Archive for August, 2007

Not-for-profit groups often have a tough time getting recognition for their good work. Publicity, especially media coverage, can help to attract funding and additional support. Yet, too often, they get mired in the press release mentality — if we just send out a press release, we will get a great story. Doesn’t happen.

My advice to anyone at a not-for-profit organization is to take a look at the Tahirih Justice Center in Falls Church, Virginia. Continued

This is top news and disgusting: Idaho Senator Larry Craig is blaming everyone from the news media to the police for getting nabbed, accused of making lewd homosexual gestures to a cop in the next toilet stall of a Minneapolis airport men’s room. He began his claim of innocence by saying — in the style of Richard Nixon — “I am not gay.” Whatever credibility Craig had left has vaporized since then. Continued

I am in Kansas City, visiting Outpost Productions, an astonishing high definition video production facility by any definition (pun intended). The people at Outpost say they are “two days from anywhere,” and they have the credits to prove it — broadcast production shoots on nearly every continent.

Outpost is owned by a old friend and colleague, Michael Wunsch. Continued

So … I was reading The Washington Business Journal recently and stopped at a story with a headline, “Tourism Officials to Unveil New D.C. ‘brand’ research.” The people who run the Washington, D.C., Convention & Visitors Corporation had conducted new research to help the nation’s capital to develop a new “brand.”

Halfway through the story was this line – “For nearly a decade, D.C. has used ‘Washington, D.C.: The American Experience.’” Continued

Someone … a very clever someone … has taken a tourism promotion video for Egypt and inserted another message completely — about Egypt’s restrictions on human rights and religious freedom — and now the video is making the rounds, including YouTube.

It’s certainly worth a look … at another side of Egypt and how somebody can alter a message.

I suspect there will be many reflective stories in the media as we approach the 6th anniversary of the 9-11 attacks. The White House will no doubt measure the nation’s safety by the lack of terrorist attacks … that always seems to be their fallback message … even though all the reports I read say we are less safe than before September 11, 2001.

I look with sadness about what has happened to America’s image and reputation around the world in the last six years. Continued

We lost a friend this past Saturday — Mike Deaver. There has been much said and written about his passing. Let me just add these few words … Mike was a good man who had found a way to be in touch with his spirit and soul. From him, I learned the art and magic of crafting concise, clear and accurate messages, the core essential element of great communications. Remember … he taught the great communicator, too.I salute Edelman Worldwide - where he was co-chairman - for their online tribute.