In this issue:
WWPR Events News
Upcoming PR Events in DC
Employment Opportunites
WWPR Board News
Discount at Social
Pro Bono News
PR Woman of the Year News
Membership News
Industry News
WWPR Events News
Save the Date for WWPR’s August Brown Bag:
A Communicator’s Guide to Robust Resumes, Hiring Hints, and Interview Insights
When: Wednesday, August 18th, 2010, 12:00 to 2:00 p.m.
Where: Johns Hopkins University: 1717 Massachusetts Ave. NW, located between 17th and 18th Street next to the Brookings Institution (METRO STOP: Dupont Circle)
Topics include:
Persuasive techniques (in person and on paper)
Tips for updating your resume
Interviewing insights – preparation, questions, and answers
The new standards of dressing for success
How social media sites have influenced the rules for
What every PR pro needs to include in their work sample portfolio
Panelists:
Kate Perrin, CEO of PRofessional Solutions, LLC
Ken O’Quin, professional writing coach and the author of Perfect Phrases for Business Letters (McGraw-Hill)
Eron Shosteck, founder and CEO of ResumeRevision.com
Cost: WWPR and PRSA Members may attend complimentary. Non members at $15. To register, visit here.
WWPR Annual Media Round Table Recap
By Deborah Brody
Washington Women in Public Relations hosted its Annual Media Roundtable lunch and discussion at the National Press Club on Tuesday, June 22. More than 50 public relations professionals gathered to learn from Washington’s leading journalists about the latest issues affecting the area’s newsrooms and how to best pitch the media.
Sarah Temple, WWPR’s 2009 PR Woman of the Year, SVP and Chief, Client Affairs, for Social Marketing at Ogilvy, moderated the outstanding media panel. On the panel were:
- Sheila Stewart, director of news programming for Radio One
- Cynné Simpson, anchor for ABC 7/WJLA-TV’s 5p.m. newscast on weeknights
- Elizabeth Drachman, managing editor of the Washington Business Journal
- Lori Aratani, who currently manages social networking for the Washington Post’s local news desk and is a contributing writer to the Post Now news blog.
During the hour and a half presentation, the panel discussed how newsrooms are engaging in social media; how the shrinking newsroom and the 24/7 news cycle have changed the current media landscape; and provided tips and best practices for public relations professionals to get coverage for their stories.
First on the agenda was the question of how social media is impacting newsrooms. As a news desk of one, Radio One’s Sheila Stewart relies on Facebook and Twitter for information and to build relationships. At WJLA, Cynné Simpson says the newsroom is facing pressure to be on social networks and constantly encourages viewers to check in on the website for more information.
The younger staff at the Washington Business Journal has been pushing for an increased social media presence, demanding to have Twitter accounts. Although the Business Journal parent company has been slower to adapt, it has put in place a company-wide social media policy. Because it is quicker than traditional routes, social media is now being used to get story ideas, as well as to share breaking news.
The Washington Post’s Lori Aratani warns the immediacy of Twitter and social media can lead to mistakes, so reporters have to be more careful and cautious. Social media has also added to the pressure of getting news online quickly. Readers have become even more important, and are now able to interact directly with reporters on social networks.
Citizen journalism is a growing phenomenon. WJLA often uses viewer provided video on hyper-local stories like weather. The biggest issue with citizen journalism remains verification. All news outlets aim to adhere to strict standards for checking out the veracity of stories and source, but with increasing deadline pressure mistakes have happened.
Based on personal experiences with publicists, the panel shared many insights, and gave great advice, including:
- Make the connection between your press release/pitch and the news audience. Give a local tie-in.
- Make sure your pitch matches the reporter’s beat
- Social media makes it easy to do your homework in learning more about media outlets and reporters.
- Blogs are a great way to tell your story, especially for nonprofit organizations.
- Concise is better, so keep press releases short and to the point, answering the what, why, where, when and how.
- Send your news to an editor so that he/she can filter the news to the correct reporter.
- Develop relationships with reporters.
- Find the human element in the story-make it personal.
- Give enough contact information-your email and cell (not work) phone number.
- Be available because a quick response is necessary.
- Don’t promise exclusivity if you don’t have it.
- Avoid mass email, personal emails make a difference.
- Don’t overload editors and reporters with too many press releases.
As part of WWPR professional development series, the Annual Media Roundtable packed lots of useful advice and information directly from DC’s leading news outlets, proving once again to be a must-attend event for Washington’s public relations community.
To see photos, visit our Flickr page.
WWPR’s Pro Bono Committee Meeting
Tuesday, July 27, 6:30 p.m.
