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.
Filed under: Public Relations
Lance Myers has launched Two Top Marketing, a hyphen-averse marketing firm that specializes in Denver food-and-beverage clients. Services include website development, social media and strategic consultation.
Filed under: Public Relations
The migration from media to public relations continues. Former 9News and Fox31 reporter Ginger Delgado has teamed with former Gov. Bill Owen’s spokeswoman Amy Sampson to form Real PR Media, a boutique firm that offers media relations, crisis communications, branding and messaging, PR campaigns and video production services.
Filed under: Public Relations
A good rule of thumb for journalists: you probably aren’t going to win an Emmy asking sketchy characters, “Did you pee or poop on the bank?” And you probably aren’t going to get promoted out of Eureka, Calif., if you keep acting like a substitute teacher who can’t control her third-grade students.
(Hat tip: Andrew Hudson)
Filed under: Public Relations
A follow-up to yesterday’s post about a CBS4 investigation into Traction Communications’ Kirsten Hamling over missing money intended for The Children’s Hospital. Through her lawyers, Hamling has now explained that Fired Up for Kids actually was never a non-profit/charity and that she is under no obligation to donate the proceeds of its firefighter calendar to The Children’s Hospital’s burn unit. Classy.
Filed under: Public Relations
CBS4 investigative reporter Rick Sallinger is hot on the trail of Traction Communications’ Kirsten Hamling over missing money intended for The Children’s Hospital’s burn unit. Hamling is the founder of Fired Up for Kids, a non-profit that creates beefcake firefighter calendars that benefit TCH’s burn unit, but questions are now surfacing over whether she pocketed the money instead.
UPDATE: The Denver Post reports that the Denver District Attorney’s office is investigating.
Filed under: Public Relations
… and I am joining dovetail as president:
DENVER – November 2, 2011 – dovetail solutions today announced that it has acquired Story + Welch LLP, a Denver-based public relations firm that focuses on B2B, professional services and technology clients. The acquisition expands dovetail’s client roster and strengthens its ability to offer its signature Strategic Community Investment-focused communications approach.
As part of the transaction, Story + Welch co-founder Jeremy Story will join dovetail solutions as president, reporting to dovetail founder and CEO Andy Boian. Story has more than 15 years of experience developing and executing high-profile communications campaigns for organizations ranging from the Fortune-100 to private start-ups. Among the companies he has counseled over the course of his career are CIGNA, H&R Block, Sun, American Airlines, ExxonMobil, StorageTek, tw telecom and Faegre & Benson.
Filed under: Public Relations
After 34 years in Lakewood, Heinrich Marketing has made the move downtown to Denver’s LoDo district. The firm has set up shop in a restored building at 2228 Blake Street, next to Breckenridge Brewery in Denver’s historic Ballpark neighborhood.
Filed under: Public Relations
Ahhh, it’s like 2008 all over again … E.W. Scripps is relevant in Colorado and the Denver Post is threatening layoffs.
Filed under: Public Relations
It isn’t quite, “Say hello to my little friend,” but “You will be fired for not replacing the milk” could be the next great catchphrase. Or not. Either way, Beckerman PR’s Keith Zakheim needs to remember that smart bullies never put inane threats in writing. They whisper them while grasping the back of their enemy’s head so that their foreheads touch. Its PR 101.
Filed under: Public Relations
U.S. Congresswoman Congressional candidate Kate Marshall (R-Nevada) is making headlines with her latest press release, but not in the way she intended.
As Las Vegas Sun reporter Jon Ralston noted, “You don’t see this too often: A campaign puts out a statement by a candidate on an issue she has never talked about and then helpfully explains the political strategy at play at the end.”
Unfortunately for her, the explanation was clearly intended for her rather than for the media. Here’s the text of the press release:
Kate Marshall Issues Statement of Support for Israel as Violence Escalates
Reno, NV – As violence continues to escalate in Israel, Kate Marshall released the following statement this morning in support of the nation:
“The past several days have proven very challenging for the people of Israel. Last Thursday gunmen from the Gaza Strip entered Israel and launched coordinated attacks against a tourist bus and other vehicles en route to the seaside city of Eilat. The terrorists murdered eight people and scores more were injured.
