Behind the Headlines:
From a Publicist’s Perspective

Questionnaire for Media: David Hambling, Freelance Writer
We connected with David Hambling, freelance writer who contributes to The Economist, Forbes and The Guardian.

How to Determine a Story Angle
Successful PR campaigns boil down to telling great stories. Below is a guide on how to best develop engaging storylines. It is as simple as following the five Ws, and questions that influence any news story: who, what, where, when and why?

Questionnaire for Media: Paul Day, Reuters Nuclear
We connected with Paul Day, editor of Reuters Events Nuclear.

News Cycle 101
“News cycle” is a term often used in PR-related conversations. It’s a critical concept for media and publicists alike, and the foundation knowledge needed to uncover truly compelling stories.

Questionnaire for Media: Chris Allen, Fast Company and Inc.
We connected with Chris Allen, Director of Editorial Video at Fast Company & Inc. Magazines.

The Value of Subscription-Based Media Coverage
The introduction of the media paywall emerged as a “thing” more than a decade ago when The Wall Street Journal announced their subscription paywall, which met fierce backlash. WSJ represented the exception to the rule only until the last decade, as most major publications now have a content paywall…

Questionnaire for Media: Beverly Chandler, ETF Express
We connected with Beverly Chandler, managing editor of ETF Express, which provides daily news and comment and analysis regarding the Exchange-traded funds industry.

The Dos and Don'ts of "Off the Record"
Perhaps the most iconic and intriguing phrase in the media world, “Off the Record” (OTR) often serves as fodder for dramatic Hollywood moments. In reality, OTR scenarios are delicate matters when dealing with the media…

Questionnaire for Media: Simon Erickson, 7investing
We connected with Simon Erickson, founder and CEO of 7investing.

Embargo vs. Exclusive: What You Need to Know
News embargoes and exclusives are tools publicists use to disseminate news or information. Let’s look into the specifics of each tactic, and when it is appropriate to offer one or the other…

Owned vs. Paid vs. Earned Media
When it comes to owned media, paid media, and earned media, each channel has a specific function and purpose, and each can play a separate, yet complementary, critical role in any brand strategy…

Questionnaire for Media: Aimee Rawlins, Fast Company
We connected with Aimee Rawlins, Senior Staff Editor at Fast Company.

Metrics You Should Care About in PR
We’re often asked about how we gauge success in our work. The answer tends to be a bit murky as no clear-cut method to measure PR success exists, such as the standardized metrics applied to marketing and advertising campaigns. We often rely on broader metrics to track PR effectiveness, but these tend to fall short of capturing the true impact of any publicity…

Questionnaire for Media: Kevin Roose, The New York Times
We connected with Kevin Roose, author and technology columnist at The New York Times.

Mainstream vs. Trade Press: A PR Breakdown
Despite the vast and undeniable power of mainstream media outlets, limitations exist to filing stories here, so they are certainly not the only guiding stars for successful PR…

Women in Media: “Firsts” Throughout the Years
Over the last three centuries, women working in media have had to fight for respect, recognition, and equal treatment, advancing the agenda that women have a rightful place in the industry. Whether in journalism, public relations, television, radio, advertising or any media venue, women have successfully turned industry “norms” on their head…

Questionnaire for Media: Dan Jaehnig, NBC 10 News WJAR
We connected with Dan Jaehnig, Prime Evening Anchor at NBC 10 News WJAR.

How Revolutionary turned “New Normal”
Over the past two decades, brand executives have debated whether to align themselves with political issues, concerned that the move might alienate potential customers. Until recently, promoting a controversial opinion in an advertisement was unheard of, as it posed a potential threat to the viability of a company…

Questionnaire for Media: Patrick Ferrise, SiriusXM
We connected with Patrick Ferrise, Senior Producer at SiriusXM.

Meaningful Diversity Initiatives Lead to Meaningful Press Experiences: Why Your Brand Should Care About Diversity Inclusion
Public relations can enable the process of both adopting positive diversity-driven policies and promoting inclusivity. It can also prove detrimental. The difference between championing a cause and failing miserably lies inherently in the actions taken (or not taken) to back up public declarations concerning diversity…