A Tip for Tuesday

Feb 9 2010 | No Comments
Filed under: Tip for Tuesday

This Tuesday’s tip is for folks looking at working with or improving relations with a public relations firm – Communicate early and often!

Whatever guidelines you put in place for your consulting team, make regular meetings a priority. This will create a healthy dialogue with each member of the team, ensuring everyone involved – those on your end and those on the agency side – each share the same vision.
An added benefit of regular meetings is the agency is top-of-mind when you need to communicate something new. It becomes a habit to include them in the company goings-on.

For more tips on working with a public relations firm, click here.

Media Monday

Feb 8 2010 | No Comments
Filed under: Media Monday

Welcome to the first of what we hope will be many “Media Mondays” here at HMATime!

Each Monday, we are posting a blog to help our readers get to know the media just a little bit better.

With a TWIST!

No, we aren’t posting story pitch tips or media lists, but instead great stories from the media themselves about their lives, their work and other little known facts! Think of it as your first “networking” opportunity of the week!

Today’s #MediaMonday comes to us from Michelle Glicksman, who the editor of both So Scottsdale Magazine and Scottsdale Health Magazine.

So, Michelle, time to share!

What do you want to tell the blogosphere about yourself today?

Michelle: I used to do television reporting, and I started out at a CBS affiliate station in upstate New York. One time I interviewed Big Bird, and another, I interviewed an emu. Yes, an emu. Hey–it was upstate New York! And it certainly beat the time my photog and I had to chase a murderer! I was also on kick line for all four years of college, and when I was about 10, I read Gone With the Wind in two days. And one last fun fact, my favorite book is A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett, because the main character, Sara, stays true to herself no matter what others try to do to her or how they treat her. She has courage, self-confidence and still helps others and is positive. A great way to live!

Thanks to Michelle for being our first #MediaMonday. If you are a member of the media or know a member of the media who wants to share a little something too, just click here and tell us all about it.

Lessons your parents taught you

Feb 4 2010 | 4 Comments
Filed under: About the Bloggers

This past weekend I was in Las Vegas for a Bar Mitzvah.  The Bar Mitzvah boy’s dad is Rabbi Yitz Wyne – I traveled with him to Israel a couple years back.  He hosts a radio program on Sunday mornings called The Rabbi Show.  I was a guest on the show. We talked about a variety of things but one topic in particular sparked great conversation and an amazing amount of Facebook and Twitter comments.  The topic:  What lessons your parents taught you.  I thought I would share the responses with you.  And please feel free to add your thoughts, too.

Never be a quitter.

Tell the truth.

Live, love, laugh.

Respect yourself; respect others.

The importance of an education; and above all things, be honest to yourself.

Be honest to yourself, and be responsible for yourself.

Manners.

Hard work.

If you are on time then you are late…show up 10 minutes early wherever you go.

It takes a lifetime to build trust and seconds to lose it.

Never judge a person before you know them.

Remember who you are and what you stand for.

Don’t take things that aren’t yours.

My dad always reminds me, “Remember who you belong to…”

Duck and cover.

You’re the best and you can do anything you put your mind to.

Always wear clean underpants!

My dad always said life is toooo short to hang out with grumpy people who complain about work, not having enough material items, not enough money, and their relationships.

Be honest, family is always a priority.

Never go up or down the steps empty-handed.

My grandma taught me love.

My folks taught me self-reliance…and not to be afraid to make mistakes. If I did stumble along the way, they picked me up, brushed me off gave me a hug and pushed me onward.

To keep smiling, even if you don’t feel like it! And all of the great values of growing up on a farm.

My parents taught me to treat people honestly, decently and honorably.

Perception is reality and the people you choose to hang round with speaks volumes

Don’t sweat the small stuff. Smart is far more attractive than sexy (taking a blended approach on this while I’m still young). And don’t act like you’re “on stage” all the time.

Life’s not fair so get over it.

That if someone really wanted to do something, they’d find the time to do it. That pride in your work is important.
Their experiences taught me that medicine is as much art as it is science; that quality of life is more important than quantity; that family is there for you when you need it; to manage my finances.

When you fall off the bike, get back on and ride again.

The importance of putting others before myself.

Believe in myself and in others … no matter what, give someone at least one chance.

You will get nowhere without education.

Mom always said “Give your children roots, but wings to fly.”

Kill them with kindness.

You ARE the company you keep.

Always accept responsibility for your actions; be kind to everyone; give every job your best effort

Treat people how you want to be treated.

Be true to yourself.

Movin’ On Up

Feb 3 2010 | No Comments
Filed under: News of the day

KAET-TV, “Eight,” the Valley’s PBS station, has made its move. 