In further escalation of violence, terrorists operating within the Gaza Strip proceeded to fire hundreds of rockets into southern Israeli cities. Rockets fells on homes, a religious school, and other civilian targets. One man was murdered, many people were injured including children, and among the injured casualties was a four month old infant.
…
I am proud to consider Israel a friend and I reiterate my unwavering support for its fundamental right to exist and the absolute necessity for Israel to secure its people from outside threats. I stand ready and willing to assist Israel in defending itself against all acts of terrorism.”
Background: Israel has been in the news lately, and will be even more in the news with Beck’s “Rally to Restore Courage” in Jerusalem. In an R district, it will be useful to express support for Israel and demonstrate some foreign policy prowess while it is a timely topic – especially for people who are likely paying attention to Beck’s event.
###
Filed under: Public Relations
GroundFloor Media’s Gil Rudawsky examines the issue and finds that many PR agencies (and budgets) grow during bad economic times.
Filed under: Public Relations
Louisville alternative energy start-up Sundrop Fuels has snagged $175 million in funding. The GBSM client promises to never, ever leave Colorado, according to GBSM’s Steven “Steve” Silvers.
Filed under: Public Relations
Sarah Hogan and Cori Plotkin of Barefoot PR, Jim Guttau of Guttau PR, and Stephanie Blake of Blake Communications, have founded the Creative Collective, a new professional networking collaborative that includes all professionals in the creative industry.
Filed under: Public Relations
… are Leigh Sullivan and Troy Guard, the (for now) husband-and-wife owners of TAG and TAG | RAW BAR. When a decision is made to divorce, the aggrieved and non-aggrieved parties usually run to lawyers as fast as they can. But Sullivan and Guard are racing just as fast to any media outlet that will quote them to try to gain the media edge in their divorce. So far, they’ve hit Lori Midson at Westword and Bill Husted at the Denver Post.
Here’s some free public relations advice: quit publicly tearing each other down, get the divorce and try to act like grown-ups. Trust me – it allow your baby you keep mentioning to Google your names in 10 years without shame, and the assets you will soon be dividing up (for example, two restaurants) will be worth more if you quit making Denver wince at the mention of your names.
Filed under: Public Relations
Erin Osovets and Gwenaviere Doherty have founded Theory X, a boutique public relations agency focusing on music, art, film, and fashion.
Filed under: Public Relations
Moxie Media Group has rebranded itself as Moxie Creative Communications Agency in a move to distinguish itself from traditional marketing, advertising and PR firms. I’ve read the press release twice and I still can’t figure out exactly what is changing, so I’ll let Moxie speak for itself:
“Traditional advertising or marketing agencies are engaged primarily for their branding and marketing expertise, where their services are geared towards helping clients sell products and services to a specific target demographic,” said Mike Schrader, president, Moxie CCA. “While Moxie CCA is called upon to do the same, our clients’ communication challenges are increasingly centered on a need to communicate one or more messages to multiple target audiences across multiple communications channels. In these cases, we are helping our clients to determine the best way to communicate to their many constituents and then execute their campaigns accordingly.”
If you hate the stereotype that public relations people are soul-less, amoral drones who will say anything about anyone if a client or boss tells them to, you probably are not going to like Sue Skiffington-Blumberg (even if the Colorado Springs Gazette inexplicably does). According to a Gazette editorial, Skiffington-Blumberg and her public relations team at the City of Colorado Springs have spent the past several years publicly badmouthing their own city at the direction of her bosses in an effort to get a tax increase passed. As the Gazette noted, “The campaign may have cost our city countless tourists and jobs.”
