Category Archives: Politics

How NOT to Launch an October Surprise: PR Takeaways from Trump’s Failed Attempt

Posted on October 29, 2020 by rgeller

An “October surprise” is news that magically “happens” before a November election, just in time to throw a wrench in the works. Politico says they can be “happenstance or deliberately orchestrated;” the article lists examples going back to 1840.  More recently, the … Continue reading →

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Getting Political in Branding and Messaging

Posted on August 21, 2019 by rgeller

It used to be a much simpler world for brand development. The tough questions related to name, design, and color. If you were launching a new tech company circa the early 2000s, you might wonder whether to include a swoosh … Continue reading →

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United we Brand? Top Reads on Corporate Activism

Posted on August 6, 2019 by rgeller

Should CEOs speak out on social, civil and political issues? Should brands take a stand? Back in the day (meaning just a few years ago) the answers were easier. It was a more innocent time and easier for businesses to … Continue reading →

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Sparks Fly at Publishers and Platforms Meetup

Posted on June 20, 2018 by rgeller

I love to check out reports from Tow Center for Digital Journalism and Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism. They cover the intersection of news and digital media and can be a great resource for PR pros and digital … Continue reading →

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Too Left Tweet: Brands Get Political at their Peril

Posted on November 15, 2017 by rgeller

via GIPHY The term “coffee break” took on new meaning this week as right-wingers smashed their Keurigs with baseball bats (the above GIF shows Jordan Klepper of The Opposition doing the same, as a spoof). The backlash came when Keurig … Continue reading →

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The Art of the Linguistic Kill Shot

Posted on November 8, 2017 by rgeller

I am writing a post that I hope will start a meme and crowd sourced effort to turn our president’s famous weapon on himself. It’s the “linguistic kill shot.” Trump has perfected the art of name calling. He always seems … Continue reading →

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PR for Dummies, via Trump and the Mooch

Posted on August 2, 2017 by rgeller

The Trump presidency is the gift that keeps on giving when it comes to educating the masses about PR (I know this might seem myopic but hey, I’m trying to look on the bright side), Those in the field can … Continue reading →

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In Defense of “Fake News”

Posted on November 16, 2016 by rgeller

More people are wondering about the weird crap that mysteriously appears in their news feeds. How much is fake news? Did disinformation tilt an election? What are Google and Facebook going to do to clean up the mess? You could … Continue reading →

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Trump Gets Schooled in PR

Posted on October 27, 2016 by rgeller

The PR field should love Donald Trump as he teaches lessons about the power of earned media. I’ve been at many social gatherings when the conversation shifts to the campaign, and all eyes turn to me, seeming to challenge/blame: “C’mon … Continue reading →

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Did Fox Jump the Snark? (Brief History of Fake News Fails)

Posted on January 29, 2016 by rgeller

“Childishly written!” “A disgrace” These are the words most junior PR account executives fear hearing from clients about press releases submitted for review.  But it was Donald Trump that just said them, in tweets and interviews, about a statement that … Continue reading →

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