Hungry for More | The James Beard 2023 Media Awards

By Jessie Levine | May 15, 2023

As someone who has spent a healthy slice of their career doing publicity and marketing for restaurants, chefs, and food products, I’ve consumed my fair share of journalism on these topics. There was a reason I was initially called to do this kind of work – a nebulous passion lying somewhere in the cross section […]

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December Feature Friday Round-Up

By Faith Alcaraz Lackey | Jan 9, 2023

Every Friday on Instagram, we feature one of our favorite Portland-based small businesses. For our final Feature Fridays of 2022, we featured two stellar businesses — be sure to check them out! Modern Provisions Modern Provisions is a unique marketplace that brings local artisans’ wares together under one roof. Located in SE Portland, Modern Provisions sells goods […]

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Your Guide to Creating Fresh Content Ideas that Inspire

By Lisa Hildebrandt | Feb 22, 2022

In today’s digital-first world, consumers are inundated with marketing messages on a diverse array of channels (social media platforms, email, voice and touch technologies, virtual assistants, etc.) from the moment they wake up until the moment they lay down their head at night. These incessant notifications and influencer persuasions – prompting users to sign up […]

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2021: What We Are Grateful For

By A.wordsmith | Nov 22, 2021

This year we realize how grateful we are for the big – and small – things in life! Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Team A.wordsmith!   “I will never take for granted the joy of live music, spring break trips and in-real-life school. Grateful to have all of these back in my life.” Ann […]

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October Feature Friday Round-Up

By Kassidy Naone | Nov 19, 2021

Every Friday on our  Instagram, we feature different women-owned, BIPOC or LGBTQ+ Portland-based small businesses. Here are the five amazing businesses we featured throughout the month of October. (Keep them in mind for your upcoming Small Business Saturday shopping!)  A Yen for Chocolate  When Christina Yen was a young professional working in finance, she had a feeling that corporate life was not […]

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The Turning Point: Six Steps to Survive a Corporate Crisis

By Lisa Hildebrandt | Oct 21, 2021

Socioeconomic unrest, the great resignation, and the pandemic have given rise to a pivotal, branding defining time. Now more than ever, an organization’s every action (or inaction) is highly scrutinized, and the critical importance of PR has been magnified. Against this backdrop, PR leaders are called to rethink their crisis communications strategies and guide clients […]

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Who Has Inspired Your Career Path?

By Lexi Foldenauer | Sep 8, 2020

It can be difficult for people to identify one person, event, or piece of advice that singlehandedly propelled them forward on their career path – I know it is for me. Each of our individual stories, obstacles, and experiences shape our unique knowledge and learned expertise. I have been fortunate to encounter different people at […]

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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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Managing Social Media Strategy During the COVID-19 Pandemic

By Natalie O'Grady | Apr 24, 2020

Social media managers have always known that a presence on social is important no matter your business size or industry, and the current era has thrown that fact into stark relief. For many businesses forced to temporarily close or limit services during the COVID-19 pandemic, social media is now the only way to connect with […]

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Our Favorite Ways to Celebrate Fall

By Hailey Rae Swalley | Sep 24, 2019

The first days of fall are upon us, and with their return it’s finally time to enjoy cooler temperatures. Here are our favorite ways to celebrate fall.   Lisa: “I’m a warm weather girl to my core, but there’s something truly magical about the way the leaves change colors in the fall. Despite the chill in […]

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Our Summer Family Traditions

By Hannah Braly | Jul 26, 2019

Summer is finally here, and warm weather brings fond memories of family traditions. Below we’ve shared our favorite summer family traditions – including ones that are still going today.  Natalie  For a good chunk of my elementary to high school years, we spent a few weeks every summer visiting my grandma and grandpa in Lake […]

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Coffee Chat Rewind: Women Changing the Conversation

By Ann Smith | May 29, 2019

Thanks to the three amazing women — Heidi Yewman, Janice Levenhagen and Angela Earl — who brought all the feels to last week’s “Like a Boss” Coffee Chat on the topic of Women Changing the Conversation. It was a powerful morning that will undoubtably stick with us for a while. Here is what we are […]

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