So how did Skiffington-Blumberg justify her actions:
“Our strategic plan was to paint a picture of the dire straits of our city budget. If we could not do so locally, we would do so in the regional and national press … . I hated it. I grew up here. My family has been in this community since 1892. But when given a task, it is my obligation to get on board. If you give me a task, don’t expect me not to succeed.”
That quote is just chilling. And perhaps not just to me. Skiffington-Blumberg was forced by the city manager to resign yesterday (two days after the Gazette editorial appeared).
Sad news – Chris Power Bain lost her battle with cancer yesterday. She was 57.
UPDATE: There will be a celebration of Chris’ life at 3 p.m. on Friday, May 27, on the plaza of the upper level of Red Rocks. Everyone is welcome.
UPDATE II: The Denver Post carried Chris’ obituary on Wednesday.
Filed under: Public Relations
If you have been looking for a tortured analogy that explains the difference between lobbying and public relations, NPR has come to your rescue: lobbyists are the Army soldiers storming Normandy, while PR people are the Air Force.
Filed under: Public Relations
GBSM’s Steven Silvers blogs about what the recent decisions by Frontier Airlines and the Colorado Tourism Office to select New York City-based public relations firms mean to Colorado agencies.
Filed under: Public Relations
The team at Dovetail Solutions is handling the public relations for the University of Colorado Hospital’s groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate its $400 million expansion. The expansion will include a second inpatient 12-story tower, increased patient care facilities to the Anschutz Cancer Pavilion and new parking structures for patients, visitors and employees. The entire project is scheduled to be complete by 2013.
Filed under: Public Relations
Columbia Journalism Review examines the state of communications and concludes that “the muscles of journalism are weakening and the muscles of public relations are bulking up—as if they were on steroids … the dangers are clear.”
“As PR becomes ascendant, private and government interests become more able to generate, filter, distort, and dominate the public debate, and to do so without the public knowing it. ‘What we are seeing now is the demise of journalism at the same time we have an increasing level of public relations and propaganda,’ (author Robert) McChesney said. ‘We are entering a zone that has never been seen before in this country.’ ”
Filed under: Public Relations
If you are feeling stressed at work lately, it isn’t your imagination. Or maybe it is.
Filed under: Public Relations
Freelance writer Luke O’Brien wrote an article for Men’s Health on UFC fighter Georges St. Pierre. A few months later, the magazine’s PR team pitched him the article he wrote.
Hi, Luke-
Men’s Health went behind the scenes of UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre’s title fight with Josh Koscheck. In his April issue cover story, St. Pierre opens up to the magazine about acting as a trainer and a learner, always climbing to reach his goals. Would you be interested in running any of his quotes from the interview?
Luke’s response:
Sounds great. I’d be interested in interviewing the writer. Lemme know.
Luke
Filed under: Public Relations
… and other public relations observations from a New York restaurateur.
Filed under: Public Relations
Planning to watch the State of the Union tonight? Download Sarah Moss’ SOTU bingo card.
Former CIGNA communications chief turned activist/author Wendell Potter has been called everything from a public relations hero to a traitorous villain for his decision to walk away from the corporate world and testify before the U.S. Senate panel on health care reform.
His testimony on how the health care industry uses propaganda and lobbying efforts to maintain profits at the expense of patients sparked outrage among activists and health care providers alike. And the behind-the-scenes view he provides of the role of public relations in these debates has ignited passionate discussion in the public relations community.
Potter now is a Senior Fellow on Health Care for the Center for Media and Democracy, and he has followed up his initial testimony with a recently released book, Deadly Spin: An Insurance Company Insider Speaks Out on How Corporate PR Is Killing Health Care and Deceiving Americans. He will be at the Tattered Cover on Colfax on Thursday, Jan. 20, at 7:30 p.m. to sign copies of the book.
If you are interested in an insider’s account of how public relations often is played at the highest and most sophisticated levels – and what impact that has on you, your career and your clients – you should attend.
