The End of Dave's Killer Bread as We Know It?

By Ann Smith | Nov 19, 2013

If you live in the Northwest and you aren’t on the gluten-free bandwagon, you’ve probably tried (and loved) Dave’s Killer Bread. GMO-free, organic, vegan and made with whole grains, it boasts everything that health-conscious Oregonians could ask for. Beyond tasty bread, the company’s message centers on the feel-good story of an ex-con that cleaned up […]

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GMA Correspondent Shares Her Breast Cancer Diagnosis On-Air

By Kelda Rericha | Nov 14, 2013

I love when TV does good. On Monday morning (11/11/13) Amy Robach of ‘Good Morning America’ shared her breast cancer diagnosis and treatment choice with viewers. It was a diagnosis she got after receiving an on-air mammogram in early October. Her choice is to treat the cancer aggressively, opting for a double mastectomy. Details  on […]

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Suck a Lemon, Lululemon

By Ann Smith | Nov 8, 2013

Lululemon has gone sour. OH MY GOODNESS. This is so bad, it’s downright laughable. Chip Wilson of Lululemon Athletica fame – those are shout outs to you. You should probably keep your hateful, judgmental mouth shut. And in the meantime, have fun with the PR firestorm you managed to create. I think it’s about time for one […]

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Giving Tuesday 2013

By Kris Travis | Nov 5, 2013

Halloween is barely behind us, and already the Christmas ads and holiday displays are popping up everywhere. While few of us are feeling truly ready for the holidays, it’s a consideration that is already top of mind for businesses; there are client appreciation gifts to pull together, holiday cards to design and print, and employee […]

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#Hashtags: The New Communication Tool #hmmmm #skeptical #hungry

By Kelda Rericha | Sep 26, 2013

Earlier this summer New York Magazine’s Jeff Wisler wrote a piece called “The 7 Types of Hashtag Abusers” which so brilliantly put into words a deep, personal animosity for hashtags that has been growing ever stronger in my heart.  Wisler puts hashtag abusers on blast, calling out several categories of misuse, including: The Hashtag Stuffer: […]

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Miley Cyrus, PR Genius or Wrecking Ball?

By Ann Smith | Sep 24, 2013

I think most of America is in agreement that what happened on the VMA stage between Miley Cyrus, Robin Thicke and a foam finger was an utter trainwreck and something we’ll be trying to erase from our memories for a long time to come.  However, now that the dust has settled (a bit) and we […]

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A 9/11 Rewind: How We Communicate 12 Years Later

By Ann Smith | Sep 12, 2013

It was twelve years ago today, and I can still remember the exact moment the first airplane hit the World Trade Center. I spent that entire day glued to the television watching every detail of the day’s events unfold. It was like time stood still. 9/11 affects every American in one way or another, and […]

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Selfie is Officially “Liked” by the OE

By Ann Smith | Aug 29, 2013

It’s come to this. “Selfie”, the term for mobile phone self-portraits generally aligned with vain teenage girls, has now entered the lexicon and joins proper words like “forsooth”, “serendipity” and “horse” in the Oxford English Dictionary, otherwise known as the OED and grandfather master of all dictionaries. The inclusion reflects an acceptance of other tech-related […]

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AT&T and Herzog Join Forces on PSA

By Ann Smith | Aug 12, 2013

It seems an unlikely match. Werner Herzog, director of bizarre but awesome films and documentaries such as “Aguirre, the Wrath of God” and “Grizzly Man”, has joined forces with AT&T to create a documentary on the devastating consequences of texting while driving. Sharing the stories of both victims and perpetrators of texting and driving, the […]

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How to Get Away with Cheating: Does The Right PR Save Our Country’s Elite from Their Lying, Cheating Ways?

By Ann Smith | Aug 7, 2013

From politicians, to athletes, to celebrities, our country is fascinated by the downside of being in the public eye – the skeletons in their closet. I will admit that I, too, am drawn in to breaking news about celebrity affairs! One of the most infamous cheating scandals of our generation is none other than Tiger […]

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Party on the River

By Ann Smith | Jul 25, 2013

The Human Access Project wants to change the way Portland thinks about the Willamette. Ah, the mighty Willamette. It’s a beautiful river that serves as a landmark, an industrial thoroughfare and an integral part of Portland life. And, if you’re like most people who’ve spent some time in the Portland area, you’re as likely to […]

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The True Cost of Unpaid Interns

By Kelda Rericha | Jul 18, 2013

Unpaid interns are disrupting the media – and not in a good way. Summer interns everywhere should be watching their backs after the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) blamed an unpaid intern for the inaccurate and unauthorized confirmation to media of the names of the crew members of an Asiana Airlines jet that crashed in […]

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