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January 21, 2018
Fast Five: Tara Goodwin Frier, founder and CEO, The Goodwin Group PR
In Chapter Events, Fast Five onPRSA Boston recently spoke with Tara Goodwin Frier, entrepreneur and founder of Goodwin Group PR, to learn more about her thoughts on today’s PR job market, the most important skills that agency or companies look for in prospective employees and common mistakes that job seekers regularly make.
Goodwin Frier is schedule to participate on a panel called “New Year, New Career” that will be held on Monday, January 29th. The panel is designed for any PR professional who wants to grow his or her career or take on new and exciting challenges in 2018. The event will offer an all-star panel including Goodwin Frier, Norine Shults, VP at Chaloner, and a special guest from MullenLowe.
Here is a Q&A from our conversation with Goodwin Frier.
Q: What prompted you to launch Goodwin, and what do you like about it?
A: It was accidental, and I owe the launch of Goodwin Group PR to Edelman CEO Richard Edelman. At the time, I was working as VP of Public Affairs, and after 9/11, the technology bubble burst sending us into a recession. Richard made the decision to close five of the smaller Edelman offices, Boston among them. I had the unenviable task of laying off all the Boston employees as our GM was conveniently out of the country when the news broke and I was second in command. Richard said he was not going to come back to Boston and that if I wanted to take the clients I worked with and start my own consultancy, he was fine with it. At the time I was pregnant with my youngest son, Will, who is now 15. I thought “why not?” so I did and couldn’t be happier that I took the risk. I love seeing our clients grow their companies as a result of our work—one client doubled his revenues from $3-6 million annually because of an offbeat idea we came up with at a meeting!
Q: What should PR people know about today’s job market?
A: As a CEO, I’m constantly seeking new talent, and it is highly competitive fighting for the limited positions that are available. Two of the people who have become permanent, trusted employees came to me as volunteers because they were so eager to learn the business and hone their skills. This gave me the opportunity to see them in action and both ended up making themselves indispensable to our team, and we had to hire them. I would advise PR job seekers to look for opportunities at a firm you love even if they don’t have any openings at the moment. You can make an impression either by being an intern, offering helpful suggestions, volunteering on a project or event or generally keeping in touch with suggestions or commenting on a recent article, etc. Our motto is “whatever it takes” and we expect job seekers to be willing to do whatever is needed for the team and our clients.
Q: What are the most common mistakes – and winning moves – job seekers make?
A: Winning moves—DO YOUR HOMEWORK. If you don’t know a lot about our company, we’re not convinced you want to be part of our team. ASK QUESTIONS—the worst thing you can do is show up for an interview and when we ask if you have questions, answer with a “nope.” RELATE YOUR EXPERIENCE/TALENTS TO OUR WORK—how does what you have done fit with the work you know we do? WRITE A HANDWRITTEN THANK-YOU NOTE—we love old school attention to detail!
Worst things you can do—SHOW UP LATE TO AN INTERVIEW—on-time is late for us. SEND US A RESUME OR WRITING SAMPLE WITH TYPOS—even one! BE A SUPERFAN—we work with several New England Patriots, and we can’t have people who are enamored with a player or coach. One prospective intern wrote on her Facebook page that she wanted to sleep with Gronk—Um….no thanks!
Q: What are the top three skills in demand by your clients and account teams?
A: Media relations, video production and blog/content writing.
Q: What’s changed the most since you began your career?
A: Having so many places to pitch and promote content as a result of the internet’s growth and the development multiple social mediums to get your news out there—it can get overwhelming and often, it’s hard to teach an old dog new tricks. My staff congratulates me if I correctly post/tag client news on our social channels!
Also, from a crisis perspective, I used to say “The first few hours of managing a crisis will determine the success or failure of your efforts.” Now, with citizen journalists and the immediacy of social media, it’s SECONDS not hours and people need to be better prepared to respond.
Goodwin Frier brings more than 30 years of media relations, public affairs and public policy experience to her firm. since founding Goodwin PR in 2001, Goodwin Frier has built a company that attracts, engages and sustains clients ranging from small startups and nonprofit organizations to high-profile CEOs, professional athletes and coaches. She is considered an expert in crisis communications, media relations, strategic events and effective content development and curation. Known for her open and honest counsel, Goodwin Frier helps clients develop communications programs that drive traffic, develop relationships and resonate with key audiences. She is a driven and focused leader who partners with her clients to deliver exceptional results.
About Fast 5
This is a feature of PRSA Boston’s Hot Topics blog page. The expert subject is someone who is clearly in demand, on the go, and nailing them down for a conversation is about as easy as … winning Powerball at $1.5 billion! But we know leaders like to share, so check back for insights, wisdom, author’s books about to hit the stands and other valuable tips. @prsaboston #prsabos
Do YOU have a candidate for a FAST 5 interview? Email: Joshua Milne at josh@joshuamilnepr.com and pitch your subject expert!
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author or the individual being interviewed and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of PRSA Boston, PRSA National, staff or board of directors of either organization.
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October 17, 2017
PASSING THE BATON: ANNOUNCING THE 2018 CHAPTER LEADERSHIP NOMINEES
In Chapter Events, News onPRSA Boston’s 2018 Nominating Committee of past presidents is pleased to put forth this talented Board and Leadership Slate for the membership’s vote at the Annual Meeting on November 16, 2017:
2018 OFFICERS
President 2018 (previously voted)
Erin Callanan, APR
President, Callanan & KleinImmediate Past President
Dan Dent, APR
Media Relations Manager, DraperTreasurer
Jeff Caywood
Director, Headquarters Communications, GESecretary
Cheryl Wheeler
Director of Global Leadership + Associate Engagement Communications, NovartisVP Programming Co-Chair
Michele Snyder
Consultant, Snyder CommunicationsVP Programming Co-Chair
Rhiannon D’Angelo
Senior Media Specialist, Eversource EnergyVP Membership Co-Chair
Matt Bashalany
Senior Communications Manager, FTI ConsultingVP Membership Co-Chair
Eric Berman
Director of Communications, Massachusetts Association of REALTORS®Director-at-Large/Content (thru 2019)
Sofia Coon
US PR Manager, kununu USDirector-at-Large/Diversity (thru 2019)
Kelley Chun
President, Kelley Chunn & AssociatesDirector-at-Large (thru 2020)
Amy Riemer
President, Riemer CommunicationsChapter PRSA Delegate (thru 2019)
Diane Pardes, APR
President, Pardes CommunicationsChapter PRSA Delegate (thru 2019)
Josh Gitelson, APR
Executive Managing Director, RF BinderChapter PRSA Delegate (thru 2020)
Loring Barnes, APR, Fellow PRSA
CCO, Clarity2018 LEADERSHIP TEAM
Content Chair
Joshua Milne
President, Joshua Milne Public RelationsAccreditation + Awards Chair
Josh Gitelson, APR
Executive Managing Director, RF BinderSocial Media Chair
Shannon Giordano
President, Serendipity Social MediaYoung Professional Network (YPN) Chair
Kristin Foley
Senior Account Executive, Sleek MachineFaculty Forum Chair
Maureen O’Connell
Subject Matter Expert, Bay Path UniversityPRSSA + College Co-Liaison
Nikki Vergakes
PR Specialist, Trevi CommunicationsPRSSA + College Co-Liaison
Ermolande Jean-Simon
Student Programs Manager, New England Center for Investigative Reporting at Boston UniversityEthics Chair
Nancy Sterling, APR, Fellow PRSA
Senior Vice President, Strategic Communications, ML StrategiesIndependent Practitioner Network (IPN) Chair
Henry Stimpson, APR
President, Stimpson CommunicationsThe Ted Chaloner Learning Fund Liaison
Dan Dent, APR
Media Relations Manager, DraperWe wish to congratulate our colleagues and thank their 2017 predecessors for going above and beyond for their service to our 300+ strong members. This talent pool points to a tremendous year of networking and programming ahead.
