Author: WWPR

Cost: Free to WWPR and PRSA members; $20 for non-members. Register today to join the conversation.

On Wednesday, October 8 at 11:30 a.m., join an exclusive group of WWPR members for abehind-the-scenes tour of the WJLA newsroom followed by Q & A with WJLA team members.  This event is only open to WWPR members with a limited number of spaces available.  Register before this special opportunity sells out!

Cost: $15 for WWPR members.

Join us for our annual Media Roundtable on Wednesday, October 29 at the American Chemical Society, 12:00 p.m.-1:30 p.m.  Participate in this interactive discussion with members of the media moderated by Susan Matthews Apgood, president and co-founder of News Generation.  To see a list of panelists and to register, click here.

Cost: $20 for WWPR & PRSA members; $35 for non-members. A catered lunch will be provided.

“It’s a job, to get a job,” said Susy Howard, Principal at The McCormick Group as she opened up the Washington Women in Public Relations (WWPR) August Brown Bag discussion on resume building and personal branding.  If you think job hunting, portfolio development and self-packaging happens overnight, you may be next in line for a harsh awakening.

Howard joined Kate Perrin, CEO of PRofessional Solutions, LLC and Dana Theus, President & CEO of InPower Consulting LLC.  The panel discussed the importance of networking, shared critical career tips and discussed how best to present yourself when it’s time to make the next career move.

“Old-fashioned networking still works better than social media,” says Howard, but says that an updated LinkedIn profile allows you to be a bit more creative than your resume. “Your LinkedIn page should tell prospective employers about your interest and passion and should give a glimpse into your personality,” said Howard.

“Don’t overlook your cover letter, this is a way for you to distinguish yourself among the crowd of candidates and demonstrate your writing skills,” advised Kate Perrin.  Perrin said your cover letter should be customized for each job, accurate, professional and should also be brief, simple, easy to read and less than one page if possible.  Perrin also said bullet points are OK as it gives the potential employer a snapshot into your career and keeps them eager to learn more.  “Don’t address your cover letter as ‘Dear HR Manager’, we live in an age where information is easily accessible online,” said Perrin.  “Look online to find the PR or communications director’s name and put it on your coversheet.”

Portfolios are great conversation starters said Perrin who suggests that professionals keep a physical and online portfolio throughout their career to tout work experience and progression.  “Your portfolio should set you apart, that means you should keep and print everything related to your campaigns and projects so that you have it when you need it.” Perrin says your portfolio should include photos and marketing materials, documents to support your claims and experience and highlights from volunteer and professional opportunities.

Dana Theus stressed the importance of personal branding, saying that professionals should think of themselves as a product.  “Ask yourself, why someone should hire me.  The answer will most likely link you to your top skills and interest,” said Theus.

“Volunteer experience and personal passions should also be a part of your career branding,” said Theus.  “You need to find a way to bring part of your authentic self to your interview.”

The next WWPR brown bag discussion, “Is the Press Release Dead? Has Social Media Killed It?,” will take place September 30th at Beekeeper Group (1331 G. Street NW).

“How Can Advocacy Groups Break Through” is a guest column written by WWPR Member Velginy Hernandez.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of Washington Women in Public Relations

During and since college, I’ve spent chunks, maybe one too many, of my free time participating in cause campaigns.  Many of them were on strict budget or time constraints; some didn’t have a budget at all, like my adhoc neighborhood group that, long story short, was trying to rally support from all neighbors to get one neighbor to clean his fence.  What I’ve experienced is that no matter the cause or issue, advocacy groups are fixed on getting their core message out on top and above the noise, and as a PR professional, the thought gets me excited!
Breaking through is a goal virtually every company or organization aims to achieve either at some point or on an ongoing basis.  Changing the conversation.  Making a wave. However you phrase it, it’s a highly coveted outcome for lots of advocacy groups.  You’d think with the myriad of free and accessible media platforms, it’s easier to get the message out nowadays.  Quite the contrary.  Nearly everything is personalizable in today’s online media environment and publishing is effortless.  Consumers are fire hosed on a constant basis with information and content-that they then can personally select and filter.  The Facebook news feed algorithm does not help much either!
If the goal is to inspire people and get them to join your cause, what are some basic elements advocacy groups should consider in their communications strategy?  Here are three points I’ve come across in my experience:

