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PR talk from sea to shining sea! Bringing you the best PR talk, tips, and tactics, every other Friday, with hosts Robert Johnson and Summer Johnson.
Available episodes
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Jun 18, 2021
How to Survive Bad News
Our summer PR book review series wraps up with a must-have guide to crisis comms that you can get for free! Robert talks with Jeff Hahn about his book, Breaking Bad News – 12 Essential Crisis Communication Tools, a survival guide intended to help you and your brand or organization navigate the first two hours of a reputation crisis. Listen to the interview for info about how to get a free copy of the book, then follow the link in the show notes to have it sent to you now.
This is the final episode of the season. We’re taking the rest of the summer off, but we won’t be goofing around. We’ll use the next couple of months to build a new show with more voices, more variety, shorter interviews, a different approach to PR news, and other fun surprises.
The new PR Nation podcast debuts Friday, August 27th!
Links:
Guest: Jeff Hahn
Get Your Free Copy of the Book: Breaking Bad News
PR Nation website
O’Dwyer’s PR Newsletter
Jun 4, 2021
The Ultimate PR Handbook Reviewed
If you had to read one book about public relations, what book would it be? Would you read a book about social media? Maybe one about research and planning? How about one on writing or marketing techniques? That sounds like a lot of books, maybe too many.
Wouldn’t it be nice if you could get everything you need to know about all these topics and more in one handbook? We’ve found one that covers every PR topic in a format that doesn’t waste your time.
It’s called “Complete Public Relations” and it’s hot off the presses. Robert continues PR Nation’s summer PR book review series in a conversation with two of the book’s three authors, Suzanne FitzGerald and Joe Basso.
Also, the crew comments on the French Open’s mishandling of Naomi Osaka’s media concerns, the firing of an Associated Press writer for her political tweets, and the United Airlines contest for people who’ve been vaccinated against COVID-19.
Links:
A California teen pushed a bear off her backyard wall
Osaka Fallout: Are Press Conferences Still the Answer?
AP explains why it fired Emily Wilder
United Airlines’ contest gets passengers to share vaccine info
Guest: Suzanne FitzGerald
Guest: Joe Basso
Publisher: Complete Public Relations
PR Nation website
O’Dwyer’s PR Newsletter
May 21, 2021
How to Give a TV Interview
Who in PR Nation likes to give media interviews? Some of you probably love it. But we’re guessing an equal number are just fine not standing in front of a TV camera. And we can’t blame you. The interview process can be frightening. It can be invasive. It’s rarely fun.
But there is a new book that can help you manage, survive, and possibly even enjoy the media interview process. Robert visits with one of the authors, former TV anchorman Rick DeBruhl, about “The Insider’s Guide to Media Training.”
Also, the crew debates a White House requirement that reporters get some quotes approved before publication, tries to understand Prince Harry’s criticism of the First Amendment, and consoles Sarah over the final results of this year's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame voting.
Links:
Rock and Roll HOF – 2021 Inductees
Prince Harry calls First Amendment ‘Bonkers’
Reporters fume at White House ‘quote approval’ rules
Opinion: The CDC’s mask guidance is a mess. Biden needs to clean it up.
Guest: Rick DeBruhl
Amazon: The Insider's Guide to Media Training
PR Nation website
O’Dwyer’s PR Newsletter
May 7, 2021
How Social Media Impacts Society
There’s been a lot going on in the world the last year. How has social media impacted the debate over policing, race, politics, and the pandemic? PR Nation’s favorite doctors, Ph.D’s that is, join Robert to discuss their new book _Social Media and Society_. Whether you know a lot or a little about social media this book is for you!
Also, Summer gets bullied by aggressive buyers fighting over a blender on Facebook Marketplace, Rachel and Tim confess their relatives are magicians, while Sarah is grateful she’s only dealing with fanny packs and Jorts at home!
Links:
Spotify CEO silent on Joe Rogan’s anti-vax comments
Trump’s ban from Facebook is upheld, but panel orders review
Polling suggests little downside for brands offering free products to vaccinated Americans
Guest: Dr. Gina Luttrell
Guest: Dr. Adrienne Wallace
What happens in an Internet minute?
Book: Social Media and Society
PR Nation website
O’Dwyer’s PR Newsletter
Apr 30, 2021
Improve Your Internal Comms!
This week, we talk about internal communications, and why the audience you work with, the one right in front of you, is so important to your organization’s success. PR Nation contributor Pooja Kamat joins the crew from Mumbai, India to kick off her interview with Jennifer Thomas, an internal comms pro with GSK in London.
Also, the crew reveals the biggest news of the week, and it has nothing to do with PR, but rather a mystery box winding its way from Florida to Pennsylvania. There’s also a PR discussion about George Washington’s River Farm, Alaska Airlines’ handling of a mask controversy, and the end of the “Op Ed.”
Links:
American Horticultural Society board rift could complicate proposed sale of historic River Farm
Alaska Airlines bans state senator for refusing to wear a mask
Why the New York Times is retiring the term “Op Ed”
Guest: Jennifer Thomas
PR Nation website
O’Dwyer’s PR Newsletter
Apr 23, 2021
Learning PR from Circus Clowns?
Do you worry that you might be missing something when you write a PR plan? Are your pitching skills current? Do you know the easiest way to get a PR effort started? So many questions, so little time.
