PR Insiders

Now in its 51st year of operation, CES is more relevant than ever given it’s the biggest global stage for companies to demonstrate what technology products and services are likely to be commercialized in the year ahead. Beyond commercial interests, CES also provides an opportunity for company leaders to demonstrate a path forward to a brighter future for the tech industry, which has recently experienced an unusual backlash from a cross-section of audiences.

Lou Williams was one of the leading advocates for having public relations research, measurement and evaluation focus on the outcomes of PR campaigns rather than message outputs. Through speeches, workshops and seminars, he did his best to help make PR measurement and evaluation more meaningful. He once scolded judges of several of the industry’s major awards competitions for not being critical enough while assessing research and measurement.

Intern of the Year Delaney Lanker was tasked with drafting HP’s pitches, researching media targets and conducting outreach to lifestyle, travel and parenting magazines. In less than a month, she placed HP product Sprocket with Travel & Leisure, which has a print audience of 6.3 million. A natural leader, Lanker also shows HP’s other interns—many of whom have never had a “real” job before—best practices for taking notes in meetings, writing blog posts and asking for feedback.

There’s a line in the movie “Molly’s Game” I think you’ll appreciate. As the young and future Olympic-level skier Molly Bloom was learning the sport from her father, he gave her this advice on the… Continued

As communicators you know you are as good as the last story told, the last campaign launched, the next initiative approved. The business world equivalent of moguls, black diamonds, avalanches – you’ll confront all these challenges this year if you are putting yourself out there. And if you are looking down, that is where you’ll go.

Let’s agree that PR measurement is not just about numbers and tone. It’s about how communicators can use accurate and insightful data to influence business decisions and develop strategic guidance. Former CCO of Fortune 500 companies and current trustee of the Institute for Public Relations Jim Simon offers examples of how companies derived strategic insights from PR measurement.

Many brands claim to have adopted a cause. While more consumers are becoming loyal to brands that make commitments to social causes, some view this popular form of philanthropy with skepticism. Brandy Gamoning, marketing director for NestFresh Eggs, provides tips that will help you meet this challenge with communications efforts that will raise the authenticity of your cause marketing.

Molly Levinson is a known problem-solver and in 2017, the problem she tackled was fake news.

Levinson led the crisis management and communications efforts for the matter widely known as “Pizzagate”—months of sustained online attacks and perpetuation of conspiracy theories aimed primarily toward a Washington, D.C. restaurant, Comet Ping Pong—which spread virally online.

It is said there are two sides to every story. Similarly the internet and social media platforms have their pros and cons, although the net’s bad characteristics often receive the dominant share of attention. 2018 might mark a consensus around a new code of conduct for social media as several breaking stories seem to demonstrate.

We’ve heard it said often at conferences and during panels at trade shows: “The internet and social media have their good sides and bad sides.” While it’s true that what many consider the bad side… Continued