#1 For starters, tell a story.  Really, tell it like it is.  Incorporate simple stories in the overall strategy.  They give life to your issue while also getting your core message across. Consumers don’t remember hard, cold statistics; they remember stories, which is a great advantage if your goal is increasing public awareness.  Consider this: instead of creating website that consists mainly of statistics and charts that you think paint a picture of your very urgent issue, record videos or post photos of individuals who’ve been directly impacted by the issue and let those first-hand accounts do the storytelling.  It will be more impactful and inspiring.
#2 Expect to “give” more than “get.” You may be asking why, since the very purpose of an advocacy group is to get something to change, isn’t it?  How many times have you been asked to “take action,” “sign this,” or “send that”?  In an ideal world, everyone would listen to you and change would happen every time, all the time. But reality is, folks don’t like being told what to do.  Issuing “calls to action” on a frequent basis are not very effective. The strategy is to put out content to your audience to help foster relationships, and that takes some time.  Trends also show that listening more than talking on social media is becoming more and more necessary for certain brands.  Giving content more often helps spark and sustain conversations.  So, foster those relationships.  Then when the situation arises, issue a specific call to action and your supporters will be there.

#3 Unite with champions to elevate your message.  Sometimes it takes a team to get things done.  In advocacy, relationships are crucial.  It does not have to be for your entire campaign (Consider this saying: you put three people in a room and you’ll have four opinions.)  But perhaps for at least for a phase of it, make it count by uniting with stakeholders who share a common goal and leverage that relationship in all communication tactics.  Strength comes in numbers.  Your followers will see and feel that energy and get inspired.

The Role of Public Relations in Politics is a monthly column written by WWPR member

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of Washington Women in Public Relations

One of the more enjoyable parts of my job is skimming the newspapers and checking the online media outlets for any news that might give my clients the edge.  A headline flashed by recently about President Obama not understanding how damning appearances can be. It stuck in my mind for some reason, maybe because one would assume that the President is ‘packaged’ by the ultimate public/media relations team.

The O’Reilly Factor has a segment called ‘Washington Insider.’ (Fox News, “The O’Reilly Factor” weeknights at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m.)  The August 26th segment was dedicated to ‘Will President Obama Change His Image’.

It was and it is a valid question.  Earlier, the President had interrupted his vacation on Martha’s Vineyard to comment publicly on the savage beheading of American journalist James Foley by ISIL terrorists.  Immediately following his public condemnation of the act of terror, the President returned to the golf course to continue his vacation.

The President, as O’Reilly accurately stated ‘got hammered.’

I rarely agree with O’Reilly, but in this instance, it is inconceivable that the President’s public/media relations team did not anticipate this.  If you make a serious, somber statement to the American people about an act of terror committed on an American citizen, you do not return to the golf course.  You go home to your family and you spend the rest of that day in seclusion.  Straight up, this was not merely poor public/media relations.  This was a disaster of epic proportions.  It must have caused pain to the immediate family of James Foley, and to his closest friends.

In his recent September 8th interview with Chuck Todd on NBC’s ‘Meet the Press’, the President admits that he ‘should’ve anticipated the optics.’  Does this mean that the White House is finally acknowledging the huge role played by media relations at the highest level in global politics?  I am adopting a wait and see – change doesn’t come that rapidly.

During the course of the Todd interview, the President acknowledged the error in perception.  A good first step, you say.  Not so fast. He then continued on to discuss the ‘theatrics’ of the presidency, appearing to blame the press for aggressive reporting. Reporting is more aggressive these days, and the perceived lack of transparency within the Obama administration is a root cause of this.

As a public/media relations practitioner in the Washington, DC political arena, I do not blame President Obama.  He is a politician, a head of State. He is not a public relations maven.  Although hesitant to assign blame, any media relations failure on this scale rests on the shoulders of the President’s Chief of Staff, Denis McDonough, who manages the White House media relations team.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/engage/office

http://www.foxnews.com/on-air/oreilly/2014/08/27/will-president-obama-change-his-image

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/anticipated-optics-obama-admits-decision-golf-james-foley-speech-mistake-article-1.1931030

The B Hive is a monthly column written by WWPR member

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of Washington Women in Public Relations

This month’s Member Spotlight interview features WWPR member Rachel Racoosin of RepEquity and WWPR Woman of the Year Committee member.