Luckily, Amy Rosenberg has written a book full of tactical PR advice, addressing those and many other PR mysteries. Robert has read the book, “A Modern Guide to Public Relations – Unveiling the Mystery of PR.” On this episode, he kicks off PR Nation’s spring PR book review series talking with Amy, an Oregon-based pro, about the guide, her PR approach, and the circus clowns who inspired it!
The crew rolls through the studio today, but lots of client work has left little time for chit chat this week. John O’Dwyer is along with the latest PR news, but other fan favorites, like Take 3, return better than ever in two weeks!
Links:
Guest: Amy Rosenberg
PR Talk
Amazon: A Modern Guide to Public Relations
PR Nation website
O’Dwyer’s PR Newsletter
Apr 9, 2021
Is TikTok a PR Tool?
Most of us know TikTok as the social media platform for short-form videos used mostly by younger people. But is it just for Gen Z-ers who need to dance or is it more than that? Many well-known brands are using TikTok with impressive results: Guess, the NBA and NFL, Chipotle, and even the Washington Post.
So maybe there’s hope for the rest of us? If you’ve been on the sidelines watching the TikTok game play out in front of you, this is your chance to learn how TikTok could be a tactic in your next PR campaign.
Sarah, PR Nation’s in-house digital native, talks TikTok with Samantha Ogborn, founder and CEO of Once and More, about her passion for the platform and the tools for those of us who might be holding back.
Also, the crew discusses Sarah’s Star Wars-themed cat artwork, whether PR Nation’s pets need their own Instagram channel, and what should have happened the moment a ’60 Minutes’ reporter fired a tough question at Florida’s governor a month ago.
Links:
’60 Minutes’ misses the mark in its story about Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and COVID-19 vaccines
Publix hits back on ’60 Minutes’ investigation
The Trump White House provided reporters with a gusher of leaks. With Biden, everything’s changed.
Guest: Samantha Ogborn
10 Brands and Organizations Rocking TikTok Marketing
PR Nation website
O’Dwyer’s PR Newsletter
Apr 6, 2021
AP Stylebook Showdown - Avni Gupta
The AP Stylebook Showdown is back! In this special episode of PR Nation, player Avni Gupta puts her AP style knowledge to the test.
Host Robert Johnson is known for breaking out some tricky AP questions. Think you’re up to it? Listen, play along, and let us know your score!
Links:
Guest: Avni Gupta
Mar 26, 2021
How to Land Your First PR Agency Job
For university and college students about to graduate with degrees in public relations and communications, this can be a stressful time. From now until May, seniors across the PR Nation will be laser focused on finding a PR job. Young pro and PR Nation contributor Paula Chirinos, in New York City, talks about the job-hunting process and tips for landing that first PR agency position with Danielle Calhoun, VP of Inclusive Practices at Weber Shandwick in San Francisco.
Also, the crew discusses an upcoming spring break trip to a Tennessee dude ranch, while Editor Tim admits he had to look up the definition of the term “dude ranch.” And Paula plays the Beatles hit tune “Here comes the sun” on her ukulele.
Links:
The saga of mishaps and miscommunications overshadowing AstraZeneca’s Covid vaccine
Marketing Company Dangles Vaccine to Test Employees on Phishing
Trump predicted news ratings would ‘tank if I’m not there.’ He wasn’t wrong.
Guest Host: Paula Chirinos
Guest: Danielle Calhoun
10 Brands and Organizations Rocking TikTok Marketing
Mar 19, 2021
How to Improve Your Zoom Pitches
It’s been a year since we first had to jump on Zoom for staff meetings, client updates, and other conversations, working through the technology, learning how to share documents, use the chat feature, and arrange our backgrounds.
The pandemic also has forced clients to conduct agency reviews online through the cold lens of the teleconference platform.We’ve all had to pitch our wares to people we’d like to meet but now can’t see because so many have their cameras turned off.
Even as we hope for an end to social distancing, it’s unclear whether all new business pitches will return to an in-person format which is why Robert asked Robert Udowitz of RFP Associates for some advice and tips developed just for this conversation.
Also, the crew previews President Biden’s first White House news conference, discusses the Alexi McCammond story, and considers the problem with comments captured while microphones are still listening.
Links:
Biden to hold first formal news conference on March 25
New Teen Vogue editor-in-chief Alexi McCammond resigns over past racist tweets about Asians
McCammond’s Story: Is There an Expiration Date for Tweets?
Dem Senator Caught on Hot Mic
Guest: Robert Udowitz
RFP Associates website
PR Nation website
O’Dwyer’s PR Newsletter
Mar 12, 2021
Hiring and Promoting Hispanic PR Pros
This week, another PR Nation young pro, Zane Landin, contributes his perspective on the topic of Hispanics in our industry. Is the PR business doing a good job of recruiting and promoting Hispanic practitioners? Zane examines the progress and the possibilities with Stephen Chavez, CEO of Chavez PR in the greater Los Angeles area, and an adjunct professor at the University of La Verne, in La Verne, California.
Also, the crew discusses the debate over vaccine selfies, Burger King’s disastrous tweet, and Buckingham Palace’s handling of racist criticisms. They also prepare for a cicada (bug) invasion and wonder why people would eat them. One thing we know – they are not on the menu for vegetarians like Sarah!
