David Politis

Corporate and Startups keep a close eye on the elections, government affairs and public notices. Why??? Because it impacts their businesses. Politicians are Policy Makers. Policies they make have a direct and indirect impact on the business operations. Corporate Communications professionals need to be an expert in Public Policy tracking and Public Affairs too apart from Public Relations. Government and Politicians are a key external stakeholders and influencers for businesses. Lobbying by entrepreneurs across the globe since a century is a common phenomenon. Industry Bodies of varying ministries gives an option to varying entrepreneurs and organisations to share their feedback to the Ministry, elect their representative for that body, suggest changes in policies, propose policy plans and participate in the engagement for nation building. Public Affairs is a serious business and needs to align with the PR planning. #hemamalini #superstar #loksabha #memberofparliament #parliament #delhi #mathura #legacy #legend #publicpolicy #publicaffairs #corporateaffairs #artist #influencer #keyinfluencer #messaging #governmentaffairs #publicrelations #pr #corporatecommunications #internalcommunication #stakeholdermanagement #stakeholderengagement #brandengagement #thoughtleader #thoughtleadership

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Corporate and Startups keep a close eye on the elections, government affairs and public notices. Why??? Because it impacts their businesses. Politicians are Policy Makers. Policies they make have a direct and indirect impact on the business operations. Corporate Communications professionals need to be an expert in Public Policy tracking and Public Affairs too apart from Public Relations. Government and Politicians are a key external stakeholders and influencers for businesses. Lobbying by entrepreneurs across the globe since a century is a common phenomenon. Industry Bodies of varying ministries gives an option to varying entrepreneurs and organisations to share their feedback to the Ministry, elect their representative for that body, suggest changes in policies, propose policy plans and participate in the engagement for nation building. Public Affairs is a serious business and needs to align with the PR planning. #shatrugansinha #superstar #loksabha #memberofparliament #parliament #delhi #mathura #legacy #legend #publicpolicy #publicaffairs #corporateaffairs #artist #influencer #keyinfluencer #messaging #governmentaffairs #publicrelations #pr #corporatecommunications #internalcommunication #stakeholdermanagement #stakeholderengagement #brandengagement #thoughtleader #thoughtleadership

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Corporate and Startups keep a close eye on the elections, government affairs and public notices. Why??? Because it impacts their businesses. Politicians are Policy Makers. Policies they make have a direct and indirect impact on the business operations. Corporate Communications professionals need to be an expert in Public Policy tracking and Public Affairs too apart from Public Relations. Government and Politicians are a key external stakeholders and influencers for businesses. Lobbying by entrepreneurs across the globe since a century is a common phenomenon. Industry Bodies of varying ministries gives an option to varying entrepreneurs and organisations to share their feedback to the Ministry, elect their representative for that body, suggest changes in policies, propose policy plans and participate in the engagement for nation building. Public Affairs is a serious business and needs to align with the PR planning. #shashitharoor #loksabha #memberofparliament #parliament #delhi #mathura #legacy #legend #publicpolicy #publicaffairs #corporateaffairs #artist #influencer #keyinfluencer #messaging #governmentaffairs #publicrelations #pr #corporatecommunications #internalcommunication #stakeholdermanagement #stakeholderengagement #brandengagement #thoughtleader #thoughtleadership

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A little insight and 3 tips on sharing stories with media in today’s news environment.

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The press release is not dead, it's just evolved. When I first started in #communications, nobody ever questioned the purpose of the press release. It was just assumed that every big announcement would lead with an informative press release designed to start a dialogue with journalists and control the narrative. As the world increasingly moved online over the last decade or two, folks have debated the relevance and usefulness of this steady companion. After all, it's much quicker and easier to both distribute and find information on the interwebs. As such, many #PR folks declared the press release passé. But there's so much more to the press release than simply making an announcement, and if you neglect it, you're missing out on heaps of opportunities. Like the opportunity to support your SEO efforts, generate backlinks, and drive referral traffic. Or to use it as a jumping-off point for a comprehensive content campaign that spans blogs, newsletters, social media, contributed content, email marketing, ads, events, and customer stories. Or to support your friends in sales to help them engage customers and leads. Or to drive awareness, build credibility, and support conversations with current and prospective partners and investors. Or even to support HR with their employee recruitment and retention strategy. Don't neglect the trusty press release. When designed and leveraged well, it truly is a jill of all trades.