[Disclosure: I am friends with Wendell Potter, and I worked closely with him when CIGNA was a client of mine at Weber Shandwick. However, my work (and Weber Shandwick's work) with CIGNA did not include any of the industry policy, regulatory or lobbying efforts that he chronicles in his book.]
Here is the list of the year’s biggest PR disasters that I shared during an interview with 850 KOA this morning:
CORPORATE
BP
Last year, the Tiger Woods sex scandal was the gold standard for PR debacles. This year, that honor belongs to BP. The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was enough to put them on anyone’s list, but it was the company’s response that catapulted them to the top. Doctored photos, attempts to strong-arm locals into signing liability waivers, and one gaffe after another from CEO Tony Hayward – “It wasn’t our accident … I just want my life back …” Remember, 11 people died when the rig exploded and thousands of lives were devastated in the aftermath. No one wanted to hear him complain about how unfair he felt he was being treated.
Toyota
The overwhelming safety and reliability issues were bad enough, but the countless recalls and the appearance of a company trying to hide safety problems rather than fix them really shook a lot of people’s faith in Toyota. The good news for Toyota is that it has decades’ worth of goodwill built up with the American public. If it can fix the safety issues, the brand should be fine over the long run.
Filed under: Public Relations
The threat:
The response:
(Hat tip: Deadspin)
Filed under: Public Relations
Fineman PR is out with its annual list of the year’s “Top PR Blunders:”
- BP
- Toyota
- NPR
- Craigslist
- Amazon
- Nestle
- Johnson & Johnson
- LeBron James
- Glenn Beck
- Alaska Airlines
Filed under: Public Relations
Time is running out to vote for The Women’s Saving Club, started by Denver PR pros Tara Tongco Rojas and Kate Wilson Stabrawa. As part of the contest, the site can win up to $65,000 and a portion of the prize will benefit the Denver Women’s Bean Project. If you want to vote for the Women’s Saving Club, visit the “Raise the Rate” website. You can vote once a day every day through Thursday. As of this morning, The Women’s Savings Club was just 38 votes out of first place.
Filed under: Public Relations
Former Texas Tech head football coach Mike Leach is suing a public relations firm representing the family of a player whose abuse allegations resulted in the coach’s firing.
The Women’s Saving Club, started by Denver PR pros Tara Tongco Rojas and Kate Wilson Stabrawa, has been named one of 10 finalists across the country in the TIAA-CREF “Raise the Rate” contest. As part of the contest, the site can win up to $65,000 and a portion of the prize will benefit the Denver Women’s Bean Project. If you want to vote for the Women’s Saving Club, visit the “Raise the Rate” website. You can vote once a day every day until Dec. 9.
Congratulations to Denver’s Farm Credit, which won a 2010 Gold MarCom award for their FarmCredit.com website. The website redesign was recognized for creating a searchable, attractive and sophisticated national web presence.
The Denver Post PR Blog has always taken copyright issues very seriously, both as a creator of content and as a user of other people’s content. In fact, everything that appears in a typical edition of the newspaper blog post is copyright protected.
Nonetheless, our work is illegally reproduced everyday on websites across the country. The federal Copyright Act protects our right and our readers’ rights to make fair use of copyrighted content. We have no issue with people who quote a small amount of a Post DPRB story post so as to comment on it, perhaps even criticize us. That’s the essence of free speech in a vigorous democracy.
But fair use of our content restricts those who want to reference it to reproduce no more than a headline and up to a couple of paragraphs or a summary of the story. (We also request users provide a link to the entire work on our website). The fair use rule generally does not entitle users to display the whole story or photograph on their website. To do so is a violation of our copyright and we will use all legal remedies available to address these infringements.
We understand people may want to share what they find interesting in our publication blog. This is a reminder that there is a right way to do it.
Finally, thank you for your continued support. We intend to remain a vital and trusted source for unique and unduplicated reporting on the concerns and issues affecting you and this community.
