PR Campaign

This past December, Coca-Cola posted a holiday update to its followers on Vkontakte, a social media network popular in Russia and Eastern Europe. The post included a cheerful message overlaid on a map of Russia presented in Coke’s iconic red and white. This is a branding strategy Coca-Cola has used for years: the company is known for its marketing campaigns that emphasize locally popular figures and events popular to local markets. These targeted messages are always offered in Coke’s instantly-recognizable style, affirming their vision of unifying consumers across the globe. The map was intended to give a boost to Coke’s... Read More >

In today’s digital world the lines between facts, entertainment, public image, vocation, and recreation are growing ever blurrier. Momentary whims and tiny soundbites can now control a brand, creating consequences much greater than they may have been a generation ago. Public relations is no longer an easily measured linear conversation between content creator and recipient. There is an endless digital web in and around every communication, spinning off limitless potential for developing or damaging a brand. The best public relations curriculums must teach their students how to engage in these environments, how to influence and when possible, take control of... Read More >

Andrew Gagen of MVP Recruiters e-mailed multiple people at different public relations firms noting that RF|Binder is very understaffed.  One wonders how their clients – and the industry – feels about that.  Probably not the best practice to email that around as a staffing recruiter. Gagen explains that the agency needs at least 7 people to serve their clients, including these specific opportunities: PR Opportunity #1: Johnson & Johnson Baby Care This position will primarily focus on managing the J&J Consumer Baby Care and Wound Care & Topicals work.  Candidates should have integrated marketing communications experience working on large personal... Read More >

For the past ten years, Puerto Rico has struggled to climb out of a deep depression. So now Congress wants to create a safe route out for this American territory. Many investors in Puerto Rico are fighting the bill offering protection from creditors, bringing in lobbyists, and PR firms including SKD Knickerbocker, DCI, Mercury Public Affairs and Dukas PR. Attracting Investments Billions of dollars made it to the hands of Puerto Rico’s government to keep the country afloat. Interest and zero taxes on returns appealed to many investors in the country’s bonds. Puerto Rico’s Constitution  ensured repayment and the island’s... Read More >

Hedge fund company SpringOwl unleashed a brilliant Public Relations take-down campaign aimed at Yahoo which has been covered in media worldwide this week. In a 99-page presentation, the investment company called for Yahoo to reduce their workforce by 80% and replace Chief Executive Marissa Mayer for her spending excessive amounts of shareholder money. While SpringOwl has an undisclosed investment in Yahoo, their proposal seeks to eliminate 9,000 of the 10,700 full-time employees. It also proposes a slash of wasteful spending on free food and parties potentially saving the company $2 billion dollars annually. Whatever else it was, it was brilliant... Read More >

Athletics marketing is as competitive as the consumers using the products. As a result, companies need to find new ways to rebrand and reinvent themselves to consumers. Nike, Adidas, and Under Armour are three of the biggest companies in the industry, and each has come up with new campaigns appealing to consumers. What’s their marketing and PR of late look like? Nike Nike is one of the largest companies in the world and one of the most recognized brands. Their latest campaign “Find Your Fast” utilizes big celebrity names in the sports industry encouraging consumers to get faster and beat... Read More >

FirstWorks’, a Rhode Island based non-profit has a simple purpose: to build the cultural, educational, and economic vitality of our community by engaging audiences with world-class performing arts and education programs. Launched in 2004, FirstWorks festivals and programs have attracted more than 285,000 participants. FirstWorks has offered Rhode Islanders unprecedented access to firsts in the arts from luminaries such as Yo-Yo Ma & The Silk Road Ensemble, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Wynton Marsalis, Joffrey Ballet, and international masters from the Middle East, Asia, Australia, and Europe. They now seek a PR agency to further their message – and help... Read More >

The Memphis Police Department is searching for a firm to assist them with a marketing campaign in order to increase recruitment to the city’s finest.   The RFP seems to seek a kindler, gentler, smarter recruiter – instead of focusing on brute strength.  They seek “qualified applicants who are centered with honesty, loyalty, pride, respect, strength, and courage.” They are looking to create a multi-channel, cost-effective, media campaign that reinforces MPD’s recruiting efforts, and “strengthens the image and interest, not only for law enforcement, but for a career path with the Memphis Police Department (MPD).” The RFP notes that, “The common... Read More >

The Federal Government of Nigeria prepares to unveil a new organization dubbed the National Strategic Communications (NSSC), a group tailored to unravel the knot of ideology and insular narrative of Boko Haram terrorists and other insurgent groups nationwide. This strategy is similar to the previous administration’s Soft-Approach program and is slated to coordinate communication between ministries, departments, and agencies to restore and maintain core-values and the de-radicalization of terrorists. During a two-day “Counter Violent Extremism (CVE) - Media Round Table’ in Abuja, a Deputy Director in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Ahmad Gusau, explained the NSSC policy... Read More >

PR campaigns can sometimes be saucy. As was the case in 2014 when CEO of activist company Starboard Value, Jeff Smith, battled against the forces of Darden Restaurants, Inc. owners of Olive Garden and other chains. As a result of the campaign, Jeff Smith took control as chairman Darden effectively replacing the 12 man committee heading the Fortune 500 Company. The Public Relations Campaign In the PR campaign, Jeff Smith headed an attack on Darden with a 300 slide powerpoint claiming the restaurants didn’t add enough salt to their pasta, and giving out too many breadsticks was a poor business... Read More >