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Quick thoughts on Biden from a comms perspective (not a post about my personal politics or views): My fellow Canadian and communication theorist, Marshall McLuhan, once said "the medium is the message". We are watching that play out right now. It doesn't matter what Joe Biden says, it's that he, himself is all anybody is talking about right now. In attempting to share his ideas, he is becoming a distraction from them. Substance is so important and you will never hear me say otherwise... But style is too. As a politician, you can have great talking points, but they don't mean very much if you can't communicate them. I say this not to be critical or because I think the emphasis we place on strong oratorical skills in leadership is fair/right (from the boardroom to the ballot box). But we are seeing clearly how our systems are very much still set up to reward strong, passionate and persuasive public speaking. And the doubt that creeps in the absence of them. Would love to hear others' thoughts.

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“Did not respond to a request for comment.” Seems there’s a growing trend of companies and sources simply 𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 requests from the media to respond to a journalist’s questions. But – is it wise? In a piece from the Columbia Journalism Review (link below), Paul Farhi cites a It cites a fivefold increase in this trend over the past 10 years. The article delves into why it’s in a company’s best interests to respond to a journalist’s questions. Reasons include: ✅ It allows a source to share their side of the story. “It’s the job of spokespeople to tell the best story about the companies they represent,” says Oliver Darcy of CNN. ✅ Sources can dispute facts before publication and, in some cases, steer a reporter away from publishing it (“Reporters don’t want to publish something that’s not true”). ✅ Working with a reporter can help you build trust and a relationship that brings benefits over time. It's important to remember that building and maintaining a business's reputation is, after all, a long game. ✅ If a company says nothing, it may appear as though it’s confirming a story is correct – and staying quiet or ghosting reporters could lead to even more scrutiny. Often, the 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘵 way to approach a reporter’s request for comment is to fail to respond. While it may be uncomfortable to answer questions, imagine how unsettling it'll be if the story runs 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 the company's point of view represented? ✅ It takes A LOT to get a correction made if the story runs with an error and the company tries to correct it after the fact. Speaking from experience, I can say it’s a 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 more straightforward path to respond to the original request than to try to correct it later. 👉 On that note, be sure to have a media contact listed on your company’s site. The contact should monitor and respond to messages daily. Reporters are often on deadline and need a prompt response to their questions. Side note: I appreciate this story’s use of the terms “earned” and “owned” media, which we don’t see used often enough (although ads, which are also mentioned, fall under "paid" media). #B2BPR #publicrelations #earnedmedia #PRTips

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These 10 threads generated over 100,000 impressions and 5,000 engagements. Here's why I think they worked: Leadership is key in journalism, guiding teams through the news cycle with integrity and excellence. 📰✨ It's not just about breaking news, but about building trust and serving our audience with responsible reporting. Want to learn more about impactful leadership in media? Follow us for insights and tips! @jerrydoby_ #Leadership #Journalism #MediaTrends SEO, media relations, journalism, communication, digital publications

