Media Training Tip #8: Watch ‘Meet the Press’
By · CommentsNBC’s Sunday morning ‘Meet the Press’ is among our favorite media training tips because of its nearly unfailing showcasing of basic but key interview tips including bridging, flagging and counting. David Gregory asks questions while the guest then acknowledges them before offering information about topics/issues that s/he prefers get aired.
In our opinion, taking control of a media interview, as guests routinely do to one extent or another on such interview shows, 
should always be the goal. A media interview is your opportunity to communicate your messages using tips and techniques designed, crafted and time-tested to help you do so clearly, concisely, consistently.
On an upcoming Sunday, view “Meet the Press” or similar programs with an educated eye and ear towards the guests and their skill with taking control of the interview. You’ll see the results of media training at its best, happening right in front of you.
Crisis Plans Need to be Continually Refined
By · Comments
Our client AHC, Inc., a developer of affordable housing communities in the Mid-Atlantic region, just completed a revise of its crisis communications plan that focused on streamlining the notification process in the event that a crisis situation occurs.
AHC, Inc. reviews and revises as needed its crisis communications plan on a semi-annual basis to ensure its plan is up to date, relevant and reflects best practices.
However, this review has the added benefit of keeping the plan and the important role it plays in front of its leadership on a regular basis. Is it time to take a look at your company’s plan?
‘When Handed a Lemon—Make Lemonade of It’
By · CommentsAfter dinner at Petit Louis Bistro in the Roland Park section of Baltimore on Jan. 31, two women were confronted by a robber who got away with a purse. You could almost script the media coverage and quotes from customers and neighbors, as crime is relatively rare in that neighborhood. But not in this case, as one of the victims was Sally Michel, chair of the Parks and People Foundation, who did not want the incident to harm the reputation of the restaurant or her beloved Baltimore (click the invitation to read the quote).
To “make lemonade of it,” the Parks & People Board of Directors (I am one of the members) moved quickly to organize a “Fill Sally’s Purse” fund-raiser for Feb 28 when Petit Louis has generously offered to donate 20 percent of proceeds that evening to the Foundation. It also happens to be Sally’s birthday!
Kudos to Pro Bono Client The Stoop Storytelling Series
By · Comments
We’re proud of our long standing commitment to gladly providing services pro bono to a select number of nonprofit organizations that we fully believe offer the community the elusive “something special.” The Stoop Storytelling Series is one such organization.
They will be part of WOW and we urge anyone who has yet to see a Stoop show (they are almost always sold out) to see them at the Meyerhoff in early March. We bet you’ll become a devoted fan as we are.
How Do You Define Public Relations?
By · CommentsPublic relations has always been difficult to describe, with all kinds of stereotypes and definitions adding to the confusion. You can help shape a new definition by participating in an international crowd-sourcing project led by the Public Relations Society of America.
First, here is PRSA’s official definition that’s been in place since 1982: “Public relations helps an organization and its publics adapt mutually to each other.”
For context, here are the accepted definitions of two related disciplines: “Marketing is the process used to determine what products or services may be of interest to customers, and the strategy to use in sales, communications and business development,” and “Advertising is a form of communication used to persuade an audience (viewers, readers or listeners) to take some action with respect to products, ideas, or services.”
Since last fall the team behind the “Public Relations Defined” initiative solicited ideas and came up with three finalist definitions:
1. Public relations is the management function of researching, engaging, communicating, and collaborating with stakeholders in an ethical manner to build mutually beneficial relationships and achieve results.
2. Public relations is a strategic communication process that develops and maintains mutually beneficial relationships between organizations and their key publics.
3. Public relations is the engagement between organizations and individuals to achieve mutual understanding and realize strategic goals.
Visit the PRSA website set up for this project to be part of the process. After the comment period ends this Monday an international group will convene to modify the three final descriptions that will be put to a final vote.
And some still think PR is all about party planning and publicity?
It used to be that when an organization released news they hoped would go unnoticed they did so on a Friday and/or the day before a holiday such as the just released announcement of the retirement of 1st Mariner Bank’s founder and CEO Edwin Hale. However, it was posted/Tweeted
/blogged immediately to a large, interested, engaged community of readers and followers.
So what’s the new strategy for releasing news/information companies hope will go unnoticed? Or is that time gone forever?
Remembering an Extreme PR Experience
By · Comments
Today’s announcement that ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition will soon come to an end brought to mind Sawmill’s experience working with the Hollywood producers during a 2007 build in Port Deposit, Md.
It was one of those extreme PR assignments that come along every so often, requiring constant caffeine injections as we managed all aspects of media relations while a team of more than 1,500 volunteers built a 4,300-square-foot home and a therapeutic riding facility in less than a week. Actually 106 hours, to be exact, and we wouldn’t trade those 20-hour days for anything.
Sawmill was brought on board to craft messages, help with product placement, provide media coaching and provide round-the-clock management of the onslaught of media coverage that was sure to arrive with Ty Pennington (seen above with the Luther family on “Move That Bus” day) and the rest of the cast of the Emmy Award-winning reality television show, including the always-in-pink Designer/Carpenter Paige Hemmis (below, chilling with Jeff just after the door-knock).
During the course of the build week, results included more than 55 television stories, dozens of newspaper articles, regular live radio interviews coverage in the trade press and one surprised family!
I sent an email thanking people at the MAC 
only to have it appear front and center of this flyer promoting the program. Imagine my surprise when I saw my words staring at me from this poster while I did sit ups.
A reminder to each of us that our comments oftentimes take on a life of their own. Now give me 20 more push ups!
