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“Louie Loves” BBI – And So Do We!

Let’s give a little love to support WWPR’s pro bono client Bright Beginnings (BBI) at a happy hour on Giving Tuesday, November 28. From 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Bar Louie DC’s fundraising initiative, “Louie Loves” will donate 20 percent of our sales to BBI!  We’ll be at 701 7th Street, NW in the sidebar area – with its own full bar and menu. Our goal is to raise at least $200 for BBI. There is no admission fee, but a flyer is required for entrance. Get your flyer by registering on the WWPR here. Friends, family, significant others, roommates, neighbors and colleagues welcome! The more the merrier – and the more we can raise to help BBI! The staff from Bright Beginnings will party on with us, so this is your chance to meet this wonderful group of impactful people. To learn more about BBI’s mission to end homelessness for families and provide early education to very young children, go to: www.brightbeginningsinc.org

President’s Note: October

As we gear up to celebrate 2017’s Woman of the Year Honorees in November, we’re reflecting on what it means to #WomanUp. WWPR defined it as being bold, courageous, and resilient enough to persevere through even the most difficult challenges in work and life.

One of the qualities that contributes to our ability to be able to #WomanUp includes showing up. We can’t persevere if we are not present and follow through on our commitments. Woody Allen is quoted saying “showing up is 80 percent of life,” but it really is so much more than that.

When you show up (either physically or metaphorically by fulfilling your commitments), then people know you can be counted on. You become trusted and trustworthy. Failing to show up does the opposite–eroding confidence in your abilities and follow through. Having the reputation of someone who shows up also opens doors for new opportunities and referrals because people know you won’t let them down. And when something does happen and you need understanding for not being there, you have a lot of goodwill to cash in.

I think people often underestimate the power of showing up, of just being in the room. Sure, success involves a lot more–but it’s really hard to grab new opportunities for success if you are not there, if people feel that they can’t count on you.

I had a boss who always stressed: “underpromise and overperform” — never the opposite. Never promise more than you can deliver. It was a great lesson because I always wanted to say yes, to keep promising the moon and the stars. And while it’s great to be ambitious and aim high, you never want people to feel like they didn’t get what they expected–that you didn’t show up.

It may seem like a little thing, showing up. But it’s one of those foundational practices that cannot be faked and makes all the difference in building your professional reputation and relationships.

Thanks and hope to see you “show up” (ha ha!) at the Annual Media Roundtable on October 26–always a sellout event!

Best,

Kelly-Mack-US-Department-Health-Human-Services-2

 

 

Kelly Mack

How to Break Through and Engage Members of the Media

Lisa Matthews
Vice President for Hager Sharp

It’s that time of year again – time for football, pumpkin-spice lattes, and more importantly, time to cozy up to the annual Washington Women in Public Relations Media Roundtable. This year’s panel features reporters and editors from some of the top news outlets in the country and I can hardly wait to moderate.

We all know that the media landscape is in a state of constant change and those in the business are running at a heightened pace. The explosion of social media and the need for more and better content has taken the jobs of some journalists into a challenging space. Reporters are not only racing to get the story first, but now they are also engaged in a fight against accusations of fake news.

For public relations pros the challenge has always been – and may always be – how to break through and engage members of the media. I think breaking through begins with the basics, like remembering that the reporters and editors you are trying to reach are people too. People with personal lives and challenges on top of business responsibilities and deadlines. People looking for that elusive work-life balance. Breaking through also requires PR pros to do their homework, which means going beyond building a media list. Reporters are tired of receiving pitches that have absolutely nothing to do with what they cover. I can relate to this from my days on the planning desk at the Associated Press. Being on the other side now, I understand how it can happen.

Just as you are called on to know and understand the target audience for your client, it’s important to know and understand the media as your very specific target audience. Are you pitching the right person? Is the story you are offering actually newsworthy? Would you want to read, watch, or listen to the story you are pitching? All questions worth asking and answering – and we will do just that on Thursday, October 26th at the WWPR Roundtable.

WWPR Announces Finalists For 2017 Washington PR Woman Of The Year Award

WASHINGTON, Oct. 10, 2017 — Washington Women in Public Relations (WWPR) in partnership with lead sponsor AARP, will host the 28th annual Washington PR Woman of the Year Award Luncheon on Friday, November 17, 2017, at the Fairmont Hotel.

The Woman of the Year luncheon, established in 1990, is WWPR’s signature event. It is an annual experience fostering camaraderie among women in public relations, culminating in this must-attend event that honors the achievements of those who have reached a pinnacle in the profession.

The finalists for WWPR’s 2017 Woman of the Year Award are:

Kathy Baird – Managing Director of Content and Social, North America, Ogilvy & Mather  
Amy DeMaria – Senior Vice President of Communications, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Samantha Villegas – President, SaVi PR, LLC

Evan Ryan, Executive Vice President of Axios, will provide keynote remarks at the event.

“We’re thrilled to honor three extraordinary women this year who embody the spirit of ‘WomanUp’ both professionally and personally through their bold spirit, courageousness, and resilience,” said Kelly Mack, President of WWPR. “The Woman of the Year event is a proud tradition of WWPR, and has honored some of the field’s finest PR professions for almost three decades.”

Register today and follow the conversation online using the hashtag #WomanUpDC.

For additional information, please contact WWPR WOY committee co-chairs Elise Perkins and Mary Havell at woy@wwpr.org

Washington Women in Public Relations (WWPR) is a member-based professional society cultivating and inspiring female communicators to reach their full potential in the DC market and beyond. The organization is committed to providing leadership opportunities, professional development, mentorship, and industry networking.

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