Filed under: Public Relations | Tags: Andrew Hudson, Linhart, Pure, Westword
Westword’s Jonathan Shikes compiles the list. I still can’t believe Larry Holdren and Paula Berg aren’t on the list, although there is a chance that the mayor of the Denver’s “Drunk Tank” is Andrew Hudson.
The Denver Urban Renewal Authority (DURA) selected Cohn Marketing as its public relations agency of record. Cohn Marketing’s scope of work includes strategic planning and message development, as well as ongoing public relations, communications and special event support. DURA will also benefit from the Denver-based agency’s expertise in brand creation and integration as part of its agreement.
Vladimir Jones hired Jim Dissett as its new director of brand communications. Dissett most recently was general manager and director of public relations at RIESTER’s Salt Lake City office, and he also has served in senior-level positions at GroundFloor Media, Vanguard Communications and Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide.
“Jim is like the Jeff Bridges of the brand comm world. He’s had a long career – doing really great work just slightly under the radar, often playing that pivotal role that brings the big picture together,” said Joe Hodas, executive vice president brand communications at the agency.
In honor of Halloween, Tom Nixon compiles the list.
Filed under: Public Relations
Shell Brand International Chairman Bruno Motta is calling out BP for misleading consumers with its “Beyond Petroleum” branding:
“For the last few years [BP] has repositioned in an interesting way. We should look into the DNA of the company and project an essence or truth – say what you are, even if it’s not as appealing. It makes for a long-lasting brand.”
Trippe & Company is sponsoring a Do You Radiate contest “to help women achieve their professional goals by improving their personal brands.” The winner will receive a package of services valued at more than $1,500 that includes image styling, speaker training and a professional headshot.
Medical Marijuana has grown to be a $14 billion industry, and publications such as Westword and the Colorado Springs Independent are reaping financial windfalls from the industry’s advertising efforts. So it is not surprising that public relations would be the next marketing discipline to recognize the opportunity.
And it appears that that recognition is starting here in Denver. Elizabeth Robinson of Volume PR is launching what she calls the nation’s “first and only business development and public relations firm exclusively focused on the medical marijuana industry.”
Grow Room Communications, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Volume PR, offers public relations, marketing communications and advertising services to medical marijuana providers. Elizabeth says she is targeting only legitimate medical marijuana providers.
“We are very selective in who we work with,” Elizabeth said. “Our clients’ ability to serve their patients effectively is directly related to the public’s appreciation for marijuana’s proven medicinal benefits and shows that the industry takes seriously its role in the provision of healthcare.”
Elizabeth’s belief in the value of medical marijuana came from her own experience watching her dying father suffer from nausea and pain that were treated with less effective drugs than medical marijuana.
“I believe in the medical marijuana industry, and our goal is to help businesses that are doing things the right way,” Elizabeth said.
Filed under: Public Relations
The Yes Men may have temporarily hijacked Chevron’s public relations and advertising mojo, but when Chevron chastised “the pranksters (for not being) interested in a constructive dialogue,” you knew the corporate PR drones were back in charge of the messaging.
Filed under: Public Relations
Not as much as this guy is going to know 17 months from now.
Filed under: Public Relations
Linhart PR has promoted Jennifer Tilliss to account supervisor. Tilliss joined the firm as an account associate in 2006. As an account supervisor, she’ll now assume increased management responsibility for corporate and consumer-focused programs.
Filed under: Public Relations
Conversation Starters has inked a joint venture agreement with Baldwin Media Marketing of Hartford, Conn. Under the joint venture, both companies will expand their existing specialities in strategic media/marketing planning and traditional/social media training.
Filed under: Public Relations
Sprocket Communications has relocated its headquarters to the Santa Fe Arts District (932 Inca Street) and added Jeff Cornelius to its team. Cornelius formerly was with Karsh/Hagan and CBS4.
Filed under: Public Relations
Elizabeth Jumel has started Jumel Public Relations, an agency focusing on media relations, communications, strategic planning and project management. Jumel formerly was with JohnstonWells.