Q: How did you get started in communications?

A: Storytelling has always played an integral role in my life and ultimately led me to a career in the communications industry. Much like telling a story, crafting a message has the power to inform, to entertain and to connect people to one another. In college I hosted a radio show, wrote for the student newspaper, and majored in strategic communications– eventually falling in love with and pursuing a career in public relations.

Q: What inspired you to get involved with WWPR?

A: I am always looking for ways to meet new people, expand my network, and, enhance and enrich my skills. When I learned about WWPR it seemed like the perfect place to meet and build relationships with a group of smart, ambitious, creative, caring, well-connected and fun-loving women.

Q: What do you feel is your biggest accomplishment professionally?

A: At a previous job my greatest accomplishment was mentoring our team of interns, many of whom went on to become full-time employees. As well, I take great pride in the volunteer work I do for non-profit organizations that I feel passionately about. For example, over the last year I have volunteered as the social media manager for America’s Voices in Israel, and organization that sponsors journeys to Israel with celebrities, media, and other trendsetters. Through this experience I have developed a strong understanding of working with members of the entertainment industry, and leveraging the social media networks of high profile celebrities and media personnel in order to increase awareness about this organization.

Q: Why did you choose the WOY Committee?

A: The PR Woman of the Year Award Luncheon is an amazing event that honors the most talented women in the PR profession. In addition to honoring incredible and inspiring women, proceeds from the event’s raffle ticket sales help support FLOW (Financial Literacy Organization for Women and Girls), WWPR’s pro bono client. FLOW is an organization that provides information to women and girls, enabling them to make informed decisions about spending, saving, borrowing, investing and building assets. For the second year in a row I have worked to collect a treasure trove of donated items for the raffle– I promise you will not be disappointed! Some of the wonderful raffle items include spin classes at DC’s new SouldCycle, dinner for 4 at one of Jose Andres’ restaurants and a signed cookbook and certificate for crack pie from Momofuku’s famous Milk Bar (which is coming to DC soon!). Please join us on November 14th for this special event.

• Alumnae Recognized as Emerging Communications Leaders (GW Alumnae News)
• The Power of the Press Release (SpeakerBox: The Sounding Board)
• 5 Reasons Why SEO Belongs in Your PR Toolbox (MediaBistro: PRNewser)
• League Chooses to Throw Women at Public Relations Concerns (Steelers Depot Blog)

• September 30, 12:00 p.m.-1:30 p.m.: WWPR Brown Bag Panel Discussion: Is the Press Release Dead?
• October 8, 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.: WJLA Newsroom Tour
• October 29, 12:00 p.m.-1:30 p.m.: WWPR Annual Media Roundtable
• November 14, 11:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m.: Washington PR Woman of the Year Award Luncehon

If you have a suggestion for a future program topic, please contact the Professional Development Committee at professionaldevelopment@wwpr.org.

– Communications Associate for Digital Media, Advancement Project

– Communications Officer, The Pew Charitable Trusts

– Communications and Marketing Assistant, Iona Senior Services

– Public Relations Coordinator, American University

– Media Supervisor, Health PR, Edelman

– Vice President, Health Alliances PR, Edelman

– Senior Account Supervisor, Health PR, Edelman

– Marketing and Communications Consultant, Archbishop Carroll High School

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August Renewals

Communications that make a difference.

Yes, it’s a high standard.

It’s also who we are and what we deliver.  Hager Sharp is an employee-owned firm that embraces one ideal: developing and delivering communications that improve health, safety, and education for all.

Walk our halls and you’ll find experts in communication, social marketing, media relations, and digital strategy working alongside former reporters, public health experts, teachers, and researchers.  These close collaborations result in insightful counsel, creative solutions, and measurable results-giving us the ability to translate even the most complex topics into powerful, actionable communications.

Some recent ways we’ve made a difference:

• Helping girls build strong bones by engaging them-and the people and organizations who influence them- through friendship and fun activities, including dancing with the First Lady on the White House lawn.
• Increasing high school student participation in a voluntary academic assessment by 13% in one year.
• Transforming diabetes from a silent killer to a cover story.  In 1997, 8% of Americans thought diabetes was a serious disease; a decade later, nearly 90% did.  Now we focus on giving people the tools they need to prevent or control it.

