By: Ellie Forkins Some months, it seems everywhere we look there is breaking news. And the past few months have been no different. Recently, the world has turned its attention to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. With heavy hearts, we all watched as the situation unfolded, knowing fully that this breaking news would take […]
Media Interview Preparation (Series): Conducting The Interview
This is the last blog in our media interview preparation series. We hope you’ve read and enjoyed our previous posts on what to do upon initial contact from a reporter and how to develop your messages. For this final installment, we’ll take a look at the media interview itself and offer some tips and advice […]
Public Relations Tips for Legislative Sessions
This year, the Virginia General Assembly was in full swing with a long session – eight weeks instead of six. And a multitude of important bills were being debated throughout the House and Senate, including a few that would directly impact our clients. Working with and securing quality news coverage is already a challenge at […]
Media Interview Preparation (Series): Developing Your Messages
In a previous blog post on media interview preparation, we covered the first step in the media interview process: the initial action you and your organization should take when first contacted by a reporter, blogger, freelance writer, etc. Next, we’ll address how to put your messages together so you can best tell your organization’s story […]
Media Interview Preparation (Series): What to do upon initial contact from a reporter
This is the first blog in a series that aims to help you successfully prepare for a media interview. Media interviews can help your organization reach its communication goals in many ways. Here are just a few benefits: Allows your organization to communicate directly to both your stakeholders and a broad audience Helps inform your […]
Communicating with Empathy
“Thoughts and prayers.” This may be one of the most cliche phrases in modern times. In a 2018 article about this phrase, journalist AJ Willingham referred to its use as “semantic satiation,” a phenomenon in which a phrase is used so often that it loses its meaning. The phrase now even has its own hashtag, […]
Importance of Media Relationships
When something newsworthy happens with your business, you might be inclined to share that with the news media in your area. Earning a placement is a great opportunity to spread the word about your business and its recent achievements. However, oftentimes this is no easy feat. When contacting a newspaper or television station, you are […]
Guiding Future Industry Leaders
In March, our team had an opportunity to connect with the PRSSA (Public Relations Student Society of America) Student-Run PR Firm, Ut Prosim PR of Virginia Tech. Each year, Ut Prosim PR takes on new clients, pro-bono, and will create public relations plans, execute strategies and tactics, and provide communications counsel to its clients. The firm gives […]
We’re Hiring! Account Executive
Commonwealth Public Relations & Marketing is a full-service public relations, marketing, and social media firm located in historic Shockoe Slip. The firm and its team have won numerous PR and marketing awards since its founding in 2009 and prides itself on providing a wide range of services for clients from strategy development and research, to […]
Media Relations and Building Brand Authority
By: Julia Brewster When you think of media relations, you might think about an interview with your company’s CEO about company news or a story about your brand’s new product. Media relations can also serve as a way to build brand awareness and educate your key publics – not necessarily to “sell” something, but to […]