Gail Sideman Publicity

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 […]

Share on:

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 […]

Share on:

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, […]

Share on:

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.

Share on:

Mark Cuban makes marketing a way of life

The likes of Mark Cuban are original word of mouth marketers and sports publicists and we, on the outside, stand to learn a lot — if we listen, read, learn and break the rules once in awhile.

Share on:

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.

Share on:

Should Sports Organizations Stop Athletes’ Social Media Use? NO!

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall shot off a media flurry after the killing of Osama bin Laden that ignited another episode of “Athletes Tweeting Badly” during sportscasts, talk shows and blogs throughout the world (or at least the United States).

Share on:

Is “The Belt” the Next Cheesehead?

Do you remember 1987 when the Cheesehead took the world by storm? (Ok, the state of Wisconsin and mobile Packers fans…)

I believe that “The Belt” could be the next big thing. Again, the popularity would likely launch in Wisconsin, then… watch out world! Green Bay Packers quarterback, Aaron Rodgers made the gesture of donning a winning boxing belt during the NFL Playoffs and famously expressed the sentiment again when he accepted the Super Bowl XLV Most Valuable Player award.

Share on:

Social media makes sports notes news

This week we’ve seen two sports stories that may have remained personal conversations explode into national news stories. There are two issues at play with both of these cases: 1) team management decisions put their respective clubs in the positions of controversy and 2) social media, specifically, Twitter, drove each story.

Share on: