The F-117 Nighthawk joins the “Spruce Goose” at Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum
October 10, 2023, McMinnville, Ore., — On November 11, the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum welcomes the highly-anticipated arrival of the Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk, the famed stealth fighter plane known for its incredible radar-reflecting technology. The aircraft is the brainchild of Lockheed Skunk Works Director, Ben Rich, and is the world’s first operational stealth fighter. The arrival marks the first time the aircraft will be available for public viewing in the Museum setting alongside other celebrated and rare aircraft, like the Hughes H-4 Flying Boat, more commonly known as the “Spruce Goose” and the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird.
Guests are invited to come celebrate the F-117 in the Space Museum at 5:30 p.m. as we honor those who served on Veterans Day. The event will include experts presenting on the intricacies of the aircraft followed by a dramatic reveal and first look before it undergoes a multi-year restoration. Guests will be able to interact with the F-117 up close, a rare opportunity that not many have been able to do before. Tickets to this special event are $30, with half of each ticket sold supporting the restoration fund.
The tail number of this F-117 is 85-0816, and it has the unique nickname the “Lone Wolf.” The Lone Wolf was credited as dropping the first bomb in Desert Storm. Its first flight was on October 30, 1985, with its first combat operation taking place in Operation Just Cause. During its career, the aircraft flew 39 combat missions in Desert Storm and eight missions during Operation Iraqi Freedom, before being retired on October 12, 2007.
“Few individuals have been lucky enough to see this aircraft in person and we have the unique privilege of being the only museum in the Pacific Northwest to provide this experience to our guests,” says Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum CEO Tyson Weinert. “Sharing the Lone Wolf’s restoration journey from this first moment adds a new dimension to our community engagement.”
The F-117 will endure a transportation journey on a trailer over hundreds of miles to make its arrival at the Museum. The aircraft has been specially assigned by the United States Air Force to the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum, one of about only five other F-117s available to view in museums throughout the United States. Although the Air Force technically retired the F-117 fleet in 2008, there are sightings of them still flying, even in the past year, showing that the plane is still a technological marvel today.
For more details about the F-117 arrival celebration, visit the Museum’s events page. To donate to the F-117 restoration process, visit the Evergreen donation page. For questions about the F-117 and the rest of the Evergreen collection, you can email publicity@evergreenmuseum.org or call (503) 434-4180.
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About the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum
The Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum is home to the iconic Hughes Flying Boat Spruce Goose and is recognized for its remarkable collection of aviation and spacecraft. Whether it’s viewing the rare, record-breaking SR-71 plane or experiencing the original launch room of the Titan II Space Launch Vehicle (SLV), Evergreen provides a space to explore and discover. As a 501(c) 3, we proudly partner with the Academy of Model Aeronautics, the NASA Jet Propulsion Lab, the Oregon Space Consortium, and the Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program.
Discover more than 150 historic aircraft, spacecraft, and exhibits on display, along with artwork and traveling exhibits daily from 9 am – 5 pm. The Museum is located at 500 NE Captain Michael King Smith Way, across the highway from the McMinnville Airport and about three miles southeast of McMinnville, Ore., on Highway 18. To make a reservation, buy tickets, or learn more, please call (503) 434-4180 or visit www.evergreenmuseum.org. Follow @evergreenmuseum on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for the latest updates.
Corvallis Band The Deans releases new single titled “The Runner"
NEWS RELEASE Contact Information: The Deans
May 20th, 2022 Email : thedeansmusic@gmail.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Corvallis Band The Deans releases new single titled “The Runner"
Corvallis, Oregon, May 20th
Corvallis, Oregon-based band The Deans releases their new single ‘The Runner’ on 5/20/22. The song is the band’s first single since their 2021 release of the Casual Stares EP. ‘The Runner’ is a representation of feeling torn between differing ideas in an information-overloaded world. Mixed with the fast-paced rhythm and lead singer Sean Bullock’s guttural vocals, the song’s message feels clear though it remains emotionally ambiguous, allowing all listeners to relate to the lyrics from their own perspective. The Runner is available to listen on major streaming platforms Spotify, Apple Music, as well as accompanied by a lyric video on Youtube. It is also available on their website, TheDeansMusic.com.
Inspired by bands from Interpol to the Strokes, ‘The Runner’ produces a unique sound that nods to these bands with a garage-rock vibe that blazes its own trail. The track begins with a drawn-out intro that seeps into a dystopian beat that is almost unexpected.. Not only do the lyrics represent the struggle between different thoughts, the instrumentals represent the constant barrage of contrasting feelings, as well. ‘The Runner’ is just the beginning of the Deans 2022 releases, with more on the way in coming months.
“The Deans found a niche in indie-rock that I have yet to hear reproduced,” said publicist Alissa Kobe. “‘The Runner’ is a representation of rock with a smooth, new wave feel that you can’t help but feel drawn to. The message of the track is relatable to anyone who hears it, but it will speak to something different in every listener.”
More information about The Deans and their new single ‘The Runner’ can be found on TheDeansMusic.com, or @TheDeansMusic on Instagram.
The Deans began in 2019, when guitarist Zach Crawford overheard frontman Sean Bullock playing guitar in his backyard. One brief introduction later, the project was in motion. Flash forward to present day, the final iteration now consists of Alex Wright (guitar), Garrett Remde (bass), and Myles Remde (drums). Inspired by an array of artists ranging from the Strokes, John Lennon to Frank Sinatra, the member’s respective interests have all found traction in music that one could tentatively describe as a variant of modern rock (if they had to decide). Tangibly vulnerable lyrics and honest yet electrifying instrumentals have enabled the Deans to accumulate a considerable following. With numerous successful shows under their belt, most notably a set at the Whiteside Theatre during Summers End Festival, The Deans intend to create music to perpetuate a modern rock revival in an age that is currently devoid of such artists.
