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When it comes to pitching reporters, the more things change, the more they stay the same. While Twitter and contacts saved to your phone replace Rolodexes, much of the work to land impactful placements remains developing solid relationships with reporters. Software offerings can give you a list of potential media contacts in a few minutes, but seasoned pros still caution against blasting reporters with generic emails.

In this regular feature, PR News asks movers and shakers in the industry to share a little bit of their personal history and personality through answering a series of 12 questions.

The popularity of various social media platforms across different demographics is constantly in flux, as illustrated in this new infographic from Jones PR. “The Demographics of Social Media in 2019” begins with the revelation that Instagram and Snapchat are rapidly gaining popularity among users under 30, threatening to unseat YouTube and Facebook, which still rank among the most popular platforms.

Lou Dubois, director of content, arrived at Hilton after building his first brand newsroom at NBCUniversal. With a journalism background, Dubois came to understand the need for a global brand,like Hilton, to wrangle the stories being made at over 5,700 properties into one central chronicle. Hilton is currently comprised of 17 brands in 113 countries, and its 14 separate online media centers could not efficiently deliver to its intended audiences—the media, employees and consumers.

Four years ago, Volkswagen received extensive punishment for lying about noxious levels of their diesel vehicles’ emissions. The company is back in the news as German prosecutors charged Rupert Stadler, former chief executive of Audi, the luxury arm of VW, with fraud for his role in another emissions cheating scandal.

It’s not all about eye contact or presence. Public speaking is like an expensive watch: There’s an almost incalculable amount of highly intricate machinery working behind the scenes to keep it running smoothly. The speaking—like telling time—looks effortless, but it takes many highly coordinated pieces to function. If you are representing your brand on stage, here’s how you make sure you’re doing it right.

Have you been enjoying a restful summer, lounging at the pool, a la “The Graduate,” replenishing your energy for the job search after securing a communications degree? Or are you in the trenches, navigating the water cooler and the ‘delights’ of a 7 a.m. commute at your first post-college gig? The great news is that you graduated—an accomplishment, for sure. But what’s next? And where do you start?

We’re told in media relations to “think like a journalist.” Frank Ahrens modifies that a bit to read “think like a food service industry employee.” Specifically, the VP at BGR Public Relations argues that media relations pros can learn much about relationship-building with journalists from the way Chick-fil-A employees treat customers.

Data breaches are happening at an alarming rate. They’re almost a fact of corporate life. As such, it’s critical that communicators be ready to communicate around a cyber crime incident. Capital One is the latest large brand to experience a mammoth data breach. Fortunately, the bank moved quickly to communicate and the hacker advertised her dubious accomplishment, which led to her arrest.

That stigma attached to seeking help is not surprising in a line of work so tethered to certain social expectations around masculinity, silence and honor. But commissioner O’Neill’s response heralds a powerful lesson for communicators—when you work for a brand or organization that places added stress on your employees, providing empathetic solutions and mental health resources is not only good for reputation—it can save lives.