Nathan White

Pixar has 22 rules for storytelling. Here are five that PR pros aren't using... And that will change the game for them. It makes sense... Corpo speak and great storytelling have never been used in the same sentence. (until now...😆) So here are five rules that you can start using today: —> 1. You gotta keep in mind what’s interesting to you as an audience, not what’s fun to do as a writer. They can be very different. Yes, you have a great product or service BUT why should your audience care? —> 2. Once upon a time there was ___. Every day, ___. One day ___. Because of that, ___. Because of that, ___. Until finally ___. All great stories unfold like a symphony don't just skip to the climax. —> 3. Come up with your ending before you figure out your middle. Seriously. Endings are hard, get yours working up front. Define your future state first. Where do you want to be? —> 4. If you were your character, in this situation, how would you feel? Honesty lends credibility to unbelievable situations. When you're putting out a message put yourself in the audience's shoes. —> 5. Give your characters opinions. Passive/malleable might seem likable to you as you write, but it’s poison to the audience. Don't risk being mediocre to avoid risk. P.S. Take something that you've written before, that you know isn't up to par, and apply these rules to see how much of a difference it makes.

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In the world of media and communications, the relationship between journalists and PR professionals is often misunderstood. However, the reality is far more nuanced and symbiotic. Journalists rely on PR folks to provide them with access to newsworthy stories, expert sources, and valuable insights. In turn, PR depends on journalists to amplify their messages and bring attention to their clients or organizations. A recent report by #MuckRack on the "State of Journalism," found that journalists acknowledge PR professionals 70% "as at least moderately important to their success." This mutual dependence highlights the essential role each plays in the dissemination of information to the public. Trust forms the foundation of our collaboration and ensures that the stories that reach the public are credible and impactful. Journalists rely on us to provide accurate and reliable information, while those of us in PR trust journalists to report the news fairly and accurately. Journalists are skilled storytellers who strive to craft compelling narratives that resonate with their audience. PR pros, on the other hand, are adept at identifying and shaping stories that align with our clients' goals and objectives. Together, we work to create stories that inform, engage, and inspire. I encourage you to read the attached report which provides many insights of today's newsrooms. #Journalism #PR #MediaRelations #PublicRelations #NewsMedia #MediaIndustry #JournalismEthics #Storytelling #MediaCollaboration #InformationSharing #MuckRack #StateOfJournalism #PressRelations #MediaPartnership Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Natan Edelsburg

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📣 Navigating Public Statements with Diverse Member Opinions 📣 In this week's Association Insights, I tackle a complex challenge: making public statements when not all members agree. Here’s how to approach this delicate task effectively: 👉 Establish a Clear Decision-Making Framework: Set transparent rules about the levels of consensus needed for different types of public statements. 👉 Align with Predominant Member Interests: Understand and represent the majority while maintaining open dialogue to manage expectations and relationships. 👉 Find Common Ground: Emphasize shared values and goals to craft a balanced statement that respects diverse viewpoints but upholds industry priorities. 👉 Communicate Transparently: Always explain the decision-making process and reasoning behind public statements to all members to foster trust and understanding. Handling disagreement requires a strategic and inclusive approach to effectively represent your association's interests and maintain unity. 💬 How do you manage differing opinions in your organization? Share your strategies below! #PublicRelations #AssociationManagement #Leadership #CommunicationStrategy #AssociationInsights #OnWrdUpWrd

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📰 Media relations is more than just sending press releases 📰 I spend a lot of time talking to journalists so I can understand what issues they want to report on and how I can connect that to what clients want to talk about. Our Wes Streeting event was just one of the ways MHP Group tries to foster this mutually beneficial relationship. We brought together 65 of the UK’s top health and science journalists and 65 of the biggest brands in healthcare so both could hear from (potentially) the most influential man in the national healthcare conversation. The journalists got some great stories out it – more than 10 bits of coverage including pieces in The Independent, The Telegraph, and The Guardian – and our clients could understand what the media are interested in writing about. Using timely storytelling to help businesses engage in broader cultural commentary is why you hire a PR team. Taking the time to meet and understand the people to whom you are pitching is a foundational building block to securing opportunities to tell bigger stories about your brand. And that is ultimately what all good communications is about. #mediarelations #pr #communications

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Chapter 2 of my new book, "WOKE: A Cultural Competence Guide for Communicators," includes A Basic Guide to Public Relations, which offers an overview of the practice of PR. Available now on Amazon! 2. A BASIC GUIDE TO PUBLIC RELATIONS In our modern world, effective communications are key. As organizations and individuals navigate the dynamic landscapes of our interconnected lives, public relations have become a critical element that helps shape perceptions, nurture relationships, and drive visibility, leading to success. Public Relations is the art and craft of managing internal and external communications between an organization, its stakeholders, and the media. A well-crafted and executed public relations plan can establish credibility, build trust, and maintain a positive reputation. https://lnkd.in/gCAHTsP8

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Are the tools of journalism applicable to #corporate communications? Without a doubt. I recently had the opportunity to discuss three of those tools, and how to apply them, at a gathering of comms professionals from Method Communications, Sling & Stone and other teams from our VCCP family. I’d love to hear about other skills from #journalism you think are applicable to helping companies tell their best stories in authentic, media-genic ways. Comment below!

