3 Ways to Celebrate Juneteenth 

By Devyn Yocom | Jun 17, 2022

With the 157th anniversary of Juneteenth coming up this Sunday, June 19, it’s important to remember why we celebrate this momentous day. The holiday commemorates the day in 1865 when enslaved people of Texas, then the most remote region of the Confederacy, finally learned slavery had been abolished and they were free.   Honoring Juneteenth means […]

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Asking for a Friend: Should I Banish These Phrases From My Lexicon?

By Gretchen Hoffman | Jan 10, 2022

Wait, what? Lake Superior State University recently released its annual “Banished Words List”—the  top 10 misused, overused or useless phrases submitted by people across the world, and the No. 1 offender was a phrase consisting of two four-letter words the university’s judges ruled should never go together, under any circumstances: the exceedingly common “Wait, what?” If […]

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Celebrating Pride: How to Champion the LGBTQ+ Community Beyond the Month of June

By Sophia Padua | Jun 25, 2021

From corporations modifying their logos to a rainbow design with an empty promise of allyship to Pride parades with people looking for an excuse to party, the true themes behind pride can be overlooked by many. Being a member and/or ally of the LGBTQ+ community in any shape or form doesn’t happen once a year […]

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“Silence is Not a ‘Safe’ Messaging Play” in Wake of Riot

By Gretchen Hoffman | Jan 11, 2021

Each day brings a new announcement of a brand or organization repudiating the Capitol riot and the officials who opposed the presidential vote certification. Among the latest: Marriott announced Sunday that it had cut support for the Republican senators, including Republican Sens. Josh Hawley (Mo.) and Ted Cruz (Texas), who opposed the Electoral College count following the deadly mob […]

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Tips for Talking Politics: PR Edition

By Amber Luckett | Dec 2, 2020

Over the past month, we have all watched one of the most highly anticipated presidential elections play out before us. It’s been stressful, confusing, messy, and hard, and in many of our cases, it’s probably led to some pretty intense and emotionally charged conversations. As PR professionals, we’re taught to tap into our emotional intelligence […]

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How the PR industry should behave post-election

By Alexes Jones | Nov 17, 2020

After months of ads, rallies and debates, the 2020 presidential election has been called. However, with President Trump’s claims of voter fraud and a slew of lawsuits to boot, a recount in some states is inevitable. It is safe to say that the election chaos is here for the long haul. So, where does this […]

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What’s New with AP Style?

By Hannah Braly | Jul 10, 2020

At A.wordsmith, we’re always staying one step ahead of PR trends, current news, what’s happening in our clients’ industries and social media best practices. Yet an often overlooked, but equally important element of our jobs, is honing our expertise on the latest Associated Press Style (AP Style) guidelines. While there are many types of writing […]

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7 Tips for a Successful Video Media Interview During COVID-19

By Hailey Rae Swalley | Jun 12, 2020

By now, we’ve all (mostly) adjusted to a routine where most day-to-day work interactions happen on Zoom, Webex and Microsoft Teams. This change has also bled over into how media interviews are being held – while many reporters or producers traditionally would have interviewed sources over the phone or in person, there’s new expectations that […]

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Readying for a Comeback

By Ann Smith | May 26, 2020

This morning I was scrolling through LinkedIn and came to a new post from advertising agency Wieden & Kennedy. They had shared their newest collaboration with Nike – a 90-second spot that transcends advertising and struck me right in the gut. A message of resilience and hope – of comebacks.  Sport is big in our […]

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Stay Connected and Well-balanced While Working From Home

By Lexi Foldenauer | May 11, 2020

It can be a balancing act to separate work and home life when the days seem to blend into one and your living room has also become your office. The A.wordsmith team has been working remotely since mid-March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and it has been an adjustment for each of us individually and […]

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Eight Strategies to Think Creatively in Times of Uncertainty

By Lisa Hildebrandt | Apr 30, 2020

The novel Coronavirus has drastically altered the business landscape and created a heightened appetite for change. Now more than ever, business leaders across industries and geographies are called to fiercely rise to the challenge of uncertainty. They’re emboldened by their managers, peers and the broader business community to charge ahead with relentless optimism, tenacity, determination […]

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What We’re Reading: Interesting and Inspiring Articles

By Savanna Frimoth | Jul 18, 2019

Below we’ve shared some recent articles we read and enjoyed. From strong women in sports, to gardening, outdoor education and memes, there’s something for everyone!  Kris:  How Hydroponic School Gardens Can Cultivate Food Justice, Year-Round This article from NPR’s “The Salt” section showcases the interesting ways some schools are using indoor gardening to teach students about […]

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