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September 16, 2017
FAST FIVE: Five Things Mike Rush Learned in 10 Years Consumer PR
In Chapter Events, Fast Five onFor over a decade, Mike has led successful, award-winning integrated campaigns for both heritage and challenger brands in the home, tech, travel, pet and publishing sectors. Since joining 360PR in 2007, Mike has developed numerous influencer-driven campaigns, from pairing Liberty Mutual Insurance with HGTV’s Chip Wade for a DIY homeowner campaign (that was organized on behalf by the Jackpot Offer Atlanta Home Buyers) and spearheading the company’s safe driving program with NASCAR driver Clint Bowyer, to a consumer health campaign called “what’s your healthy?” for Aetna featuring The Biggest Loser host Alison Sweeney. Mike has worked with countless HGTV personalities, authors, celebrities and physicians & veterinarians-to-the-stars, from Richard Simmons to The Bachelor’s Trista Sutter. His passion for home design and DIY has also inspired work for such clients as Cree LED lighting and Honeywell portable appliances with the support of Appliance Hunter. He created the multi-year “America’s Coziest Cities” initiative for Honeywell heaters, which taps environmental experts to define what makes a home “cozy” in winter, generating targeted consumer lifestyle coverage on Good Housekeeping, This Old House, Elle Décor, House Beautiful, The Weather Channel, Accuweather and more.If people need the best homes, people can check out https://exprealty.com/us/ia/ankeny/houses/ this link here!Prior to joining 360PR, Mike worked at Weber Shandwick, where he was nominated for PRWeek’s Young Professional of the Year for his work on Ocean Spray’s “Bogs Across America” campaign, CVS/pharmacy, and Staples. Mike has served on the board of the Public Relations Society of America’s Boston chapter, overseeing educational programming. Mike has also spoken at the PROI Worldwide Global Summit and is the agency’s representative in the PROI Consumer Group. In his spare time, weather permitting, he can be found sailing around the Boston Harbor, Cape Cod + Islands.How do you identify and connect celebrities with brands?As an agency, we have a formalized, documented process for connecting brands with third-party experts, whether they be musicians, celebrities, chefs, etc. Our process begins with a mapping exercise where we examine a short-list of potential spokespersons’ spheres of influence – their visibility (e.g. Q score), social reach, skill set/expertise, credibility, their own brand / tone of voice, etc., and how well that matches the client and story, the audience the client is trying to reach and how the person augments the client’s current footprint across channels. We also conduct a comprehensive audit to determine how the spokesperson has been discussed and covered in media to ensure we stay ahead of any potential issues that could arise during the contract term. We will conduct a professional background check on spokespeople before inking a deal as well. This helps ensure less worry down the road and that our clients are protected to the fullest degree.What should brands keep in mind when negotiating a contract?When negotiating a contract, flexibility is key. Spokespeople and their agents often think in terms of 8-hour service days – but it is often difficult to fit all PR activity into one day, especially if it is a set date, and media often have specific needs or asks that fall outside those eight hours. TV producers and guest bookers in particular need flexibility, and celebrity spokesperson contracts should reflect how PR works. One approach is to structure an agreement based on activity versus consecutive hours—e.g. a guaranteed number of phone and email interviews, a set number of television or Facebook Live interviews that can be conducted at any point during the term. Flexibility often commands a higher price tag but will maximize your PR program’s success. Service days are ideal for media stunts and events, but are not ideal for longer-term agreements when PR needs to be “always on.”What is one of the biggest challenges working with celebrities?Message training spokespeople, particularly celebrities, is perhaps the most difficult aspect of engagement, aside from negotiating a contract with a prickly agent! It is important to remember that third-party spokespeople are not brand experts nor are they as well-versed in your brand as an internal spokesperson would be. I have seen clients try to spoon-feed pages of key messages unsuccessfully. My recommendation is to condense key messages to *one* thing the spokesperson *must* say in every interview for it to be a success, followed by 1-2 follow-up messages they can add to elaborate. These messages are most effective and authentic when tied to a personal story or anecdote—the personal