Skeie’s Jewelers Teams Up with Justin Herbert to Design a Custom Ring for Charity
PRESS RELEASE Contact Information: Alissa Kobe
July 8th, 2022 Phone Number: 661-713-5936
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Email : alissa@skeies.com
Skeie’s Jewelers Teams Up with Justin Herbert to Design a Custom Ring for Charity
Eugene, Oregon, July 8th
Long-standing Eugene, Oregon jeweler Skeie’s Jewelers announces their special custom-design collaboration with Justin Herbert, quarterback of the Los Angeles Chargers, with all proceeds going to charity.
Skeie’s Jewelers worked with Herbert to design a custom “O” ring, to commemorate his successful football career at the University of Oregon. It features a solid 18k yellow gold “O” ring design with his number 10 on both sides of the O, and includes his signature engraved on the inside. Only two of these pieces were ever created, with one being for Herbert himself and the other for charity.
100% of the proceeds from the auction of the Herbert “O” Ring will go to KidsSports, a nonprofit organization that provides youth sports programs to Eugene/Springfield. The auction will open at 7:00am PST on July 7th and close on July 10th at 5pm PST. The starting bid is $1000. This particular piece is in correspondence with the Justin Herbert Invitational, which is a private charity event taking place on July 7th, benefitting the same cause. This piece is being opened to the public, to allow those not attending the event to have a chance to acquire a priceless piece of Justin Herbert memorabilia. Bidding is taking place here.
This custom design is not the first time Skeie’s has designed a custom piece for a prominent figure in the Oregon community. Last year, Skeie’s designed a custom “O” ring for Heisman winner, Marcus Mariota, to promote his charity, Motiv8 Foundation. During the 2021 Oregon Football Season, Skeie’s donated 100% of proceeds from their Oregon jewelry collection to the Motiv8 Foundation. The foundation aims to promote underprivileged youth in Hawaii, Oregon and Nevada. Skeie’s was able to raise $10,000 from this campaign alone.
Skeie’s Jewelers owner, Rick Beckett, is thrilled to be teaming up with another famous Duck to raise money for children’s charity. “We value any opportunity we can get to help support the youth of Eugene & Springfield while working with some amazing individuals,” said Beckett.
About Skeie’s Jewelers: Skeie’s Jewelers has been the staple jeweler in the Eugene/Springfield community since 1922. From diamond & gold jewelry to watches, Skeie’s has the perfect piece for any occasion. Located at 10 Oakway Ctr.
For more information, please contact:
Alissa Kobe alissa@skeies.com
The media’s portrayal of public relations
Courtesy of Career Girl Daily
As almost every 20-something women, I have seen my fair share of Sex and the City. The show depicts four single women and their endeavors with their sexuality in New York City. One of the characters comes to mind when I think about public relations: Samantha Jones. Jones is a successful public relations professional who heads her own firm and can afford a $7,000-a-month apartment. She is always wearing designer brands, traveling to expensive destinations and planning extravagant events.
When first watching the show as a teenager, I aspired to experience a life like Samantha Jones: a strong, independent public relations professional who makes a lot of money. However, after working for a few months in the industry, it is definitely not as glamorous as Jones portrays in Sex and the City. The desire to be like Jones has lead to a phrase being coined: “The Samantha Jones Syndrome.” This “syndrome” describes the mindset young public relations professionals have when entering the industry. They believe that their career is all glamour, parties and money. But when these professionals experience what it actually is, long hours, stress and hard work, they become disheartened and feel misled.
This is how the media tends to portray the public relations field. Whether it consists of celebrity interaction, wealth or confrontation, it is not accurate to what the industry actually is. Here are a few more instances of inaccurate portrayals of public relations in the media:
Princess Carolyn - Bojack Horseman
Courtesy of Bojack Horseman
Although Bojack Horseman is an animated show, it aims to depict deep character development and raw reality of life. The show is based around a once-famous, alcoholic TV actor, Bojack Horseman, who struggles with trying to reinvent his past fame. Princess Carolyn is his feisty and hard-working public relations representative who constantly has to make sure Bojack does not ruin his image.
As I said previously, even though this show is a cartoon, it shows a raw take on the reality of life. Princess Carolyn is constantly working, which makes her miss out on marriage and family. She also is depicted as ruthless public relations executive, where she will do anything to have the upper-hand in the industry, no matter how morally questionable. In one example, Princess Carolyn only attends a funeral to meet potential clients and convince them to work with her.
Personally, out of all the depictions of public relations professionals, this one is the most authentic. She is seen as a driven career-woman, but it depicts her struggle with balancing her personal life and professional life. It also shows the amount of work that some professionals may experience and the result of constant stress and work.
Courtesy of Flack
Robyn - Flack
In the television show “Flack” Robyn is an American public relations professional who works for a competitive public relations firm in London. She is depicted as the anti-hero, in which she makes extremely questionable decisions in order to preserve or promote her clients image. For example, she facilitates a breast cancer scare for a TV chef’s wife so he can be seen as sympathetic and caring.
This depiction of a public relations professional makes it seem that all professionals in the industry are cutthroat, and will do anything to preserve their clients image, in order to protect their career. A portrayal like Robyn is one of the reasons why public relations professionals may have a negative connotation. It can be a harmful representation to young professionals who hope to have a career in the industry. I do not doubt that there are those who are just as ruthless as Robyn in the public relations field, but to provide a generalization like this is not accurate.
Emily - Emily in Paris
Courtesy of NPR
Quite possibly the most unrealistic depiction of public relations is the Netflix show, Emily in Paris. In this show, Emily is an American who moves to Paris after receiving a job opportunity at a French marketing firm. She is constantly belittled by her French colleagues for not speaking French and her American behavior. However, she suddenly becomes Instagram famous for her portrayal of life in Paris on the platform. This makes her become famous and more respected at her marketing firm, and she (of course) falls in love in the end.
