PR pros: Ban these terms from your writing!

August 30, 2011 By Leave a Comment

1. Key (when used to mean important, pivotal or fundamental)
Key is ubiquitous across all of PR. My objection is that it’s mostly used to make an ordinary sentence sound more precise or more authoritative and, in doing so, actively disguises the true meaning of the sentence (if there is one). When people put “key” in front of a words such as “stakeholder” or “message,” it’s there to make it sound like they have a grip on the important stakeholders/messages without actually saying who or what they are. Here’s a tip: if the phrase sounds too imprecise and unscientific without the word “key,” then it’s probably pretty meaningless.

2. Innovation
I don’t want to get rid of this word altogether, just carefully monitor its use. In the past, when it wasn’t used by every company that had an incremental product refresh cycle, it was quite a powerful word, linked with Victorian inventors in stovepipe hats and smart engineers working for NASA. Now it is so abused it has come to mean “didn’t exist in the world until now,” which is true of a lot of ordinary things such as sandwiches and cups of tea, but you wouldn’t call those innovative, would you?

3. Strategic
Again, I don’t want to get rid of this word altogether, just limit its use. In certain contexts, the word strategic can be fun and sexy, for example “strategic missile command,” “strategic troops,” “strategic thermonuclear heat death.” Outside of war, however, the word strategic is just another corporate-speak piece of nonsense.

4. Revolutionary
Adjectives are in short supply at communications’ agencies. What do you call version 9.1 of a product when “new” won’t do? The thing about revolutionary is that “revolution” describes a process or effect rather than a state of being. Ergo, a new, untried product cannot be revolutionary, although somewhere down the line it might be said to have been revolutionary, but to be honest, it’s unlikely.

5. Proprietary
“Proprietary” and “bespoke” go together, and often with “solution.” There is a place for them. Software is often “bespoke” and “proprietary” and that’s OK, because those are the technical words for software that’s been created for a particular business or application. I’ve been trying to do away with “proprietary” for a while. My solution is to use “exclusive” or “xxx-developed.”

To read the complete blog

Caroline Gilmour is a PR and marketing copywriter. She blogs at Some Light Drizzle, where this article originally ran.

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Marketing/Public Relations Professional: Harrisburg, PA

June 20, 2011 By Leave a Comment

JPIexpo has an exciting Job Opportunity for Marketing/PR Professional.

Experienced professional needed to manage multimedia marketing plans and audience development for large consumer events produced by Journal Publications Inc. Responsibilities include press releases, social media, web content development, media placement, sponsor relationships, customer service and event logistics.

Fast-paced office where multi-tasking is a must. Some evening and weekend work required. Candidates should have 2-3 years experience in public relations, marketing and event/meeting planning. Degree preferred. Word and Excel, problem-solving abilities, and superior organizational skills also required.

Contact: Send cover letter, resume and salary requirements to Cathy Ashby, Director, JPIexpo, 1500 Paxton Street, Harrisburg, PA 17104 or email to: cathya@journalpub.com

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Public Relations Assistant/PT

May 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Objective:
To support the public relations team in the implementation and delivery of communications vehicles that effectively promotes the value of PMA membership as well as advocating on behalf of the industry.

Relationships:
Works under the general direction of the Manager of Public Relations. Provides administrative support for member communications, media relations and internal processes to Senior Director and Manager as needed. Provides support to other staff groups on various projects as assigned.

Responsibilities and Duties

General duties to include:
• Supports administration and monitoring effectiveness of public relations-created member communications, including but not limited to regular industry news, social media postings, issue alerts, and general crisis communications as needed.
• Provide copyediting and content drafting duties as directed by Manager or Senior Director, included but not limited to press releases, web content, scripts and PowerPoint presentations
• Conducts research to update, maintain and enhance multi-modal media lists.
• Updates public relations and member communication information on pma.com as directed by Manager or Senior Director
• Post press releases, PMA in the News and images/video to pma.com and maintain PMA press room and “About” section in conjunction with content owners
• Maintain logs of media contacts made and received by public relations and association staff using Vocus media relations software
• Search business, national, produce, supermarket, foodservice and floral publications and web sites (including blogs) to identify coverage of and garnered by PMA
• Support media events as directed by Manager or Senior Director
• Support invoice and purchase order processing and records retention as directed by Manager or Senior Director
• Other duties as assigned

Time Allotment
In general the responsibilities described above can be grouped as follows with allotted time percentages to complete tasks:

Media Relations (e.g., Vocus lists and distributions, pitches, etc.) 20%
Copyediting/Writing/Posting (to web and social media) 50%
News monitoring via Vocus and other sources 20%
Invoice/Purchase Order Administration 5%
Records Retention 5%

Measures for Success
• Contributes to effectiveness of public relations team by providing outstanding administrative and research support
• Ensures scheduled member communications meet required deadlines
• Ensures member communications, alerts and crisis communications are distributed in a timely manner
• Web site is kept up to date

Selection Criteria/Minimum Requirements
• Strong computer and research skills (Internet Explorer, Microsoft Office, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, database experience)
• Skills using Vocus media relations software and wire service distribution outlets
• Experience in associations or equivalent organization is highly desirable.
• Able to work independently as well as in a team setting, be flexible, and meet deadlines
• Detail oriented, and highly organized, ability to handle multiple tasks
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including phone manner.
• Strong team philosophy required
• Experience working with and editing video desired
• Ability to work on site

Send resume to: mmiller@pma.com

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May 2011 Issue of CLICK!

