By Mike Hogan, Account Specialist

The secret to landing national media placements 

I am often asked, “What’s your secret to getting clients placed in national media?” It’s simple: I think like a reporter and I do the groundwork. Being a former journalist has been one of the biggest assets in my PR career. I know a good story, and I know a not-so-appealing story. I know how to develop a targeted pitch and how to avoid an advertisement for my clients.   

Here is a recap of a recent successful pitch that helped me land two stories on CNNMoney.com, potentially reaching 8 million visitors to the site. As you will see, it was all about quick response; developing a pitch that I knew the journalist would find interesting; doing the legwork; going the extra mile to ensure the writer had useful information, sources and photography; and building a relationship (and my credibility) with an influential journalist whom I hope to work with again in the future. 

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By Krista Sanford, Account Associate

The unexpected lives of public relations pros

When you were a kid, did you dream of becoming a scientist or imagine that you were a doctor? Did you pretend to ride a motorcycle or play dress-up once or twice? If you did, you probably ended that phase as a teenager. We didn’t. 

Fahlgren Mortine is an interesting place to say the least. Like many public relations and advertising agencies, we are constantly brainstorming for a bizarre or just plain crazy event idea, switching roles from B2B to consumer clients, and becoming “experts” in fields we never could have imagined back in high school.

If you were to walk around the office, you’d hear discussions about a global data center in one corner and then see blue prints for a world record attempt hanging nearby. This is the busy and eccentric world we live in, and yes, we get to act like a scientist for a day or imagine that we are motorcycle enthusiasts and doctors - some of us have even played dress-up. 

Because I’m fairly new to the agency, I wanted to know what my co-workers have experienced and learned throughout their careers that they never expected. Here are a few of their answers to help you understand our zany lives. 

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By Hartley Mikus, Account Executive

Welcome to Cause Marketing 2.0.

It has been awhile since I’ve been contacted via phone to donate to a cause. I also receive far fewer direct mail pieces asking me to be a local volunteer and help champion a cause than I remember my parents receiving.

Perhaps it’s because I haven’t lived in the same apartment for more than a year at a time or had an actual land line since before I started college. Or perhaps it’s because what we once knew as cause marketing has morphed into cause marketing 2.0.

Social media has grown as a powerful public relations and marketing tool, especially with respect to non-profits and other causes. Original attraction to the emerging medium may have had something to do with the fact that implementation was, and still is, relatively inexpensive, especially when compared to creating a direct mail piece and sending it via snail mail to 10,000 homes. And now, as various social media platforms have evolved and users have become more knowledgeable, it now seems to be the vehicle transmitting several cause marketing and public relations campaigns/initiatives.

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By Erin Pope, Account Associate

Paranormal Activity reactions from PR folks 

As you may recall from a previous post, our president, Neil Mortine, welcomes any chance he has to give a fellow associate a good scream. So, as Shocktober came to a close, he extended an invitation to the agency to accompany him to this year’s thriller: Paranormal Activity. 

After a few gasps and shrieks of fear, thanks to Christopher Washington, we had the chance to share our thoughts about the movie with a few friends, Kelly Gingery, aka Mix Flick Chick, and Jason Blanton. 

Take a look at Kelly’s podcast and some of our reactions to this year’s daunting blockbuster. 

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By Marsha Hall, Senior Counselor

Planning ahead can minimize the impact of  H1N1 on your business. 

With President Obama declaring H1N1 a national emergency, many businesses are preparing for the possibility of a pandemic and thinking about how they will respond. Effective communications will be primary to reducing the impact of an H1N1 outbreak and ensuring business continuity. 

Below are steps businesses may want to consider. 

Appoint a wellness coordinator.
An office manager or staff member in human resources, communications or public relations is ideal for this position. The individual should become familiar with seasonal flu absenteeism rates and recognize when a significant increase in absenteeism occurs. The coordinator will work with local and state health officials and communicate updates to managers and employees.

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By Christopher Washington, Account Associate

A journalism grad turns to PR.

Fifty-one days, five hours, 17 minutes and a handful of seconds.

That’s how long it’s been since my first day at Fahlgren Mortine Public Relations. And in that short span of time, my reality has been flipped around, twisted upside down and sprawled out in front of me in a chaotic mess of Facebook calendars, press releases and bloggers.

It’s true - there are some days I’m drowning in Twitter handles. And, as immersed in PR as I am, I occasionally feel a tug from my journalism roots that I left behind. Ever since college, I’ve walked the fine line between the structured form of journalism and the creative flair of public relations. And in this hazy, gray area, I can’t help but wonder this:

On which side of the media do I belong?

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By Erin Pope, Account Associate

Be prepared to roll up your sleeves in the PR world.  

Having just graduated from Ohio Dominican University in the spring with several internships under my belt, I felt like I had a good idea of a public relations professional’s typical day. 

I quickly learned I was a bit off… 

From building large showers to tossing pizza dough, the first six months of my career at Fahlgren Mortine have been anything but ordinary. While these projects are the result of a few creative, off-the-wall brainstorms, I can’t think of a particular class that would have helped me prepare for them.  

Now that I’ve been in the workforce for a few months, the roles have been reversed, and I’m being asked the questions that I once asked young PR professionals. Here are a few of those to help prepare you for your step into the professional world. 

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