Retweet: Engagement Means Business, Vocus Webinar
Wednesday, July 28, 2010, 9:30 a.m.
DC AD Club Presents: An Evening with Shark Week
Thursday, July 29 6:30-9 p.m.
AMADC’s How To Series Presents: Integrate Measurements and Get ROI Out of Social Media
Thursday, July 29, 12 – 2 p.m.
Capitol Communicator’s Summer in the City Event
Thursday, August 5, 6-9 p.m.
PRSA’s When the Crisis Hits the Fan… Whatcha Gonna Do?
Wednesday, August 11, 8-10 a.m
IABC’s Annual Networking and resume Review/ Career Counseling Night
Thursday, August 12, 5:30 – 8:30 p.m.
WWPR’s August Brown Bag – A Communicator’s Guide to Robust Resumes, Hiring Hints, and Interview Insights
Wednesday, August 18th, 2010, 12:00 to 2:00 p.m.
Communications/Project Coordinator, The Association for Career and Technical Education
Communications Manager, The Corps Network
Public Relations Sr Account Exec and Graphic Designer, Focused Image
Communications Associate, Smart Growth America
Communications Fellow, Smart Growth America
Field and Communications Manager, 1Sky
Online Campaigner, Care2
Strategic Engagement Manager, History Factory
If you have a job opening at your company, e-mail marketing@wwpr.org to include it in next month’s newsletter.
WWPR Board News
WWPR is excited to welcome Kate Barrett to the WWPR Board as our new website chair. Kate manages marketing communications and media relations for New Enterprise Associates. To get in touch with her, e-mail website@wwpr.org.
Discount at Social
The venue for WWPR’s Inaugural Emerging Leaders Awards, Social, invites you to return and Eat, Drink and Be Social! Print this newsletter and present it at Social for an intimate size plate of your choice, on the house!
Pro Bono News
News from our Pro bono client, The Children’s Law Center:
- CLC will honor Dr. Sanjay Gupta with the 2010 Distinguished Child Advocate Award and Covington & Burling LLP with the first-ever Pro Bono Champion Award at its annual benefit on September 21, 2010.
- National Law Journal named Judith Sandalow to its Top 50 list of Washington’s Most Influential Women Lawyers.
2010 Washington PR Woman of the Year News
Stay tuned for new developments with WWPR’s PR Woman of the Year Award Luncheon. November will be here in a flash so help us create the best event yet by volunteering with our PR Woman of the Year Committee.
There’s a lot you can do:
- Solicit sponsorships and raffle donors,
- Identify potential event photographers,
- Solicit award nominations, and
- Prepare other communications to support the event.
Our next Committee meeting will be held Thursday, August 19, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide. Please RSVP to Emily Deck and Rachel Henderson at woy@wwpr.org. If you cannot attend in person, the dial-in number for the meeting is 800-531-3250 and the ID: 4832445.
For more information or to join, send an e-mail to woy@wwpr.org. You can also check out WWPR’s Facebook page or our Twitter feed (@WWPR) for WOY committee reminders and updates.
Membership News
New Members
Shannon Andrea, National Parks Conservation Association, Media Relations Manager
Kate Barrett, New Enterprise Associates, Manager-Communications
Tiffany Bostic, Van Eperen & Company, Account Coordinator
Paula Chrin Dibley, M+R Strategic Services, Account Executive
Melinda Cooke, The National Press Club, Director-Membership and Events
Carrie Fox, C.Fox Communications, President
Bonnie Friedman, Bonnie Friedman Strategic Communications LLC, President
Susan Fuller, The Roberts Group, Program and Communications Associate
Sue Hensley, National Restaurant Association, SVP Public Affairs Communications
Ayofemi Kirby, Mobilize.org, Director of Communication
Julie Matthews, The Side-Out Foundation, Special Projects Coordinator
Tiphane Turpin, Georgetown University, Faculty Member
Alison Zemanski, National Parks Conservation Association, Media Relations Manager
Renewals
Sandra Cutts, Direct Marketing Association, Director of Public Affairs
Joan Carrese Sineni, zcomm, General Manager
Amber DuMont, Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers, Director of Corporate Communications
For more information about becoming a member of Washington Women in Public Relations, e-mail membership@wwpr.org.
We hope you were able to join our July event with Bill Novelli – see what the Capital Communicator thought!
WWPR’s own Debbie Friez and Ashley Settle are featured in the Kappa Alpha Theta Magazine
Have you heard the buzz about the Old Spice commercials and social media campaign? Check out the statistics from Mashable – and watch the entertaining videos while you’re at it.