Philadelphia-based Buchanan Public Relations LLC is a full-service public relations firm that specializes in media relations, social media and crisis communications.

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June 6, 2013

Why PR Institute Should Be on Every New PR Pro’s Bucket List

By Jess Emery, 1:54 pm

For the past six weeks, I have had the honor of participating in the annual Nancy Bacher Long PR Institute, PRSA Philly’s intensive training program for junior-level public relations practitioners. Participants are split into mock agency teams that compete to create a comprehensive communications plan for a local nonprofit. Each week, we gathered to hear presentations from seasoned PR pros on the different aspects involved in creating a PR plan – such as writing a plan (presented by BPR’s very own Blair Kahora Cardinal), strategic planning, budgeting, measurement and presentation. We were even treated to a media panel of journalists from KYW Newsradio, NBC10, the Philadelphia Business Journal and Philly2Philly.

Buchanan Public Relations, Rebuilding Together Philadelphia, PRSA Philadelphia PR Institute, Jess EmeryOn Monday, my team gave our final presentation to this year’s nonprofit client: Rebuilding Together Philadelphia. I can honestly say it was one of the most rewarding experiences I have had in my career to date. Rebuilding Together Philadelphia (RTP) is the local affiliate of a national nonprofit organization that works to repair and maintain affordable housing for families in need. 

Our team created a plan with the goal of establishing RTP as the quintessential rebuilding organization by increasing donors, volunteers, media coverage and awareness.

I have always found nonprofit work to be enjoyable, but what I found to be most rewarding about PR Institute was being able to take my knowledge and passion for public relations and apply it to an organization that could truly benefit. It was very gratifying to hand an almost-fully packaged communications plan – complete with media lists, a crisis communications plan, an op-ed piece, a full color ad, a social media strategy as well as strategies and tactics to implement this plan – to the RTP team.

This program – founded by the late Nancy Bacher Long, a legendary PR professional in Philadelphia – is something I would recommend to all young professionals looking to further their knowledge in the PR world. It’s not easy, it’s time consuming and it takes a lot of hard work, but the experience at the end is worth it. Kind of like repairing and maintaining a home.

 

May 30, 2013

Raising Funds While Raising Good Corporate Citizens

By Nancy Page, 8:41 am

If you’re responsible for raising money for your nonprofit organization, you might be thinking of approaching corporations for support. And it might make sense. But there are a few things you should consider before starting out.

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May 22, 2013

Will PR’s Use of Social Media Make People Nicer?

By Karen Ivory, 10:27 am

I am not a good flyer.  But when your daughter is spending a semester abroad in London, you have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the city with a personal travel guide, so my husband and I recently bit the bullet and climbed on an airplane to fly over the pond.  We had a great time for five days, and then it was time to come home.

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May 16, 2013

Modern Day Mad Men

By Emily Geesaman, 1:11 pm

As an avid viewer of Mad Men, I have an ongoing love-hate relationship with the hit series’ main character, Don Draper.  One episode I’m critical of his womanizing, demoralizing behavior and the next I’m in admiration of his creativity and uncanny ability to command a situation. Mad Men, Public Relations, Advertising, Emily Geesaman This intended roller-coaster effect has left me drawing parallels between back-in-the-day and modern-day techniques of advertising and PR.

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May 10, 2013

9 Things I’ve Learned in 9 Years of PR

By Blair Kahora Cardinal, 11:07 am
Photo courtesy of David Maialetti / Philadelphia Inquirer

Photo courtesy of David Maialetti / Philadelphia Inquirer

Last weekend, I ran the 10-mile Broad Street Run here in Philadelphia. This was the first year that I did not yearn to be trampled by the masses so that I could peacefully succumb to an overwhelming exhaustion. Where I’m typically ready to give up at mile 9, I actually felt ready to tackle mile 10 with vigor. With college graduations in full swing this time of year, the run got me thinking of my nine years post-undergrad and the things I’ve learned that have prepared me for this 10th year of my public relations career, my mile 10.

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May 1, 2013

Not Just Getting Coffee

By Mia Damiano, 2:34 pm

When family members and friends asked me what I would be doing after graduating from Franklin & Marshall College in December, it was with a great deal of trepidation that I shared my plans: “I have an internship.”  The title “intern” often conjures up images of coffee runs, copy duty and menial work in general.  Buchanan Public Relations, Mia Damiano, internshipsBut, luckily, my internship at Buchanan Public Relations shattered all previously held notions about the insignificance of interns, and it is with pride that I look back on my past four months here.