Hager Sharp: Helping our clients make a difference since 1973.

Alicia Horton, Executive Director of Thrive DC, WWPR’s Pro Bono client for 2012 and 2013, commented, “Thrive DC has been providing services to the homeless community for over 35 years.  We have been doing the work for a long time, but it wasn’t until the WWPR partnership that Thrive DC began, in earnest, the work of strategically communicating our mission and work to effectively increase our visibility and expand our audience.  WWPR offered invaluable support in many, many ways from the development of a comprehensive communications strategy, to help with the development a beautiful new website.  WWPR has enhanced our growth by lending their expertise, their time, and their passion to our work.”

READ MORE

Have you logged into your WWPR member profile lately?  Our exclusive, members-only database is a great networking tool and we’ve added some new features to help you better connect with fellow members.  You can upload a profile photo, share your LinkedIn profile and other relevant links, and tell others about your communications experience and interests.  Log in at www.wwpr.org today to make sure your profile is up-to-date.

Not yet a member?  Join today to start taking advantage of our fantastic member benefits, including free professional development events and discounts on tickets to our signature events!

WWPR Open House & Wine Tasting – August 27
Whether you have been a member of WWPR for years, have just joined or have been thinking about signing up, we invite you to join us for an Open House & Wine Tasting on August 27, 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. at Edelman’s offices in Washington, D.C. You’ll have the opportunity to hear from WWPR Board Members, learn more about the organization and how you can get involved, and connect with fellow members and prospective members who are excelling in our local communications industry.  Register today to toast the last days of summer and make exciting connections as we head into the fall.

Cost: Free to WWPR members and non-members

Beekeeper Group, 1331 G St., NW, Washington, DC.  Hear industry experts debate whether the role of the press release has changed for PR professionals, if it’s still a viable tool in today’s 24-hour news cycle, if social media has replaced it, and if it has advantages that newer alternatives don’t offer.

Cost: Free to WWPR and PRSA members; $20 for non-members. Register today to join the conversation.

On Thursday, July 10th, 2014 the National Education Association and the Professional Development Committee welcomed about 50 guests for an honest discussion of career advice.  WWPR President, Lauren Smith Dyer kicked off the session with a warm welcome to our moderator, Leila McDowell, Washington correspondent and reporter for Arise TV and NBC’s “The Grio”.  Leila had the pleasure of introducing our extraordinary panelists, all of whom have been PR Woman of the Year Award honorees:

• Pam Jenkins, President, Powell Tate
• Stephenie Fu, Principal, SLF Strategies, LLC
• Maria Rodriguez, Founder and President, Vanguard Communications

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The Role of Public Relations in Politics is a monthly column written by WWPR member

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of Washington Women in Public Relations

Journalists Are Killing Information?

An allegation is floating around out there in the twitter sphere.  Journalists are killing information.  That is a serious charge by any standard.  Those of us who practice in the public relations community, and especially those of us who cover politics from within the public relations community, should be rightly offended.  We are.

On behalf of my ‘public relations in politics’ community, I firmly reject that allegation.  Public relations professionals who cover politics do so honestly.  Do we withhold information?  Do we spin information?  There are at least three responses to that question. No, yes and the most relevant of all — it depends on what constitutes ‘information’.

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The B Hive is a monthly column written by WWPR member

Over three years ago, I stumbled into the world of inbound marketing for a sales firm after a series of public relations internships.  What I’ve found more and more each day is the overlapping of tactics from each field: PR and marketing.  The shift into leveraging marketing tactics in PR is certainly no happenstance.  Chalk it up to the “everybody is a publisher”moment we’re experiencing.  According to an article I read in The Next Web, “social media and the ability to go directly to the source,” made information readily available to reporters thus changing the way PR practitioners reached their audience.  Inbound marketing grew in appeal as it’s all about making it so your audience finds your brand instead of the other way around.

READ MORE

This month’s Member Spotlight interview features WWPR Member and Emerging Leaders Awards honoree Danielle Hagen, VP of Communications at Nahigian Strategies.

Q: How did you get started in communications?

