I sat in a networking meeting where business leaders went around the room sharing their primary goals. When it was my turn to talk strategic communications, I said bluntly, “Our objective is to make more money.” The room laughed. In public, many organizations say the same thing under layers of more polished language. They talk […]
Smart Strategic Communications Should Start With Dollars Read More »
Starbucks announced its holiday drinks are back and that it’s giving customers a red collectible holiday cup when they order holiday drinks. “This year’s cup will warm your heart as well as your hands, with a festive design that evokes a cozy holiday sweater,” Starbucks’ website states. Starbucks’ holiday cups, and the company’s emotional
14 Tips From Starbucks’ Red Collectible Holiday Cups Read More »
Technical problems we all secretly predicted Watching the carefully thought out newsroom election night game plan quickly disintegrate Being assigned to a new candidate at the last second after conducting weeks of research on another one Wondering what genius decided to assign several crews to work under tight deadlines on the same laptop editor Watching
10 Things I Miss Most About Covering Election Nights As A Reporter Read More »
Share stories. Hillary Clinton shared the story of a Las Vegas girl to relay the candidate’s position on immigration. Share personal stories to humanize and effectively illustrate your key messages especially when they are complex. Don’t pivot. When asked about information from leaked emails, Clinton awkwardly pivoted the focus of her answer to criticism about Russia. It’s
Presidential Debate’s 7 Lessons For Business Leaders Read More »
Media training is not about attempting to memorize a script of lines you may or may not believe in. It’s not about stifling your opinions. It’s not about cleverly sidestepping questions, which most people realize you’re doing anyway. It’s not about hammering your critics with hyperbole and overused cliches. It’s not about analyzing your body
10 Media Training Myths Read More »
Obama cited border security achievements. Lesson: Outline achievements before proposing controversial ideas. Obama discussed business leaders. Lesson: Identify target audiences and attempt to win their support. Obama talked about his deportation efforts. Lesson: Address your critics. Again, explain achievements. Obama talked about illegal immigrants worshiping at churches. Lesson: Humanize your controversial issues. Obama mentioned George
Obama’s Immigration Speech: 16 Media Training Lessons Read More »
Read this BuzzFeed story to learn what led to the apology. The reporter addresses the situation in her story and explains the executive also called and emailed her. Today’s media training lesson: Never consider anything off the record. Just ask Mitt Romney. https://twitter.com/emilmichael/status/534580244095959040 https://twitter.com/emilmichael/status/534580635709759488
Media Training: Uber Exec’s Twitter Apology To Reporter Read More »
Too many businesses continue to disappoint us with how they handle tough questions.
Takata’s Statement Displays Disappointing PR Tactics Read More »
Social media channels often are better ways to communicate than websites, and it would be refreshing if more companies didn’t leave those options out in the cold.
Split On Dairy Queen’s Data Breach Response: Grade C Read More »
People often prepare extensively for news media interviews but sometimes are surprised how much an interviewer does not know.
Media Training: TV Anchor Talks Nudity, Gets Mixed Up Read More »