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Should you publish your book independently or traditionally? It’s a great question and one I hear from a lot of authors-to-be. Here’s how I break down certain differences, with the caveat that not all indie or traditional publishing is created equal: Indie Publishing: ✅ Full creative control & faster to market. ✅ Higher percentage of sales in your pocket. ❌ You handle (or hire out) all aspects & upfront costs. ❌ Harder to land in bookstores. The indie route is empowering, teaching you the ropes of the industry, offering direct earnings, and tight-knit community support. It’s about taking charge and learning on the go. Traditional Publishing: ✅ Professional editing, design, and marketing support. ✅ Little to zero upfront costs & broader bookstore distribution. ❌ Less creative control & longer time to publication. ❌ Smaller slice of the sales pie (unless you’re publishing with Authors Equity – excited to see what’s to come with their model!). Traditional offers a support system that takes on the heavy lifting, but requires patience and flexibility with your vision. Ask yourself: Why are you publishing? What does success look like to you? Whether it's creative freedom, financial gain, or market reach, understanding your priorities is key. Remember, there's a spectrum between indie and traditional publishing, with hybrid options offering a middle ground. These can vary in the level of control and support provided, so exploring these avenues is worthwhile. Ultimately, the choice between indie and traditional publishing is deeply personal and should align with your goals, values, and vision for your book. Whether you carve your own path or follow the trodden road, each journey offers its own rewards and lessons. #marketing #publishing #author #marketingstrategy

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If you think our election system is broken (or even if you don't), I urge you to put "Majority Rules" on your watch list. It's a brilliant, thought-provoking documentary directed by award-winning AJ Schnack and produced by Nick Troiano, Executive Director of the nonpartisan organization Unite America. The film follows the historic 2022 Alaska election which implemented ranked choice voting for the first time. Reach out to me if you’re interested in seeing the film in a theater near you, or hosting a private screening. Whether you've seen "Majority Rules" or not, I'm really interested to hear your perspective on potential solutions like ranked choice voting (RCV) to make our elections more representative. Supporters argue RCV reduces polarization, leads to more positive campaigning, and avoids the "spoiler effect" as candidates need to appeal broadly. Critics contend it adds complexity that could confuse some voters. But RCV is just one piece of the puzzle. More broadly, what other reforms do you think could help fix our broken political system and increase civility? Opening primaries to all voters? Independent redistricting commissions? Or do you think our current system is working well? I'm genuinely curious to hear different viewpoints on this crucial issue for the health of our democracy. Don't hold back - even if you disagree with RCV or other proposed reforms, let's discuss! The story behind my passion for this topic goes back to my mentor Doug Bailey, who founded The Hotline, the original daily digest of political news, back in 1987. Anyone lucky enough to be in his orbit knew he had a lifelong commitment to fostering civil, productive dialogue across the aisle. Doug firmly believed that bipartisanship and cooperation were essential to tackling our biggest challenges. So when Nick Troiano from Unite America asked me to help organize the host committee for the "Majority Rules" premiere, I knew I had to channel Doug's spirit. That's why the event brought together a diverse group - Democrats, Republicans, and independents - who may not agree on everything, but share Doug's desire to restore civility, respect and pragmatic problem-solving to our political discourse. Unite America is doing vital work to fix our broken political system and make government work for the people again. By championing nonpartisan reforms that empower voters and incentivize leaders to find common ground, they are embodying Doug's core belief that the only way to make progress is to put country over party. "Majority Rules" is a must-watch look at this important movement for political reform. So reach out, and I'll make sure you can see this eye-opening documentary. Victoria Fosdal Rebecca Fitzmaurice #MajorityRules #RankedChoiceVoting #ElectionReform #VotingRights #RepresentativeDemocracy #NonpartisanPolitics #CivilDiscourse #PoliticalChange #FixingDemocracy #OpenPrimaries #IndependentRedistricting #UnrigTheSystem #CountryOverParty

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When your customers want to tell you what they are thinking, you should run not walk, to listen. In fact, don’t wait for them, you should be actively seeking their opinions. As an example, we had a client recently get feedback that there was a missing component needed for sub-THz communication devices. Since they were a manufacturer of high-frequency components, they decided to gauge their other customer’s level of interest and see how big the demand was for the device. It turns out that there was a very large customer base that was having to use suboptimal components. The client immediately began engineering the device, and within a few months, they had a new product that was selling like hotcakes. All because they were gathering and actively reacting to customer feedback. Learn more about the success this client is having here: https://lnkd.in/ejvu8yQE #CustomerFeedback #BusinessStrategy #CustomerEngagement #RankinPR #B2B

