Article

The WWE and NFL Had a Horrible Public Relations Week

By Lorrie Walker - Published on September 4, 2015
Crisis

This week saw a series of events that became the smackdown no one in World Wrestling Entertainment wanted to see play out. But perhaps the National Football League appreciated the distraction, because this week wasn’t one for their record books, either. Ryan Dilbert wrote a great bit on the WWE’s PR problems, which inspired my post today. Please check it out. Wrestling icon Hulk Hogan appeared on Good Morning America this week to apologize for his use of the n-word, which was captured on audio in 2006 or 2007. The WWE also fired wrestler Zahra Schreiber this week for pro-Nazi artwork she posted on her Instagram in 2012. WWE and NFL...

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Recognizing Press Releases As News Tools, Not Back-Patters

By Lorrie Walker - Published on October 13, 2014
Press Release Purpose

You know I love to use real-world examples when explaining things. We recently got pushback from a group we’re helping promote an event, and it gave us a chance to explain our approach to press releases. This incident made me think the group’s question probably is a common question that some people might be hesitant to ask. So we’re addressing it here today. The issue: the group needed a press release that notified the media of an upcoming event. The event planning involved two organizations- one with an established spokesperson; the other is legitimately a group effort where multiple people speak on behalf of the organization. The...

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That’s Not My Name.

By Barbara Cagle - Published on February 13, 2014

“That’s not my name” is a catchy tune by the Ting Tings. Addressing a reporter by the wrong name – even if it’ s just a simple misspelling – almost guarantees a reporter won’t respond to your emails. Read this blog for more reasons why reporters don’t reply to emails/pitches. To put it this way, you never send a grammar Nazi a cover letter with misspellings, try to fast talk a fast talker or send a reporter – whose job is to avoid fact errors – a pitch with a fact error that hits as close to home as a botching his or her name. The fact that misspelling a reporter’s name or getting it blatantly wrong  is so...

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Teach us Your Ways Miley Cyrus

By Barbara Cagle - Published on January 27, 2014

Everyone knows Miley Cyrus: the Disney star gone bad who defaced a foam finger during the 2013 MTV Music Awards and rode a wrecking ball – or “moon” as my mom naively calls it – naked.   In light of how she has managed to rekindle her fame and get everyone talking, I’m led to believe she could probably teach us a thing or two about public relations. 5 PR Lessons I Learned From Miley Cyrus: 1.)    Old news is only a makeover away from being new news. That’s right, shave Hannah Montana’s head, and bam! Instant fame for Miley. She’s still the same person, only cooler and more relevant. How does this apply to...

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Social Media Provides Great Opportunities for Public Relations in Tampa

By Lorrie Walker - Published on April 10, 2009

Friday, April 10, 2009 – TAMPA AND LAKELAND, FLORIDA – For years, the Internet has been changing the way businesses promote themselves and the way professionals address public relations in Tampa and throughout the country. ...

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