Category Archives: Hot Dish
Bill Murray Visits RMPR
Today we had the honor of welcoming PRSA National President and COO Bill Murray to our agency to discuss trends he’s seeing in the public relations industry nationally, and how the national and local PRSA chapters are supporting the professional development of members.
National Crisis Communications and Management Consultant Jim Lukaszewski Joins RMPR
Usually our “Clients in the News” email features work the Risdall McKinney Public Relations (RMPR) team has done behind the scenes but this time we’re excited to share our latest behind the scenes resource for instances when organizations don’t want visibility.
After 25 years in New York operating The Lukaszewski Group Inc., crisis communications and communications management guru Jim Lukaszewski, ABC, APR, Fellow PRSA, has returned to Minnesota and joined RMPR and created a division specifically focused on working with clients across the spectrum ofmanagement communications and operational issues to help reduce reputation risk, make things happen, move issues forward, provide second opinions
, and resolve conflict and controversy.
After 25 years in New York operating The Lukaszewski Group Inc., crisis communications and communications management guru Jim Lukaszewski, ABC, APR, Fellow PRSA, has returned to Minnesota and joined Risdall McKinney Public Relations (RMPR) as president of its new division, The Lukaszewski Group (TLG).
The Lukaszewski Group division will focus on crisis communications, communications management consulting, contentious corporate and community scenarios and senior executive counseling. RMPR will provide additional counsel and strategic implementation.
“Jim’s practice is very much aligned with our agency’s brand-reputation philosophy and Results-that-Matter approach,” said Rose McKinney, APR, president, RMPR. “His depth of experience and expertise complements our integrated offline and online programs.”
Lukaszewski advises, coaches and counsels the leaders of large corporations and organizations facing serious internal and external problems. Considered by many in the PR profession to be a top American crisis communication expert, his counsel has built Lukaszewski a reputation as the “expert to call when all hell breaks loose,” (Corporate Legal Times) and a “crunch-time counselor who should be on the speed dial in a crisis” (PRWeek).
“A gifted counselor and strategist, Jim is an exceptional mentor and a tremendous asset to the PR and business community both in the Twin Cities and at a national level,” said McKinney. “He and the e911.com website are a highly regarded brand.”
The range of problems Lukaszewski advises clients about is broad, from significant bankruptcies of major institutions, to product recalls, to medical malpractice and scientific misconduct, and civil and criminal litigation. Lukaszewski also advises government agencies, leaders in succession scenarios, and has health care and utility clients in 35 states and Canada.
A prolific speaker and author, Lukaszewski’s latest book, “Why Should the Boss Listen to You, The Seven Disciplines of The Trusted Strategic Advisor,” has become a ‘must read’ for public relations, human resources, finance, security, planning and all staff functions that advise senior operation executives. His next book is due out later this year.
He is also a familiar face and voice within the industry to the thousands of participants who attend his public and in-house professional development presentations, programs, seminars, workshops, teleseminars, and webinars. His programs for the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) and Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) have been attended by thousands of participants.
Visit RMPR
Visit e911.com
For more information on how RMPR can provide Results that Matter for your organization, please contact Rose McKinney at 651-286-6767 or rose@risdall.com.
2011 Resolution: Content Should be King
Yesterday, we Tweeted a link to PRSA’s 11 Public Relations Trends for 2011. Compiled by PRSA’s Section leaders, the list includes the evolution of location-based applications, a general upswing in business and online practices maturing and growing. While I certainly hope these are true, one of the items on the list is called “Wanted: Engaging Storytellers and Well-Written Content.” One line in 
particular stood out: Good content and storytelling is paramount to breaking through the clutter.
To that, I say Amen. Digital/online/social/mobile channels have absolutely emerged as the fastest most direct way to reach audiences in 2009 and 2010. But behind well-executed “new media” campaigns and attention-grabbing tactics, content is still king and quality should trump quantity. So, lets embrace what should be a “back to basics” stance and make sure that along with the flash, glitz, instant gratification and impact of the new ways in which we communicate, we still take the time to stay relevant and communicate well.
Pharmaceutical company lays off 1,700 employees via conference call
This week, the Huffington Post reported that 1,700 employees were laid off last month after a series of mysterious email blasts and a short conference call where they were told they were loosing their jobs and “no questions please.”
Upon joining the company, employees sign a contract that forbids publicly disparaging the company, so all information regarding the layoff was received anonymously. What’s interesting to me, however, is the response from the company’s media relations representative. Read more »
Who’s Afraid of the Social Media Monster?
Anybody feel like their companies are flat-out afraid to start using social media? Here are a few reasons why organizations need to get out from hiding under the desk and realize the big scary social media monster lurking on their computer isn’t quite as scary as their mind has made it out to be. Here are a few reasons why companies can put their fears to rest. Read more »
Calling all bloggers – pay attention to my pitch!
Oh, you mean that doesn’t work?
Upfront, in your face pitching doesn’t work with bloggers either? Well, then what does?
Blogging is new age media, but a world full of writers nonetheless, and they need to be treated respectfully and as we would journalists at any other traditional publication. Here are a few simple rules to follow when pitching a new story idea out into the blogosphere: Read more »
Millennials — Give Us A Little More Credit Please!
Everywhere I look, books, news headlines, tweets, blog posts, and news feeds are offering advice on how to manage Millennials, like me. (Born in 1986 and proud of it!) Just typing in “Millennials” on any search engine reveals what seems to be the workforces’ burning question today: “How in the world do we work with and manage these guys?”
“Seven Secrets to Working with Millennials,” “The ‘Millennials’ Are Coming,” “Managing Millennials: Eleven Tips,” “Understanding and Working With THE MILLENNIALS.” Sheesh, by judging these headlines, we Millennials sound like we’re pretty tough to handle! But can you really classify us all like that? Read more »
The Thought Police
When I was in college (the first time), Calvin and Hobbs was BIG! In particular during an election year, this cartoon panel serves as a reminder to always look beyond what “they” tell you and draw your own conclusions.
Teachers: the real influencers of critical thinking
Anyone in the “creative services” industry has run into a situation where the client wants you to be more “innovative” and “creative” but only within the parameters they have set forth. And it is a difficult situation to “win.”
Unfortunately, sometimes following the rules doesn’t challenge you to go “outside the lines” and look at things with a new vantage point. As we grow up, following the rules programs us to look at things the same way time and time again. And then we go to seminars that challenge us to change the mindset.
I was fortunate to have encounters with teachers as I was growing up that “challenged” everyone to look at things from outside the lines. It is a mindset that I am fortunate to carry with me.
Social Media: The New School Playground for Generation Z
In a world that thrives off of the internet, its no surprise that students today have discovered a whole new playground. Social media platforms are more readily available with smartphones and personal computers and kids today demand information and social connections at their fingertips.
So, in environments that even I can remember being tough to navigate at the adolescent age without such technological power, how should students deal with these added distractions?