Links:
Cicadas Coming to U.S. East Coast This Spring
To selfie or not to selfie? Why the joy of getting vaccinated is drawing backlash
Thoughts & Prayers To Whoever Runs Burger King’s Twitter & Has To Clean This Mess Up
Royal response fails to end anger over Meghan racis…
Mar 5, 2021
NASA’s Mars PR Lessons
NASA’s Perseverance rover landed on Mars on February 18th. But even before that historic moment, audiences were engaging with the mission, signing up to send their name on a microchip to the red planet, taking pics with the lander in a virtual photo booth, and making plans to watch the landing live on social media and other NASA-owned channels. The mission is a PR bonanza for America’s space agency.
So how does NASA do it? And what lessons can other PR pros learn from the agency’s Mars PR work? Marketing expert and space junkie David Meerman Scott joins Robert to answer those questions.
Also, the crew debates the White House proposal to charge reporters for their COVID tests, and campaigns for rock group Iron Maiden, Sarah’s favorite band on this year’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2021 Induction Fan ballot.
Links:
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2021 Induction Fan Ballot
White House and press are at odds over plan to charge reporters for coronavirus testing
BBC apologizes for…
Feb 26, 2021
How to Find a PR Mentor
Today, young PR pro and PR Nation contributor Michaela Lewin tackles two topics important to practitioners today – mentorships and diversity. In her second conversation for the podcast, Michaela discusses the importance of PR mentors and explores diversity issues facing our business. Her guest is her mentor, Lauren Brooks, the Director of Public Relations and Marketing at Kettering College in Dayton, OH.
Also, the team gives a Clubhouse update, while Editor Tim points out how much PR the social audio app has received from the podcast!
Links:
Contributor: Michaela Lewin
Guest: Lauren Brooks
Harvard Business Review: PR Agencies Need to Be More Diverse and Inclusive. Here’s How to Start.
Hold the PRess Petition
Hold the PRess Instagram Page
PR Nation website
O’Dwyer’s PR Newsletter
Feb 19, 2021
Is Clubhouse a PR Tool?
Clubhouse is the new audio-only social media app causing quite a stir all over the internet. It’s been around for almost a year but only recently have most people discovered it.
Clubhouse is an invitation-only platform where people on the _inside_ can wander virtual hallways, popping in and out of rooms filled with groups of members from around the world having live conversations about all kinds of topics.
Can Clubhouse be used as a PR tool? Robert visits with ADWEEK’s social media reporter, Scott Nover, and social media influencer Giselle Ugarte about Clubhouse as a PR tool.
Links:
Guest: Giselle Ugarte
Guest: Scott Nover
Even in COVID-19, Journalists Seek Brief, Relevant Pitches
Will Clubhouse be the next social media platform for marketers?
PR Nation website
O’Dwyer’s PR Newsletter
Feb 5, 2021
Virtual Event Tips
One of the biggest PR challenges during the pandemic has been event planning. Many events that worked in person are not translating well on Zoom. The result has been fewer registrations and less audience engagement. Recently, students at Boston University’s PR Lab held a virtual all-night event for charity, and their results were more than impressive. How did they do it? This week, Sarah asks PR Lab leaders Rachel Rubinstein and Remy Frohman about their approach and the results that followed.
The crew welcomes new cast mate Rachel Derby, and considers a new set of PR’s hottest questions in another round of Take 3. Also, we lose Sarah for a moment, as she disappears during the recording session. Find out where she went!
Links:
White House Reporters: Biden Team Wanted Our Questions in Advance
White House punts question on the Space Force’s future
No 10 pulls “sexist” Covid ad showing all chores done by women
Guest: Rachel Rubinstein
Guest: Remy Frohman
PR Nation website…
Jan 29, 2021
Trump's PR Legacy
As chaotic as the last four years were under former President Trump, is there anything PR pros can learn from the experience? We ask longtime public affairs pro George Franklin what public relations people should take away, or leave behind, from the previous Administration. Franklin, the author of three books about his craft, chats with Robert in an interview recorded on Inauguration Day.
Also, the crew talks about astrology, hints at a new member of the team set to join the cast next week, and handles three hot PR issues.
Links:
Budweiser to skip Super Bowl ads, donate to coronavirus vaccination awareness instead
After she faces the nation on CBS, PR tips for Dr. BIrx
An American Sign Language interpreter will now appear at all White House press briefings
Robert’s Blog: Don’t Tweet on the Toilet
Guest: George Franklin
Amazon: Raisin Bran and Other Cereal Wars
Amazon: So You Think You Want To Run For Congress
Amazon: Incentives - The Holy Water of Free Enterprise
PR Nati…
Jan 22, 2021
Using the F-Word in a PR Campaign
What does it take to get an audience to pay attention these days? Screaming? Shouting? Using the F-word?
In normal times, the answer might be none of the above. But these are not normal times. And a campaign created by a group of PR students at Boston University is no normal campaign.
Why? Because the F-word is the first word in a tagline aimed at students who might otherwise blow off COVID-19 health and safety guidelines.
Robert caught up with B-U Master’s graduate Hailey McKee, a member of the team that came up with a vulgar anti-COVID campaign that is turning heads.
