Media releases, whilst not entirely dead as a means of generating media coverage as part of a public relations strategy, are these days nowhere near as effective as establishing a thought leadership platform. One key result of thought leadership is that media will often call the PR professional looking for talent and content, rather than the other way around!

Along with eye-rolling, can-you-believe-it dumb marketing and/or PR moments in 2009 (think loser marketers, the GFC and social media) there have, thankfully, been plenty of inspirational examples of best practice professional communication too. Most importantly, what have we learnt during the year and how will it make us better communicators?

Blogging about public relations is motivating because of the discipline’s inherent drama, aptitude for telling interesting stories and constant shape-shifting. A major motivating factor behind the blog’s inception was (and is) to raise awareness of the strategic importance of public relations to business and how its best practice application leads to a more equitable society.

Fires and flu: what a year. Worst of all for those suffering from the cataclysms. But a real challenge for public relations professionals working hard to inform and help the community. This post features insights shared by two of Australia’s preeminent public relations practitioners at Frocomm’s Crisis Communication & Social Media Summit 2009.

Public relations’ tactical, hands-on tips for using social media in a crisis.

A crisis communication plan that does not include social media is incomplete and seriously flawed. This was the overarching key message to come from Frocomm’s 2nd Annual Crisis Communication & Social Media Summit 2009. A free report summarising the summit content is available here [link].

Social media allows for issues to be identified, monitored and managed extremely quickly, as well as real-time stakeholder interaction and relationship enhancement. But it also facilitates bad news spreading like wildfire. These fiery themes were all-pervasive at the recent Frocomm crisis communication and social media summit and are discussed here.

The culture of public relations is not only based on a gratifying and inspirational aesthetic, it contributes in a positive way to society and provides a working milieu that is inspiring to be part of. Here are five reasons why: it helps society; it is creative and fun; it is innovative and educational; there are plenty of tactical tools to play with; it pays well.

Public relations is not a synonym for media relations, the latter being one tool that public relations professionals can utilise as part of an holistic communication strategy.

‘Taking a positive approach and intelligent action to marketing and public relations in an economic downturn, with the attitude that it is an opportunity too good to miss, will lead to a stronger bottom line and greater brand profile and credibility…’