Event Recap: Leap Into Social Media

On Wednesday, February 29, Aimee Cirucci, Eric Cortes and Jessica Lawlor presented Leap into Social Media with Gen Y, a program for senior level PPRA members. 

The goal of the panel was to provide social media pointers that the senior level members could implement immediately and at little or no cost as well as share knowledge and answer questions. The discussion touched on many social media issues including how much to share, how to respond to negative comments and the best ways to utilize new tools such as Pinterest. 

The social media tips and tricks shared by the panel included:

• Make sure your profile and fan page have a short, custom URL (e.g., www.facebook.com/philabar). Customize your URL by visiting www.facebook.com/username.
• For apps (such as making your YouTube channel a tab on your FB page) check our Involver at involver.com.
• Check out www.pagemodo.com to customize and design your Facebook page.
• Design a customizable Twitter background for your page.
• Draft a social media policy and link to it from all your social media profiles.
• Include feeds from Facebook/Twitter on your website.
• Post links to your Facebook albums on Twitter and LinkedIn to further integrate all of your social media pages.
• Sites like Hootsuite and Tweetdeck allow you to streamline all of your social media accounts.  They make it easy to schedule messages when you will be out of the office, and to track user engagement with your posts.
• Be sure to seek out hashtags that your target audiences are following and using in their tweets.

Philadelphia Public Interest Information Network

A special members only event!

Tuesday, April 24, 2012
8:30 – 10:00 a.m.
Light breakfast will be provided.

Register Now Online for this event or download the Registration PDF

Please join us at another fascinating breakfast meeting for PPRA members only. Neil Budde (pronounced Buddy), the founding CEO of the Philadelphia Public Interest Information Network (PPIIN) will talk about the goals of this collaborative organization intended to help increase the amount and quality of news and information in the Greater Philadelphia region.

In addition to hearing Neil’s vision, he invites input from PPRA members about where we see gaps in news coverage today. Neil brings incredible experience to his new position including founding editor and publisher of The Wall Street Journal Online (WSJ.com) and editor in chief of Yahoo News. 

Location:
Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau
1700 Market Street
Suite 3000
Philadelphia, PA 19103


There is no cost for members to attend, but space is limited to 35 people, so register early!

Deadline to register: Friday, April 20, 2012

2012 Hall of Fame Luncheon Honoring Mark Tarasiewicz

Monday, May 7, 2012
11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Registration
12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Lunch and Program

Register Now Online for this event or download the Registration PDF

 On Monday, May 7, 2012 PPRA will induct Mark Tarasiewicz into the Philadelphia Public Relations Association Hall of Fame.

Please join us as we honor Mark at a special event you will not want to miss! 

About Mark Tarasiewicz:
Mark Tarasiewicz is Associate Executive Director of the 13,000-member Philadelphia Bar Association. He recently marked his 17th year with the Bar Association, the oldest association of lawyers in the United States. As director of communications, Mark is the primary point of contact for the news media and also directs the association’s award-winning print and electronic communication vehicles, including The Philadelphia Lawyer magazine. He also served as Senior Communications Manager for Dechert LLP, one of Philadelphia’s largest law firms. Prior to his public relations career, Mark was Managing Editor of the Pennsylvania Law Journal and a reporter for The Legal Intelligencer, the oldest law journal in the United States.

Mark served as President of PPRA in 2006-07 and Chair in 2007-08, and is a recipient of the association's Fast Track Award. He is an adjunct professor of public relations in the Temple University graduate program in Strategic Communication, and has also lectured for the Public Relations Society of America, the American Society of Association Executives, the National Association of Bar Executives (NABE), Penn State University, Villanova University and the University of the Arts.

A three-time recipient of the NABE Luminary Award, Mark is Treasurer of the association's Communications Section and volunteers his time to create education programs for his national legal public relations colleagues as a member of NABE's Program Committee. He has served on the boards of several nonprofit organizations in the Philadelphia region, including the Young Advocates for Mural Arts and the Gay and Lesbian Lawyers of Philadelphia.


Location:
Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia
One Logan Square
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19103-6933

Registration Fees:
$65 Member
$75 Non-Member
$650 Table of Ten

Deadline: Friday, April 27, 2012
Cancellations will be accepted in writing by May 4, 2012. No Refunds after May 4, 2012. No-shows will be billed.