Filed under: Public Relations
Today’s Wall Street Journal examines the “fastest-growing PR stunt: Getting into the Guinness Book of World Records.“
Filed under: Public Relations
“Forty years ago, 27 percent of the PR profession was female. Today it’s nearly 85 percent, reports Russell Working for Ragan.com. And yet top management is 80 percent male.”
Filed under: Public Relations
Congratulations to longtime KMGH/7News anchor Bertha Lynn, who will be inducted into the Colorado Broadcasting Professionals Hall of Fame on Oct. 1, 2010.
Filed under: Public Relations
It’s no beer pong, but the good folks at Schwartz Communications have released official “Press Release Buzzword Bingo” cards. I’ll link to the local press release that contains the most, so start scouring your competitors’ web sites for candidates and send them to me.
Trippe & Company announced that it has reorganized its agency around three practice areas:
- Cultivate, which focuses on startup companies – particularly in the technology and green energy markets
- Escalate, which focuses on traditional business functions such as communications, marketing and sales, as well as a new focus on investor relations, and
- Radiate, which focuses on personal brands
Trippe also announced it has hired Robert Ferri and Anne Haggar, and landed Palisade-based Strong Bear as a client.
Filed under: Public Relations
PRSA Colorado President Elisabeth Monaghan will officiate Liz Pope’s wedding this weekend.
Filed under: Public Relations
Tech PR consultant Nicole Jordan inelegantly argues yes. Instead, she recommends working your way into broader business conferences.
Dear CEOs,
Look the f@#! out. We’re calling the shots now.
Sincerely,
Public Relations
P.S. Of course, that’s not to say our recommendations will always make a lot of sense. Now double our budgets, or else.
Filed under: Public Relations
… here you go:
The 15 Biggest PR Disasters of The Decade
10 Promotional Campaigns that Backfired Big Time
7 Ways to Avoid Making Unfortunate, Brand-damaging Quotes
5 Things Press Releases Are Still Good For
Filed under: Public Relations
Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban on NBA superstar LeBron James’ performance during his one-hour made-for-TV event to announce where he would play next year:
“Two words: Media training.”
Filed under: Public Relations
Tired of dealing with morons who don’t quite grasp that they are morons. Blame the Dunning-Kruger effect.
Filed under: Public Relations
Michael Synder of The MEK Group compiles the list.
Filed under: Public Relations
Maya Ellman and Autumn Metcalfe have launched Duo Marketing & PR, a full-service marketing, public relations and communications agency. Duo clients include Educate!, Sunflower Preschool, Woodbine Ecology Center, Amazing Faces Skincare, Rewind Sales and Common Era.
New York-based social media agency Onit Marketing has opened a branch office in Denver. Onit, which specializes in providing social media services to clients in the outdoor, adventure sports, natural products and eco industries, says it is expanding to Colorado to connect with the state’s community of outdoor and natural product companies and enthusiasts.
ExecConnect, an exclusive group of business and community leaders launched by Andy Boian and Dovetail Solutions in 2009, has named Angela Lieurance, vice president of Development and Marketing at University of Colorado Hospital, as chairwoman. The group of local executives, community leaders and business owners has the mission “to harness the energy of the group’s valued relationships and related knowledge to further the prosperity of the Denver community.”
In its first year, ExecConnect has helped launch the Denver Bike Sharing initiative B-Cycle, held its first Distinguished Speaker event with acclaimed national author Brian Bagley, and hosted quarterly roundtables for members to dissect current events and issues.