I say this is the most inaccurate depiction, because it shows the glamour of living in Paris while working at a marketing firm. To add in some character development, Emily is not respected at her company until she becomes famous. Though they represent the non-glamourous part of being the new professional at a firm, it inaccurately shows that you can just be successful overnight and gain the respect of everyone around you. It is a toxic portrayal because it shows young people that you do not have to do anything to earn the respect of your colleagues except somehow become Instagram famous.
This show earned a lot of backlash, not just because of the unrealistic portrayal of this career, but about Emily herself. Her character was criticized for the privilege she flaunted when arriving at her new job, where she did not desire to work with her colleagues. She also relied heavily on her Instagram presence to feel that she had an identity in Paris, but also in her life.
Though these portrayals may be accurate or inaccurate, the only way to determine how the industry works is through experience. These characters may represent some pieces of reality as a public relations professional, but overall, they can be grossly misleading to a person aspiring to work in the industry.
Public Relations during the COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has been an international crisis, affecting every single company and industry, whether positive or negative. It has increased the need for public relations professionals because companies have needed to communicate to the world their pandemic measures. Some companies have succeeded with their pandemic public relations while others have failed. The way some companies have functioned during the pandemic is setting the precedent for their post-pandemic performance.
Security or Stress?
In a survey by Buzzstream, 60% of respondents felt confident about their job security during the pandemic. However, 65% of respondents said they felt more stressed at their job. Even though the public relations field was not facing as many layoffs, the need for pandemic communication has led professionals to be increasingly stressful. This caused over 1/3 of respondents to consider changing their career from public relations due to the pandemic. The question is now, is the higher level of job security worth the higher level of stress in this profession?
Though the demand and workload may be higher which affects stress levels, the impacts of the pandemic have caused an increase in stress and anxiety. Four out of ten adults reported feeling anxiety or a depressive disorder during the pandemic. Pre-pandemic, the number was only one out of ten adults. This is important to note when judging whether it was the career alone, or external factors.
Successful COVID-19 Public Relations
Whether a company succeeded during the pandemic or because of the pandemic, either way, it is still successful. Some companies, such as Amazon, Apple and Tesla have prospered during the pandemic due to the circumstances from closures. Specifically, Apple alone grew over $219 billion during the pandemic. On top of this, they had an extremely public relations campaign, Creativity Goes On.
Creativity Goes On - Apple
This campaign was created to inspire and keep people hopeful during the pandemic. It encouraged the world that even though most of it was shut down, it did not have to keep people from being creative. This message was especially appropriate because creators worldwide took the time during the pandemic to focus on their craft, whether it be music, art, writing etc.
Apple also was one of the leaders in making virtual meetings and conferences, which the rest of the world followed suit with. They were one of the leaders of the pandemic due to their adaptability to the economic and social climate, but also due to being a technologically-based company.
The Getty Museum Challenge
Courtesy of Phoenix New Times
The Getty Center is located in Los Angeles, California and is famous for its permanent collection of famous works of art. Their museum is free admission and boasts close to two million visitors annually. However, due to the pandemic, they were forced to shut down indefinitely.
Through this campaign, the Getty Center inspired social media users to recreate some famous works of art. It became known as “The Getty Museum Challenge” with thousands of social media users taking to their respective platforms to show their reinterpretation of art. The Getty is now a household name for many individuals who did not know what the Getty Museum represented.
Though they are still closed in Los Angeles, they may expect to have an influx in visitors due to the success of this campaign.
Positive PR from Charity
Some companies took a different route when promoting their organization during the pandemic, in which they chose to make charitable donations to those in need.
The Barstool Fund
Barstool Sports is a controversial social media company headed by Dave Portnoy, an infamous figure in pop culture for his sometimes unpopular opinions and behavior. The company itself made its name from posting videos and pictures of people’s controversial behavior, such as drunk college students doing inappropriate things.
However, Portnoy decided during the pandemic to form the Barstool Fund, a charity funded by the public that will go towards supporting family-owned restaurants and businesses struggling during the pandemic closures. So far, this fund has been a massive success for Barstool Sports, as so far, they have raised 37 million and helped 233 businesses. Though Barstool Sports is usually viewed negatively, this campaign has certainly helped their name in the eyes of the public. Especially for Portnoy, who was famously kicked out of the Super Bowl, he has been able to paint a more positive picture of himself in the public sphere.
Personally, I believe this campaign was the most successful in having a huge change in public perception during the campaign. There were hundreds of companies that made massive donations to help during the pandemic, but Barstool Sports and Dave Portnoy managed to gain the respect of many who previously did not. Though their company still has a controversial message, their intentions were true when it came to helping those in need.
Being a college student and a PR professional, simultaneously.
Currently, I am senior at the University of Oregon, double-majoring in Journalism and Public Relations. I am also in the School of Journalism’s Honors College. On top of this, I am working full-time as the Digital Sales and Public Relations specialist at Skeie’s Jewelers. My experience in working while completing my degree has been nothing short of stressful, but it has also been extremely rewarding.
How did I get here?
I often ask myself the same question: How did I get here?
I began my college career at Portland State University having no idea what I planned on doing, except I knew I was interested in communications. I was pursuing this major while also studying in the Urban Honors College. To make ends meet in an expensive city like Portland, I worked five days a week at two different Walgreens in customer service.
My experience at Portland State was less than picture perfect, it was more of a find-myself and figure-it-out year. This led to me transferring to University of Oregon to pursue journalism, as I needed to move closer to home to save money and find a career path.