Also, the team weighs in on whether it’s a good idea to pitch stories on Inauguration Day, a suggestion that top Biden Administration officials should dump their Twitter accounts, and the new president’s PR performance in his first few days on the job.
When it comes to the answers to the questions, Sarah and Tim say it all depends!
Links:
PR News - An Inauguration Day Conundrum: to Pitch or Not to Pitch
Con…
Dec 24, 2020
“12 Days of PR Christmas” Sing Along
PR Nation wraps up its first season as America’s PR Podcast with a holiday sing-along. Robert and Sarah treat listeners to their rendition of the holiday classic “12 Days of Christmas” with a version written just for PR pros everywhere.
Robert also talks about the future of PR and advice for PR students with Gemma Puglisi, a 2020 inductee into the PRSA National Capital Chapter’s Hall of Fame. And Summer’s debut on the big stage is revealed.
In case you want to join in from your car, bedroom, or kitchen, we’re also including here the lyrics to the song!
“12 Days of PR Christmas” by Robert Johnson
On the first day of Christmas, my true love sent to me: A mult box with a mic tree.
On the second day of Christmas, my true love sent to me: Two network hits and a mult box with a mic tree.
On the third day of Christmas, my true love sent to me: Three podcasts, two network hits, and a mult box with a mic tree.
On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me: Four…
Dec 18, 2020
Hot Takes on PR Agency Life
Have you ever lied about pitching the media? Our guest says he did when he was younger and working for a big global PR firm. Ed Zitron is the CEO of E-Z PR, a firm that handles media relations for tech clients. He’s also the author of a PR book called “This is how you pitch – How to kick ass in your first years of PR.” Robert caught up with Ed for a conversation about the PR business. Right from the start, Ed tells it like it is, so brace yourself for a conversation that’s so hot it could melt your mobile device!
Also, New Pros Contributor Michaela Lewin debuts with tips for PR students still hunting for a spring internship. Her guest, PR prof Natalia Lopez-Thismon, from Southern Adventist University, tells you what you need to know to land a gig in the new year.
And with a snowstorm hitting the east coast this week, the crew blames the COVID-19 pandemic and virtual learning tools for the end of everyone’s favorite school holiday, the snow day.
Links:
Guest: Ed Zitron…
Dec 11, 2020
How to Be Your Own PR Boss
Is it time for you to become your own PR Boss? Maybe you’re tired of working for a PR agency or in-house for an organization. Perhaps you’ve lost your job due to the COVID-19 pandemic? Whatever the reason, if you’re thinking now might be the right time to work for yourself, then you’ll want to hear Sarah’s conversation with Michelle Garrett, a freelance PR pro since 1999. Garrett manages a weekly Twitter chat for freelancers, #FreelanceChat, and joins the show to tell you how to make the move into freelance PR.
Also, New Pros contributor Pooja Kamat makes her debut from the United Kingdom with a conversation about personal brands. Tony Byng, Director of Student Education of Marketing at the Leeds University Business School, joins Pooja to talk about the importance of personal brands, why you need one, how to start one, and if you have one already, how to make it better!
Links:
PR Nation website
Guest: Michelle Garrett
New Pros Contributor (UK): Pooja Kamat
Guest: Tony B…
Nov 24, 2020
Virtual Parades and Sloppy Writing
When Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade organizers announced the event this year would be produced as a television show rather than a live experience, we decided it was time to talk turkey – about going virtual and the best way to ensure your production is successful.
Strategist John Wall has evaluated lots of virtual events forced by the COVID-19 virus, sharing with Robert his tips for those still wondering if it’s worth it to attempt any online gatherings before the pandemic subsides.
Also, longtime copy editor Rob Reinalda joins Robert for a discussion about his snarky new book, “Why Editors Drink.” The two discuss the most common writing foibles Reinalda suffered during his career editing others' copy.
Links:
Guest: John Wall
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
Guest: Rob Reinalda
Amazon: Why Editors Drink
Grammar Girl
Amazon: Dreyer's English
Amazon: Bad Advice
O’Dwyer’s PR Newsletter
Nov 13, 2020
Thinking Like a Journalist
Reporters who’ve jumped from news to PR use those journalism skills to tell stories from another perspective, but PR pros can think like journalists too, even if they’ve never worked in a newsroom. Ani Vahradyan is new to PR, having already worked as a journalist. Robert talks with her about a blog she wrote on the topic.
Also, Natalie Maniscalco talks about the power of PR in her campaign to save New York City restaurants from the economic devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic. The crew talks about a ticket service for people who like to re-enact historic battles, and the AP Stylebook Showdown returns to PR Nation with a player some listeners may recognize.
Links:
Guest: Natalie Maniscalco
Guest: Chelsea Taft
Guest: Ani Vahradyan
Thinking like a Journalist in Public Relations
O’Dwyer’s PR Newsletter
Nov 6, 2020
How to Tell Better Stories
Almost everyone in PR thinks they are awesome storytellers, but are they? Really? It’s one thing to say you’re a good storyteller. It’s quite another to be a good storyteller. That’s where Lindsay Graham can help. He’s an expert at the craft of finding new approaches to old stories. He joins Robert this week to share his advice for pros who want to become better storytellers.
