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 […]
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 […]
Three Observations From a College Student (and PR Intern) During the Pandemic
By: Alexa Shockley (Intern) I am, proudly, an Emory & Henry College student from Southwest Virginia. Being a college student and experiencing higher education is a unique experience for each person lucky enough to partake in it. Like most activities, the college experience has undergone some major changes in 2020 and 2021. Virtual classes, online […]
Supporting Your Legislative Goals Through PR During the Legislative Session
It’s that time of year here in Virginia: The General Assembly session! We work with a variety of clients on achieving their government relations goals, including coalitions and associations. Here is how we effectively work with our government relations clients during the legislative session (and if you’re a coalition or association, how our firm could […]
Creating Engaging Campaigns During COVID-19
One of our clients, River Ridge, recently celebrated their anniversary this fall and asked us to develop a campaign to promote it, without hosting a traditional, large-scale event due to the uncertainties of COVID. We knew we would have to find unique ways to celebrate while garnering media attention and engaging with key stakeholders. This […]
Helping You Navigate COVID-19
During this uncertain time, our team here at Commonwealth PR can’t help but think about all of the organizations that already have been heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, especially those that we know and love throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. Early on, our team decided that we wanted to help the best way we […]
Downsized Newsrooms & PR Practitioners
It’s pretty well-known that newsrooms are shrinking. A recent study from the Pew Research Center provided further insight into this trend, concluding that newsroom employment in the US decreased by 25% from 2008 to 2018. The primary sector in this decade-long decline? Newspapers. The number of employees for the traditional print medium dropped 47%, according […]
Beginner’s Guide to Coordinating a Media Interview
The possibility of landing a media interview with a client is exciting, but the window for making it happen can be limited – so it’s important to coordinate efficiently. In my experience, some have been relatively simple to coordinate, in which I shared some contact information and availability, but others have been a bit more […]
Keep in Mind the Seven News Values
As a former reporter, there are certain aspects to the public relations and news process that I sometimes inadvertently take advantage of – things I learned in journalism school or on the reporting beat that many PR practitioners or clients may not even be aware of. Looking back, I think one of the simplest, yet easiest-to-ignore […]
PR Grads Should Know This When Entering the Field
It’s my third week at CPR, and already I’ve learned valuable information about succeeding in the field of public relations. Of course, I still have a lot more to learn, but I thought I’d share some tips for recent grads who are beginning their careers, particularly at agencies. Here are a few suggestions to help […]