Once at University of Oregon, I began figuring out what I believed my passion was. In high school, I was an active athlete; I played soccer for fifteen years and played high school football as a kicker. This and Oregon’s athletics reputation led me to pursuing sports journalism. I joined Duck TV Sports in my first term, and began learning about what a career in sports journalism entailed.
However, after shadowing a prominent sports reporter, she advised me on what her career required. There was constant travel, little pay, but fantastic, once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. Hearing about the lifestyle of the sports reporter made me less inclined to continue to pursue a career in the field. I wanted more from a career, in which I was compensated well and also felt intellectually challenged on a daily basis.
Public Relations?
After this disheartening experience, I decided to make myself a more well-rounded professional, so I added a public relations major. This occurred the same time I began working as a manager at Hollister full-time and I was accepted into the School of Journalism’s Honors Program. My plate was certainly full, but I was accustomed to working constantly and taking 16 credits a term.
However, it wasn’t long before the pandemic hit, and then I was unemployed and school was online. This proved to be a difficult time for everyone, but I felt it hit me especially hard. I had been working from the time I was 16 until this moment. I had never been unemployed before.
Thankfully, unemployment helped me stay financially stable, but I felt that my future had completely changed. The time in quarantine led to many instances of self reflection and 20-year-old crises in which I contemplated where I wanted to be in the next two years. The unemployment in the country made a future in public relations look bleak, so I decided the best thing for my future would be to take life day-by-day.
Thank you, Indeed.
When senior year of college arrived, I was in the same mindset as when the pandemic began. I had found a job at Richardson Sports, a wholesale hat company, working in customer service full-time, but it was not somewhere I saw myself post-graduation.
On a whim, I logged onto Indeed and applied to a few different jobs. One in particular stood out, which was to be a Digital Sales Specialist at Skeie’s Jewelers. I had never worked a sales job before, but I knew I could utilize my previous five years of experience in a sales-related field.
When I received a phone call to come in for an interview, I was surprised, but also extremely nervous. I felt as though I was unqualified and I also knew nothing about jewelry. I went into it with an open mind, knowing I was already employed, and it would not hurt to interview.
After the interview, I felt confident in the way I presented myself and my specific skillset. But at this point, I was comfortable at my current job and it would take a lot to make me uproot myself to work in a new, foreign environment. However, Skeie’s Jewelers offered me a position I could not refuse. I would be compensated well, while working more flexible hours, such as possible work-from-home opportunities. Ultimately, I chose to take the position in November of 2020.
Sales at Skeie’s
When I began, I felt like a fish out of water. I was the youngest person working on the sales staff and the only student. I also began around the busiest season of the year, holiday season. First, I had to learn the basics of precious metals and gemstones, and then I had to learn how to sell products, in general. At one point, I remember wondering how I was going to sell a product that I personally did not know anything about.
But within the first month, I was making sales constantly and I had thrown myself into the environment in order to learn everything I could. This needed up paying off immensely, because within two months, my manager promoted me to the sole Public Relations specialist of Skeie’s Jewelers. I had already been aiding the marketing team with certain projects, like writing the blog posts and taking pictures. But I did not expect to be promoted to public relations so quickly.
When I began at Skeie’s, I had expressed my interest in working with their marketing department and possibly conducting public relations projects. Skeie’s Jewelers is a family-owned jewelry store in Eugene, Oregon with less than 30 employees, so they did not have a dire necessity for a public relations department. But after I proposed some of my ideas for the future of the store, I believe the management team saw a potential for growth in our store and brand.
So Far, in PR
Since working in the public relations department and marketing at Skeie’s Jewelers, I have helped create a successful campaign that showed over 50% growth in sales than the previous years. I have also proposed multiple advertising projects that have proved to be successful. I do not want to divulge too much about the future growth at Skeie’s, but I know the sky is the limit for what I can achieve here.
Working as a public relations professional while also studying as a public relations student can be and has been extremely difficult. Trying to balance work and school is already challenging for a student working a college job. Working a job you genuinely care about and wanting to put 100% into it while going to school is nearly impossible. Especially when school is online, it is hard to stay motivated and keep up with what is required of you.
One aspect that has helped me stay motivated, is the fact that I am working through the impossible. I have associates, customers, and other professionals tell me daily that they could not balance career and school like I do. Specifically, I have had a veteran sales representative tell me I am one of the most hard-working and intelligent college students he has ever met. Hearing this has certainly boosted my confidence in myself, but I still feel every day that I have something to prove as a brand-new professional.
Future plans
Since I am such a young professional, I know I have a long, invigorating career ahead of me. At this moment, I am choosing to stay in the jewelry industry, as I have found a love for all the different aspects of jewelry. The industry is continuing to grow, and I know I will always have a place in it. I see a future at Skeie’s Jewelers for myself, as I can grow and learn more about public relations and the jewelry industry. With that being said, down the road, I know I will eventually want to move out of Eugene and somewhere else in the United States. But with that I say, a year ago today I had no idea I would be working this incredible job in my ideal career field. You have no idea where life will take you, so it is important to stay motivated and work hard.
In-house PR: Benefits vs Drawbacks
In-house public relations can be extremely beneficial resource for a company versus hiring a public relations firm. Here are a few benefits and drawbacks to hiring an in-house public relations team.
Benefit: Company knowledge
Working in-house provides an extensive amount of knowledge that an outside agency will not have. When a public relations professional is spending all their time immersed in the environment they provide their services to, they will know the company inside and out. This helps the professional know what campaign or strategy will work best for the company they work for. It also gives them a competitive edge, as other companies will have limited knowledge of what they plan on executing.
