WWPR Kicks Off Summer Social Season

NETWORKING PATIO EVENT

WHEN: Tuesday, June 7, 6:00 ~ 8:00 p.m.
WHERE:  Local 16, 1602 U Street, NW DC (on Metro, U Street/African-American Civil War Memorial/Cardozo on Green and Yellow lines)
COST:  FREE to WWPR and PRSA-NCC members; $15 for non-members includes one free drink ticket per person and complimentary appetizers. 

* * * WWPR is collecting travel-size toiletries for its pro bono client, Thrive DC.  If you have items from trips please bring them to the networking event to contribute. * * *

Do YOU Know a Talented Young Woman Who is an Emerging Leader in PR?

Last year, Washington Women in Public Relations (WWPR) instituted the Emerging Leaders Awards to honor outstanding young women, ages 21-35, in the Washington, DC, metro area during an awards ceremony and cocktail reception.  The first honorees (pictured left to right) were:

Lauren Musiol, Senior Account Executive, GYMR

Carrie Fox, President and Founder, C. Fox Communications, and
Stefanie Pidgeon, Communication Planner, Office of the Chief of Public Affairs, U.S. Army

The award recognizes young women active within the communications field who have made a significant impact on the industry and highlights their potential to contribute their leadership to the industry in the future.

To nominate a young leader in the DC-area, download the 2011 ELA Application and email the completed form to ela@wwpr.org. Honorees will be recognized at a cocktail reception and awards ceremony in late-July.

Nominee Qualifications

• Candidates must be female professionals between the ages of 21-35 as of June 3, 2011
• Candidates must work in one of the following disciplines: Media Relations, Crisis Communications, Event Planning, Social Media, Website Communications, Strategic Communications, Community Relations, Internal Communications, Speechwriting, Public Affairs, Marketing Communications, Government Communications, Investor Relations Communications, Consumer/Lifestyle Communications, Branding, and Writing/Editing

Media Relations in the Digital Age on Wednesday, June 8

Media Relations in the Digital Agepresented by the NCC Professional Development Committee on Wednesday, June 8, 2011 from 8:00 - 10:00 a.m.

U.S. Navy Memorial & Heritage Center
701 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20004
Metro: Yellow/green lines, Navy Memorial/Archives
For Directions and Parking, go to www.navymemorial.org
Cost: $35 PRSA, WWPR and BPRS /members; $55 non-members; $10 students/retirees
Register Here

Want to be part of the “big story?”Want to place stories in prestigious, influential and growing media outlets?Need to get a client on television, or in prominent new online outlets?Want to find out how journalists are using Facebook and Twitter…or why they ignore them completely?
In this exciting workshop, you'll walk away with invaluable new insight to enhance your career development:• How to leverage today’s top news to get your client, or your boss, interviewed• How to concisely articulate your story idea• What it takes to get your calls returned and become a trusted source• How to pitch a story in a 24/7, online news cycle• Make great new contacts

Speakers:

• Jeffrey Ballou, Deputy News Editor - Al Jazeera


• Jennifer Bendery, Washington Correspondent - The Huffington Post


• Tony Capaccio, Pentagon Correspondent - Bloomberg News


• Lois Dyer, Futures Editor- CBS News


• Maggie Fox, Managing Editor of Technology and Healthcare - National Journal


• Moderator:Aaron Cohen – Vice President of Media and Digital Communications, MSLGroup

If you have questions, please call the chapter office at 703.691.8733.

Interested in Gaining More Visibility for Your Outstanding Work in PR?

If so, consider entering the 2011 Thoth Awards program hosted by PRSA-NCC. Get details and entry forms at www.prsa-ncc.org/thoth_awards.

Early bird deadline is June 17. Final deadline is July 8.

Winning a Thoth Award is a great way to set your self, your firm and your clients apart in the industry. Start working on those entries today!

A gala to present the winners will be held on Thursday, September 22 at 6:00 p.m. at the National Press Club.

Thoughts from Inspiring & Frank Talk by Vivian Schiller

Today I had the privilege of seeing Vivian Schiller speak frankly at an event presented by Bethesda Magazine and the Roundhouse Theater about her career and recent controversy which lead to her separation from NPR.
Steve Hull, editor of Bethesda Magazine, lead the discussion and after asking her about recent events, got into the future of media. She made sure to say her crystal ball was not more or less fine tuned than anyone else, but I thought had some interesting insights on radio. Which, of course, made my ears perk up. Mr. Hull first asked her about newspapers and magazines, and she was bullish on both.
For radio, she mentioned she thought internet radio was going to be big in the next few years. I had always thought of internet radio as content streamed by anyone and a form of non-traditional, non-terrestrial radio. But, she was referring to mobile apps and online versions, like TuneIn, where you can get traditional stations anywhere via computer, smartphone or car. So, if I listened to WAMU in Washington and am traveling to Los Angeles on business, I can still listen to WAMU and be up to date on my local news. Schiller reminded us that this presents a challenge to all local stations to provide the best local and relevant content at all times.
The challenge I see as a PR professional is how is all of this non-traditional listening going to be tracked and verified.

Posted by Susan Apgood

PR Agencies are No. 1 Resource for Journalists

Since 2008, the Oriella PR Network, , an alliance of 15 communications agencies in 20 countries, has published an annual study exploring the impact of digital media on news-gathering worldwide.  The latest study found that the No. 1 resource that journalists in this study are using for sourcing is PR agencies, at a whopping 62 percent.

Oriella PR Network polled nearly 500 journalists.  Despite concerns by many PR professionals that the only way to reach reporters is through social media, the survey revealed that 47 percent of the reporters are using Twitter (up from 33 percent a year ago) and even fewer -- 35 percent -- are using Facebook as a source (up from 25 percent a year ago).  In fact, only 4 percent said they use Twitter, Facebook, or blogs as their first source in researching a story.

Most surprising of all?  Almost 22 percent of respondents said their initial resource in researching a story is a press release.

Financial Communications Focus of June 7 IABC Senior Communicators Breakfast

The Delicate Matter of Financial Communications

 
Business communications take on even more importance when financial matters are involved. Whether you lead a communications team for a public company, spearhead internal or external messages surrounding your organization’s merger or acquisition, work with your non-profit’s donors, or handle media inquiries from the financial press, you know the importance of effective communications practices to accomplish your goals.  

PRofessional Solutions, LLC is proud to be the exclusive 2011 sponsor the the IABC/DC Metro Senior Communicators Council breakfast series and invites you to join other communicators for the panel's insights and a light breakfast. 

Panelists:

Karen Vahouny, ABC, a founding partner at Qorvis Communications, who specializes in investor relations and corporate communications. Karen currently is serving a three-year term on the board of directors for the National Endowment of Financial Education and is a long-time member of the Capital Area Chapter board of directors for the National Investor Relations Institute.

Michael Toner, a senior account executive at Business Wire, a Berkshire Hathaway Company, where he works with publicly traded companies and investor relations agencies. Michael currently sits on the board of directors for the Richmond, Va. Chapter of the National Investor Relations Institute.
 


WHEN:  Tuesday, June 7th,  8:00 - 10:00 a.m.
WHERE: Qorvis Communications, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW (Enter on Rhode Island Ave. NW) Closest Metro Stop: Farragut North on the Red Line; Farragut West on the Blue/Orange Line
COST:  IABC Senior Communicators (15 yrs or more experience) -complimentary
Non-IABC members & IABC non-SCC members - $30