Stories by Tony Silber

When I started out in journalism—in daily newspapers—every so often you’d have a colleague opt out of the reporter’s life and move into PR instead. It always seemed like a loss, because some of those colleagues were the most capable among us. But journalism’s loss was PR’s gain. Today, in 2013, that’s perhaps more true […]

“Native advertising,” PR communicators have learned, is a form of paid advertising placement where the ad experience follows the natural editorial form and function of the environment in which it’s placed.

Last week, Buzzfeed founder and CEO Jonah Peretti published a long memo on LinkedIn. It was titled a memo to the staff, but really was only partly directed to the staff. It was also a PR message to all stakeholders as well as competitors. At any rate, it was brilliant. It was the most clear-headed, […]

In the tech world, one of the iconic moments of the 1990s was when Steve Jobs returned to Apple in 1997. He went to Macworld and gave one of his best speeches, during which he announced a partnership with Microsoft. Bill Gates made an appearance during that speech, projected on a giant screen behind Jobs. […]

Late last week, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg’s foundation, LeanIn.org, got some negative media coverage. An editor from the organization posted a call on her Facebook page for unpaid interns. The criticism was immediate and furious. How could a non-profit dedicated to empowering women, and fighting the glass ceiling, engage in what many people say are […]

I was at a PR News Conference a couple of weeks ago, and during a Q&A with a panel critiquing press inquiries, the question came up of when and how to follow-up with a non-responsive reporter. I was the moderator of the panel, and I counseled persistence. I’ve found in my career as a journalist […]

I was at a PR News Conference a couple of weeks ago, and during a Q&A with a panel critiquing press inquiries, the question came up of when and how to follow-up with a non-responsive reporter. I was the moderator of the panel, and I counseled pers…

A social media rapid response goes awry when Domino’s delivered what appeared to be an automated response to a Facebook compliment.

The second story on BuzzFeed’s website this morning was…wait for it…“12 Comebacks We Can All Agree With.” (I say ‘wait for it’ because anyone who knows BuzzFeed’s editorial approach knows its love for lists.) It was a sponsored story—paid advertising—posted on behalf of Hostess, whose Twinkies and other brands are back after the production ceased […]

The ugly story of Aaron Hernandez raises again the issue of perception challenges in big-time sports, both on the professional and collegiate levels, and it’s worth some time thinking about how we got here. We’re a sports-obsessed culture. Always have been. It goes way back in the country’s psyche. I recently read a book called […]