Tuesday Tip-Offs

Being dragged into any political firestorm offers little potential for upside. When the controversy is as volatile as the Israel-Hamas war, you are likely faced with a no-win conundrum. Controlling the damage may be the best you can hope for; you certainly don’t want...

Hilton recently announced the results of a global survey that found nearly three-quarters of event goers prefer in-person meetings over virtual ones. Right on, team! Zoom and other conference platforms can be great tools, assuming they are used strategically and...

Hey team - Greetings from Hollywood! I’m here preparing a client for a media event. While driving by all the famous studios I was reminded of how important storytelling is in communications and PR. News articles, presentations and social media posts are all stories –...

When I was TV reporter, nothing was worse than conducting interviews with people who didn’t get to the point. I’d be rolling tape for what seemed like forever, hoping I might eventually get a usable soundbite. Too often, businesspeople make reporters climb a tall...

Happy Halloween! This is the one day when it is perfectly acceptable to be downright frightening. The rest of the year, at least when it comes to giving presentations, the last thing you want to do is scare off your audience. Sadly, it happens all the time in both...

I’m just back from the Public Relations Society of America’s annual international conference In Nashville. (Thank you PRSA for inviting me to conduct a media training program.) THE hot topic this year – hotter than the hottest Nashville chicken – was AI. There was...

With apologies to The Bard, “To speak, or not to speak?” is one of the biggest decisions organizations must make when dealing with difficult issues. More times than not, corporations put out media statements rather than provide spokespersons. GM, Ford, Sellantis and...

It’s one of the great mysteries of life, or at least business: What exactly is PR? To a lot of people, it’s about making news. “Did you see our great PR?” Or it’s crisis management. “They have a BIG PR problem.” There is a lot more to the discipline of public...

“How do you get over being nervous before an interview?” That’s one of the most frequent questions I get at the beginning of media training programs. Being questioned by a journalist, especially on-camera, can be a daunting experience. First, you’re giving up control....

Vacations are over, the fourth quarter starts in just a few weeks and more employees are returning to the office. I’m also betting your organization has a lot of new faces, the result of the Great Resignation. Fall is the ideal time to book in-person or virtual media,...