I have the pleasure of hosting an occasional pledge drive for the station.  Now my drive to the station will change from the campus at ASU in Tempe to the new studios in downtown Phoenix.

After nearly 50 years at the Tempe campus, everything from Eight now comes from the all-new digital media center at Fillmore and Central in downtown Phoenix.

The grand opening event featured a list of dignitaries, including Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, ASU President Michael Crow and  Paula Kerger, president of the Public Broadcasting Service. 

This is quite a step up.

“Eight’s beginnings were humble, to say the least. The first broadcast facility was a trailer on the Tempe campus at Arizona State University,” said Kelly McCullough, Eight general manager. “We are now stewards of a state-of-the-art facility thanks to the support of the city of Phoenix, ASU, and the many contributors to the Campaign for Arizona PBS.”

The station’s signature public affairs programs HORIZON, hosted by my long-time friend and former Channel 5 colleague Ted Simons, and HORIZONTE, began broadcasting from the new location the first week of the new year.

I can’t wait to be “live from downtown Phoenix,” sometime in the near future when you, too, can become a Friend of Eight.

A Tip for Tuesday

Feb 2 2010 | No Comments
Filed under: Tip for Tuesday

Be sure to check the blog each Tuesday for a weekly thought, idea or nugget of knowledge from our team on topics from public relations and marketing to hygiene and horseplay!

Today’s tip is dedicated to the House of Mouse: Turn on the Disney Channel before strategizing about your next marketing or publicity campaign.

Yes, the Disney Channel.

It remains the single best cross-promotional machine, bar none. I turned it on to watch the adorable Selena Gomez on Wizards of Waverly Place (don’t judge – the show is hilarious!) recently and found myself NOT fast-forwarding through the seven-minutes (!!!) of commercials, which included a behind-the-scenes tour of the next Disney TV movie; a music video from another Disney teen; information about new content on Disney.com; an interview with Miley Cyrus; and a quiz from Disney representatives in other nations about fruit of all things!

Phew – by the time I got through the seven minutes, I forgot about Wizards and set my DVR for the new Disney TV movie while jumping online to check out the new contests and games for kids on Disney.com. The next day, I emailed my friends with kids and even sent them some links for the Disney things I had learned to show off as well…all of the sudden, I was spreading the Disney word!

The House of Mouse does it again. How can we do the same for our next campaigns?

Business Loyalty – Having It, Getting It, Keeping It

Feb 1 2010 | 2 Comments
Filed under: About the Bloggers, PR and HMA PR

In early February, I am celebrating my six-year anniversary with HMA Public Relations. Six years is quite an accomplishment; perhaps a little unique even for an agency AND for a public relations practitioner (well, except for my bosses, Scott and Abbie, who’ve been with HMA for 21 and 16 years, respectively).

I stay at HMA Public Relations for many reasons:

First, HMA believed in me. I was new to the industry but they trusted that I had what it takes to be a good practitioner. They believed in my writing ability and took me under their wings and taught me the ever-evolving business. I take loyalty very seriously – and am always loyal back.

Second, HMA allowed me the freedom to develop my own style rather than dictate how to dot my “I’s” and cross my “T’s.” Being trusted to be oneself is a very underrated quality in managers and bosses.

Third, HMA allows me to have a life! While our priority is delivering 110% to our clients 24/7, HMA understands that cable guys come on their own time and dentists only work 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. I appreciate that I’ve never been made to feel guilty for needing to come in an hour late or leave an hour early for little things like this that come up in life.

Fourth, HMA is FUN! Part of the reason I got into public relations was to work in a creative atmosphere. Between the treasure hunts, brainstorming sessions and even rousing lunch debates, HMA and the people of HMA are anything but boring.

Fifth, HMA helps me continue my education. While I am not yet earning a Master’s, HMA helps me to evolve my skills as the industry does by attending conferences, workshops and even classes at my leisure and as my schedule permits.

Now, I could go on for hours, but I want to hear from you.

If you have been with your company, whatever the industry, for more than five years, tell us why? What’s kept you around?

And, if you’ve had the chance to work in several industries or at several companies, tell us why?

Accolades for PRGN partner in Germany

Jan 29 2010 | 1 Comment
Filed under: PRGN

 

We are proud to announce that our Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) partner in

Hamburg, Germany, Industrie-Contact AG,  has been awarded the VDWA Agency Quality Seal 2010.

The agency had to pass through a multistage assessment process including critical areas such as finance, experience, background, positioning and range of services and agency management.  Interviews with clients regarding agency performance were also conducted.