Also, the crew talks about a pug’s first birthday, a harrowing go-kart ride on Halloween, and coloring a map of the United States on election night. Editor Tim is away this week. He was distracted admiring the softness of his IPR marathon t-shirt and missed the recording session.
Links:
Guest: Lindsay Graham
Lindsay Graham’s History Podcasts on Airship.fm
O’Dwyer’s PR Newsletter
Oct 31, 2020
Storytelling That’s Out of This World!
Everyone loves a good story, but what happens when the story is so good that it sends people into a panic? We celebrate Halloween Eve with the story behind the story of a Martian invasion that terrified American radio listeners this night in 1938. Robert breaks down Orson Welles’ radio drama “War of the Worlds” with Gail Jarrow, author of a book about the broadcast, “Spooked!” They examine the story, the techniques used to horrify people with sound, and the lessons for today’s PR storytellers.
Also, the crew debates music preferences, and surprises Sarah with a trip to another scary place that just happens to be one of her favorite spots on the map!
Links:
Gettysburg: National Park Service
The Twilight Zone
Guest: Gail Jarrow
War of the Worlds Broadcast from 1938
Amazon: Spooked!
Guest: Lindsay Graham
Lindsay Graham’s History Podcasts on Airship.fm
O’Dwyer’s PR Newsletter
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Oct 16, 2020
Managing Media Lists During COVID
Managing media lists got tougher when the COVID-19 virus sent all of us, including journalists, home to ride out the pandemic. Fewer reporters can be reached through newsroom phone lines, and the number of emails they’re getting now has likely skyrocketed. How can you overcome this challenge?
Robert checks in with two pros who build, manage, and maintain media contact information for Cision's industry-leading database, Cision Connect. Kristen Sala, Senior Director, U.S. Media Research, and Erin Gentry, Senior Product Marketing Manager, visit the show to tell us how we can tackle our media list frustrations.
Also, Robert announces a big win for Sarah, Tim loves his free t-shirt, and Philly pros brace for a political comms discussion days before the election!
Links:
Abbott and Costello: Who’s on First?
Guest: Kristen Sala
Guest: Erin Gentry
Cision Connect
Flashback: The Shadow
O’Dwyer’s PR Newsletter
Oct 2, 2020
PR Diversity & Inclusion Checklist
Improve the diversity of your PR teams and campaigns with advice from two experts on DE&I issues. Robert is joined by Dr. Gina Luttrell, an assistant professor of public relations and social media at Syracuse University, and Natalia Flores, President of Inspire PR, in Charlotte, NC. The three discuss the steps for adopting a more diverse and inclusive approach to public relations, explain a handy "wheel" tool for practitioners, and outline the best arguments to persuade holdouts in your organization.
Also, Summer convinces a former PR colleague to play the AP Stylebook Showdown, Robert gets into his own standoff with a rowdy deer, and Sarah heads to the Gettysburg battlefield again this weekend – which has some in the team worried about her future.
Links:
PR Nation’s new website!
O’Dwyer’s PR Newsletter
Guest: Natalia Flores
Guest: Gina Luttrell
7 steps to adopting a D&I-first approach to PR
The Diversity & Inclusion Wheel for PR Practitioners
Why diversity and inclusi…
Sep 18, 2020
Young Pros Defy the Virus
The pandemic has been tough on people everywhere. In public relations shops across the world, people have lost their jobs, graduates have seen offers evaporate, and students watched internships vanish.
But that hasn’t stopped some young pros from pushing back on the virus. Maya Malekian, Geneve Lau, and dozens of PR students and recent graduates around the world have teamed up to launch a global pro bono PR shop. Robert connects with Maya and Geneve to talk about their agency, Empath Worldwide, its beginning, and the future.
And Sarah examines the genius and the impact of the Smokey Bear campaign, in this 76th anniversary of the public service icon who still reminds us that forest and wildfire prevention is our responsibility.
Also, the team talks about IPR’s virtual marathon to benefit PR research, Alexa, and coffee donkeys.
Links:
Amazon Music now has podcasts
LinkedIn: Amelia Folkes
IPR Run for Research
The Story of Smokey Bear
O’Dwyer’s PR Newsletter
Smokey the Be…
Sep 4, 2020
PR Students Get Agency Ready
The pandemic continues to frustrate recent PR graduates looking to land their first job and still challenges students who watched summer and fall internships evaporate when the virus attacked.
Yet from the rubble of the 2020 PR job market emerged this summer the PR Council’s Agency-Ready program giving students and young pros the training needed to prepare them for careers in agency public relations.
Sarah gets the details of the PR Council’s groundbreaking initiative from its president, Kim Sample. Then Robert leads a Zoom conversation with eight young women who are among the two thousand graduates in the inaugural class.
Also, the AP Stylebook Showdown proves no match for another Agency-Ready graduate, while the show helps one budding pro make a Labor Day weekend job connection!
Links:
The Pandemic is Ruining Our Sleep
O’Dwyer’s PR Newsletter
PR Council
Guest: Kim Sample
PR Council Agency-Ready Program
Guest: Ashleigh Kathryn
Guest: Avni Gupta
Guest: Chelsea Taft…
Aug 21, 2020
Making Effective Word Choices
Struggling to find the right word? Repeatedly pulling from overused phrases? As communicators, words are the foundation of our work. With that in mind, consulting a dictionary to reevaluate our word choices might not be a bad idea.
