for Similasan, including the development of foundational materials and news releases, media training, media outreach and trade show support.
Development Counsellors International (DCI) has officially opened a Denver office along the Platte River in downtown Denver. The firm’s seven Denver-based employees previously shared office space at Pure Brand Communications or worked from home offices.
Filed under: Public Relations
Mile High Flea Market has retained Denver multicultural marketing group The Idea Marketing to help attract Hispanic vendors to the market.
Filed under: Public Relations
Traction Communications founder and alleged scam artist Kirsten Hamling may have settled a lawsuit filed against her by state prosecutors for money that went missing from her Fired Up For Kids Charity, but that hasn’t stopped the Denver District Attorney from filing charges.
The result: Hamling is charged with 13 counts of theft, four counts of charitable fraud, three counts of filing a false tax return, two counts of failure to file a tax return and one count of attempt to influence a public servant. Michael Roberts at Westword has the details.
Filed under: Public Relations
Competition for Colorado travel and tourism accounts may increase a bit with the news that Wagstaff Worldwide has opened an office in Aspen that will be led by Brigid Finley. Finley, who is relocating to Aspen from Los Angeles, has headed a number of campaigns for travel accounts and nationally acclaimed restaurants, including The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, Lark Creek Restaurant Group, Cyrus restaurant, InterContinental Hotels, and Australia’s Great Southern Rail.
Filed under: Public Relations
What does the ruthless, murderous Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad have in common with the AARP, the 2010 Vancouver Olympics Bid, the 2022 Qatar World Cup Bid and The Tony Blair Faith Foundation? They share the same public relations firm.
Filed under: Public Relations
Denver Mayor Michael Hancock has appointed former journalist Rowena “Ro” Alegría as director of Communications. Alegría is a 20-year journalism and communications veteran who most recently was editor and publisher of The Denver Post’s Viva Colorado publication.
Farm Credit has published an RFQ for a project to help it celebrate its 100th anniversary. The deadline to respond is June 6.
Filed under: Public Relations
Downing Street Communications provided pro bono public relations services to the Colorado March of Dimes for its “March for Babies” event last Saturday, and it will continue to provide ongoing support for the organization’s future communication needs.
Filed under: Public Relations
A shout out to Colorado Public Radio reporter Megan Verlee, who picked up a regional Edward R. Murrow Award for best use of sound for her piece ”Getting Hands-On at Colorado Gators.” And also to her CPR colleague Ben Markus, who picked up two awards for his piece “Local Firefighters Honor 9/11 First Responders:” a Colorado Broadcaster Association Award for best single event news coverage and a third-place award in the category for breaking news or continuing coverage from the National Headliner Awards.
Filed under: Public Relations
GroundFloor Media has launched a Digital Strategy division that will support clients with “a consistent and engaging digital presence enhancing client brands, reputations and, ultimately, results.”
Filed under: Public Relations
Noel Cunningham posthumously received the National Restaurant Association’s “Restaurant Neighbor Award” for his outstanding charitable service efforts. Wayne Hicks at the Denver Business Journal has the details.
Ed Sealover at the Denver Business Journal has crunched the numbers on Pinnacol Assurance’s “pricey push to privatize,” and the big public relations winners in the effort are:
SE2 – $119,126 in fees
Artemis Communications – $77,725 in fees
Rockford Gray – $58,438 in fees
Galloway Group – $23,600 in fees
Of course, law firms billed nearly $1.5 million, so “big winners” is more of a relative term.
Filed under: Public Relations
Overall budgets are up slightly, measurement and evaluation are on the rise, PR increasingly has a seat at the C-suite table, and agency-of-record relationships are vanishing, according to The USC Annenberg Strategic Communication and Public Relations Center’s latest Communication and Public Relations Generally Accepted Practices study.
Filed under: Public Relations
Las Vegas-based R&R Partners has acquired Denver’s Phase Line Strategies, and will rename it R&R Denver. Sean Tonner, the founder and president of Phase Line, will serve as managing director.
Filed under: Public Relations
WordenGroup, a boutique public relations firm specializing in travel & tourism, has added a Denver office. The firm is based in Jackson Hole, Wyo.
Filed under: Public Relations
The deadline to register for the 2012 PRSA Western District Conference ”Championing Creativity” is today. The conference takes place next Monday and Tuesday in Denver, and it features a number of national and local public relations experts speaking on topics ranging from citizen journalism and technology to ethics and measurement.
As an added bonus, anyone who registers for the conference today will automatically be entered into a drawing to win two additional tickets to a keynote address by Carl Kasell of NPR’s “Wait Wait … Don’t Tell Me!”
About the Conference
On March 12-13, public relations and communications professionals from five states will converge on the Denver Center for the Performing Arts for the PRSA Western District Conference, “Champion Creativity.” Our winning lineup of presenters includes an actor, a political pundit, a sportscaster and an engineer as well as a specialty team of top-ranked PR pros. The headline attraction is an evening with Carl Kasell, former NPR news anchor and current scorekeeper (and straight man) on the popular quiz show, “Wait Wait … Don’t Tell Me.” (Learn more and register at www.prsacolorado.org.) Registration deadline is Monday, March 5.
Filed under: Public Relations
Veteran political and non-profit communications specialist Evelyn Becker has launched Becker Impact, a boutique public relations firm focused on nonprofit organizations, foundations, government initiatives and corporate social responsibility programs.
Filed under: Public Relations
Amélie Company Advertising and PR has been named agency of record by Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG). DRCOG selected Amélie after a competitive review of proposals from local advertising and PR agencies to spearhead a wide range of marketing and public relations programs. These initiatives will engage regional commuters in DRCOG’s RideArrangers program, which includes Carpool, Vanpool, Schoolpool, Telework, Guaranteed Ride Home and Bike to Work Day.