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April 26, 2013

The Lost Art of Customer Service in Public Relations

By Emily DiTomo, 9:11 am

Last weekend, I traveled to the Waldorf Astoria Orlando for the wedding of one of my closest childhood friends. I had booked round-trip transportation to and from the airport and, when my return shuttle never arrived, I immediately assumed I’d be on my own. After briefly explaining my situation to the hotel concierge, she stepped out from behind the desk, whispered something to a bellhop and – in a matter of minutes – something amazing Customer Servicehappened.

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April 18, 2013

Community Managers: If You Have Nothing Nice to Say, Don’t Say Anything At All

By Kathleen McFadden, 1:32 pm

Another senseless tragedy.  Another brand lacking compassion.  

More people use Twitter today than ever before, making it the place to share breaking news. Twitter’s reach is especially evident during times of crisis, when many of its 200 million users flood the network with much-needed information, real-time updates, positive thoughts and prayers. 

But without fail, it seems every major tragedy in the last year has been followed by an insensitive tweet from a brand trying to use the event to their gain.  And also without fail, this strategy backfires – each and every time – in the form of a social media crisis followed by negative press, a tarnished image and lost customers, not to mention even more upset for the families and friends of the victims.  

When tragedy suddenly strikes, organizations and their community managers must be careful not to repeat these six mistakes of their social media tone-deaf peers:  

1. Epicurious:  The morning after the devastating bombings at the Boston Marathon, food website Epicurious thought consoling Bostonians with scones and a “bowl of breakfast energy” was appropriate.  After receiving a slew of “Are you kidding me?” messages, the brand deleted the tweets and copied-and-pasted the same apology to several Twitter users – one that apologized for the tweets that “seemed insensitive.”  News flash, Epicurious: they are insensitive.

Buchanan Public Relations blog

2. Adweek:  The magazine wasted no time on Monday to promote its story that ironically details how the Boston Marathon bombings underscore the need for brands to have a heart on social media.  Adweek has since removed the tweet and story, but not before outraging its followers.  (By the way, the magazine has yet to address the issue, on Twitter and elsewhere).

Buchanan Public Relations blog post

3. Kmart:  On the day of the tragic shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., Kmart tweeted its condolences, while using the hashtags #PrayforNewtown and #CTShooting with #Fab15Toys, its latest children’s toy promotion.  Kmart deleted the tweet and issued an apology – without the #Fab15Toys hashtag – 20 minutes later.

Buchanan Public Relations blog

4. Gap:  As Hurricane Sandy – one of the nation’s costliest and deadliest storms in recent history – approached the East Coast, Gap asked those in the storm’s path if they would be shopping online at Gap.com.  The retailer soon deleted the tweet and posted an explanation: “To all impacted by #Sandy, stay safe. Our check-in and tweet earlier were only meant to remind all to keep safe and indoors.”

Buchanan Public Relations blog

5. CelebBoutique:  The morning following the movie theater shootings in Aurora, Colo., UK-based fashion retailer CelebBoutique credited the trending #Aurora hashtag to buzz surrounding its Kim Kardashian-inspired Aurora dress.  The tweet remained on CelebBoutique’s account for nearly an hour before being deleted and addressed with a tweet that lacked emotion and generated even more outrage: “We apologise for our misunderstanding about Aurora. – CB.”

Buchanan Public Relations blog

6. The National Rifle Association (NRA):  Nine hours after the mass shooting at an Aurora, Colo. movie theater, the NRA – apparently unaware of the news – posted a cheery “Happy Friday, shooters!” tweet.  It took the association more than three hours to remove the tweet and issue a statement, marking just one of its hurdles in a reignited nationwide debate on gun control.

Buchanan Public Relations blog

To the ever-growing number of brands using social media, be careful when choosing your community manager(s).  More importantly, when tragedy strikes, know that we only want you to do one thing: grieve with us.  Send your condolences.  Support your community.  That’s more engagement than any promotion could generate.

 

April 8, 2013

Dear College Professor: Stop Wasting Our Time and Give Your Students a Meaningful Assignment

By Anne Buchanan, 11:23 am

Dear Professor:

I have a bone to pick with you. After I do that, I am going to hand you a feast-on-a-platter of an idea.

I think I speak for a vast portion of the public relations profession when I implore you: Please stop giving your students the silly task of locating a PR professional whom they can interview for your class.

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March 28, 2013

Social Media: Not the Only Tool in the PR Shed

By Jess Emery, 9:34 am

Albert Einstein once said, “I fear the day when technology surpasses our human interaction. The world will have a generation of idiots.” This quote resonates with me because, in the constantly evolving world of social media, I sometimes see the “social” aspect missing. Have you ever found yourself alone in a crowded room, a party or restaurant and noticed just how many people were more occupied with their smartphones than with observing what’s around them? Have you felt disconnected or almost panicked when you forgot your phone at home? In a world where we are always connected, we’re all guilty of it, but there is a time and a place for using these platforms. Social media is simply one tool in the PR toolbox. (more…)

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