Drawback: Lack of outside knowledge
Public relations is all about connections, so when working at a large agency, you may have better knowledge of competitors strategies. You may even work at a desk next to a competitors public relations specialist. You also will be able to consult outside opinions on how you are conducting a campaign, which can be vital to its success. When working in-house, you will receive most of your feedback from others within the company.
Benefit: Sales & marketing connections
When working in-house, a professional has the ability to work directly with the sales and marketing team at their company. This can be integral to boosting the companies image and sales, since more often than not, sales and image correlate with one another. This also helps build a stronger relationship with the marketing team, which can help the company run smoother, allowing for little miscommunication.
Drawback: Distractions from other departments
When working directly with other departments in your company, it can cause work to be left behind or disregarded. It can also make projects difficult to launch, due to more input and opinions. This can cause conflict, as some departments may feel that they do not have as much of a say in decisions.
Benefit: Trust
When a professional works daily with the same individuals and executives, it helps build a level of trust that cannot be achieved when working with an agency. This can allow for more creative freedom, as an executive may allow a professional to experiment if they have trust in them. This also allows a professional to find their place in the public relations department.
Drawback: Connections
When working internally at a company, there can be a lack of connections with other professionals in the industry. At a public relations agency, a professional is interacting with different public relations specialists daily. This can help build relationships for future opportunities. This type of connection can be imperative for a professional to further their career.
With that being said, working in-house is entirely preferential with many different benefits and drawbacks. Success in this environment is based upon the type of personality and worker that a professional is.
The best public relations firms on the west coast
In 2020, Forbes compiled a list of the best public relations firms in the United States from surveying almost 13,000 experts and over 20,000 different customers. With over 5,000 different agencies nominated, here are some of the best firms on the West Coast.
Covet Public Relations, San Diego, California
Founded in 2014, Covet PR works with food, beverage, beauty and lifestyle brands. Currently, they work with big-name brands like Annie’s, Pacifica and Jenny Craig. This brand is one of the youngest on this list, making it even more impressive for making the Forbes list. It is also a female-based company, with the CEO, President, and Vice President all being women.
(W)right On Communications, La Jolla, California
Located north of San Diego is (W)right On Communication in La Jolla, California. Founded in 1998 by Julie Wright, this agency is focused on staying ahead of trends to ensure the best service to their clients. They specialize in many different industries such as Hospitality, Energy and Education. They also have locations in Los Angeles, California and Vancouver, British Columbia.
Beach House, Newport Beach, California
Located in Newport Beach, California, Beach House is a woman-owned agency that works with beauty and lifestyle brands. It was founded in 2005 with a holistic-lifestyle image in mind. They have worked with big brands like Bondhi Sands, Revlon and Schwarzkopf. They now have agencies located in Los Angeles and New York, as well.
The Hoffman Agency, San Jose, California
Ranked #5 overall for the Best PR Agencies in the United States, Hoffman Agency specializes in global technology public relations. Located in San Jose, California, The Hoffman Agency focuses heavily on being an independent agency while providing client-centric service for large technology companies in Silicon Valley. With clients all over the world, they are aiding some of the up-in-coming technology companies.
bread & butter PR, Los Angeles, California
Founded in 2007, bread & butter focuses on promoting food, lifestyle and travel companies. They provide a variety of services from package design, product photography, to web design and brand development. They have offices all over the United States, from Austin to New York.
Highwire PR, San Francisco, California
Based in San Francisco, Highwire PR focuses on innovation and roots in technology and journalism. They were founded in 2008 and emphasize the importance of its employees and providing the best opportunities for its clients. This is another firm on the list with a female CEO.
The Fearey Group, Seattle, Washington
Recognized as one of the most established and reputable public relations firms in Washington, The Fearey Group has been in the business for over 40 years. Founded by Pat Fearey, a female in a male-dominated industry, this agency has its place in the largest industries in the Seattle area. The Fearey Group provides a variety of services to non-profits, crisis management and healthcare industries.
Public Relations campaigns that failed on execution
Technically, all Public Relations campaigns that fail, have to fail on execution. However, here is a few of the most awkward and poorly executed public relations campaigns in the past decade.
Starbucks #RaceTogether
In 2015, Starbucks decided to run a campaign regarding racial inequality in the United States after the events that transpired in 2014. This campaign focused on having baristas initiate conversations regarding racial inequality with customers. However, this campaign severely backfired with all audiences due to the plethora of issues involving the motives and execution. In one public, they believed that if Starbucks cared about people of color, they would hire more in executive positions. In another public, they did not want to be bothered by a barista with questions regarding racial inequality while trying to order coffee. This caused the campaign to backfire and led to many to boycott Starbucks or publicly denounce them on social media.
Courtesy of Adweek
2. Bud Light’s “Up for Whatever”
In an attempt to encourage its drinkers to let loose, Bud Light released the “Up for Whatever” campaign in 2015. The campaign immediately received backlash due to the verbiage and advertisements used, in which some said “remove no from your vocabulary for the night.” This campaign seemed to encourage rape culture, as it told its drinkers to not say no to “whatever happens.” Since 72% of rapes occur to women who are intoxicated, this message was portrayed as insensitive and not executed well. Though the underlying intent of this campaign was in good faith, the public thought differently.
Courtesy of Newsweek
Tesla’s Cybertruck
Though Elon Musk has since recovered after this public relations blunder, it is still just as memorable. In 2019, Musk revealed the new Tesla Cybertruck at a large event with massive media coverage. This vehicle was ground-breaking in style and technology, which garnered a lot of attention from the media and the public. In the presentation, Musk states that the Cybertruck is “bulletproof” but then proceeds to throw steel balls that shatter the window, then states “there is room for improvement.”This caused a huge controversy, as the Cybertruck was a highly-anticipated vehicle release for Tesla, which caused the stock to drop 6%.
