Podcast Episode #56: Lessons from Ken Starr’s Media Interview Debacle
The media interview is not the right time to be reviewing answers and going over tactics! Ken Starr, the recently ousted president of Baylor University following an investigation into the mishandling of sexual assault at the school, and his media adviser Merrie Spaeth, founder of Spaeth Communications, learned this first-hand. In a KWTX News 10 interview from […]
Podcast Episode #55: Steps to Conducting a Strategic Communications Review
Are you confident in your institution’s key messaging? Can you summarize it in a simple, clear and jargon free way to your different audiences? What about within your department? Do you know why the department for which you work exists? Do others know? Episode 55 of FIR on Higher Education will outline steps that you […]
9 Media Relations Tips from Journalists at Tech Crunch, the AP & More
Guest post by Michelle Lewis A room full of journalists from publications such as Fast Company, TechCrunch and Triangle Business Journal who are eager to share their advice is a PR pro’s dream. Needless to say, I was excited to have the opportunity to attend Experiential Communications’ media event on entrepreneurship and innovation on March […]
Podcast #54: Book Marketing Tactics from Professor David Burkus
It is not enough to rely on your publisher or school communications department to market your book. You have to put in the leg work. So says David Burkus, a professor at Oral Roberts University and the author of two different books: The Myths of Creativity which came out in 2013 and Under New Management […]
The Keys to Adopting a Social PR Mindset: Interview with Expert Shonali Burke
One person effectively communicating a message will have some impact. Many people authentically doing the same will have even greater impact. It doesn’t require a PhD in algebra to figure this out. Unfortunately many in PR are still wed to the old ways of doing things. Someone who I know that is quite effective in […]
Communications Commandment #1: Know Your Audience
There is a common thread that led to success when writing a cover letter, marketing message and media pitch: know your audience! I recently interviewed Heidi Scott Giusto on the FIR on Higher Education podcast to discuss a topic that I am not an expert in: communications during the career search. It was interesting for me to hear Heidi discuss […]
Podcast Episode #53: Communicating Your Unique Value Proposition Around Your Career
Communicating our unique value propositions as it relates to our careers can be challenging. It is of course very important, especially since we know that the days of staying at one job for life are long gone. Studies show that the average professional changes jobs seven times. We need to have a communications plan as we […]
Why Groups and Individuals Within Higher Education Should Consider Podcasting
It is a crowded content space out there. Attention spans are limited. As you think about your content marketing strategy, you should perhaps consider podcasting as a medium to achieve your goals. Podcasting is the only form of content that can be consumed while an individual is doing other activities. Whether you are doing housework, […]
Podcast Episode #52: Communicating Differentiation
Is your school prestigious? Or does it attract students based on reputation? Your answer should impact how you market and communicate to different stakeholders. We delve into this topic on episode 52 of FIR on Higher Education. Guest Bertrand Guillotin, a professor at Temple University’s Fox School of Business, has researched the internationalization strategies of business […]
Podcast Episode #51: Nurturing Relationships with Journalists
Newsrooms are shrinking. The ratio of PR professionals to journalists in the United States is almost 5 to 1. Journalists complain about the exorbitant number of pitches they receive. For media relations professionals, it can be difficult to get on the radar of a targeted journalist. On episode 51 of FIR on Higher Education, media […]