This week, Robert speaks with Laura Petrolino, Chief Marketing Officer at Spin Sucks. She challenges PR pros to expand their vocabulary, make thoughtful and deliberate word choices, and to pick up a thesaurus.
Plus, editor Tim makes his PR Nation host debut, while Sarah reflects on an underwhelming Christmas present.
Links:
O'Dwyer's PR Newsletter
Guest: Laura Petrolino
The Communication’s Pros Guide to Effective Word Choice
FDR, Pearl Harbor, and the Date of Infamy
11 Common English Words and Phrases with Racist Origins
How to Improve Your Word Choice (And Why Every Communicator Should)
Aug 7, 2020
Wear the Dang Mask!
We launch our COVID Case Study series with a conversation about one of many mask campaigns now playing across the United States. The most recent public health models predict 300,000 Americans will die from the virus by the end of the year – if people don’t start wearing masks. The same models say 70,000 of those lives could be saved if everyone would mask up.
Sarah kicks off our look at PR pros’ efforts to communicate to audiences during the pandemic, discussing Philadelphia’s mask campaign with James Garrow, Director of Communications at Philadelphia’s Department of Public Health.
Also, Summer hunts for a cool airbnb retreat, Robert talks about an edgy mask campaign in Michigan, and Sarah defends fanny packs.
Links:
AP-NORC Poll: 3 in 4 Americans back requiring face masks
Gallup Poll: Americans Face Mask Usage
Guest: James Garrow
#MaskUpPHL
Philadelphia Department of Public Health COVID-19 Information
Wear the Damn Mask
Jul 24, 2020
PR Job Search Tips
The pandemic has left millions of Americans looking for a job. PR people are among them. If you’ve been furloughed, fired, or had your internship cancelled, recruiter Jamie McLaughlin, an expert in connecting companies with top PR talent, may be able to help you fine-tune your job search. He talks with Robert this week about the state of the PR job market in the COVID-19 economy.
Also, Sarah’s grandparents have a kiddie pool, Robert gets hair care advice, and Summer considers a puzzle side hustle.
Links:
O’Dwyer ‘s PR Newsletter
Guest: Jamie McLaughlin
Guest: Jenna DePellegrini
Adults use kiddie pools as quarantine meets L.A. heat
What’s the proper way to use a conditioner?
Jigsaw puzzles see surge in popularity during pandemic
PRSA Job Center
IABC Job Center
Jul 10, 2020
Make Great PR Videos with a Smartphone
Just because you have a powerful camera built into your smartphone doesn’t mean it's easy to create content that people will want to watch. The smartphone has revolutionized videomaking. With a little instruction and practice, you can use it to transform the videos in your communications program.
This week, Robert talks with Glen Mulcahy, the founder of Titanium Media and managing director of Mojofest Ltd. Glen is the world’s leading expert on shooting video using the phone in your pocket. He teaches us how to shoot amazing videos for your next PR campaign.
Also, the crew discusses Glen’s whiskey bottle hack, while Adam Dvorin takes his chances in the AP Stylebook Showdown.
Links:
O’Dwyer ‘s PR Newsletter
Guest: Glen Mulcahy
Guest: Adam Dvorin
Whiskey Bottle Camera Stand
LumaFusion
KineMaster
Deity V.Lav
ThingLink
Mobile Journalism Manual
LumeCube
FiLMiC Pro
Jun 26, 2020
Expecting More From Brands
It’s hard to imagine any brand with a logo showing a slave woman on its food products, but the Aunt Jemima imagery has been appearing on its breakfast packaging for more than one hundred years.
Now, Aunt Jemima is finally being retired, along with several other black representations of cooks and servants on famous food brands. But it took weeks of nationwide protest marches to spur marketers to reflect on their branding choices.
How is it these racial stereotypes have survived this long? And what should brands do to make sure future creative work sells products without offending customers?
The questions are relevant to everyone working in communications. For the answers, Robert connects with RIESTER’s Chief Creative Officer, Tom Ortega, for his take on the changes and what we can expect from brands going forward.
Also, a good friend joins the podcast to play the AP Stylebook Showdown today, while Robert explains why there’s no tournament. And Sarah plugs her favorite brew!
L…
Jun 12, 2020
How Activists Use PR
Activists are all over the news these days. But how are they organizing? What PR tactics are they using to communicate their positions and drive lasting policy change?
The University of Southern California’s Annenberg Center for Public Relations is out with its 2020 Global Communication Report exploring the ways activists use PR to amplify their voice on social causes.
Robert discusses the results with Center Director Fred Cook. Also, the crew talks about games they might play while professional teams sit out the pandemic. And Sarah offers a hot take on a tailgating favorite – cornhole.
Links:
O’Dwyer ‘s PR Newsletter
Cornhole
Quoits
Guest: Fred Cook
New Activism: 2020 Global Communication Report
May 29, 2020
Media Training Tips
Do you like giving media interviews? Are you good at it? Some people loathe talking to reporters on the record. Others can’t get enough airtime. But does experience make you better? And even if you are good at it, could media training help? Rich Dubek is a journalist and media trainer in Phoenix. Robert gets his answers to these questions, and Rich’s advice if you’re in the market for someone to train your organization’s executives.