SEO: A crash course
Search Engine Optimization or SEO is an unpaid tool used in marketing and public relations increases the visibility of your website. Here is a crash course guide on what SEO is and how to use it effectively.
What is SEO, exactly?
SEO helps increase the amount of organic searches your website receives. Specifically, Google is one of the main mediums utilized when increasing a website’s SEO.
There are certain concepts that need to be understood before a website can address its SEO.
Index & Crawl
The Index is where Google stores all of its webpages it has knowledge about. In an index entry, the location (URL) and some of the content is detailed.
Crawl is a term used to describe when a “crawler” looks for new & updated sites and webpages. A crawler is the software used to find these websites. Google’s software is called a Googlebot.
Optimization Techniques
There is almost an infinite amount of ways to help Google or other search engines to find your webpages, but here are some simple and effective techniques to help boost your traffic.
Title Tag
A title tag can help crawlers find your website quicker and more effectively. A title that reflects the contents of the webpage accurately can help the algorithm of your page. Each new page on your website should have a unique and brief title that represents what a user will be clicking on when viewing it on Google.
Description Tag
A description tag is just a couple sentences describing what is on the specific webpage. This is contained in a snippet, which is on Google, and includes the title and the description tag. Ensure the description is accurate to the content on the webpage. The description should also be unique for each web page on your website.
An example of a snippet, which includes the title tag and description tag
Easy Navigation and Organization
This may seem like a given, but this can massively effect the traffic on your page. All navigation tabs should have their own unique URL to increase the chances of having your webpages indexed. Navigation should also use words, not images, to ensure the keywords are being found by crawlers.
Simple URLs
URLs for each webpage should be short and accurate to the content on the page. If not, this can confuse users and make it more difficult to find. It can also make it confusing if the title tag is different from the actual URL
Webpage Content
Content is just as important as the snippet, itself. The snippet helps users find your webpage, while the content is what will keep the user on the page.
Text
The text should be easy to read and understand. There should be no misspellings or other grammatical mistakes, as this can come off unprofessional. Keywords can help users find your webpage, but using confusing or irrelevant words can make your page look unprofessional.
Links
Links should not be overused, and only utilized when needed. This is important when attempting to navigate users to other locations on your website. Anchor text is important to describing what the webpage leads to, which will encourage users to press on these links and crawlers to identify the webpages.
Photos
Photos on the webpage can help describe the text and make your webpage more aesthetic. It also can help crawlers find your images and index them by using the <img> and <picture> elements in the HTML. All pictures should have file names that represent the image, to help the picture be better found. Always use a standard image format.
Bonus tip: mobile-friendly version
By making your website mobile-friendly, it increases the accessibility and encourages more users to utilized your webpage. This is pertinent in our current technological climate, as our mobile-devices are able to accomplish the same things as our computers.
Connections are Key: Organizations to help you meet other Public Relations professionals
When working in an industry heavily influenced by networking, knowing other public relations professionals is a non-negotiable. Here are a few organizations that can help broaden your connections.
Courtesy of Public Relations Society of America
Public Relations Society of America
Public Relations Society of America or PRSA is America’s leading public relations organization with over 30,000 members in all 50 states. This organization has been active for over 70 years, and aims to provide public relations professionals with extensive knowledge and support throughout their profession.
Features
PRSA is a highly-respected organization due to the professional and personal benefits it provides. This organization has an accreditation in public relations or APR which allows them to provide the most current knowledge and practices to its members.
Ethics
If you are involved in any type of public relations, you have heard of the PRSA Code of Ethics. Many public relations professionals base their high-standards of ethics off of this. These guidelines help navigate professionals to following the best practices and better help identify malpractice.
PRSA Foundation
The PRSA foundation is a charitable foundation with support from many of the PRSA members. This foundation aims to promoting diversity among public relations professionals and companies to ensure the utmost for the public wellbeing.
PRSSA (Public Relations Student Society for America)
PRSSA is PRSA’s campus organization which helps promote and teach students on college campuses the highest standards of public relations. It was established in 1967 and is on 375 different college campuses. It also has helped promote the organization in Latin American countries, such as Argentina, Columbia and Peru.
Membership for PRSA is $260 annually with a $65 initiation fee.
Courtesy of International Association of Business Communicators
International Association for Business Communicators
The International Association for Business Communicators or IABC is a broader organization which includes public relations. Since 1970, IABC has been helping members network, learn more about business communication, and broaden your skillset to be the strongest communicator.
Features
IABC is a large network, with connections spanning globally. Members in the organization hold different jobs and positions from public relations, human resources, graphic design, leadership coaching and many more.
Accessibility
IABC offers a multitude of member-only communication platforms. They have “The Hub” which is a private online platform that connects you with thousands of other members around the world. You can ask questions, answer questions posed by other members, and find potential clients.
World Conference
Every month, IABC holds a three-day World Conference, which offers webinars and online courses to help sharpen your communication skills. All of these resources are members-only, so the content you are receiving is exclusive to IABC.
Extensive Online Library
IABC’s online library offers thousands of resources to help answer or solve any questions you may have in your professional communication field. These resources vary from case studies, podcasts, webinars and much more. This information can help you in your day-to-day career and with job searching.
Membership dues vary depending on where you are located, but in the United States, all memberships are under $400 for the year.
Courtesy of Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication
The Global Alliance for Public Relations and Communication Management
The Global Alliance for Public Relation and Communication Management or GA is a non-profit confederation of public relations practitioners from across the world, which includes over 300,000 members. Based in Switzerland, GA aims to uphold the highest standards of public relations and connect practitioners globally.
Features
Events
GA offers a wide range of events for its members, including but not limited to, the World Public Relations Forum, GA COMM PRIX awards, and online and in-person workshops. These workshops help connect members and empower them to promote their best work. They also offer free webinars for potential members to see their organization.Diversity
GA offers numerous diversity and inclusion resources for its members. June & July is their Diversity & Inclusion month in which they promote GA member’s work to improve diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Some of these resources include organizations and guides that span from all the various locations of this organization.
