Archive for October, 2009

OK, so you’ve signed up with a PR agency. You’ve had discussions about the plan and you’ve worked on press kit details.
 
So, you’re wondering, “How can I screw this up?”
 
Well, you’d be surprised. Hiring a PR agency is a big step. Don’t ruin it by being your own banana peel. Read the rest of this entry »

In order to kick things off for the Business Development & Strategy section of the new SoCal PR Blog, let’s talk about the reality facing all PR pros right now, whether you are an account executive at a large or small agency, or running your own firm.  Put simply: This economy sucks!

Times are tough and it’s really affecting our business across the board.  Clients’ funds are tight, so they are either cutting back or eliminating PR campaigns altogether.  Publishers are suffering from advertisers pulling out, leaving great publications to fold every week (R.I.P. Cookie, Gourmet, Modern Bride…), our favorite editors out of work, and PR placements increasingly more difficult to secure these days.  Read the rest of this entry »

As a loyal – and raving – fan of the Starwood brand, I think there’s no better idea to kick off the Worth your While column than to take a look at the “Whatever/Whenever” concept provided by W Hotels.   The concept has set a standard for the hospitality industry with application in various forms, including the PR agency/client experience.

The branding and lifestyle experience at W Hotels is well tuned like a rockstar’s guitar ready to be played.  Read the rest of this entry »

I am certain you have all asked yourself once in your PR profession . . . “Why can’t I get a break?”

Though demanding and often times overwhelming, I haven’t met ONE PR professional who would give it up for the world. This hamster wheel we run on everyday proves to be a rush and by all means gratifying. There are not many professions where you can start something and get immediate gratification. Read the rest of this entry »

This year has been one of the most memorable of my life. And, if it all goes according to plan, 2009 will be remembered as the year I created the year’s “Ultimate Marketing Gimmick.”

Here’s the back story: In September, 2008, I was laid off from a journalism job and decided to go into PR instead.

It wasn’t a case of slumming. During my 20 years as a professional journalist, I consulted for PR companies like Weber Shandwick and Edelman and helped account executives craft pitches that would be used by the media (and gave them someone to blame when they didn’t). Read the rest of this entry »

Sometimes I wake-up and I ask myself “What was I thinking to take that project on?” But then again when the work isn’t there, I question what to do with my spare time (which isn’t much considering I have two kids!). It’s a fine line between the work/ life balance but so far this Mama has been able to figure it all out with a little schooling in time management.

For those that don’t know me, I used to be one of those that went to every after-work networking PR event and slaved away for a national PR agency for 70 hours a week but then a life-changing event took place – I became a Mama. From there I took my experience and spun it to my advantage, working from home here and there, all the while still maintaining my PR and media relationships for the future. Read the rest of this entry »

Times are tough, but we are hoping to make your search a bit easier. Here are some recent PR job postings in the Southern California region:

Los Angeles

- Account Supervisor, Verse Communications: http://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/mar/1432802565.html

Read the rest of this entry »

“The news made its way around town via Twitter. SDSU_NewsTeam posted at 10:09 am ….”

That’s the way a breaking news report from our local NBC affiliate started a story about San Diego State’s baseball team being selected to play in the College Baseball World Series. As corporate America jumps in and embraces all things social media, academic institutions, traditionally s…l….o….w to embrace change, are grappling with how to use all the new tools and techniques that the rest of the world is talking about. Read the rest of this entry »

Name: Sage Waetjen Pierce

Title: Executive Producer

Outlet: NBC 7/39 -KNSD

Phone: (619) 578-0248

E-mail: sage.waetjen@nbcuni.com

Read the rest of this entry »

Times are tough, but we are hoping to make your search a bit easier. Here are some recent PR job postings in the Southern California region:

 Los Angeles

• -  SAE, Ketchum Public Relations: www.ketchum.com
• Read the rest of this entry »