May 9, 2011 By Leave a Comment

May 2011 Issue of CLICK!

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Director Public Relations: North Wales, PA

May 3, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Our client is a fast growing nation-wide corporation with annual revenues of about $300 million that is a leading designer and manufacturer of communication towers and tubular structures used in the telecommunications and power delivery industries, and a full line of concrete, structural steel, and ultra-light aluminum shelters. Plans for extensive growth both internally and through acquisition makes this a
unique and exciting opportunity. As part of this growth, our client is looking to hire someone in this newly created position to help achieve improved business results, champion continuous improvement, and aggressively influence the development and growth of the organization.

THE POSITION: Reporting to the CFO, the Director Public Relations develops and maintains positive working relations and communications between the Company and its shareholders, the investing public and other members of the financial community including financial analysts and institutional investors to increase the value and marketability of the company stock. The Director Public Relations:

  • - Develops a PR program for approval by senior management and administers such activities throughout the Corporation. He/she coordinates all company PR programs by keeping those concerned informed and by providing necessary guidance and assistance.
  • - Directs the preparation and release of publicity in accordance with established policies and maintains sound relations with the press, national magazines, radio, television and other media. He/she makes arrangements for interviews between company executives and press, radio and television representatives.
  • - Reviews and approves, from the public relations point of view, all public statements and speeches, radio and television scripts and articles prepared by employees or PR counsel on behalf of the company; advises on material in conflict with public relations policy, and suggests necessary changes.
  • - Reviews and approves, from the PR point of view, all company advertising and sales promotion programs in cooperation with the Director Corporate Marketing. Also coordinates with Marketing on the preparation of institutional advertising copy designed for promotion of the Company name and goodwill.
  • - Drafts, in consultation with others, annual and quarterly reports to stockholders, quarterly dividend enclosures, financial and special corporate advertising, and other stockholder material; co-ordinates printing and distribution of these materials.

REQUIREMENTS: The successful candidate will be an experienced PR professional with an undergraduate degree in communications or public relations. Skills and experience requirements include:

  • - Minimum of 10 years experience in PR with at least 4 years as a PR executive for a mid-sized public manufacturing company. Knowledge of PR issues within a company that develops and manufactures engineered products. Some knowledge of SEC related regulations as they pertain to public companies. Knowledge of shareholder relations issues, handling all aspects of public relations in a public corporation.
  • - Senior level PR experience in a growth-oriented, fast paced business setting strategic goals, managing overall budget and deliverables of the department.
  • - Strong leadership and effective interpersonal skills. Action oriented with a bias for results.
  • - Worked in a matrix, multi-division, or geographically dispersed organization.
  • - Takes initiative, develops and implements creative and effective solutions to key challenges.
  • - Thinks outside the box to solve problems. Effective negotiation skills.
  • - Possesses a high energy level and enthusiasm with the ability to focus on agreed recommendations and results.

Competitive compensation and benefits package is being offered.

THE LOCATION: The position is located in the North Wales, PA area. Some travel is required to interface with division personnel at other company locations and meet outside vendors.

Contact: Growth Management Strategies (www.gotogms.com), George Zukerman at george@gotogms.com or fax 610-489-4120

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New boss same as the old boss?

May 3, 2010 By Leave a Comment

This week Philadelphia Newspaper LLC, the parent company of The Philadelphia Inquirer, Daily News and Philly.com as well a number of daily newspapers throughout the region, lost its bid to buy back the company. On Thursday, the company’s senior lenders won the bid at auction in New York for $139 million. The price was much more than analysts or media experts had expected. That may reflect the spirited fight that the company’s colorfull chairman and CEO and former ad man Brian Tierney had waged to keep it local.

When I read the news reports, I thought of Michael Sokolove, author of numerous books and former Daily News reporter, who had penned the feature story in New York Times Magazine about Mr. Tierney’s effort to keep the paper not just locally owned, but to establish it as a case that big metro daily newspapers were still viable in the age of digital media. It was Sokolove’s piece after all, that prompted IABC Philly to host The Future of News (of which he was a panelist), a first of its kind seminar in our region dealing with changing face of journalism and media.

I emailed Mr. Sokolove in Washington, DC where he lives to get his perspective on the sale and whether he thought it represented the death knell for big metro dailies as his story a year ago seemed to intone.

“While there may be plenty to criticize about Tierney’s reign, he backed serious journalism of the type the city desperately needs,” said Sokolove. “Against all odds, he established credibility within a skeptical newsroom, so that those journalists never had to wonder if their work, wherever it led, would be supported.”

As to what changes the new ownership may bring, Sokolove offered the following, “They will surely say a lot of the right things, and perhaps ask Bill Marimow to stay on, at least for awhile, if he’ll agree. Beyond that? It’s all a crapshoot. Much depends on the coming labor negotiations.”

For those of us who work in media relations, there is obvious interest in what changes will come. It is hard to imagine a rough and tumble city like Philadelphia without a robust major daily newspaper.  Whether you’re a subscriber who counts on its local reporting to inform and educate on range of issues, or whether you’re a professional publicist like me who maintains key relationships at the papers, new ownership’s next moves will surely be worth watching.

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May 2010 Issue of CLICK

May 3, 2010 By

May 2010 Issue of the official e-newsletter of IABC Philadelphia, CLICK

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