Monthly Campaigns
Each month, GA has a dedicated standard that they aim to promote. For example, February is #EthicsMatter, in which members work to promote their views on why ethics matter in the public relations industry. Some members works have been promoted across platforms due to the high level of integrity and ethics.
For one member, dues start at around $545 US dollars, and with groups, such as companies, the cost lessens.
In a profession where connections and networking are crucial, all of these organizations can help you build a community of professionals that you can rely on and support.
The Ten Step Guide to Crisis Communication
No matter what organization you work for as a public relations professional, you will be faced with a crisis that you will need to control. The way this crisis is handled can affect your companies image and future. Here is a breakdown of 10 steps to handling a crisis.
Assess the issue
No matter what type of crisis, you will need to asses the issue at hand in order to formulate the proper response. Crises can be internal, external, or both and can vary in the level of severity. Whether financial or organizational, you must asses what exactly the issue at hand is, and what the immediate reaction was.
2. Assess the damage
After figuring out the issue at hand, assessing the immediate damage of the issue is key. This will help you understand who the audience is and the best way to effectively find and communicate a solution. This was also help you determine who to inform about the issue and whether or not it affects specific stakeholders or an entire public.
3. Find a medium
After assessing what damage has been done and who is affected, you can now figure out the best way to address the solution. The medium is key to the delivery, because if it does not reach the broad range of effected publics, it will not be received well enough. If the medium is too broad, the message can backfire by highlighting an issue that was supposed to be kept small.
4. Delivery
The way a message is delivered is extremely important to minimizing future damage and solving the crisis as quickly as possible. If the message is delivered in an insincere way or offers no tangible solutions, this can further the damage until it is too late to be solved. The message needs to offer genuine acknowledgement of the concern or if it does not need to be addressed, then do not address it. The way this is delivered can affect the way your company is perceived and sets a precedent for the future.
5. Prepare
After following the previous steps, prepare the response and discuss it with your response team. Receiving feedback from others in your company or organization is important, as they may have ideas to better communicate the response. After deliberation, send the intended message.
6. Analyze the immediate response
After you deliver the intended message, analyze the various responses. See what those in your target public are saying, as well as those not involved. This will help predict whether further damage control needs to be done or if the response was received well. This should be done within the first 24-48 hours depending on how quickly your response was sent out. In the digital age, most message are received almost immediately.
7. Plan
With your response team, plan the next move or if there needs to be one. See how the response was received and plan accordingly. This should be done swiftly after the analysis, to ensure no other crisis occurs.
8. Monitor
Over the next few weeks, monitor the response from the public and see what is working or what is not. This can be found in the in-bound and out-bound communications involving your company or organization. Follow social media and articles that may be arising out of this crisis and see if any of what is posted warrants a response. Monitor the monetary gain or loss your company has taken as a result of the crisis.
9. Studies and Reviews
After the crisis has peaked or has been averted, reach out to your publics and colleagues to have the crisis reviewed. This information is vital to avoiding a similar situation in the future. It is also important to see how your response was perceived and to receive suggestions on what to do differently in the future.
10. Learn
After receiving your feedback, re-analyze the entirety of the crisis and see what you would do differently. Review the studies and reviews from your publics and colleagues to create a future plan in case a crisis occurs again. As cliché as it may be, always learn from your mistakes.
Risk vs. Reward: Public Relations
It all begins with an idea.
Think of any industry anywhere in the entire world. There is at least one thing they have a in common. In order to be successful, they have to succeed in their public relations.
I never fully understood this. I was told by relatives that I would do well in public relations because I was “good at talking to people.” Yes, that is definitely one aspect of public relations is to appeal to people. But as a public relations professional, you will have to represent an entire company, and hope they will appeal to the general public.
Most companies large monetary losses have been due to a failure in the public relations department. One company, prominently, is a perfect example of disasterous public relations: United Airlines. Every time I check the news, United Airlines is in the spotlight for a controversy. One infamous controversy was in 2017, when a passenger on United Airlines Express Flight 3411 was violently removed from the plane after overbooking the plane. This incident alone caused uproar in the public discourse. But it was the response by United Airlines that caused the incident to explode.
Courtesy of CGTN
United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz issued a statement in response to the viral video of the incident in which he stated, “I apologize for having to re-accomodate these customers.” This infuriated the public, in which Munoz did not acknowledge the manner of how this passenger was removed in his statement. He was criticized for the lack of compassion for the situation and did not issue a full apology until the media fall-out. This ultimately led to United Airlines stock to drop about 4% and the top trending hashtag of the time was #NewUnitedAirlinesMotto, in which one tweet stated “not enough seating, prepare for a beating.” This failure of public relations has lead United Airlines to be negatively viewed in the publics eye, with having a 44% drop in approval since the incident.
The irony of this situation is that a month before the incident, Munoz was named U.S. Communicator of the Year by PRweek magazine. The lesson to be understood is that you can be an expert in the public relations field, and still end up failing. Though this career-path is not as risky as a doctor, in a sense of life or death, one failure can result in losing millions of dollars. But the career can also be extremely rewarding and provides a stable income.
The average public relations salary varies between $55,000 to upwards of $200,000 depending on location and industry. It is also a career that has a place in every industry. This means you can work in any industry that interests you and work in any location you would like. Most careers do not provide this type of flexibility.