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📌Strategic Exit Communication for the FIRED C. S Listen…In times of adversity,there's a unique opportunity to shine and seek redemption even if your wish won’t be granted. If I were in the communications team for a recently fired Cabinet Secretary (CS),this is what I would do or would have done! Firstly,to have a decent structured approach to ensure a dignified and strategic exit and not those insincere “Thank you Mr. President yadayada.” 1. Document Achievements and Plans What I mean is this… I assume there is already a documented past work.Maintain a detailed record of all accomplishments,including completed projects, milestones achieved, and initiatives in progress.This documentation should be thorough,highlighting key statistics, outcomes, and the impact on the community or sector. 2.Goals Calendar: This is the time to share plans with the people including the president and making sure we know and he knows that you were the right person. Hope should not be hidden. Hope is one thing that should be put on top of the highest and tallest table.Create a comprehensive goals calendar that outlines what was planned,what has been achieved, and what is still in the pipeline. This helps in presenting a clear picture of the CS's tenure and future vision. Strategic Exit Letter I am in PR so, I speak on the realm of Crisis management & Comms’ strategy. 1.Share Achievements: Begin the exit communication by outlining the significant goals met during the tenure.Use data and concrete examples to illustrate successes and their benefits. 2.Highlight Ongoing Plans: Clearly communicate the plans that are underway, providing details on the current status and future steps. This reassures stakeholders that progress will continue despite the change in leadership. Kitu rahisi sana . 3. Acknowledge Support: Thank the President and other stakeholders for their support. This should be genuine and reflective of the collaborative efforts during the CS's tenure. Please highlight! Highlight some of them to the people because the problem might have been communication. 4. Express Gratitude and Commitment: Lastly, in the letter,conclude with a heartfelt message of gratitude and a commitment to support the new leadership and ongoing projects and also,insinuate that incase of reinstatement,you shall be willing to continue.I don’t know why people fear being vulnerable.Sijawahi elewa!

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"I need you to share the contact info of these journalists you're pitching, Jeremy." No. The answer is always an emphatic no. And for so many different reasons, but none of them are what you're probably thinking. So why won't publicists share journalists' contact info with clients? Well, the first and most important reason is that if you're working with a publicist, there's nothing that you, as the source, can email them that will increase your chances of getting featured. In fact, it actually hurts your chances. So that can obviously hurt you, and it can also hurt us and our other clients when a client damages a relationship a publicist has with a journalist. We also value the journalists we collaborate with, so we don't want them getting bombarded with more emails than they're already getting. I'm sure you can relate because you also probably get more email than you need. Does this mean no one outside the PR industry can get access to journalists contact info? Of course not. There are dozens if not hundreds of tools that provide contact info on all kinds of people. But the value isn't in the info itself. The real value is in the strategy and creativity behind the campaign, and relationships with journalists, which is where a seasoned publicist or PR firm come into play.

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Sharing a few words today about the use of embargoes in PR. First, let me say that if you're using the embargo tactic to try to get more reporters to read your pitch—without any real value to them—don't. Embargoes are only effective in 𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 situations - and even then, they should be used sparingly. Slapping the word "embargo" on your press release doesn't do _anything_. 😕 The reporter must first AGREE to honor the embargo. And in most cases, using one just doesn't make sense. After talking with reporters, the takeaway is that it may be OK to use an embargo IF: 1. You have a story worth embargoing 2. You have an existing relationship with the journalist built on trust To back up a bit, 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐨? When public relations practitioners pitch news to journalists using an embargo, they’re sharing information (many times in the form of a press release) before the announcement date. An embargo gives reporters time to write the piece and have it ready the moment the news is publicly announced. It’s offered under the notion that reporters won’t publish the story until the stated date. But - unless the news is earth-shattering, an embargo isn't warranted. And - reporters often won't honor them, even if asked, because they've been burned in the past when they held a story - and a competitor didn't. In other words, is your story worth asking a reporter to honor an embargo? For most companies in most cases, the answer is no. #mediarelations #PRTips #publicrelations