story is established early on in the spokesperson vetting process. These top 2-3 key messages are best presented when laid out in a placemat format—and in large, bold font so it can be easily printed as a cheat sheet directly before going into a television interview or phone briefing. Brevity is key. Attention spans are typically shorter with celebrities and interview topics can go wildly off course based on current events, so it is crucial to coach the expert on “bridging” techniques so they can bring a discussion back to your brand’s story.What does every brand need to know about FTC guidelines when engaging an influencer?The FTC guidelines on paid spokesperson disclosure are ever-evolving – but when in doubt, it’s important to remember that transparency is key. Put yourself in the shoes of the average American, and if you’re watching a segment and it is not crystal clear that the talent is working in partnership with and paid by the brand that they are promoting, then it should and needs to be. Build this disclosure requirement into your contract so your client is protected, though it is YOUR responsibility to ensure disclosure happens. Same goes for social media – sponsored posts must have disclosure upfront so that the average user scrolling through content sees that a post is sponsored at a glance. Many blue-chip brands were recently slammed this year by the FTC for putting their disclosure, for example #Ad, below the break on Instagram posts. While they were using the correct disclosure, consumers had to click “more” to view the full copy/caption with the disclosure. That does not mean you need to put #Ad at the beginning of every post, but it should appear before the fold. And, the FTC has declared #spon is not clear enough – it should say #ad or #sponsored fully spelled out. And, celebrities who received product for free outside of a contractual agreement need to disclose they were gifted it. I could go on!Have you ever had any random or bizarre contract asks for celebrities?No – but my two parting pieces of advice would be: (1) Know your audiences – specifically, that your client is one of them! Don’t forget to build in guaranteed facetime for your celebrity and your client’s senior executives. The PR program might be a smashing success, but what will be remembered will be that intimate dinner, autograph or employee engagement activity you ensured your client received as part of the deal. (2) Remember when working with networks like ABC or HGTV or leagues like NASCAR or the NFL that when you enlist a celebrity, you don’t normally have the rights to mention these networks in your media materials! This can create a hurdle if your spokesperson is up-and-coming and not a household name. Make sure to clarify this contractually and that you set expectations with your client.Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author or the individual being interviewed and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of PRSA Boston, PRSA National, staff or board of directors of either organization.
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September 7, 2017
FAST FIVE: Five Things Terry Lyons Learned in 30 Years of Sports PR
In Chapter Events onWidely known in the sports world for his 26-year career helping build the NBA into a globally recognized sports, business and philanthropic property, Terry Lyons has successfully transitioned into a second career as an entrepreneur in the world of communications consulting, brand-building and creating multimedia ventures in the sports, events/attractions and entertainment fields.
During his nearly three decades at the NBA which can be wagered on by going to platforms such as 벳무브 코드, Lyons worked closely with Commissioner David Stern and the NBA’s talented staff to lead the league’s international mission to maximize worldwide business, sports and media opportunities. Beginning in 1992, Terry supervised all international communications, public relations and media activities, and his work with the USA Basketball teams from 1992-2008 Olympic Games helped make the phrase “Dream Team” a part of sports lore.
In the summer of 2008, he relocated to Boston and launched Terry Lyons Sports Marketing LLC, where he consults with many companies in the business, sports venture capital, event marketing, technology and entertainment industries.
Simply put, he helps both mature companies and start-ups navigate the sports industry. He also runs DigitalSportsDesk.com – a sports site which concentrates on Boston’s pro teams.
We caught up with Terry a few weeks before the PRSA Boston panel discussion on “Celebrity Endorsement PR: Making It Work” to ask him what he has learned during his 30-year career in PR:
Q – What’s the most important factor for PR professionals to realize when they’re working with athletes as celebrity spokespeople?
