They say suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem, and in that spirit let us remember that it was two years ago today that Scripps pulled the plug on the Rocky Mountain News. In that moment, 150 years of scrappy journalism was abandoned, hundreds of talented journalists and production staff suddenly were without jobs and Denver was left with one less important community voice.
Here is a behind-the-scenes look at how Scripps’ decision played out in the newsroom.
Pure Brand Communications has hired Drew Kramer, formerly of InterMountain Corporate Affairs. Kramer will continue to be involved in public affairs consulting, as well as working with Pure’s other clients.
… and other public relations observations from a New York restaurateur.
Why are unions in Wisconsin – and nationwide – so vulnerable? Because they lost the public relations battle years ago.
Many strategists and even some labor officials argue that the genuine passion and emotion being felt and displayed on the ground in Wisconsin is obscuring a central problem: Unions still haven’t figured out even a semblance of an effective PR strategy.
The 9/11 Freedom Rally is looking for pro bono support to help it with messaging and media outreach. The group is a nonprofit organization that is trying “to reclaim the date of September 11 each year as a time of honoring and helping instead of just mourning.” Sponsors include Best Buy, Harley-Davidson, Dick’s Sporting Goods Park and American Family Insurance, among others. Email the planning committee or Randy Blauvelt if you are interested.
Colorado Public Radio (CPR) hired award-winning journalist Pat Mack as a reporter and producer for its daily interview program, “Colorado Matters.” Mack previously was with South Dakota Public Radio, and prior to that served as health affairs communications coordinator for the University of South Dakota’s Sanford School of Medicine and School of Health Sciences. Mack received two Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards for his feature stories and production work.
Among those hiring this week are the American Animal Hospital Association, Avaya, DaVita, the Financial Planning Standards Board, High Country News, Smashburger and The University of Colorado Denver.
PitchEngine founder and CEO Jason Kintzler will discuss how businesses can expand beyond the traditional news release to a true Social Media Release at Metzger Associates’ next Social Media Breakfast. Kintzler is a former journalist turned PR guy who founded PitchEngine in 2008, and last year more than 100,000 pitches were shared by 30,000 organizations looking to get the word out to journalists, bloggers, consumers and other influencers. Details:
Social Media Breakfast
Friday, Feb. 25, at 7:45 a.m.
Metzger Associates
5733 Central Avenue
Boulder, CO 80301
[Map]
RSVP to Lisa Metzger at 720.833.5920 or via email.
If you bleed green and love all things LEED, The Green Cube Showhome invites you to join its steering committee. The PR sponsorship offers “tremendous exposure to work and network with the nearly 100 green trades, suppliers and services required to build the home from start to finish.” If you are interested, contact Brett Robben at 303-433-6212 or brettrobben@comcast.net.
If you’ve been thinking about joining PRSA, this is the month to do it: you’ll get your Colorado Chapter dues comped. Enter promo code FEB11. Not sure why you should join? Come to an orientation for new and prospective members Wednesday, Feb. 16, before the PRSA media roundtable luncheon. 11 a.m. Curtis Hotel lobby.
Vladimir Jones has beefed up its website, mobile and digital marketing capabilities through a strategic investment in Voltage Digital Advertising and Design. VJ and Voltage will remain separate entities, but work exclusively with each other and function as a single force when working on joint projects.
If your employee communications efforts aren’t landing people in jail or causing mass panic, you need to try harder.
Metzger is continuing its year-long 20th anniversary celebration by offering free strategic marketing and communications advice to local businesses – from solo practitioners to start-ups to established operations – via monthly open office hours at Boulder Digital Arts beginning Feb. 22. Metzger’s office hours will be held at BDA’s coworking space in east Boulder the fourth Tuesday of every month beginning Feb. 22, and Metzger office hours are open to the public.
PRSA Colorado has scheduled its annual Gold Pick Awards Dinner and Ceremony for Thursday, May 5, 2011. Download the 2011 Call for Entries form to enter a public relations program or campaign for one of the 49 award categories.
Early entry deadline:
February 25, 2011 – Noon
Late entry deadline:
March 5, 2011 – 4 p.m.
Special Awards deadline:
March 25, 2011 – 4 p.m.
The PRSA Colorado Chapter Gold Pick awards program is aligned with the PRSA Silver Anvil awards program. Visit http://www.prsa.org/awards/silveranvil for complete details on the national awards.
Communications Strategy Group (CSG|PR) promoted Shannon Fern to director of its Health & Wellness practice. Fern is CSG|PR’s lead health PR specialist, and she has more than 10 years of diverse communications experience with expertise in the areas of public and community relations, communications plan development, writing, event planning and sponsorship marketing.
Colorado Public Radio has received a grant from The Colorado Health Foundation to continue funding a health reporter position and grants from the Gates Family Foundation and The Piton Foundation to add a new education beat reporter to its staff. Eric Whitney is CPR’s health reporter, and a new education reporter search is under way.