If you see Sharon Linhart and Pete Webb at the Capital Grille today smoking cigars, swilling scotch and generally cackling like they own the town, there’s a reason: they were the big agency winners at last night’s PRSA Colorado Gold Pick Awards. Using the proprietary and highly sophisticated Denver PR Blog formula to determine which agencies fared best (two points for a gold, one point for a silver), the results are:
1. Linhart PR (10 points) – One grand gold, three gold, two silver
2. Pete Webb PR (9 points) – Three gold, three silver
3. Carmichael Lynch Spong (4 points) – Two gold
3. Pure (4 points) – Two gold
3. Philosophy (4 points) – One gold, two silver
6. Xstatic (3 points) – One gold, one silver
7. GroundFloor Media (2 points) – Two silver
7. Peri Marketing & PR (2 points) – Two silver
9. InView (1 point) – One silver
9. JDK – (1 point) – One silver
9. Vladimir Jones (1 point) – One silver
And congratulations to the Denver Art Museum, which if an agency would have placed third with 6 points (three gold). Also, congratulations to the big award winners:
• MGA’s Jeff Julin (Swede Johnson Lifetime Achievement Award)
• Pinnacol Assurance President & CEO Ken Ross (Business Person of the Year)
• Red Energy PR’s Amy Sufak (PR Person of the Year)
• Subaru’s Rachael Tucker Dorr (Joe Fuentes Rookie of the Year Award)
• Denver Art Museum (Nonprofit Award)
• Bonfil’s Julie Scott, Larimer Square’s Erika Sauerwein and Linhart’s Jennifer Tilliss (Chapter Service Awards)
• Applewood Plumbing & Heating/JKD (Small Business Award)
• Audubon Surgery Center/Vladimir Jones (Golden Spur Award)
Filed under: Public Relations
Is it just me, or does the idea of public relations firm Fleishman-Hillard teaching kids “how advertising works so they can make better, more informed choices” just make you laugh your ass off?
And if that doesn’t, how about this: A representative of FH’s client, the Bureau of Consumer Protection of the Federal Trade Commission, defended the hiring, saying, “(FH) know(s) the tricks of the trade. We’re tapping into their expertise.”
What’s lesson No. 1?: “Advertisers shout lies. Public relations executives whisper them?”
Filed under: Public Relations
Do you go “off the record” with journalists? Fifty percent of your colleagues do.
Filed under: Public Relations
Occasionally. But if you are feeling stressed, CNBC explains why: “potentially hostile members of the media.”
Filed under: Public Relations
Aaron Kwittken of Kwittken & Co. compiles the list for Entrepreneur:
- You want to be on Oprah
- You want to spend less time on PR
- The agency is willing to take equity in lieu of cash
- It’s the least-expensive agency you could find
- Agency fees are on a per-media placement basis
- The agency is guaranteeing a minimum number of media placements
- You want media placements in the next 30 days
Filed under: Public Relations
If you are the PR firm that signed singer Macy Gray to a $2,000-per-month contract and then let her run up a $43,000 tab without paying, well, you may be too stupid to be in public relations (and that’s a phrase I never thought I would type). Here’s a free PR tip: If your client hasn’t paid in 21 months, you should cut them off.
A Wall Street Journal blogger examines the differences between public relations and marketing. If you need more clarification, see here.
Filed under: Public Relations
Vladimir Jones has named Margaret Ebeling as Director of Emerging Brand Communications. Ebeling, who formerly was marketing director for Larimer Associates, “will serve as the agency’s lead for staying on top of emerging trends in the brand communications realm, further fulfilling the agency’s commitment to taking an integrated approach to client challenges and opportunities.”
Filed under: Public Relations
Mint.com’s Jason Putorti credits public relations – and, more specifically, San Francisco’s Atomic PR – for the company’s meteoric growth and ultimate acquisition by Intuit.
Get Ink Public Relations, a Miami-based agency representing hospitality and lifestyle clients, has opened a Denver office. The agency was founded by CU-Boulder grad Ellen Marchman, who previously worked in Mayor Wellington Webb’s administration.
Doyle Albee at Metzger has written a moving tribute to his mentor and our friend Joe Fuentes, who is in a tough, tough battle with cancer. Chances are that you know – and love – Joe. He is a Denver media and public relations institution, having worked at the Rocky Mountain News, Coors, StorageTek and Xcel Energy, among others, over the course of his career. Joe was part of my communications team at StorageTek, and I was lucky to have him. I had never seen someone who so effectively combined charm and tenacity (and occasionally sheer stubbornness) to accomplish almost anything he put his mind to.