Filed under: Public Relations
Filed under: Public Relations
Linhart PR has promoted Noelle Robillard to account executive. Robillard joined the firm in April 2011 as an account associate, after serving in Linhart PR’s JumpStart internship program.
Filed under: Public Relations
B Public Relations, a Denver agency specializing in luxury brands, travel & hospitality, real estate, lifestyle and culinary fields, has unveiled its redesigned website.
Filed under: Public Relations
Tourism and hospitality firms Kruzic Communications and McCullough Marketing have merged with Communications Strategy Group (CSG|PR), to create the newly formed CSG Tourism & Hospitality Practice.
“Kruzic Communications has had the good fortune to establish a highly successful and widely respected boutique PR firm that has consistently delivered solid, proven results for our clients,” said Cathy Kruzic. “Now it’s time to ‘triple-up’ our capabilities and expand our influencer relations services through our new partnership with Communications Strategy Group and McCullough Marketing.”
Filed under: Public Relations
Ryan Whaley has launched Green Door Mediaworks, a full-service communications firm offering media relations, social media and video production. Whaley previously was with Turner PR and Keystone Resort/Vail Resorts. Green Door Mediaworks currently is working with SmoothJazz.com, SmoothLounge.com, MTN Town Magazine and Rocky Mountain Bride Magazine.
Filed under: Public Relations
Baro-Therapies Inc. of Miramar, Fla., has selected Armada Medical Marketing to launch the company’s barometric therapy device, The Rejuvenator.
Filed under: Public Relations
Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter offers some practical, on-air advice on what people can do to stop random acts of violence: Don’t act like idiots and assholes.
Hat Tip: Eric Anderson (@Eric_A_Anderson)
Filed under: Public Relations
Here is the list of the year’s biggest PR disasters that I shared during an interview with 850 KOA’s April Zesbaugh this morning:
CORPORATE
Penn State University
Two years ago, Tiger Woods was the gold standard for PR debacles. Last year, it was the BP Gulf Coast oil spill. This year, that “honor” belongs to Penn State. In a matter of weeks, the university went from one of the nation’s most revered to one of the most reviled following its response – or more accurately its lack of a response – to a horrible child sex abuse scandal that saw two administrators indicted, a former assistant coach arrested and football coaching legend Joe Paterno fired. Making the situation even worse from a public relations perspective, the university had access to grand jury information for months and was still unprepared to deal with the fallout.
Netflix
Netflix was riding high as one of the few positive business stories in 2011. Subscriber numbers were up and the stock continued to defy the bleak economy. And then Netflix got cocky. The company inexplicably surprised customers and Wall Street by announcing a huge price increase as part of a plan to separate its streaming and DVD-by-mail services. Consumers reacted by canceling their service in droves, forcing Netflix to quickly backtrack and abandon its plans. But the damage was already done. The company lost more than a million subscribers and its stock price has dropped 75 percent from its highs this past summer.
Bank of America
Banks have joined oil companies as the businesses that people love to hate, and Bank of America felt that wrath in 2011. Bank of America badly underestimated the populist outrage that existed due to the bank bailouts when it announced a plan to introduce a $5 monthly fee for its debit card users. Bank of America expected other banks to quickly join it in charging the fee, but consumer outrage spread almost virally, leaving the bank on its own as (more…)
Following recent questions about whether Traction Communications’ Kirsten Hamling misled firefighters and stole money intended for The Children’s Hospital Burn Center, the Colorado Attorney General’s office has filed suit against “Fired Up For Kids.” And the allegations are not pretty for Hamling. Among them:
15. In its solicitation materials, including materials sent to event sponsors as well as on its website, Fired Up For Kids has represented that it is a “Denver-based nonprofit organization” that donates all proceeds from special events and sales of The Colorado Firefighter Calendar to The Children’s Hospital Burn Center.16. Fired Up For Kids also has represented itself in public solicitation materials as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization.17. In fact, Fired Up For Kids never received 501(c)(3) status from the United States Internal Revenue Service. Nevertheless, upon information and belief, Fired Up For Kids never paid taxes.18. Kirsten Hamling was the sole director of Fired Up For Kids and its founder. Ms. Hamling is also the sole signatory on Fired Up for Kids operating account, maintained at Wells Fargo Bank.19. Almost immediately after the incorporation of Fired Up For Kids as a nonprofit corporation, Ms. Hamling began making charges of a personal nature to the Fired Up For Kids operating account. These charges continued through at least July 2010. Charges included money spent at nail and hair salons, money spent on gym memberships, money spent at department stores, and money spent on airline tickets to California. These charges had nothing to do with Fired Up For Kids.
So, based on the allegations, it appears that Hamling may either have admit that Fired Up For Kids is a non-profit and she misused and/or stole money it, or that Fired Up For Kids is a for-profit enterprise and she never paid taxes.
Filed under: Public Relations
Congratulations to Kate Stabrawa, who has been elected a board officer as vice chair of The Ohio State University Alumni Association’s board of directors. Her non-Ohio State time is spent as an account director for Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide in Denver.
Filed under: Public Relations
GroundFloor Media has been named agency of record for ClickBank,a global e-commerce network that enables online entrepreneurs to sell and distribute digital goods. GroundFloor Media will help ClickBank raise its industry profile through a full range of strategic communications initiatives, including message development, social media andmedia relations programs.
Nicole Yost has launched Fyn (pronounced fine) Public Relations, a full-service public relations agency based on Fort Collins. Fyn PR is the agency of record for the Loveland Chamber of Commerce, Midtown Arts Center, Backbone Gourmet Grub & Brewhouse, Perfect Square and Fred’s Used Websites. It also manages PR for several project clients as well, including the upcoming Snow Sculpture in the Dark event put on by Engaging Loveland.
