The Pandemic Forever Changed these Words

It’s hard to think of anything in our lifetimes that’s so taken over our lives and attentions. We’re all trying to adapt, with the best minds tackling the Covid health and economic crises, and focused on getting us back to work and the “new normal,” whatever that means. It’s also changed how we communicate. Every […]

PR in a Pandemic: Top Tips

It’s dark in here. Let me find the light switch. There you go. Hey, where is everybody? It sure is quiet. These are the thoughts you might have, if you work in PR in the Age of Coronavirus. People are bunkered down. No one knows for sure when the crisis will end. Media and social […]

Overcoming Startup PR Challenges (O’Dwyer’s Piece)

Pixabay Some may assume that those who work in technology PR have similar gigs – but the assignments can vary substantially. First, almost every company is a tech company today, right?  So just adding “technology” to PR does not shed much light. Job requirements for those pitching consumer tech products may be more like general […]

Cheap Trick: Great Band, Lousy B2B Growth Strategy

It’s tough to launch and grow a successful business, and tempting to look for shortcuts. And why not? We’ve all heard about the magical growth hacks; the campaigns that went viral, the PR home runs that crashed servers and exploded phones. So, when B2BNXT said they wanted to interview me about B2B growth tips, I […]

PR Firms in the Crosshairs of Data Protection and Regulation

GDPR is here, at least in Europe, and early adopter states in the U.S. are following quickly behind. California and Colorado are two states that have employed GDPR-like policy, though with a bit more sensibility than the harsh and sometimes vague guidelines of GDPR. Others are falling in line too, as this article reports.  Bottom […]

Building Bridges to Media and the World in Jerusalem

I traveled throughout Israel over the past 10 days and visited many parts of the beautiful country. Each place was more awe-inspiring than the last. But Jerusalem really stood out, for its history, mix of cultures and religions, and sheer beauty. The Old City must be seen to be believed. Walking through the bustling underground […]

Cyber Tech brings Intrigue, Ethical Challenges to PR

Tech PR is usually not about life or death issues. Yes, we do start revolutions – but with a small “r”. Governments aren’t toppled, or blood spilled from our work. The field of cybersecurity technology is a different animal, however. It can bring the cloaks, daggers and pose ethical challenges for PR teams, vendors and […]

Great Comedy and PR not So Different, via Seinfeld and Stern

I’ve always been a big fan of comedian Jerry Seinfeld, and like to tell the story of how my friends and I were heckled by him in the 80s, before the eponymous TV show made Seinfeld a superstar. Four of us were sitting in a downtown NYC bar and spied Jerry with a posse (that […]

Facebook Redefines News. PR will Never be the Same

Most PR people are familiar with journalistic conventions. Things like AP style, for example. We know a story starts with the lede, not lead, and about the reverse triangle approach to news writing. We know what a byline is, and are constantly on the hunt for the people behind them, to pitch stories to. We […]

My Take on the Fake News Debate

I attended the Daily News Innovation Lab’s session: Proposition: We can Solve the Fake News Problem. It featured an Oxford-style debate on whether there’s a solution to the fake news problem. Some very smart people from the worlds of media, business, and technology made great arguments for each side. It was entertaining and informative. I’m […]