I had lunch with Joe shortly before his diagnosis, and he talked proudly about his kids and grandkids, about weddings and births, and vacations he loved taking with his wife Chris. He may be a great public relations practitioner, but he is an even better family man. Life can be cruel, and that someone as good and caring as Joe has cancer is proof of that.
You can send Joe a card at 10605 Osceola Loop, Westminster, CO 80031.
Filed under: Public Relations
“I was in the Virgin Islands once. I met a girl. We ate lobster and drank pina coladas. At sunset we made love like sea otters. That was a pretty good day. Why couldn’t I get that day over and over and over…”
– Phil (Bill Murray) in Groundhog Day
Can reporters who are trained to be neutral successfully make the transition to the public relations world of advocacy? Alan Stamm analyzes the arguments on both sides.
Filed under: Public Relations
“The biggest scam going in the world is PR people. I think that any time you think you did something wrong or you want to apologize, don’t try to spin it. Just say, ‘You know what, I really screwed up. I made a mistake.’ “
– Basketball Hall of Famer Charles Barkley discussing the Tiger Woods situation (Jan. 20, 2010)
Clearly we still have our work cut out defining to the general public what “public relations” is – and isn’t.
UPS does a good job using its blog to knock down incorrect rumors that it is offering free shipping for all packages to Haiti.
Filed under: Public Relations
The list, compiled by Rich Robinson of Robinson Communications, includes Fox News, Kanye West, Balloon Boy, Gov. Mark Sanford and Tiger Woods.
Journalistics is feeling optimistic this morning, and offers its “10 Reasons Media Relations Will Get Easier in 2010:”
- Social Media
- Research Tools
- Commercial PR Products
- Analytics
- Collaboration Tools
- Diminished Reliance on the Press Release
- Expanded Media Options
- Mobile and the Rise of Location-aware Apps
- Improved Distribution
- Improved Filtering
Filed under: Public Relations
The end of the year is near, so the 2010 business death watch has begun. Here are 10 brands predicted to disappear in the new year:
- Newsweek
- Motorola
- Palm
- Borders
- Blockbuster
- Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac
- Ambac
- Eastman Kodak
- Sun Microsystems
- E*Trade
(Hat tip: Jon Pushkin)
Filed under: Public Relations
I doubt it, but we’ll see.
Filed under: Public Relations
You think your boss sucks? Try this guy.
(Hat tip to Voco Creative).
Don Kirchoffner of Denver’s Don Kirchoffner & Associates has been diagnosed with cancer, and he is fighting it exactly like you would expect – head on. If you would like to send Don a message, you can do so through his Caring Bridge page: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/donkirchoffner.
Filed under: Public Relations
Tired of being left out of the BCS bowl games year after year, the Boise State football team has retained the PR firm of Scott Peyron & Associates to help make its argument off the field.
Remember Iraqi Information Minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahhaf (a.k.a Baghdad Bob)? He achieved new heights in propoganda during and after the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, proclaiming on TV that no American troops were in Baghdad and that American soldiers instead were “committing suicide by the hundreds at the city’s gates.” For about a week, he had more face time on CNN than Wolf Blitzer.
Anyway, AT&T spokesman Mark Siegel apparently went to the same school as Baghdad Bob. Here’s is Mark’s statement to C/NET on the vast and increasing number of complaints about AT&T’s pathetic service quality:
“We have a strong, high-quality mobile broadband network. It is the nation’s fastest 3G network, now in 350 major metropolitan areas.”
Here’s a free PR tip to all of you starting out in the business: Don’t – repeat, DO NOT – grab the nearest brochure and start reading from it when an unexpected question from a reporter causes you to panic. Instead, do what GBSM’s Steve Silvers does: pretend your building’s fire alarm is going off and tell the reporter you’ll have to call them back in a few minutes.
Filed under: Public Relations
Media Orchard compiles the list.
