As a local and network news reporter, I conducted thousands of interviews over nearly two decades. Yet it was only after I made the leap into strategic and crisis communications that I fully appreciated the complex dynamic at play.
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8 Time-Tested Crisis Communications Tips You Can Adopt for Your Brand
April 25th, 2016 by Joel Newman, assistant director, communications, United Network for Organ SharingIn potential crisis situations, UNOS invokes a crisis communications plan and involves UNOS executive staff members and elected officers.

Instagram’s Multigenerational Appeal Offers Brands Wide Targeting Choices
April 25th, 2016 by Seth ArensteinWith attention spans diminishing and the appeal of video and images rising, it seems like the present moment is perfectly suited to Instagram’s quick-hit, low-verbiage, less-is-more characteristics.

PR News Measurement Survey: Awareness of Barcelona Principles Trending Upward Slowly
April 25th, 2016 by Seth ArensteinIs the glass half empty or half full? That’s the dilemma raised by the latest PR News survey about measurement practices. On the upside, more PR pros appear to be relying on measurement than previously. The flip side is the pace toward a more analytical mindset is incremental.

7 Steps of SEO: A Step-by-Step Guide to Search Engine-Friendly Content
April 25th, 2016 by Dr. Kristen Helfin, Assistant Professor, Kennesaw State UniversitySince PR professionals often are charged with developing effective online content, this article details six steps for creating search engine-friendly content.

Org Chart: An Integrated PR Team Built to Thrive in a Complex Landscape
April 18th, 2016 by Seth ArensteinThere’s little doubt that successful communicators need to constantly adapt to myriad changes in content creation and distribution.
“The digital age has not made [being a communicator] simpler,” says Erin Streeter, SVP, communications, National Association of Manufacturers(NAM). “The talent and infrastructure needed to be successful is greater and more complex than ever,” she says. Her org chart illustrates this.

5 Hashtag Tips to Help You Promote Your Brand Without Stumbling Into Dreaded Inauthenticity
April 18th, 2016 by Seth ArensteinBrands and organizations from Lifetime Movie Network (LMN) to the member unions of the AFL-CIO last week hopped on one of the week’s trending hashtags #EqualPayDay, celebrating a holiday that brings attention to the disparity between the pay of men and women in some sectors.

How Speakers Can Capture an Audience Fast and Craft an Unforgettable Ending
April 18th, 2016 by Justin Pettigrew, Assistant Professor, Kennesaw State UniversityIn my experience, it’s often helpful to save writing the opening of the speech for later in the process, rather than trying to start with some engaging anecdote or shocking fact and then trying to build your speech around your opening.