“For agency-seeking companies, it is difficult and often disappointing to find the right agency partner out of more than 20,000 communications agencies in Germany,” said Martin Becker, spokesperson of VDWA, the independent directory of communications agencies in Germany.  “Many firms look quite professional from the outside, but a closer look reveals a very different picture.

“The quality seal will give more certainty in the selection of an appropriate agency,” Becker continued.  “Selected agencies have to match that profile perfectly.”

Industrie-Contact AG is under the direction of Uwe Schmidt, chief executive officer.

The PRGN is comprised of 800 communications professionals working in 40 independent public relations firms in 50 offices across 80 international markets.   PRGN member firms have more than $100 million in combined annual revenues.  The organization is among the leading public relations networks to harness communications expertise to connect international companies and organizations with individual and culturally diverse societies spanning the world.

Abbie on Social Media

Jan 28 2010 | No Comments
Filed under: About the Bloggers, Networking and Professional Development, PR Observations and Preferences

 

 

Our own Abbie S. Fink was interviewed for an article on social media that appeared in EverydayPR this week.

Take a look and be sure to add your comments/thoughts.

Blogging gets religious – even the Pope is into it

Jan 26 2010 | 3 Comments
Filed under: Networking and Professional Development, News of the day, PR Observations and Preferences

In the “things that make you go hmm” category, this article about the Pope encouraging the clergy to start blogging and using the internet and social media to connect better with their flocks, is another example about the many ways organizations can use social media to reach its intended audiences.

Talk about repurposing – clergy write sermons that they deliver on Sunday.  It gets repurposed as a blog post, posted on Facebook, tweeted and re-tweeted.  All of a sudden, the 100 or so people that heard the sermon turns into 100s of 1000s of people through the power or social media.

I follow a few Rabbis on Twitter. Some post interesting information about that week’s Torah portion, others share inspirational messages, one has even tweeted the Passover Seder. In all cases, they are taking their messages and expanding beyond their own congregation.

So if you’re going to jump on the blogging bandwagon, here are some helpful hints from Jason Baer of Convince and Convert.  He presented these at this week’s Social Media AZ’s event on Monday.

Ann Subervi Named Incoming Chair for PRSA Counselors Academy

Jan 21 2010 | No Comments
Filed under: Networking and Professional Development, Uncategorized

Ann Subervi, president and CEO of New Jersey-based public relations agency Utopia Communications, has been named 2010 chair of the Counselors Academy, one of the Public Relations Society of America’s (PRSA) leading Professional Interest Sections.

Founded in 1960, Counselors Academy was PRSA’s first Professional Interest Section.  The Academy is dedicated to helping senior-level public relations agency practitioners succeed through access to collaborative peer relationships, meaningful professional development and education programs, and information on best practices in public relations counseling. Academy members’ exceptional willingness to share advice and information with each other distinguishes Counselors Academy from other associations of public relations leaders.

In her role, Subervi will seek to promote the Academy and its mission in an effort to grow beyond its existing 450 members from the United States, Canada and beyond.

HMA's Abbie S. Fink with incoming chair Ann Subervi

“I have been a member of Counselors Academy for well over a decade,” said Subervi.  “I know firsthand the value it offers to senior managers of the nation’s top public relations firms. At a time when our industry is facing a severe economic downturn, the mission of the Counselors Academy to help our members not only survive, but thrive, is more critical than ever before.”

Serving alongside Subervi on the executive committee are Chair-Elect J.R. Hipple of  Hipple Reputation Management (Atlanta, Ga.);  Immediate Past Chair Sydney Ayers, APR,  Ayers PR (Denver, Colo.); Secretary-Treasurer Elise Mitchell, APR, Fellow PRSA  Mitchell Communications Group Inc., (Fayetteville, Ark.), and Ex-Officio Abbie Fink, HMA Public Relations (Phoenix, Ariz.).

Members-at-large for the Executive Committee include Rob Amberg, Cushman-Amberg (St. Louis, Mo.);  Jonathon Bloom, McGrath Power (San Jose, Calif.);   John Deveney, ABC, APR, Fellow PRSA, Deveney Communications (New Orleans, La.); Roger Friedensen, APR, Forge Communications (Raleigh, N.C.); Beth Hallisy, APR, MarcusThomas, LLC (Cleveland, Ohio); Matt Kucharski, APR, Padilla Spear Beardsley (Minneapolis, Minn.);  Martin Waxman, APR, Palette Public Relations Inc. (Toronto, Ontario); Indra Gardiner, Bailey Gardiner Inc. (San Diego, Calif.); Roy Reid, Consensus Communications, Inc. (Orlando, Fla.), and Janet Tyler, APR, Airfoil Public Relations, Inc. (Southfield, Mich.).

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