Also, with hair salons opening in the Washington D.C. area this weekend, the gang talks about hair and whether there’s a pandemic-inspired ponytail in Robert’s future. And Sarah endures another round of the AP Stylebook quiz. Did she get all the questions right this time?
Links:
O’Dwyer’s PR Newsletter
Guest: Rich Dubek
Do You Need Media Training? Yes. Here are 11 Guidelines
Celebrities Do Their Own Haircuts
Pandemic or not, hair doesn’t stop growing
AP Stylebook
May 15, 2020
2020 AP Stylebook Changes
May flowers aren’t the only thing that we look forward to this time of year. It’s also when the Associated Press announces all of its changes to the AP Stylebook. We love the AP Stylebook and look forward to a fresh copy arriving in our mailbox every spring. Robert explores all of the 2020 revisions in a conversation with the internet’s Grammar Geek, Dave Nelsen. Also, the crew gives the pandemic a shove, and just when she thought classes were over for the semester, Sarah takes a PR Nation pop quiz.
Links:
Guest: Dave Nelsen “The Grammar Geek”
The Grammar Geek
2020 AP Stylebook changes: Person-first language, and the great ‘pled’ debate
AP Stylebook
ACES: The American Copy Editors Society
Grammarian Funeral Comic Strip
May 1, 2020
Moms, Comms, and Niche Audiences
In an early celebration of Mother’s Day, PR Nation’s #CommsMoms discuss the importance of communicating with niche audiences. Summer talks with social media’s Comms Mom and PR Nation contributor, Dr. Amanda Holdsworth, about reaching niche audiences, like moms in PR. From mommy bloggers to parent influencers, it’s possible to reach any audience, especially if your message is developed with them in mind.
The PR Nation crew talks PR work from home and John O’Dwyer delivers the latest PR news headlines as reported by the O’Dwyer’s PR newsroom in New York City.
Links:
Contributor: Dr. Amanda Holdsworth
The Comms Mom
O’Dwyer’s PR Newsletter
Apr 21, 2020
Saving Earth Day from COVID-19
Earth Day celebrates its 50th anniversary tomorrow, but COVID-19 almost ruined the occasion. Thousands of events around the world had to be moved online or postponed until later in the year due to the pandemic. Robert talks with the communicator leading the switch from tree plantings and activist gatherings to text messages and online commemorations. Nick Nuttall, Strategic Communications Director for the Earth Day Network, explains what he and others in the network had to do to save Earth Day from the novel coronavirus. Also, Robert answers a burning question still lingering from last Friday’s episode.
Links:
Guest: Nick Nuttall
EarthDay.org
Apr 17, 2020
Pitching Pot on 4/20
There was a time when PR pros were nervous pitching stories about pot to media outlets. But Shawna Seldon McGregor says things have changed – for the better. Shawna talks marijuana PR with Robert just in time for 4/20 – pot’s high holiday! Also, Robert celebrates the moment by singing a line from a Colorado classic. Sarah makes her debut from her walk-in closet/studio at home in Pennsylvania, and both Summer and Sarah refuse to answer cannabis questions.
Links:
O’Dwyer’s PR Newsletter
Guest: Shawna Seldon McGregor
Bill Clinton: I did not inhale
High Times
Green Entrepreneur
Virtual 420 Party
Apr 3, 2020
Pro Panel on COVID-19
Experts are predicting that the month of April will bring even more cases of COVID-19 across the country. With social distancing guidelines extended, public relations practitioners will need to continue to adjust their communications plans.
Robert gathers eight PR Nation contributors who discuss best practices for navigating PR during the pandemic. This pro panel includes:
* Cody Kennedy, Communications and Media Manager, Olathe School District, Olathe, KS
* Dr. Adrienne Wallace, Digital Strategist/Project Manager, BlackTruck Media+Marketing, Grand Rapids, MI
* Brian Rackham, Director of the Media Innovation Center, Northern Arizona University, Scottsdale, AZ
* Sarah Shelson, Account Executive, RIESTER Public Affairs, Washington, DC
* Dr. Gina Luttrell, Assistant Professor of PR/Social Media and Director of the Graduate Program in Public Relations, Syracuse University, NY
* Jason Mollica, Professorial Lecturer of PR, American University, Washington, DC
* Dr. Amanda Hold…
Mar 27, 2020
Virus Social Media Tips
Looking to make sure your social media isn’t socially distant? The COVID-19 pandemic has forced PR pros to re-evaluate their digital strategies. PR Nation contributor Jason Mollica joins Robert to share his 10 tips for managing social media during a crisis.
Summer talks about getting ready for video teleconferences, while John O’Dwyer delivers the latest PR news headlines as reported by the O’Dwyer’s PR newsroom in New York City.
Jason Mollica’s Top 10 tips for social media in a crisis:
Do
* LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN – Be proactive. It will not matter what you say if you do not listen to what is going on during a crisis in the short-term. This allows you to gain insight for the long-term.
* MONITOR – While this is reactive, it’s still essential in the case of customer care. These interactions can aid in how you adapt moving forward.
* CONSISTENCY IS KEY– The voice you have off social, needs to be echoed on social, as well. Mixed messages will only confuse and f…
Mar 20, 2020
How has the virus changed PR?
