A PR Maverick is Passing the Reins – to You?

By Ann Smith | Mar 29, 2014

Do you have an entrepreneurial mind and the drive to own your own global public relations firms? Do you want to take the reins of a £1m PR firm that represents clients like the Dalai Lama and the Prince of Wales? Then listen up – I have found an opportunity for you! Global Tolerance Simon […]

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Changes in The Oregonian’s Editorial Policies to Significantly Impact Local News Content

By Kelda Rericha | Mar 26, 2014

New expectations for Oregonian reporters The media landscape has been ever shifting toward the Web, a move that has been seen as reflective of reader preferences and cost savings. As newsrooms are continuing to see massive headcount cuts, journalists are increasingly in a fight for their jobs, which are so often now measured by digital […]

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Wine-making "Miracle Machine" too good to be true, but supports a great cause

By Mary Gorretta | Mar 18, 2014

Can you turn water to wine? Did you see the video advertisement for this product a few weeks ago? The ‘Miracle Machine’ claimed it could “turn water into wine” – making wine in three days with just water and a few other ingredients. The product seemed legitimate, particularly because it was promoted in the video […]

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Lessons Learned in the Art of Pitching

By Ann Smith | Mar 14, 2014

Sometimes we have to learn firsthand that our pitches aren’t working –or even worse, outright stink. I have been in the public relations industry for almost a decade now, so I have had my share of successes and failures. Here are some of the lessons I’ve learned that I want to share with you: You’re not […]

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Welcome Kailee!

By Ann Smith | Mar 10, 2014

Welcome Kailee Pence to the A.wordsmith team! Kailee joins as our spring intern and we’re so excited to have her. There’s much about her to like, starting with her love of country music, good Chinese food and visits to both the beach and mountain. Here are 5 more things you might not know about her […]

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I'm not bossy. I'm the boss.

By Kelda Rericha | Mar 10, 2014

Yet again, Beyonce is awesome. And so is Condoleezza Rice, Jennifer Garner and a handful of other female and male celebrities contributing to the Ban Bossy campaign, a partnership between the Lean In and Girl Scouts organizations, which launched today. As the mother of two boys (soon to be three) I’ve always felt very comfortable […]

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The Power of the Telephone

By Ann Smith | Mar 2, 2014

Picking up the phone In today’s world, we use a variety of outlets to communicate with others and voice our opinion. From emailing, texting, tweeting, posting, pinning, sharing and liking, the ability to communicate is near limitless. The one thing most people have moved away from is using the telephone. You can click to read […]

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Sochi Olympics End with Humor

By Mary Gorretta | Feb 25, 2014

As we detailed on the blog previously, the Sochi Olympic Games seemed to have been fraught with logistical problems from the start, including questionable accommodations and discolored tap water, earning the Twitter hashtags, #sochiproblems or #sochifails. These mishaps, along with other controversies, did not generate the most positive PR for this year’s Olympic organizers. However, […]

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The Lighter Side of the Olympics (At Last)

By Ann Smith | Feb 13, 2014

Finally, there’s been some positive non-sports news out of Sochi. After a week of less than ideal PR —  disturbing images of pink eye (read our earlier blog) and stories of Sochi being a bit less-than-ready for visitors – I was ready for some light-hearted, non-sports coverage. Molson Canadian announced earlier this week via twitter […]

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Sochi pink eye PR nightmare

By Kelda Rericha | Feb 12, 2014

Despite the numerous reports about the less-than-fabulous conditions in Sochi during these Olympic games —  dirty water, disgusting hotel rooms and bathroom stalls that are too close for comfort, not to mention the numerous human and animal rights violations – none hits home quite as viscerally has Bob Costas’ Sochi pink eye. Reportedly caused by […]

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An Olympic-Sized Celebration

By Ann Smith | Feb 11, 2014

Aren’t the Olympics great? I mean, after all they are an institution – not just in our country but around the world. A coming together. A celebration of camaraderie, commitment and, of course, sports. I’m sure we can all remember some of our favorite Olympic moments. Whether it was Flo Jo and her amazing nails, […]

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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. […]

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