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Dread, avoidance, and confusion … those were the overwhelming themes among communications leaders as they prepare (or aspire to prepare!) for the 2024 election. Over the past few weeks, we surveyed dozens of #communications leaders about how they’re planning to communicate around the 2024 #election (spoiler alert: half haven’t started planning). Check out our findings – including recommendations for how to prepare – and a big thank you to Eleanor Hawkins at Axios and Nicole Schuman at PRNEWS for covering our findings. https://lnkd.in/gZspfNzj

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PRWeek's great 2024 Business Report highlights the key challenge facing our industry. Communications is more important than ever. Comms and policy leaders are being asked to play far larger roles as business partners supporting ever more stakeholders. So why did the industry suffer so much in 2023 after many years of growth? As an sector, we are not adapting fast enough to the needs. Organizations are desperate for help but also under tremendous financial strain. They now need both senior level counsel and advisory support as well as deep domain expertise to actually produce. By and large, our industry is still split by this chasm - between strategic and tactical. Clients cannot afford to separate these, either in time or money. At Bully Pulpit International our goal is to bridge this divide, building a team that can both 'think and do' at the highest levels. It's not always easy. Last year was a challenge. But if you share this vision for the future, please check out some of our open roles: https://lnkd.in/dGQwJUSG

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Individuals want more than to be talked at; they want an authentic connection and two-way conversation with brands, businesses, and organizations that they support. The days of broadcasting one message to a general audience are coming to an end. Individual and authentic messaging segmented by audience is what will set brands apart from their competitors.

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Last week, PRSA unveiled 'Tackling Misinformation: The Communications Industry Unites,' a groundbreaking resource featuring insights from senior communicators in PR, news media, and academia. Learn how industry leaders are combating misinformation together. If you haven’t read it yet? What are you waiting for! 📚🎉 #PRSA #ProfessionalDevelopment #PRComms

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This💡Ragan Communications and PR Daily article deserves to be shared. There are excellent insights here. 👏🏼This quote from Caitlin Hayden is particularly resonating with me this morning. “Your “brand” is not something that lives off to the side as a set of creative assets and colors. It’s everything about how you show up in the market, which means that comms needs to be a part of any activity or decision that could impact the way stakeholders perceive your company. How your employees talk about their experience = brand. Where you invest your CSR dollars = brand. How your facilities look, feel, and function = brand. How ethically you behave = brand. I could go on…”

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Gini Dietrich takes a deep dive into the 30-year climate change disinformation campaign to understand how powerful PR is and what that means for PR pros. https://lnkd.in/gzSgGFPe

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Public Relations is cool 🕶 Ok, so that's not the true definition. It's not an overnight, miracle cure for your business. It's a lot of work. (I'm sure my fellow PR pros agree) However, once that work is put in, it can, overnight, bring exciting changes. It's communication, storytelling, and listening at its finest. It's developing relationships, changing opinions and so much more. Not in a position to hire a PR pro? No problem. Subscribe to my free newsletter. I take complex PR ideas, simplify them, and teach you how to do it yourself. www.attnseek.com/subscribe

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Controversial take of the day: The bigger the communications, PR or gov't relations firm, the lower media training is on their list of priorities. Delivering great media training isn't a core competency for them...it's an afterthought. #leadership #communications #mediarelations

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The next Expert Exchange is right around the corner, featuring communications experts from Rational 360. Too often, public affairs pros working to make a difference on the policies that matter most face a difficult balancing act: running a high volume of complex campaigns while trying to measure the ROI of that work. 🏃 Don’t let the never-ending hamster wheel of running multichannel campaigns keep you from showcasing your results—and scaling the campaigns that make the most impact. 📅 Join us on May 21 for an interactive "Ask Me Anything" webinar for tips on working smarter, not harder, with integrated public affairs strategies that unite your communication, policy, and business goals—so you can better showcase your impact. 🎙 Chris Golden, Kesi Lumumba, Bryce Ballard, Khadija Butt #GovernmentAffairs #PublicAffairs #PublicPolicy #GovernmentRelations #PublicAffairsProfessional #PublicAffairsStrategy #Lobbying #Policy #ROI #Communications

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Want an easy-to-remember (& effective) comms framework? (it only takes two minutes to remember) It's called 7-11-4. It's a strategy for building trust with potential customers. Here is what your audience has to do: 🔴 Consume 7 hours worth of valuable content (blogs, social, videos, etc.) 🔴 Engaging with you at least 11 times 🔴 Interact with you across 4 different platforms That means having enough content so that people can spend 7 hours reading your blogs, consuming your social media, or browsing your website. Also, they need to have 11 separate interactions with you in at least 4 different places.

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Stop winging your media interviews. I know you're a seasoned executive. I know you've done countless press briefings. But even the most experienced spokesperson can get tripped up by a tough question or a high-pressure situation. The reason for the problem: Journalists are trained to ask probing questions and elicit newsworthy soundbites. If you're not equally prepared, you risk misspeaking or missing opportunities. But you only need a focused media training session to: -Refine your key messages -Anticipate difficult questions -Practice bridging techniques -Get professional feedback Don't let your hard-earned media opportunity go to waste. Invest in preparation and walk into every interview with confidence and control. #PublicRelations #PRAgency #StrategicCommunications #CrisisCommunications #MediaRelations #SocialMediaManagement #ExecutiveTraining #BrandStrategy #ReputationManagement #ThoughtLeadership

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Are you struggling to turn web visitors into paying subscribers? Discover the challenges and opportunities reshaping journalism and content creation. Learn about: 🤖 The impact of AI on content creation and ethical considerations. 📰 Challenges faced by traditional media like rising paper costs and digital transformation. 📊 Using data for audience engagement and personalised content. Explore the future of publishing and media in our latest blog post: https://lnkd.in/giV4iSqy

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