It can also be extremely rewarding, as you can see tangible results of your hard work. One popular example of a public relations success was with the orange juice brand Tropicana. In 2016, they created an interactive billboard in London that showed that 160ml of orange juice provides 60% of your daily intake of Vitamin C. Next to the billboard, they handed out free glasses of orange juice to the public. After surveying the public concerning this, they found that the campaign led 88% of respondents to saying they would purchase Tropicana orange juice. In the public relations world, this is an almost-unheard of success.
Courtesy of Famous Campaigns
Even though there is a risk of losing millions of dollars if you fail, there is also the possibility of success and gaining millions of dollars for your company. This career can be extremely stressful but can pay off with hard-work. It is definitely not a career for the faint of heart, but the benefits can outweigh the negatives.
Code of Ethics
It all begins with an idea.
KEEP IT NICE
Please be kind and courteous to others. Difference of opinion is inevitable, but healthy discussions are the correct way to express your viewpoints. Please do not use profanity or obscene language.
FACT-CHECK
Please do not spread false information. Please attempt to fact-check before publishing an idea or claim that has the possibility of being false. Please do not publish disinformation.
LEARN
Please try and learn from your fellow bloggers. Even if you do not agree, please be open-minded and attempt to learn why someone has a differing opinion.
PRIVACY
Please respect yours and others privacy. Just because you may be comfortable sharing something does not mean someone else is.
PROFESSIONALISM
Please be professional when publishing and addressing others. You do not know whether a future employer is reading your content.
5 Best Cities to Work In Public Relations
It all begins with an idea.
As one of the fastest-growing careers in the United States, there is an opportunity in every city for a career in public relations. But here are the best cities to live in, accounting for location, entertainment, and cost of living, if you are looking for a job in public relations.
Washington DC
Though this city is known for being the home of American politics, this city is also home to the highest average salary for public relations. The average salary is $97,270, making it 36% higher than the average salary of a public relations specialist in the rest of the United States. Since the companies and organizations located in this area are extremely image-conscious, this is the perfect place for someone in public relations to have an impact. It is also a beautiful city, with rich history and plenty of places to live outside the city with short commutes.
2. New York City, New York
In the city that never sleeps, public relations never sleeps either. 79% of all public relations jobs in the United States are located in New York City. One of the largest public relations firms, Edelman, is mainly located in this city. On top of the extensive jobs, this city is famous for a fast-paced life, with restaurants and nightlife. Though it has a significantly higher cost of living than the United States average at $30,294 a year, with a plethora of jobs available, you are sure to find a job that pays enough to live comfortably in New York City.
3. San Francisco, California
San Francisco is the west coast’s New York City. With the highest cost of living in the United States at $3,700 for rent a month, it may seem expensive to live here. But with the average public relations salary at $83,350, it makes its more realistic to live here. So even if you are paying more for rent, you are being compensated to make it affordable. This city is known for the tech industry, which is heavily media-related. If you are looking to work in a more media and technology focused public relations career, San Francisco is a great option.
4. Los Angeles, California
Famous for the movie industry, Los Angeles is known for housing celebrities and for being the entertainment capitol of the United States. This makes it a prime area to work in, with celebrities and companies needing public relations. With a 3 to 1 income ratio for public relations jobs, it makes it more than affordable to live here. Los Angeles also is known for the sunny weather and fast-paced life. Though the traffic is one of the worst in the country, with a well-paying public relations career, you should be able to find a job close to your residence.
5. Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas is the third-fastest growing city in the United States, and includes an entry-level public relations salary at $81,543. Austin is a city with many companies moving and starting in due to the low tax rates. The cost of living is around $55,000, though higher than the rest of Texas, it is still affordable with a well-paying public relations job. College graduates are known to flock to this city for work, making it a great place to live in your 20s. If you are looking for a city in the South, this is a hip and trendy city where you can make your mark in public relations.
Public Relations vs Marketing
It all begins with an idea.
Public Relations and Marketing may seem like interchangeable careers on the surface, but there are a few differences that set them apart.
Marketing focuses on supporting the sales team while public relations focuses on promoting the entire brand.
Marketing focuses heavily on the monetary side of a company. They will organize advertisements and other means to increase the sales of the company they are working for. For example, they will work to promote a product or service by means of advertisements, events and publicity.
Public relations focuses heavily on promoting the image of the brand overall. They will be the first team to respond in times of crisis for the company. They also may work with a marketing team to promote the brand through advertisements and events.
Marketing targets the customers while public relations targets anyone with interest in the company.
The marketing team caters their work towards drawing in potential customers and retaining current customers. They will analyze sales metrics and other data to see what is working and what needs improvement. They usually have short-term campaigns in which they are constantly trying new ideas to boost the companies sales.
The public relations team works with any public that will interact and have interest in the company. These publics can vary from customers, investors, employees of the company and the overall population. In the age of social media, the entire world can have an influence on a company’s perception.
Public Relations tactics are seen as more reputable than marketing tactics.
This is not to say that marketing tactics are not credible or well done. Marketing tactics are generally done as advertisments or self-promotion. This can make it less reputable as these messages are being conveyed directly from the company itself.
Public relations uses outside sources to promote the company they are working for. This can be through writing press releases and having journalists cover it, or having the public respond well to a certain campaign, like corporate social responsibility. By the message being conveyed by someone outside the company, it increases the trust the public may have in the specific message.
Marketing often pays for campaigns while public relations relies on free promotion.
Marketing will pay to have their campaigns ran, for example, with advertisements. They usually pay to have advertisements ran on TV, radio, social media, etc. This is because paid promotion is more controlled, in which you can control how much you would like your product or service advertised and how it is advertisement.
Public relations rely on press releases, events and public feedback to promote their company. With press releases, they are addressed towards journalists and other media companies, in hopes they will report on them. But how they report on this is entirely up to the journalist or news organization. As for events and public feedback, there is no control over the perception. Public relations specialists will strive for a positive reaction, but it may backfire.