Grant J. Heston

What if the biggest threat to PR today isn’t misinformation, but overcommunication? In a world drowning in content, attention is earned not by being louder, but by being trusted. The shift from volume to credibility isn’t coming, it’s already here. Shared a few of my thoughts in this ADGULLY piece on how PR is being rebuilt for an attention-scarce world. Vaishnavi Yadav Bijoya A Ghosh Hemant Batra Manoj Singh Veritas Reputation PR Pvt Ltd 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dK2XkFeW #PublicRelations #Trust #AttentionEconomy #Communications #Media

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🛠️ Navigating Sensitive Topics in PR 🛠️ This week’s Association Insights shares strategies for handling sensitive or divisive topics in your PR efforts: ✅ Understand your audience’s diverse perspectives. 📖 Stick to facts and maintain transparency. ❓ Prepare answers for tough questions. 🤝 Use neutral, inclusive language. 📊 Monitor feedback and adapt as needed. Thoughtful communication builds trust and protects your reputation. 💬 How do you approach sensitive topics in PR? Share your insights! #AssociationInsights #PRTips #CrisisCommunications #OnWrdUpWrd

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Many people are going to read this unfortunate headline and shake their head at UNC, thinking they spent nearly $1 million for people to write press releases and talking points for a year. As the story notes, however, what UNC asked Brunswick to do was far beyond the common connotation of "PR" and, I would argue, essential for any organization that is serious about understanding the strategic value of communication. This isn't about "marketing" or "messaging," it is about understanding that communications is an essential strategic function that is necessary for success. https://lnkd.in/gGKrZKFi

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FOR SPEECHWRITING, CEOs PREFER AI to working with "a top-tier communications professional," a new survey says. (Or does it?) Ragan Communications and PR Daily Diane SchwartzJohn G. Clemons, M.S., APR, ABC, SCMP, IABC Fellow Ray Day, APR Dom Bartkus HarrisX https://lnkd.in/g-mE_giS

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Avoiding the Media Relations/Press Agentry Trap Part I (or how to start using both hands in your PR efforts) Public relations, as defined by The Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), “is a strategic communication process that builds mutually beneficial relationships between organizations and their publics.” At its core, public relations is about influencing, engaging and building relationships with key stakeholders to contribute to the way an organization is perceived.   PRSA defines Media Relations as “mutually beneficial associations between publicists or public relations professionals and journalists as a condition for reaching audiences with messages of news or features of interest (publicity).” The function includes both seeking publicity for an organization and responding to queries from journalists about the organization. Maintaining up-to-date lists of media contacts and a knowledge of media audience interests are critical to media relations.   PRSA also defines Press Agentry as: “creating newsworthy stories and events to attract media attention and gain public notice” (although not all this attention may be positive). What are the distinctions and why are they important? The definition of the umbrella function of Public Relations emphasizes a strategic, collaborative approach to managing reputation, influencing stakeholders, and fostering engagement between an entity and its publics. Media Relations and Press Agentry emphasize a tactical approach focusing specifically on media channels and developing relationships with journalists and other media professionals to attract attention.   Bottom line: Not all PR is media relations/press agentry, but all media relations/press agentry is PR. The thing about a disproportionate focus on media coverage is it tends to focus on outcomes that are entirely out of our control after the pitch or hitting send on that press release. Organizations (and PR practitioners) that focus exclusively on earned media as proof of PR success often become slave to the news cycle and external editorial priorities and decisions, and are essentially operating with one hand tied behind their collective back.     What’s even worse is when organizations then scapegoat PR professionals for lack of growth, sales, or achieving organizational objectives with the erroneous perception that “if they’re not generating media coverage for us, they’re not doing their job!” Shortsighted and sad but too often true. So, what’s the solution? Be sure to check out Part II of this article.   "Views expressed are my own."

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When I worked for a subsidiary of the company that published the Physicians' Desk Reference, our marketing team came up with an apt tagline that went something like this: "A reference book is nothing but a few pounds of paper — unless you use it." In this digital age, you could say much the same about a brand: It's nothing but a bunch of bits on a server, a collection of pixels on a screen, unless you use it. In this post, Market&Message principal Richard Campbell talks about how higher ed institutions can move their brands from theory to action.

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