I recently turned 34, and there is something about birthdays that invites moments of reflection – at least for me. I spent much of this year, and April onward in blog posts, mulling over what I want my career to look like. I’ve done a lot of work I have truly loved, with clients and partners that continue to do life-changing work in their spaces. However, you know when a change is afoot, and that change happened for me when my son was born.
Read MoreIf we have learned anything in 2021, it’s that each of us has had to be flexible in our own ways. From hybrid events to the constant influx of misinformation, it has been a challenge to get past the fatigue and clutter to effectively communicate with our audiences. We are starving for in-person events but are also easily exhausted. Some of us have faced and conquered The Great Resignation, while others have stayed put to create lasting change in our own organizations. Here are five trends that we will continue to see in the new year and in the PR industry for years to come.
Read MoreAs I am finishing my last semester at Ohio University, I feel many emotions. A part of me is so drained and excited to be done with school, but the other part of me is sad at how much the pandemic has taken from my college experience. As I am starting to look at jobs and graduate schools, I find myself feeling unprepared. I am not alone in this feeling, as many of my peers feel the same way. I sent out an anonymous survey to many college students/recent graduates to see how they felt as well. In this blog post, I will share my peers’ and my own experiences and feelings as we are graduating and entering the workforce.
Read MoreSince the release of Kaylin’s book Healing Your Heart: A Prompted Journal for Pregnancy Loss, I have been working on outreaching to media outlets on behalf of Kaylin. This was my first time pitching anything to media outlets, so it was all very new to me. From Kaylin’s tips, researching, and my own experience, I have learned a lot about the process of pitching.
Read MoreSeptember is Ethics Month! Here at Hourglass Media, ethics are at the core of who we are individually and as a company. While everyone brings a unique perspective and morality to the PR profession, the PRSA Code of Ethics serves as a constant and consistent blueprint for us to follow. We adhere to the PRSA Code of Ethics, which is the highest professional standard of the public relations industry.
Read MoreIn January of 2020, I was hired as an Integrated Communications Intern at Hourglass Media. This was my first experience working in the public relations field. I have had classes that discussed PR, but I quickly learned that you can only learn so much from textbooks and lectures.
Read MoreSo, with all of that being said, should you devote time to finding a mentor? Like with all of my answers, I will say yes and no. Here are some things to keep in mind as you attempt to find a mentor or are in the midst of your own mentor-mentee relationship.
Read MoreThis week is the second part of our New Professionals series. As someone who was once a new professional myself, I struggled to find answers to these pressing questions. I want to ensure that you don’t have to spin your wheels like I did! While I don’t have all of the answers -- or even ones that will resonate with you -- I do hope that something will spark interest, action, or understanding for you along the way. This week, we’re delving into the deep waters of grad school and if it’s for you -- or if you should keep that $20K or so in your pocket.
Read MoreIf you’re a newly minted graduate or are thisclose to graduating, I fully empathize with you! It’s hard to balance the workload, expectations, and fears of the unknown. It can be a windy road. Here is an answer to one of young professionals’ most pressing questions with the hope that it can alleviate at least some of the inner turmoil: How do I get experience when I’m first starting my career? This is the first in a series of (at least) three questions. Think of this as the Dear Abby of PR questions and answers!
Read MoreHourglass Media constantly evolves, from what we offer to healthier, authentic, beautiful ways to communicate with our target audiences. We offer public relations, writing, resources, and other things. With more than one billion words to our name, we’re dedicated to showcasing the narratives of organizations and individuals in myriad formats.
Read MoreIf you’re a PR practitioner, small business owner, or just a human trying to convey a thought in any situation, using behavioral communication will create more comprehension and understanding. All of us have communicated a message and then witnessed it fall flat, offend someone, or be misunderstood. Here are three ways you can use behavioral communication in your work and personal conversations and messages.
Read MoreIt’s the beginning of a new quarter, and if you’re anything like me, you sit at your desk and wonder, “Where did Quarter 1 go?!” Each of us is busy trying to further our clients’ goals and objectives, grow our companies or careers in general, and attempting to achieve our own versions of work/life balance.
All in all, it can get relatively exhausting when you you’re grasping at straws with project management. This month, we’re focused on resources that will help you better plan for your goals at hand.
Read MoreOn January 11, Hourglass Media welcomed new Intern Isabella Mershon. Isabella Mershon is a junior studying communication at Ohio University which makes her Hourglass Media’s first intern from OU! This week, we are introducing the newest member of our team #behindthehourglass! Stay tuned- because Isabella will be helping write many of our blog posts throughout the spring 2021 semester!
Read MoreI have been an independent practitioner for almost six years, and I never want to go back to a traditional office environment if I can help it! For the sake of this blog post, and because I am a public relations practitioner at heart and by trade, I will focus on communications-based independent practitioners. What are some benefits of being an independent public relations practitioner?
Read MoreAs another year is coming to a close, I’m sure most of us are ruminating about what we are thankful for on this Thanksgiving Day. While 2020 hasn’t panned out like most of us have hoped in myriad ways, you can still look for silver linings through all of the curveballs this year has thrown at us. Here is how you can add thankfulness to your brand’s personality and modus operandi.
Read Mores public relations practitioners, many of us already know to not use buzzwords, overly fluffy language, and tone-deaf messaging. Even if you happen to be the most seasoned PR pro, you can always learn something new as you write content for organizations, clients, and yourself. What do you need to consider as you write for public relations?
Read MoreWelcome to our third and final case study for the month of September! This time around, I’ll be discussing the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA)-River Cities’ Chapter’s 2018 Tribus Awards Call for Entries. It’s no secret that I love mostly anything involving public-relations awards.
Read MoreWe’re on our second installment of our case studies series. This is a series that has been a long time coming, as I really have wanted to share our work and behind-the-scenes magic for award-winning Public Relations Society of America award entries and case studies. This one centers on Hourglass Media’s Storied Legacy Graphic, created in 2019 after my trip to New York City. This graphic earned a Tribus Award for a Billboard and Other Signage Tactic in 2019 for this graphic and its implementation in Hourglass Media’s overall use of the graphic.
Read MoreEarlier this year, the Kids’ Dental Health Month Electronic Press Kit brought home the 2019 Tribus Award in the Electronic Press Kit Tactic category, as well as the 2019 Best Tactic in the Tri-State. (Just a note: When you win the “Best Of” award in a PRSA category, your score from the judges is the highest out of all of the entries.) Needless to say, we were honored to be highlighted amongst communications professionals and amazing work going on in our 15-county radius.
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