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At this point, everybody knows the score. Journalists are doing more with less and they don’t have time for copy-and-pasted press releases. You’re wasting their time and you’re wasting your own. Boring pitches, poorly targeted pitches and fluff help no one.

How do you teach U.S. diplomats to be effective storytellers? A group of PR pros created a simple model for a State Department communications course that makes storytelling scaleable and systematic. Yes, it seems basic and you may think you follow the model’s steps already, but take a moment to consider the framework. It can bolster your storytelling effort.

Aligning your brand with your website is all about consistency, core messaging, and audience appeal. How can you make sure your website is compelling to your audience and encouraging return visits? Some pros on the front lines weigh in.

NYPD commissioner James O’Neill crafted a well-written statement announcing the firing of Officer Daniel Pantaleo earlier this week. In a highly volatile situation, sometimes the best a communicator can do is stake out a position that she or he believes is correct, issue a statement and brace for incoming attacks.

There is a proverb that says, “Failure is the mother of success.” And we, as business professionals, know this to be true. Struggle is the best educator. And innovating and failing fast has become a top business strategy. In this PRNEWS series, in partnership with the Institute for Public Relations, some of the most successful leaders in the industry will share the lessons they have learned from failure.

Whether it be flight delays, shark sightings, wildfires or mudslides, tourism public relations pros should hope for the best, but always prepare for the worst, especially in the summer during peak vacation time. Denali National Park showed preparedness, and a quick resolution of a scary situation, which many organizations would be right to mirror. These takeaways can help guide your brand through the worst crisis.

Journalism remains one of the most volatile careers due to industry mergers, political attacks, and the gutting of resources to maximize profits. In the past month we’ve seen GateHouse Media announce an incorporation with Gannett and CBS combining its assets with Viacom, withering away an already sparse news ownership scene. While an important and exciting job, for some the pressures and layoffs are too numerous and frequent, and enough is enough.

We know influencer marketing can provide third-party authenticity to brands. It also can raise awareness and bolster sales. On the other hand, it means allowing an outsider to be your brand ambassador and losing some degree of control. Here are three tips to reduce your anxiety when working with influencers.

This past Wednesday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average stock market index hit its lowest point in 2019. Many critics pointed to President Trump’s decision to tie his performance to the markets and start a trade war with China, while economists worried about something called the inverted yield curve, which can point to an imminent recession. For communicators in either the financial sector, or those speaking to an organization’s finances, this panic yields many opportunities to practice educational, non-siloed PR. Here are a few things to focus on.

Let’s face it: You don’t have to be running PR for Donald Trump to find yourself mired in the muck with a difficult client. This is a common situation for those in PR and communications and it causes a lot of stress and anxiety. So it’s important to know how best to deal with challenging clients, both to minimize the psychological impact on you and also ensure you deliver quality results for the client.