Manage your Message Media Training

The Most Irritating PR Person in the World

I know. That seems like a pretty bold claim. But you have to see this video for yourself.

Here's the set-up: ABC News reporter Dan Noyes is trying to interview an executive at Lagunda Honda Hospital and Rehabilitation Center in San Francisco. But the hospital's PR person, Marc Slavin, is running interference and trying to protect his executive from the media. In an extremely uncomfortable and sustained invasion of personal space, Slavin starts patting the reporter on the shoulder and introducing himself. Noyes asks the PR guy to stop touching him, which Slavin completely ignores. The very awkward exchange goes on for a few minutes, in which the reporter actually threatens to call the police.

While this looks like a scene from 'Curb Your Enthusiasm', it's really an example of what can happen when an executive who is afraid to speak with the media uses a poorly-equipped PR person as a human shield. Both of these folks (Slavin and his boss) should get themselves to PR Boot Camp pronto.

Hill & Knowlton adds digital bench strength

Hill & Knowlton Adds Digital Bench Strength to North American Corporate and Public Affairs Practices

Brendan Hodgson to Accelerate Integration of Next-Generation Digital Reputation, Crisis and e-Advocacy Strategies

NEW YORK, July 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Hill & Knowlton announced today that Brendan Hodgson, a 10-year veteran in the digital PR space, has been promoted to senior vice president for North American digital corporate and public affairs, reinforcing the company's commitment to advance the integration of current and emerging social media and digital communication strategies across these critical areas of its business.

Effective immediately, Hodgson will divide his time between Hill & Knowlton's US and Canadian operations, helping to advance the role of digital within Hill & Knowlton's corporate and public affairs practices, with a particular focus on corporate reputation protection and recovery, digital risk management, and online advocacy. His role will involve providing senior client counsel while accelerating staff training and education.

A 13-year public relations veteran and trained journalist, Hodgson most recently served as vice president in Canada's digital communications group where he was charged with helping Hill & Knowlton clients build traction in the new media space. In that capacity, he provided online reputation management, e-advocacy and crisis counsel to private and public sector organizations across a variety of sectors including energy, oil and gas, aviation transportation, not-for-profit, B2B manufacturing, and technology.

"Hill & Knowlton has traditional strengths and leadership in corporate and public affairs. We're very focused on the integration of digital channels into all that we do and having Brendan lead this area of digital expertise will increase our value to our clients and accelerate our push to inform all our work with a strong digital point of view," said Julie Atherton, worldwide director, digital, Hill & Knowlton.

Two PR jobs in Toronto

Our friends at Cramer Company International are looking to fill two PR positions in Toronto:

The first job is a senior agency role, doing food-related PR for one of the firm's national clients. The salary is $85K plus.

The second is a three-week media relations contract with an agency located in downtown T.O.  Focus area is food and consumer goods. Must have experience working in an agency, doing food-related PR and conducting media relations.

For more info, contact Roxanne Cramer at 416-929-2629 or roxanne@cramercompany.com. 

Edelman appoints new CEO for Canada

Edelman Worldwide has tapped Heather Conway to be the new CEO of its Canadian operations. Here's the Globe and Mail's coverage of the story.

10 rules for quick and easy PR

Done properly, public relations can be a very effective (and cost-effective) way of promoting a business, product or personality. And in times like these, when the economy is suffering and marketing budgets are under pressure, smart companies look to strategic public relations programs to get their stories out to their key audiences. This article from MSNBC highlights 10 solid tips for using PR to help give your business a competitive edge on a budget.

If you found this story useful, please take a second to rate it using the scale below.

Mega PR merger: Omnicom merges Ketchum and Pleon

Omnicom announced today that it is combining the operations of U.S.-based Ketchum and its European sibling Pleon to create a global network intended to rival some of the industry's biggest players. The merged company will have more than 2,000 employees working out of 103 offices in 66 countries.

It's a massive deal that the companies are saying is based on client needs. However, one can't help but wonder if this consolidation (because that's essentially what it is) is owing at least in part to the continuing economic challenges and a desire to reduce overhead. It will be interesting to see if there are any job cuts down the line as part of this deal.

Read the story here in Advertising Age.

NATIONAL named Canadian PR agency of the year

The Holmes Report, an internationally acclaimed publication in the field of public relations, has presented a SABRE award to NATIONAL Public Relations as Canadian public relations agency of the year.Click here for the news release.

Another Canadian PR firm announces layoffs

The continuing economic woes have forced job cuts at Canada's largest PR firm.

PRWeek is reporting that National Public Relations has laid off seven employees in its Toronto office. The move follows a similar round of cuts at rival Fleishman-Hillard. John Crean, chair and national managing partner with the firm attributed the poor economy and a resulting decline in demand for public relations services. "Anyone who tells you [business] hasn't tightened up a bit is lying or not properly managing their business," Crean was quoted saying in PRWeek. "Going forward, it was the prudent thing for us to do."

So...based on his quote, if you're in the PR business and doing well these days, you're either a liar or a bad manager? In the media training business, this is called the 'false alternative' -- providing two choices that suck equally.

It would be very interesting to see how much of the lost business of the big PR firms is finding its way to boutique firms and sole practitioners who, in many cases, can provide equal or superior quality services for substantially lower rates. The recession just might turn out to be a boon for smaller, more agile shops with way less overhead. If you have any anecdotal evidence either way, please leave a comment.

Upcoming PR conferences

If your company hasn't slashed industry conferences out of the 2009 budget, you might want to consider attending either the Canadian Public Relations Conference from June 7-9 in Vancouver, or the IABC World Conference from June 7-10 in San Francisco.

Recession hits 'big PR' in Canada

The word on the street is that Fleishman-Hillard just cut 20 positions in Canada - proof that the financial slowdown is hitting the big PR shops north of the border. My contact tells me the positions pinkslipped were mainly high-earning consultants, several of whom brought their own clients to the agency's book of business.

This might be a way to save some short term cash for the agency, but it's bad news for everyone involved -- the PR folks who lost their jobs, the junior survivors who are going to have increased workloads, and the clients, who are going to be paying top-tier rates for those same junior practitioners.

Will the other big PR shops follow suit? Only time will tell.