Archive for Sawmill Marketing
BALTIMORE, Md. (July 23, 2012) – Susan J. Anthony, founder and partner of Sawmill Marketing Public Relations, a Baltimore public relations firm, has been appointed to the board of directors of Single Carrot Theatre
, an ensemble theatre company on North Avenue in Baltimore.
” I have been a season ticket subscriber, supporter, volunteer and even a participant in a recent Single Carrot production so I am delighted to now also be a member of its board of directors,” Anthony said.
Single Carrot Theatre begins its sixth season this fall with four productions, including a world premiere of a play and a growing offering of special events and activities.
About Sawmill Marketing Public Relations
Sawmill Marketing Public Relations is a Baltimore PR and social media marketing communications agency established in 1995 specializing in the development and execution of marketing public relations programs as business development strategies for business-to-business, business-to-consumer and professional services clients. The Maryland public relations company specializes in social media, traditional media relations, media training, and crisis communications. For additional information, visit www.sawmillmarketing.com
An Important Definition of News from the 1st Viscount Northcliffe
Posted by: | CommentsA recent return visit to the Newseum (a must see and see again, IMO) I discovered this quote carved into a wall: “News is what somebody, somewhere, wants to suppress,” from Lord Northcliffe
, a British newspaper publisher who died in 1922.
Based on that quotation, what was true in Lord Northcliffe’s day is even more so today, yet harder to accomplish given the amount of traditional and online sources of news and information.
Given the opportunity, how would he edit that quote today or would he say “stet”?
What Does Your Community Relations Program Say About You?
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We are firm believers in the important role community relations has in an organization’s public relations program. The issues, causes, activities and groups you support nearly always communicate your company’s essence and values.
For example, the Parks and People Foundation is an organization that we have supported in a variety of ways for many years. We believe in what they do and what they stand for and want to do our part to help them fulfill their mission. It’s that simple and also that important to us.
So Where Does the Name ‘Sawmill’ Come From?
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One of the most oft-asked question of us is, “where does the name “Sawmill” come from?” I wish there was a more exotic answer than the one I am about to offer.
The “Sawmill” in our name comes from the gentle, beautiful and meandering Sawmill Creek (left) that winds its way from northern Baltimore County, including where I live, through Anne Arundel County until it flows into the Patapsco River.
Sometimes we wish we had a more interesting answer. But in the more than 17 years that Sawmill Marketing Public Relations has been in business the “where does ‘Sawmill’ come from” question is a good reminder that it’s your definition of interesting that matters.
We’re all for continuing to answer “where does the name ‘Sawmill’ come from?” for at least the next 17 years!
Crisis Communications Tip #4: Now is Not the Time to Be Insular
Posted by: | CommentsThere is an excellent article in the current issue of The Public Relations Strategist about the Penn State child-abuse scandal an
d the role their “we are the school” attitude played in the mishandling of the crisis and the resulting price it will be paying.
In our experience this attitude is prevalent when a crisis hits — regardless of the type of entity trying to deal with it. This includes a client that, just a few months into it, believes it has successfully weathered an ugly headline-generating situation. However, we’ve counseled them that they are instead at the beginning of it. We hope our prediction is wrong, but that sound you hear are their wagons circling.
Crisis Plans Need to be Continually Refined
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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?
Media Tip #16: Your Comments Can Take on a Life of Their Own
Posted by: | CommentsI 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!
Media Training Tip #17: Prepare for More Than Just the Media Interview
Posted by: | CommentsA media training session, especially one that takes a broad view of learning how to clearly, concisely and accurately communicate your message,
can prepare you for important speaking opportunities beyond media interviews.
Consider a customized session when you have a critical internal meeting coming up, especially one that will include questions from your staff/employees; a major presentation to your board, key clients or prospects; or an industry event where your expertise will be in the limelight.
Practicing basic techniques such as bridging, flagging and counting in the context of your speaking situation, i.e., media interview versus major presentation or meeting, should be high on your “must do” preparation list.
No News Can Indeed Be Good News
Posted by: | CommentsIt’s not always the right strategy to seek media attention for your client — especially when it involves one side of a complicated and litigio
us situation. But what if the client wants to react to recent (albeit one-sided) coverage?
Perhaps the best counsel is to view the situation from a reporter’s standpoint, who would be receiving yet a new angle to a story s/he thinks has already been covered. With a little digging how many more sides to the story will now be uncovered? What’s the potential cost to the client in letting the media determine how to use the new angle? Is the risk worth it?
Think of ways other than media coverage to get your client’s story told, including communicating directly with the audience with concise, accurate and relevant information that may or may not touch on the situation at hand — a decision that needs to be weighed carefully and without the repercussions of “he said, she said.”
Crisis Communications Tip #2: 10 Golden Rules of Crisis Communications
Posted by: | CommentsThis is one of the best presentations of the top 10 items on what should be on your crisis communications ‘to do list’ that we’ve seen in a long time: clear, concise, smart and correct.