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Earned media coverage helps build a company’s credibility and reputation. However, it’s not as simple as blasting an email to a random list of journalists. But how often does a company write a release, issue it via a wire service, and then call it a day? Without pitching the press release to reporters, companies could miss out on opportunities to get their news and stories featured by media outlets. Join me on Thursday, July 11th, at 3:30 p.m. ET for a special live webinar where I’ll share how you can take a more thoughtful approach to pitching journalists and—most importantly—secure more media coverage. Thank you to Notified for having me - and to Aggregage for producing! #PRTips #PRWebinar #PitchYourPressRelease #pressreleases

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Traditional media, at least as a center of dominant power, is dead. Social media, as its replacement for news in the internet era, is declining in dominance. America is splintering into more than a dozen news bubbles based on ideology, wealth, jobs, age and location. This means where you get your news, the voices you trust, and even the topics and cultural figures you follow could be wholly different from the person sitting next to you. So instead of Red America and Blue America, we'll have a dozen or more Americas — and realities. This will make understanding public opinion, and finding common agreement, even more complex and elusive.

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It’s a fine line between “tell” and “sell”. Writers often have to balance their copy on both sides, simultaneously, to please Google, a target audience, but most of all ... ...yep, that’s right, the client! Who mostly only cares about selling. And force-feeding the “transactional” into the “informational” as much as possible. Especially, during tough trading times. Even if the “search intent” of site page, blog or article is a ”How To” or “Best Guide To”. And there’s also lots of on-page links, CTAs, banners and ‘key benefits’ inbetween every paragraph. Clients just wanna see visitors nudged right along to checkout. No matter the type of product or service. For example ... I was once briefed by a marketing agency for an ovum-freezing service site. Straightaway, we agreed. The choice of words, sentences and TOV must reflect the extra sensitivity around the subject, and towards it’s primary, target audience. The final draft was signed-off by the agency, Saying we had perfectly tip-toed that fine line between “tell” and “sell”. With the required understanding conveyed in the TOV. Then I checked the copy, uploaded live on site. What the ...?? The client had gone in. Ripped it apart. Stripping in whole lines about a current, “discount offer”, and the “cost savings” ... in almost every paragraph. No heed was paid to paragraph construction, sentence flow, grammar or even reading sense. Some of the words butted directly up against each other. While some sentences stopped abruptly ... The client was clearly not that bothered. Just “sell” the, “how much” and the, “how wonderful”. If the client wanted changes, why didn’t they ask for us to make those changes? No. Of course not. Might be an extra cost attached. Even though the quotation clearly states the price includes all necessary changes. Or they couldn’t wait five minutes. Just get it up there. It’s a fine line between love and hate. You gotta hate how some people love to play copyeditor. They wouldn’t try to rewire their house just after the electrician has left. Just because they know how to fit a 3-pin plug. It’s a fine line between live and earth ... #conversioncopy #seocopywriting #contentwriting

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**Out of Office** Many journalists are already mentally at the beach, preparing for the long holiday weekend. Unless your media pitch is time-sensitive or pertains to Memorial Day, I would hold your emails today to avoid getting lost in the holiday shuffle. Here’s what you can be working on instead: - Content creation - Team brainstorming - Social media calendar planning - Media & influencer list updates - Strategy review - Crisis communications plan Or, take a chill pill and kick back. 🤣 PS. Today, I’m working on something super exciting for the fall. What do you do on quiet days in the office? #PRStrategy #PublicRelations #MemorialDay

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