ImPRessions

Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations • June 26, 2013

Is "Dumb Ways to Die" A Smart PR Campaign?

“Dumb Ways to Die” delighted PR-watchers when it recently swept the Cannes Lions, the Oscars of the creative industry, and a very prestigious award for a public relations program. The Cannes Festival, in fact, has had cachet since Don Draper’s day, but it was virtually closed to the public relations biz. Like a poor relation, […]

Crenshaw Communications, crisis management, ImPRessions, public relations, reputation • June 22, 2013

Paula Deen’s PR Crisis: Is She Done?

It pains me to be dishing up another post about Paula Deen’s PR crisis. Deen’s rags-to-riches story and Southern-fried charm has won her many fans, including members of my own family. But her most recent controversy makes me wonder if Paula can recover. It was bad enough that she hid her diabetes diagnosis for a […]

Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, marketing • June 19, 2013

Can Bad PR Be Good Marketing?

Lifestyle clothing retailer Abercrombie & Fitch ran into some nasty PR recently when comments by CEO Mike Jeffries were reposted from a 2006 interview and blew up the Internet. In the piece, Jeffries boasts about the brand’s “exclusionary” marketing practices. He explains, in his typical unapologetic style, that Abercrombie won’t carry larger women’s because it […]

advertising, Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations, reputation • June 12, 2013

When Brands Overreact To PR Problems

Social-media-fueled brand controversies are more common than ever in the digital age. But even in the current crisis-of-the-hour media environment, it’s natural for major brands to take slights very seriously. Where millions of dollars are spent and fat profit margins are at stake, overreactions are understandable. You can almost sense the confusion, conflicting advice, and […]

blogging, communications, Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations • June 5, 2013

Education or Experience: Which Matters More in PR?

Lately there’s been a minor debate about which is more valuable for a career in public relations – education or experience. The conversation could – and will – go on and on. At first blush, it’s no contest. The advantage goes to experience. A college degree is increasingly required to enter the work force in […]

Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, marketing, public relations • May 29, 2013

What Is "PR" Thinking?

According to PR industry newsletter to The Holmes Report, “PR thinking” will dominate marketing communications in future years. That’s meant to be encouraging news for PR pros. The basis for the forecast is a new survey of 2000 marketing communications students in four European countries. Seventy percent of this “next generation” of marketers say they […]

Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations, reputation • May 22, 2013

For Bad PR, Blame The Lawyers?

#BrandAdvocateFail – I can only assume the lawyers are to blame? lnkd.in/W_FxYe — Sarah Larcker (@slarcker) May 22, 2013 Was Shakespeare right after all? When legal strategy contradicts PR or communications strategy, PR usually loses. Typically, it’s in high-stakes liability suits or congressional investigations where avoiding stiff legal or financial penalties is considered more important […]

advertising, blogging, communications, Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations • May 20, 2013

PR Myths And Facts For Marketers

A favorite former client calls PR “the cheapest form of advertising.” Not really. But his comment shows that, even among sophisticated marketers, misconceptions about PR and what we do for clients are still prevalent. These are the top seven myths that persist about public relations, and a perspective on each. 1. PR is advertising lite. Not […]

Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations • May 13, 2013

How To Find A Job in Public Relations

Graduation season should be joyful, but in the past few years, the media coverage has been dominated by slim employment prospects, hefty college loans, and depressed salaries. Yet things are looking up; for one, the public relations industry is booming, and new grads know it. As the resumes pour in, here’s my (updated) post with […]