Wisconsin company’s endorsement deal with Seahawks’ Wilson is a PR dream
Sometimes public relations professionals work long hours to produce campaigns, craft precisely worded news releases, and hit “send” on messages at just the right moment for businesses. Other times their charismatic, performance driven and kind-hearted football-player endorser leads his team to the Super Bowl and their story tells itself … with thousands of media along […]
An open letter to Seahawks cornerback, Richard Sherman
Dear Richard — I was wrong. I experienced a knee-jerk reaction during your rant to FOX Sports’ Erin Andrews and all of us in TV Land, I retweeted something about a Stanford education not teaching you how to act intelligently. I watched you with a “WTF?” look on my face and to those in the […]
Colts owner fails the big game PR test
There are times when someone just shouldn’t speak. If tempted, zip it. Are you reading this, Jim Irsay? Irsay is a football team owner. He’s not a player, not a coach and not someone who in most circumstances, has to comment more than a public-relations appropriate, “We love(d) our players and we look forward to […]
Ryan Braun will always have a PR challenge
Maybe you’ve heard… Brewers left-fielder Ryan Braun was suspended for 65 games, the balance of the regular season, by Major League Baseball for violating the organization’s drug program. While neither party specified the violations for which Braun was suspended, that Braun accepted the verdict without resistance gives the public a perception that he is guilty […]
When it absolutely has to be there in 44 hours – a missed PR opportunity
The public has had several days to digest the news that Brewers left-fielder, Ryan Braun, became the first player to successfully appeal a Major League Baseball positive drug test. To date, Braun emphatically reiterated his innocence in a press conference at the Brewers Spring Training facility; Major League Baseball spoke out with its own words […]
When social media is cruel, keep communication lines open
You’ve heard the phrase “if you can’t say something nice, don’t say it at all.” Most of us were taught that lesson before kindergarten, but it escaped some people who hide behind screen names and spew mean-spirited comments on social media pages. Among those frequently targeted are public personalities including professional athletes and media. While […]
Whatever Penn State did with its PR efforts, do the opposite
Sports, among other things, can serve as a respite for fans to forget about ills in the world. This week, the wicked face that stared us from our computer and television screens came from the world of sports. As a sports fan, I hoped what I read wasn’t true. As someone who respects the history […]
I’ve got some catching up to do!
This is one of those posts in which I emphasize to people to do as I suggest, not as I do. Just WRITE! (And produce video, too.) I haven’t written in awhile. My focus has been on client projects, but that’s really no excuse. There have been lots of PR and publicity challenges to dissect, […]
Shaq’s publicity prowess leads to easy career transition
Professional athletes in all sports stand to learn from Shaquille O’Neal’s preparation for life after the athletic limelight. I spoke to a few people who worked with O’Neal the basketball player, and they unanimously praised his cooperation and connection with media and fans.
LeBron, You’ve Got a (an ongoing) PR Problem
Then there’s LeBron. He needs no last name. His basketball career has been documented since puberty. And that’s probably why he says and does things at which we can only shake our heads. Did he physically hurt anyone? No. Did he commit a crime? No. Did he make people mad? Yes…a few (million).
Public relations is ongoing and not necessarily political. In these days of multi-media, you’ve got show a genuine heart.