Event Recap: Veteran Media Panel Shares Insights on Pitching Broadcast

Last week, a crowd gathered at Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse in Center City for our sold out “Scoring Air Time with Philadelphia’s Major Broadcast Outlets” media panel.  This is always one of PPRA’s most popular events, but we were especially thrilled to have some of the biggest names in broadcast join us this year, including Christopher Blackman and Terry Ruggles (NBC 10), Jeff Kolakowski (CBS 3), Marilyn Russell (BEN-FM), Loraine Ballard Morrill (Clear Channel Radio), and Clara Rivas (WWSI Telemundo Philadelphia). 

 

 

Between bites of chocolate mousse and plenty of laughs, the audience learned key takeaways such as:

 

• Ask media their preferred method of contact.  With so many ways to connect with the media, which one’s a PR pro to choose?  Simple: just ask!  Marilyn Russell is barely ever by her phone, but Loraine Ballard Morrill likes to have verbal contact. Twitter gave Jeff Kolakowski a lead for a recent interview.  And faxing?  Chris Blackman says it’s the last thing the newsroom will ever check.  Understanding how a reporter gathers content will increase your chances of catching his eye – or ear.  

 

• Broadcast loves a good human interest angle.  Much of the news surrounding weather, crime, and traffic can sound the same these days. Take your pitch one step further than explaining the facts; instead, paint a picture of the story. What is a company doing to help the community during unusually heavy snow?  When a shooting takes place in the city, can your client speak to why people turn to violence rather than calmly talking out their problems?  If you can find a new way to explain what is happening with these and other trends, broadcast media will love it. 

 

• Be persistent:  We’re often discouraged from following up too much with the media for fear of being labeled a pest.  But newsrooms across the board are working with skeleton staffs, and reporters are still trying to sort through hundreds of emails a day on top of their other duties.  Don’t be afraid to follow up (within reason!) when you know you have a really great story to share.  The reporter just may not have gotten far enough down his or her inbox to see your pitch.  Even Terry Ruggles revealed that the people he developed the best working relationships with had been a ‘nudge’ over the years.” 

 

• It’s okay to pitch multiple people at a station: The audience was a little skeptical at first, but our panel confirmed that pitching multiple reporters at the same outlet is to your benefit.  They actually fight over the chance to cover most compelling stories in the morning news meetings!  However, this doesn’t mean you can send everyone the same email; you’ll still need to cater the pitch for each reporter’s specific beat.  Your changes will increase even more if you can tie it to a story the station recently covered.             

 

• Make your name known:  We can’t say it enough – relationships are everything in our business.  That’s why our media panels are so popular.  They give you the opportunity to put a face to the name behind the phone calls and emails.  From there, you’ll want to “wow” your media contact with a great idea and smooth interview process.  If you prove that you’re on top of things, the media will associate your name with their next great story.   

 

For all the inside scoop, you can download a full podcast of the event here. Or, connect with the @PPRA Twitter handle and our #PitchingBroadcast hashtag for more insights.    

 

Our panel made the news!  Check out this clip from NBC 10: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QpKB_DDJdY&feature=youtu.be

 

This blog post was written by Christine Guerrini. Christine Guerrini is a member of the public relations team at Tierney agency in Center City Philadelphia. A Villanova grad, Christine specializes in media relations, social media, events, and research. She has worked with clients in a variety of fields, including consumer, non-profit, and B2B. Outside of work, Christine is an avid fan of the Arts, whether exploring museums or sitting down with a novel. Connect with Christine on Twitter (@CMGuerrini) or at http://www.linkedin.com/in/christineguerrini . 

From Asbury Park to the Promised Land: The Life and Music of Bruce Springsteen

Private PPRA Reception and Springsteen Exhibit Access

Thursday, March 8, 2012

5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. Cocktail Reception (Delegates Café)
6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Exhibit 

Register Now Online for this event or download the Registration PDF

 

From February 17 through September 3, 2012, the National Constitution Center will host From Asbury Park to the Promised Land: The Life and Music of Bruce Springsteen – never before seen outside of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. This first major exhibition about the American songwriter takes a comprehensive look at Springsteen’s career and catalog, from such early bands as Child, the Castiles and Steel Mill through his work with the E Street Band and as a solo artist. Visitors will have the rare opportunity to view more than 150 artifacts, including the Fender Esquire from the cover of Born to Run, the outfit Springsteen wore on the cover of Born in the U.S.A., numerous handwritten lyric manuscripts, and Springsteen’s 1960 Chevrolet Corvette.