The COVID-19 outbreak has changed, and in many instances devastated, lives around the world. For communicators, it has required urgent implementation of crisis plans, evaluation of current PR programs, and adjustments to evolving media coverage patterns.
Robert discusses these changes, and what more PR pros should expect, with three PR Nation contributors:
* Christina Borrego, Executive Director of Public Relations, Communications and Multicultural Services, RIESTER, Phoenix, AZ
* Dr. Adrienne Wallace, Digital Strategist/Project Manager, BlackTruck Media+Marketing and Assistant Professor of Advertising and Public Relations, Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids, MI
* Dr. Gina Luttrell, Assistant Professor, PR/Social Media and Director of the Graduate Program in Public Relations, Syracuse University
Also, Summer reviews COVID-19 related corporate messages flooding her email in-box, and John O’Dwyer delivers the latest PR news headlines as reported by the O’Dwyer’s P…
Mar 19, 2020
COVID Special: PR Response
In this special mid-week edition of PR Nation, we preview our conversation with communicators about changes COVID-19 has made to the way we do our work. We also consider the recent Institute for Public Relations survey about PR and whether communicators were ready for the outbreak.
Mar 13, 2020
BREAKING: IPR Polls Pros on COVID-19 Response
Most communications pros and senior executives in a new survey report their communication team was prepared for COVID-19, according to findings scheduled for release Monday by the Institute for Public Relations and Peppercomm.
Only public health officials were considered credible messengers, while elected officials and social media sources scored low. The news media’s reporting of the pandemic didn’t fare so well either.
PR Nation is the first to report details of the survey, completed just three days ago, on Tuesday, March 10. In this special episode, Robert discusses the results with Dr. Tina McCorkindale, President and CEO of the Institute for Public Relations (IPR), and Steve Cody, IPR Chairman and Founder and CEO of Peppercomm.
Links:
Institute for Public Relations
Guest: Dr. Tina McCorkindale
Guest: Steve Cody
How the COVID-19 virus sparked panic
Mar 6, 2020
Are You Ready for a PR Crisis?
Is your organization ready for a PR crisis? If not, then a new book may be just what you need to help you create a crisis plan before you need one. This week, Robert invites crisis expert Ed Segal to discuss the worst part of public relations, managing a crisis, and his soon-to-be-released volume, _Crisis Ready: 101 Ways to Prepare for and Bounce Back from Disasters, Scandals, and Other Emergencies._
Also, the gang worries about coronavirus and cherry blossoms, while John O’Dwyer thaws out just in time to give us the latest PR news headlines.
Links:
Communicating a Public Health Outbreak
Guest: Ed Segal
Amazon: Crisis Ready: 101 Ways to Prepare for and Bounce Back from Disasters, Scandals, and Other Emergencies
Website: Get Crisis Ready
Feb 21, 2020
How Will Mobile Journalism Change PR?
Broadcast journalists are becoming even more mobile, shooting their news on iPhones and editing stories in coffee shops. How will this impact your work as a PR pro? Mobile journalism expert and career broadcast journalist Geoff Roth tells Robert how we can take advantage of this change in news gathering techniques.
Also, the gang sounds off on a retired journalist’s endorsement of a presidential candidate, while John O’Dwyer reports the latest PR news headlines, as gathered by the O’Dwyer’s PR Newsletter team in New York City.
Sam Donaldson pens op-ed endorsing Bloomberg for president
Guest: Geoff Roth
Mobile Journalism Manual
The rise of mobile journalism: Publishing’s new frontier?
Feb 14, 2020
Does Anyone Miss the White House Press Briefing?
Does anyone care that the White House has held just one press briefing since January 28, 2019? Journalist Scott Nover asked the question in an article for Washington Post Magazine, and tells Robert what he found. The two also discuss whether PR pros outside Washington, D.C. should worry that traditional media access is stifled by the Trump Administration.
Also, Summer can neither confirm nor deny a bow-tie for the Johnson puppy pug is in the mail, while O’Dwyer’s PR Newsletter Publisher John O’Dwyer reports top PR news headlines for the week.
Read more about the PR Nation team, read our latest PR blog posts, and find out what’s coming up on future podcasts by visiting our website, www.ThePRNation.com
O’Dwyer’s PR Newsletter
Guest: Scott Nover
The last White House press briefing was months ago. Does anyone really miss it?
Here’s what White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham has to say about not holding press briefings
The White House and the Press Timeline
Feb 7, 2020
Making PR Creative Again!
Do you need a client with a big budget to do creative PR work? Is it possible to break free of the news release and op ed routine? Adam Ritchie, Principal at Adam Ritchie Brand Direction, preaches using PR to invent and transform, and calls out creative PR ideas on his Twitter feed #InventionInPR. He answers these questions and more on this debut episode of America’s new favorite PR podcast, PR Nation.
Hosts Robert Johnson and Summer Johnson preview plans for the show and reveal what’s been keeping them busy the last few months. Also, O’Dwyer’s PR Newsletter publisher John O’Dwyer reports the latest PR news headlines.
Guest: Adam Ritchie
Website: Adam Ritchie Brand Direction
#InventionInPR
Why Planters Decided to Kill Off – and Resurrect – Mr. Peanut at the Super Bowl
#BabyNut
O'Dwyer's PR Newsletter