I started working in PR back “in the day.”  I make interns giggle when I tell them about editing press releases by crossing out letters and words, using White-out and actually taping pieces of paper together to add additional information.  We usually sent press release drafts to clients via courier or the mail.  (more…)

It happened again.  I spent two hours last night catching up with a dear friend/former colleague whom I haven’t spoken with in a couple years.  (We, like many people, recently re-connected on Facebook.)  And I got to hear another fascinating business idea.  In the last two months, I have been honored to be part of 6 such conversations. They are invariably fascinating and I learn something new with each one. (more…)

I did a mini-rant blog post yesterday.  A friend called it my “can’t we just all get along” plea.  I think some other folks thought I was being a mite naive but here’s my (Modest) Proposal* for changing PR/Journalistic relationships for the better. (more…)

Ok — let’s see if I can sell this analogy.  I’ve used it a couple times now and everyone seems to get it, will it translate into a short blog post?  (more…)

In addition to the “This is a rant” warning, I will also say I would advise anyone dismissing this as just a rant to make sure you read the whole thing first.  I might surprise you. (more…)

I get up ridiculously early in the morning.  If my gym opened earlier than 5:00 am I would probably be there then too.  I also multi-task with relish.  I have my iPod on (I still haven’t started listening to the Nature podcast my son likes but I will get there eventually.)  I can put my latest read on the elliptical machine book holder and scan a row of televisions usually tuned to the news.  (Although, to be fair, TNT does have a block of Angel that starts at 5 or 6, if not Cold Case.) (more…)

Early on in my PR career I discovered that I could very easily “defend” PR as a function when I showed management some numbers.  My discovery wasn’t unique but I didn’t understand how unusual it was among PR people until I started hanging out with the crowd at Delahaye.  In the mid ’90s I became their first global client, measuring PR results and message communication in every country we did PR in, which was quite a few.  More importantly, we used that data to change and tweak our PR programs. (more…)

Lately I have been reading a lot of “PR is dying”, “PR is dead” articles because there is also the perception that the media is dying.  (There is even a Twitter feed called “The Media is Dying” that catalogs the comings and goings of the media world — mostly the goings.) A lot of people are attributing the perceived coming demise of PR to social networks - why do we need a special group of professionals to deal with traditional media when people are just talking directly to each other on Facebook, MySpace and Twitter. (more…)

I had another one of those conversations today.  It’s a normal, everyday conversation with someone who knows me and who has known me for at least a couple of years.  More than just a casual acquaintance but someone who is in my home for a meal.  A real world friend. (more…)

Actually, this one is just tied for second place.  I still can’t tell the story it is tied with — maybe someday.

In 1969, the Queen came to Canada and to celebrate her trip, she gifted the city of Ottawa with a pair of swans from the Royal flock.  Now, being a pair of swans, they do what swans do and soon there was a whole flock of Royal swans living it up in the canals of Ottawa during the summer. (more…)