Linhart PR has been selected as a finalist for the 2011 Top Small Company Workplaces award, a nationwide award sponsored by Winning Workplaces and Inc. Magazine.
One by one, Denver’s best television political reporters are leaving. First, CBS4’s Raj Chohan leaves to become a lawyer, and now 9News’ Adam Schrager is leaving today for a job in Wisconsin to be closer to family. Let’s hope Adam’s departure is of the Gregg Moss variety, and that Adam is back in Denver in a year or two.
Eli Stokols, you are officially on the clock.
Among those hiring this week are: 9to5, National Association of Working Women, American Cancer Society, Archos, BI Incorporated, Colorado Legacy Foundation, Emily Griffith Opportunity School, TeleTech Holdings and The Denver Post.
Pure Brand Communications has launched its inaugural Pure Good Works call for applications. Pure Good Works awards one nonprofit organization—located anywhere in the U.S.—one year of integrated creative services valued up to $75,000.
Whether it’s logo re-design, message development, guerilla marketing or social media, Pure will craft a comprehensive strategy to help advance the chosen brand. Karma is at the core of these proposed partnerships. Pure wants to elevate great causes with great work, allowing both parties to walk away galvanized for the future. The nonprofit’s passion will become Pure’s inspiration, fueling the agency’s many disciplines to sculpt the best possible product.
Perini & Associates has added two new clients: Mountain Paradise Family Fun Center and ToothIQ.
If you see Jim Guttau, you may want to encourage him to take a nap. Guttau PR has landed six new clients (Farrell’s eXtreme Bodyshaping, Rivé, Thermal Clean, neuroAgility, Caroline’s Cuisine, Infinite Harvest), added Kelly Ozinga as a new account coordinator, and relocated to a new office in Denver’s LoHi neighborhood.
JohnstonWells has been named the local public relations sponsor of Ernst & Young’s 2011 Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards in the Mountain Desert region. This is the second year that JW has served as sponsor.
Desperate for a laugh after a few days of subzero temperatures? Check out internationally syndicated cartoonist Leigh Rubin this Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at the Denver Press Club. Rubin, the artist behind the cartoon Rubes, will discuss “maintaining creativity and staying inspired — all while having to meet the daily deadline that creating a daily cartoon demands. Of course, because it’s a cartoon program, he uses many visuals.”
The program is free, and a pre-program dinner at the Denver Press Club is $10.
The New Denver Ad Club debuted “The Fifty” top advertising ideas, recognizing the most exceptional advertising ideas as selected by nationally respected judges with no categories or rankings.
Companies named to The Fifty include: Amelie Advertising & PR, Barnhart, Burns Marketing, Cactus Communication, CCT Advertising, Crispin Porter + Bogusky, David Pahl Photography, Denver Bike Sharing, Futuristic Films, Integer, Juice Communications, Karsh Hagan, Launch and Rabble+Rouser, Location 3 Media, Red Door Interactive, Scream Agency, SpyderLynk, Starz, Sterling Rice Group, Sukle Advertising & Design, Vermilion, and Vladimir Jones.
The Fifty winning entries can be viewed at winners.denver50.com.
Brand Iron named Kassandre Linstroth as brand manager and Leilani Derr as graphic designer. Linstroth will be charged with creating and implementing strategies for Brand Iron clients; Derr, who joins the agency’s creative team, will be responsible for providing Brand Iron clients with creative concepting and design for both print and website applications.
Pure Brand Communications has completed its move to a new location at 2401 Larimer Street. Larry Holdren wanted the new office to resemble a cross between Snooze and a United Airlines Boeing 757, his homes away from home, but he got this instead:
Directly East of Ballpark Lofts, the new office was refurbished with the help of local design firm Xan Creative, who also completed nearby Snooze, Marco’s Coal-Fired Pizza and the Great Divide tap room. A central aisle in Pure’s open floor plan hosts 24 feet of bar-height tables—with tops doubling as white boards—for brainstorms and critiques. The aisle diverges into work pods on either side. A series of factory windows atop the walls pours natural light onto all desks. Highlights include two meeting spaces at polar ends of the aisle: a covered booth whose curves resemble a Shasta trailer and “The Shed” whose walls combine beetle-kill pinewood and translucent write-on glass. The office’s flowing, inclusive organization facilitates the integration of Pure’s many disciplines as they serve clientele needs.
VOCA Public Relations announced that it has been chosen by Exclusive Resorts to spearhead the company’s public relations efforts. VOCA will promote Exclusive Resorts brand image as the world’s leading destination club and the best way to enjoy consistently exceptional vacation with family and friends.
Linhart PR has promoted Quinn Kelsey to account executive. In her new role, she will provide communications counsel and media relations support to clients Comcast, Colorado Technical University, Johns Manville and UnitedHealthcare.
Goodwill Industries of Colorado Springs has issued an RFP for branding/public relations/marketing services.
Denver Public Relations Blog 