A.wordsmith | Portland PR & Communications

Grant Leaves Grammys Early–A Media Sin?

By Ann Smith | Jan 30, 2014

Christian music star Natalie Grant caused a media stir Sunday night when she left the Grammys early. Grant never cited the particular reason she left on, but media outlets were keen to guess. Many suspected it had to do with several risqué performances including Jay-Z and Beyonce’s sexy “Drunk in Love” duet, and Katy Perry’s “satanic” […]

Derrick Coleman Inspires Fans, Positive PR for the Seahawks

By Mary Gorretta | Jan 30, 2014

Although Richard Sherman seems to be getting all the attention, I think the best story leading up to the Super Bowl belongs to Derrick Coleman of the Seattle Seahawks. Coleman is already an inspiration for what he has accomplished professionally as an NFL running back, despite being legally deaf since he was three years old. […]

Social Media Done Right, Super Bowl Edition

By Ann Smith | Jan 30, 2014

With the Super Bowl just days away, I think it’s safe to say football is on the minds of many people – especially those in Seattle and Denver. For me, this year is a tough pick. As a Washingtonian, I consider the Seahawks my home team. But I have a deep, deep love for Peyton […]

How Beyonce is Changing Music Promotion

By Kelda Rericha | Jan 27, 2014

Last night Beyonce and Jay-Z put on a show. The photos and video are exploding over social media, traditional media is in awe, and everyone and their grandma is rushing to download B’s latest album thanks to this unofficial music promotion. Oh yeah, and the performance was during the Grammys where a bunch of other […]

Why Everyone is Talking About Richard Sherman

By Ann Smith | Jan 20, 2014

You may care little about football or you may have watched last night’s game with bated breath. Either way, there’s a pretty good chance that by now you’ve seen or heard reference to Richard Sherman’s post-game interview. See it here. It’s intense. The media reaction has been split between condemnation for his unsportsman-like conduct and dismissal […]

Learning from the Elite: Acceptance Speeches at the Golden Globes

By Ann Smith | Jan 14, 2014

Last night’s Golden Globes was not just about fashion, A-list celebrities (hello Matt Damon!) or box office hits. This year’s show was a communications lesson in acceptance speeches at the Golden Globes. It was also a reality check for the masses – to know that even those in the spotlight are not perfect public speakers. […]

Target's Top Three PR Mistakes

By Kelda Rericha | Jan 14, 2014

Of all the PR fiascos that a retailer could potentially face, none may be more disastrous than Target’s 2013 security breach, which took place between Black Friday and mid-December. As news began to spread — at the height of Christmas shopping, no less — the word on the street was that only Target credit card […]

Happy Word Nerd Day!

By Ann Smith | Jan 9, 2014

Today is National Word Nerd Day (although some feel strongly that it was yesterday…who are we to judge?). We are celebrating with our friends (and clients) at the American Copy Editors Society (ACES). Check out the great guest articles by ACES Board member Karen Martwick in PRNewser and ragan.com. Now go unleash your inner word […]

“Because” is the 2013 Word of the Year

By Mary Gorretta | Jan 9, 2014

The American Dialect Society has announced their 2013 Word of the Year is “because.” While “because” is a traditional word, in this case it is being recognized in a new form of use, as “introducing a noun, adjective, or other part of speech (e.g., ‘because reasons,’ ‘because awesome’).” Rising online Ben Zimmer, chair of the […]

The Growth of Social Media in 2013

By Ann Smith | Dec 18, 2013

Social media continues to make leaps and bounds in how we communicate with one another. This is crucial to the world of public relations, as it is one of the leading avenues used to reach target audiences. 2013 was the year Twitter made it onto the stock exchange, Vine launches and Snapchat continued to break […]

The PR Behind GM’s First Female CEO

By Kelda Rericha | Dec 12, 2013

This week the media buzzed with news of Mary Barra’s appointment to the role of General Motor’s CEO, the first female CEO in the company’s history, and the first female to head a major U.S. car company. Barra, 51, will replace retiring CEO Dan Akerson, who has chosen to step down ahead of schedule to […]

A Christmas (and PR) Miracle

By Ann Smith | Dec 12, 2013

WestJet made Christmas dreams come true Oh Wow. Incredible idea. Brilliant PR move. WestJet shared a full serving of Christmas joy and happiness to customers, and the results will make any heart grow three sizes. Take the 5 minutes to watch this Christmas (and PR) miracle – it will inspire you to believe that miracles […]