Wolfe Tracking is Cohn & Wolfe’s all-agency blog where PR professionals across nine industry practices explain how to build, create and defend brands in the new communications landscape.
From H1N1 to Healthcare Reform, PR experts from other niche categories found it challenging to land placements. With digital news becoming more valuable, those in the industry needed to redefine and redesign campaigns to reach digital influencers. Understanding this landscape, here are a few trends PR professionals should be aware of, and a brief explanation of how they can be part of these trends in 2010.
My colleague Katherine Axt and I attended last week’s PRSA New York seminar, “Regulatory Scrutiny of Social Media: The Impact on PR Communicators in 2010 and Beyond“ where New York Attorney Michael Lasky walked us through the FTC’s updated guidelines concerning online Endorsements and Testimonials.
Women's Health (circ: 1.5 million) is a women’s consumer health magazine that covers health, fitness, nutrition, sex & relationships, beauty, fashion and other general lifestyle topics. The demographic is women in their 20s and 30s. The magazine runs on a four-six month lead time, so any short-lead news hooks will not be applicable. However, their “Scoop” page can be held for the last minute for any new treatments, surveys or quick briefs that apply.
Sadly, extended middle fingers, temper tantrums and mindless Twitter taunts are becoming more and more “par for the course” with today’s professional athletes. It’s against this dreary backdrop that last week’s communication from Roy Halladay to the fans of Toronto stands in blinding contrast.
This past Wednesday, myself along with my Cohn & Wolfe Digital peers Jim Wells and Katie Greene, had the chance to attend The Consumerist’s first meetup at Botanica Bar. For those not familiar with The Consumerist, it’s a highly influential blog with more than half a million unique monthly visitors known for its witty and brutally honest commentary on consumer issues and activism.
Despite all the attention being paid to economic concerns, healthcare reform, diplomatic stand-offs and everything else going on in the world, the environmental movement and efforts to combat climate change remain a priority with governments and people around the world. And sustainability remains a driving force in business, too, as many consumers remain devoted to green products and brands that commit to sustainable business practices.
I just wrapped up a trip to Greece for Stream 09. If you haven’t heard of Stream, it is WPP’s annual unconference focused on technology, innovation, and the future of digital marketing. The level of digital knowledge among attendees was one of the most impressive aspects of the event. Stream gathered 300 marketers, agency reps, technologists and venture capitalists from across the globe, all of whom contributed fascinating perspectives on the opportunities and challenges of marketing in the digital age.
While brainstorms are certainly a fun part of the PR profession, (oh the games, we play!) we can all relate to feeling a little creatively stumped from time to time. But don’t fret! Good ideas do exist outside the walls of a PR agency (gasp!) and there are a lot of ways to get them, including crowdsourcing.
Speaking at last week’s Social Communications & Healthcare Conference (#BDI), Pfizer VP/Worldwide Comunications Ray Kerins said that Pfizer wants to have online conversations with its consumers. However, he thinks it is unfair to ask company employees to risk their job implementing a social media program that the FDA might later deem a violation, despite its refusal to issue guidance in this area. Nevertheless, the company just two weeks ago launched its corporate Twitter page (@Pfizer_News) and is starting to proactively communicate with its audience in real-time.
I sat at my desk this past Friday and marveled as Stephon “Starbury” Marbury approached the double-digit mark. I’m not talking about points, rebounds or assists. I’m talking about hours. As in hours of all-access, unedited, filter-free Starbury coming to hundreds of thousands via live streaming video. Welcome to the “new world,” non-digital believers exit stage right. A soon-to-be-retired NBA point guard was giving a lesson in modern-day publicity, and everyone I know was tuning in to bear witness.
Annie Longsworth is President of the San Francisco office, and the Global Sustainability Practice Leader. She joined Cohn & Wolfe in 2002 and has helped establish the office in one of the world’s most influential business regions – one that has spawned both the technology and green revolutions. Overall, Annie...
Recent Posts
Gotta Go Green
Don’t Leave ‘Em Hanging
Announcing Greenworx
Rebecca Biggs
Bio coming soon....
Nicole Baldino
Nicole Baldino is a senior media relations specialist within the Global Healthcare Practice at Cohn & Wolfe NY. Nicole has over nine years of agency experience with health, sports, entertainment, as well as financial and business media, with a strong emphasis on consumer health media relations and strategy. She has...
Recent Posts
Looking Through the Media Lens: Landscape and Trends in 2009
Chris Knight
Chris Knight is a vice president with Cohn & Wolfe’s Technology practice. He has more than a decade of PR experience including national consumer campaigns, digital media, consumer electronics, wireless/online services, software and product reviews programs and corporate communications. Prior to his PR career, he worked in print and broadcast...
Recent Posts
The Power of the Fob
Me, My Fabrik and the Easter Bunny
Video Impact Meets Social Web
Anna Loftin
Anna Loftin joined the Cohn & Wolfe London team from the company’s Texas operations in June 2007. She is a seasoned public relations professional having worked in the US and Europe across client industries, ranging from technology to corporate, and managing clients’ traditional and digital media PR programmes including Dell’s...
Recent Posts
Kinna Brundin
President, C&W Stockholm
Kinna Brundin leads the Stockholm office as President. Prior to that position, Kinna was part of the Stockholm management team head of corporate practice; developing clients and businesses within corporate reputation, internal communication and change management. She acts as senior advisor to key clients such as Microsoft and Schering-Plough. Common...
Rose de la Pascua
Directora General, C&W Madrid
Rose de la Pascua is responsible for the growth, management and strategic direction of the Spanish operation. Additionally, she acts as senior counselor to a number of strategic clients such as KFC, Aldeasa, Probitas Pharma and paybox. Prior to C&W, she headed up the Shandwick office in Madrid for eight...
Recent Posts
Katie Greene
Katie is an assistant account executive in the Digital Media Practice where she assists in the development and implementation of digital media programs for a variety of consumer and healthcare brands such as Playtex, MasterCard and GlaxoSmithKline. She actively works to identify and engage with online influencers best suited to...
Recent Posts
Technology for the Turnaround
Dain Percifield
Bio coming soon....
Brandan Orsatti
Brandan Orsatti joined Cohn&Wolfe (C&W) in February 2007 and has since supported a variety of clients, including Nike, LIVESTRONG, Remy Martin Cognac, Colgate and the World Baseball Classic (WBC). As a senior account executive in the consumer practice, Brandan has conducted media events for the 2008 USA Olympic basketball team,...
Recent Posts
Eric Litchfield
VP, Communications
Eric Litchfield is Vice President of Communications for Cohn & Wolfe. He is responsible for the agency’s internal communications and employee engagement activities throughout the global network, and marketing communications in the U.S including PR, thought-leadership and other visibility programs. Overall, Eric has 13 years of experience developing the means...
Recent Posts
Growing brands in the green market
Mike Manning
Mike Manning is an account director with Cohn & Wolfe’s technology practice, and has been responsible for formulating strategy and leading execution of PR campaigns for industry leaders including Panasonic, Joost, 24/7 Real Media and Spot Runner.
Mike has successfully raised the profile for clients in a number of industries including...
Subscribe to this blog
