My father gave my brother $1 for every A he got in school. When I asked him if I could get the same, he said he'd go broke. Regardless of payment, I worked toward straight A's grade-school through college. I always worried about making the grade. Today, in public relations, 'making the grade' means top [...]
Breaking news is often shocking and if you're wanting to make a difference in our news cycle, it is the thing to watch. Tie your public commentary into breaking news and you'll impact the public conversation we're all having about the media coverage. In the news now: During a live TV broadcast, a reporter and [...]
Really? Now internet trolls are shaming beautiful women on TV for their baby bumps? It's come to this, people. As I write this, I am almost at a loss for words. But that's a source of news hooks: internet haters. Shameful and I loathe to give them any more attention, but unless we fight back [...]
Today's Dictionary.com Word of the Day is: Lachrymose, meaning cry baby, or rather, given to shedding tears readily; tearful. When you see public figures crying you've got an instant news hook. Let's see who's crying today. > Ashley Madison and their members seeking adultery like Casey Anthony prosecutor Jeff Ashton, > Subway franchise now that front [...]
Do you have a mob mentality or do you choose your own thoughts? It's a good question to ask if you're wanting media attention. The breaking news around The Ashley Madison adultery hook-up site hack might give you insight into how you formulate opinions and thoughts congruent with or separate from the herd. Columnist Heather [...]
Not the bum I first wrote about. But this 'bum' got your attention. Beach news is still hot today. Seasonal news always makes for great news hooks. Summer's almost over but not quite so use it for your media pitching today. BEACH BUMMER What if you took a snapshot with a beach buoy only to [...]
Comedian Jim Gaffigan first questioned how fresh subs at Subway are. Former Subway spokesperson, Jared Fogle has been getting 'fresh' with child pornography and today he will plead guilty to the charges. It begs the question -- how can companies choose spokespeople who share their values? Certainly the type of fresh Subway embodies is not [...]
Once in my 20's, I stopped my car in Camden, NJ and pulled out a paper map and was viewing it in a desolate parking lot. A police officer pulled up behind me, lit his lights and walked up to my window to ask me what I was doing. Strange, I thought. I snapped with [...]
Criminal activity makes for great media pitch angles. Consistently in the news lately is Bill Cosby. Kaleo.org says "Bill Cosby [is] busted" in an article today. Writing about Cosby these days leaves a level of slime. Sexual abuse occurs to the media that way too. While it's unfortunately in the news a lot, the media [...]
BMI letters accompany school report cards these days. They're not effective for teens. Personally, I'm very muscular due to my athletic pursuits and German heritage. So, I for sure would have gotten this type of letter as a child. I find it ironic that the schools I taught in years ago lacked on outdoor movement [...]