A: Like many communications professionals, I was interested in pursuing a career in journalism because I loved how the media could capture a great story and educate a captive audience. But my dreams of being a journalist shifted after taking my first communications class in college. I was enamored at how our words could shape every aspect of our reality – from professional to interpersonal communications. From that moment on, I was hooked. I began my career in my hometown of Cincinnati, working at a public relations firm and also teaching at the University of Cincinnati. I had the fortunate opportunity early in my career to work on a wide array of communications from corporate branding and media relations to crisis communications and digital media which gave me a toolbox of skills that I still use everyday in my current position. Every project, every situation is an opportunity to grow and expand your knowledge, which is one of the reasons I love PR so much. It’s an ever-changing world where I get to learn everyday.

Q: What inspired you to get involved with WWPR?

A: There are so many wonderful practitioners that are members of WWPR, including mentors that have been so influential on my career in D.C. A friend of mine encouraged me to attend a WWPR lunch event and I was not only blown away at the network of wonderful communications professionals that attended but also the quality of the program where we actually walked away with information we can use in our jobs. After that event, I wanted to become a member of this great organization that coalesced so many impressive members of our profession and enhanced our growth.

Q: What do you feel is your biggest accomplishment professionally?

A: There are a lot of accomplishments that I’m proud of – from winning the first Congressional campaign I ever worked on to being tapped to be the Deputy Communications Director for a presidential candidate in the 2012 election. But the biggest accomplishment for me was taking my dream job in Washington, DC. While that may not seem like significant accomplishment, it was one of the hardest decisions I ever had to make. I moved away from my family and left my personal life behind to pursue a dream. Fast forward four years later – I’ve never regretted a single moment and can’t wait to see what the future will hold.

• Up Close and Personal: Getting to Know Carrie Fox, Founder and President of C. Fox Communications (Capitol Communicator)
• Why PR is Becoming the Future of SEO (Inc.)
• The Best Branded Content of July (Contently)
• The Latest Trends Driving Online Advertising (Yahoo! Advertising)

• August 20, 5:30 p.m.: Breaking News with USA Today’s Natalie DiBlasio
• August 27, 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.: WWPR Open House and Wine Tasting
• September 4, 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.: WWPR’s Annual Speed Networking Event
• September 30, 12:00 p.m.-1:30 p.m.: WWPR Brown Bag Panel Discussion: Is the Press Release Dead?
• October 8, 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.: WJLA Newsroom Tour
• October 29, 12:00 p.m.-1:30 p.m.: WWPR Annual Media Roundtable

If you have a suggestion for a future program topic, please contact the Professional Development Committee at professionaldevelopment@wwpr.org.

– Public Relations Associate, Nahigian Strategies

– Senior Public Relations Manager, Nahigian Strategies

– Assistant Producer, Green Buzz Agency

– Account Director, PAC Programs, SevenTwenty Strategies

– Account Drector, SevenTwenty Strategies

– Director of Marketing, SevenTwenty Strategies

– Communications and Marketing Coordinator, National School Transportation Association

– Coordinator (Publicity and Promotions), Allied Integrated Marketing

– Communications Intern, Melanoma Research Foundation

July Renewals

American University, School of Communication (AU SOC), Professional Graduate Program in Strategic Communication

GOALS

Yes, we teach professional skills at AU SOC. But even more important is that we teach our students how to think. We teach them to think strategically. We teach how to target an audience, how to create a compelling message, how to write persuasively, how to advocate in a changing world of new media and cutting edge technology. The ability to communicate this way – to communicate strategically – is what our Strategic Communication program is all about.

COURSES

Washington is our communications laboratory. It’s the PR and media capital of the world. And as the longest standing program in the area, it has deep roots throughout the city. Speechwriters and politicians come to class as guest speakers. Students take on nonprofit clients for their coursework. PR firms, international organizations, health care companies, congressional offices, advocacy groups – all welcome our students as interns.

RECORD OF SUCCESS

As the only ACEJMC-accredited Strategic Communication program in the Washington, DC area, our goal is to educate students not only in the most recent trends but in the type of thinking that will set them apart from their peers. Our alumni include top speechwriters, press secretaries, media strategists, crisis communicators, Hollywood agents, sports marketers, public diplomacy experts, nonprofit leaders, advertising executives, and public relations professionals. Our graduates run the world.