Hourglass 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 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 MoreQuickStart is a one-day conference hosted in the fall to give ECD chapter leaders an opportunity to ask questions and learn from each other before assuming leadership positions in the new year. Student leaders within the PRSSA network also attend. I always learn a wealth of knowledge to bring back to my Chapter and to use for Hourglass Media. This year, the conference focused on how we can improve our Chapters in myriad ways. Here are some nuggets I wanted to share with you.
Read MoreIn many cases, PR practitioners’ reputations are on the line. One stigma, in addition to the whole “spin doctor” line of old, is that all PR pros perpetuate fake news. Admittedly, there are public relations practitioners who do that, but as a whole, the industry relies on its ethical codes in two-way communications. So, as a public relations practitioner or your organization’s main communicator (with or without much communications experience), how can you ensure that you’re communicating ethically? First and foremost, how do you even define ethics?
Read MoreArthur W. Page was a vice president and director of AT&T from 1927 to 1947. Known as “The Father of Corporate Public Relations,” Page revolutionized public relations practices and turned AT&T’s then-negative press around. The founders of the Arthur W. Page Society created these seven principles so the association's members -- and communicators in general -- could have tenets in which to practice public relations with honor and ethics.
Read MoreThe Accreditation in Public Relations, or APR, is more than just a certification. It showcases a practitioner’s expertise and devotion to everyday principles of public relations. It sets you apart from your peers, and in some cases, the “APR” at the end of your name could mean more money or that dream position you’ve always coveted. My APR journey was riddled with aha moments, heart-racing panic sessions and what-if statements. April is APR Month, so I wanted to dedicate an entire blog post to the APR process. If you’re considering adding the APR to your goal list, here are a few takeaways from my year-long experience.
Read MoreMay marks the illustrious milestone in my career. Introspection is a necessary and cherished aspect of professional development as I approach the 10-year mark of my public relations career. Enough time has passed for me to ease into sharing my ethical experiences with up-and-coming practitioners and others. At the beginning of my career, I was still trying my best to figure everything out, and during my 20s, I created the foundation of my career through experience, support and, most of the time, taking the road less traveled. Here are three ethical lessons I have learned since beginning my career 10 years ago.
Read MoreI had the distinct honor and privilege to judge international companies’ Public Relations Society of America Silver Anvil Awards entries in New York City. I was one of 144 judges who traveled from all over the nation to judge the 626 entries. (I did not have to judge that many!) I assessed the Research, Planning, Implementation and Evaluation (RPIE) elements for each. Without compromising any detail of any entry, here are trends I saw in the entries I judged.
Read MoreWith the rise of citizen journalists, influencers and social media platforms connecting 24/7 to ever growing niche audiences, smart communication freelancers and media companies have the opportunity to build an all-star content creation team that is on trend, on brand and on message. If you are a communicator with a public relations background, it is your time to shine, and the stars of today’s communication teams are content creators who set goals and understand their audience. Gina Collinsworth shows us why it’s a great time to be a PR pro in this guest post.
Read MoreOn September 21, the Public Relations Society of America-River Cities Chapter hosted “Ethical Decision-Making in Times of Crisis” from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Marshall University with local professionals and students in attendance. Attendees listened to a panel of professionals discuss their own ethical experiences in the workplace and how having a crisis communications plan in place is instrumental during the pre-crisis, crisis and post-crisis phases. Participants also underwent a mock crisis communications scenario in the workshop session.
Read MoreSeptember is Ethics Month, so our first blog of the month centers on ethics in public relations. If you’re a public relations practitioner -- or in any career field for that matter -- here’s to hoping you have yet to face an ethical dilemma in the workplace. It can be a challenge to read between the lines and see the gray areas outside of the ordinary black and white. That’s where the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA)’s Code of Ethics comes in. We don’t have to spin our ethical wheels. Professional values and provisions are outlined for us as industry standards.
Read MoreLeadership is a primary management function of public relations. Whether you are a Chief Communications Officer of a Forbes 100 company or are an independent practitioner, leadership skills greatly come into play. This August, Hourglass Omnimedia is giving practical leadership and mentorship advice and experienced-based posts to help make your work life a bit easier. These five easy-to-implement qualities will make you a better public relations leader within your organization.
Read MoreWhether you’re a new professional or a seasoned PR pro, joining the National organization and a local Chapter of PRSA has myriad benefits. PRSA gives communications professionals the tools we need so we don’t have to figure out things on our own. Invest in yourself and your career, and it will pay dividends.
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