Beat the crowds and join PPRA for this exclusive event at the National Constitution Center. Private exhibit tours will be available to all attendees. All pre-registered attendees will be entered into a raffle to win two free tickets to one of the upcoming Springsteen parties at the National Constitution Center.  

Location:

National Constitution Center
525 Arch Street, Independence Mall
Philadelphia, PA 19106
Free parking available at the NCC parking garage with validation.
The garage is located on Race Street between 5th & 6th Streets. 

Registration Fees:

$50 for PPRA Members
$75 for Non-Members 

Registration fee includes a cocktail reception with light hors d’ouevres, one drink ticket (cash bar available for additional drinks) and private access to the exhibit. 

Deadline: Monday, March 5, 2012
Cancellations will be accepted in writing by March 5, 2012. No Refunds after March 5, 2012. No-shows will be billed.

Breaking Down the New Lobbying Law for Communications

March Breakfast Program

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Registration, Networking & Breakfast
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Panel Discussion 

Register Now Online for this event or download the Registration PDF 

You write press releases and you don’t talk to elected officials, so you don’t need to register as a lobbyist, right? That was the conventional thinking of the ‘ye olde days of 2011. The days of assuming your organization’s lobbyist (or your client) is the only one who needs to register as a lobbyist are over.

The City of Philadelphia now considers direct or indirect communication to any person who is elected or appointed to a position in any branch of the City’s government as lobbying.

According to the law, indirect communications is defined as the following:

An effort, whether written, oral or by any other medium, to encourage others, including the general public, to take action, the purpose or foreseeable effect of which is to directly influence legislative action or administrative action, including, but not limited to, letter-writing campaigns, mailings, telephone banks, print and electronic media advertising, billboards, publications and educational campaigns on public issues, but not including regularly published periodic newsletters primarily designed for and distributed to members of a bona fide association or charitable or fraternal nonprofit corporation.  

But what does that really mean? How do you register? What’s a quarterly lobbying report and what does it look like? 

Speakers:

PPRA has assembled representatives from Blank Rome, LLC, Ceisler Media & Issue Advocacy and the City’s Board of Ethics for a panel discussion on this topic. Attend this panel to ensure you and the organizations you represent are in compliance with this new law.

Location:

Philadelphia Bar Association
1101 Market Street
11th Floor Conference Center
Philadelphia, PA 19107
ID required for admission to the building. 

Registration Fees:
$12 for PPRA members
$20 for non-members 

Deadline: Friday, March 2, 2012
Cancellations will be accepted in writing by March 2, 2012. No Refunds after March 2, 2012. No-shows will be billed.

 

 

 

Leap into Social Media with Gen Y

Senior Level Program

 

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Registration, Networking & Breakfast
9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Program 

Register Now Online for this event or download the Registration PDF

Having trouble ‘leaping’ into the new social media? Call the younger generation! Three young PR practitioners will teach you everything you need and want to know about using the social media to enhance your work. YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn--got questions? They’ve got answers!

On this Leap-Year Day, we seek to make a match with the traditional and the new. Don’t miss this great opportunity. Bring your smartphone, tablet, or laptop to this working session and learn the tips and tricks to connect with the media, the bloggers, and your audience.  

Panelists include:
• Aimee Cirucci, Communications Manager, Philadelphia Bar Association
• Eric Cortes, Marketing and Promotions Coordinator, WWSI-Telemundo Philadelphia
• Jessica Lawlor, Marketing and Communications Coordinator, Visit Bucks County

Location:

Philadelphia Bar Association
10th Floor Board Room
1101 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
ID required for admission to the building.  

Recession Special: $14.99
Reserve Promptly – Space is limited

Senior Level PPRA Members Only. Senior level is defined as PPRA members who have been in PR for at least 10 years. 

Deadline: Monday, February 27, 2012
Cancellations will be accepted in writing by February 27, 2012. No Refunds after February 27, 2012. No-shows will be billed.