A – Finding the right fit for the athlete and his/her role as spokesperson with the product or company is the key issue to establish, right from the start. In some cases, it’s a simple deal, maybe just shooting a commercial spot. I always found NBA players to be at their best when they understood the role completely and were involved in deciding exactly what they’d do for the company. Some players are more outgoing and can do the hospitality side, some are great with kids and can do the Community Relations events. It’s important to find out what they like and more importantly, what they DON’T like to do.
Q – Can you give a specific example?
A – Yes. One of the “toughest” guys I worked with in my years at the NBA and also with my responsibilities with USA Basketball was Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs. Tim doesn’t enjoy media commitments and photo shoots, but fully understood it was part of his job. Sometimes, he treated it like a trip to the dentist for root canal. It took a while, but I gradually developed a strong enough relationship to get an understanding of where he stood, and I also realized the Spurs didn’t “push” him too hard and that was what he was used to.
I eased up, made some changes in the way we operated, but then also realized Tim just loved working with kids. Instead of heavy media commitments, he was a natural at the CR events. It ended up working out very well and, now, he’s one of the NBA players I truly consider a friend. We came full circle.
Q – What’s changed the most since you began your career at the NBA?
A – Well, everything! But, if I had to pick one thing, in general, it’s the impact of social media. Keep in mind, we went from broadcast TV to cable TV to satellite TV to worldwide TV with a thousand channels of digital everything. The Internet, obviously, changed everything for the NBA to be able to deliver information, photos, video and game highlights – everywhere. We used to have to fax information around or going further back – we actually had to mail it.
The immediacy of social media and its impact on and off the court, intruding into the athletes’ personal lives and space is the biggest change.
Q – Who are some of the biggest stars or maybe call them celebrities, that you worked with and what did you learn?
A – I was very fortunate with my timing at the NBA, as I started right as Magic Johnson and Larry Bird were rookies. They set a standard and were just great to work with, especially Magic who just loved the attention. From there, it was a torch passing of sorts to Michael Jordan. Then we had the Dream Team, which changed everything for the NBA. It was a springboard for our global business. After that, along came about 100 international players, from the great Arvydas Sabonis of Lithuania to Dirk Nowitzki of Germany to Yao Ming of China. Each had his own amazing and significant impact, as did so many others, like Dikembe Mutombo and his role as a true Ambassador.
What I learned was the simplest advice you can provide, a player (or celeb) has to “be themselves.” Charles Barkley is the best example of that!
Q – Since relocating to Boston, who is the most impactful sports celebrity you’ve worked with and what was your experience?
A – This past year, I’ve had the pleasure of working with Kathrine Switzer, the women’s long-distance runner who paved the way for women to run in the Boston marathon and compete in all sports really.
Kathrine was the first woman to officially enter the Boston Marathon, and her story of running in 1967 but being – literally – accosted by a race official who did not want her to run is well documented. Now at age 70, she ran Boston last April to celebrate the 50th anniversary of her first race.
Kathrine co-founded 261 Fearless, a not for profit created to encourage women to run, walk, just “get out there” and participate in running. It’s just great. I find it truly inspirational, and that’s the thing I’ve learned. As I got older, so do others, but we all must remain young and change with the world to continue to make an impact. Ms. Switzer is doing her thing, still running marathons, and I do my thing – help companies navigate the sports world in 2017 and beyond. It’s great!
To sign up to attend the event, click on the following link to purchase tickets.
About Fast 5
This is a feature of PRSA Boston’s Hot Topics blog page. The expert subject is someone who is clearly in demand, on the go, and nailing them down for a conversation is about as easy as … winning Powerball at $1.5 billion! But we know leaders like to share, so check back for insights, wisdom, author’s books about to hit the stands and other valuable tips. @prsaboston #prsabos
Do YOU have a candidate for a FAST 5 interview? Email: Joshua Milne at josh@joshuamilnepr.com and pitch your subject expert!
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author or the individual being interviewed and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of PRSA Boston, PRSA National, staff or board of directors of either organization.