Melissa Vela-Williamson and MVW Communications Named Finalists in Inaugural National Diversity Awards
San Antonio-based MVW Communications can now add “changemaker” to its list of accolades.
PRNews recently announced that Melissa Vela-Williamson, APR, is a finalist for the Latinx Pioneer Award, and its Meals on Wheels COVID Response Campaign is a finalist in the communications and PR campaigns executed by a Latinx-owned business.
Managing Communication During Power Outages
The morning of Feb. 15, Texans woke up to a Winter Wonderland. As the day wore on, our Winter Wonderland turned into a Winter Wasteland. Power outages left thousands of residents without heat and in the dark. To compound the challenges, many lost water service to their homes from frozen water pipes and other weather-related issues. The winter storm of 2021 taught us many lessons when outages lasted more than a day. Here are a few tips to help you plan for the next major weather disaster.
A Starter Guide to Clubhouse
Have you heard about Clubhouse? I’ve been on the app for less than two weeks and I really enjoy the experience so far. Think of it as stepping into an audio-only conference with workshops to pick from.
It is defined as “casual drop-in audio conversations with friends and other interesting people around the world.” Here are some tips I noted in my short time on Clubhouse to make you or your clients look “experienced.”
Four PR Strategies for 2021
Did you have to throw out most of your 2020 public relations plans when COVID-19 took hold of our daily lives? This January, hit the reset button on your organization’s communication goals with lessons learned from the pandemic. Your plan should incorporate these four approaches.
Manage Social with a PR Point of View
Managing social media platforms for an organization is incredibly challenging. This year we saw countless examples of what not to do on social media, proving the critical need to approach social media with a public relations point of view.
A tried-and-true set of PR principles, The Page Principles, have proved helpful to PR pros for almost a century. And when applied to social media, these principles can guide us through a framework that integrates durable direction into social media management.
Critical Components of a Public Relations Plan
Developing a public relations plan involves strategic thinking and following a systematic planning process. Let’s break down some critical but confusing parts of a PR plan: goals, objectives, strategies, and tactics.
Understanding how each of these plan components intersect, rely on each other and have their own role will help you build stronger, more measurable plans.
Prepare for Zoom Media Interviews or Presentations
At this point in 2020, each member of my household now has a dedicated Zoom account. Zoom/video call mishaps are still an everyday occurrence. Some professionals have been embarrassed or even fired for something seen while using Zoom. While media training has fundamentals, there are some nuances that should be accounted for when patching into a television studio virtually. As a PR professional, I see a need to share these insights with businesses and organizations facing media interviews over virtual platforms like Zoom.
How Puzzles Help with PR Planning
We jumped on the puzzle trend at my home during the pandemic to find a way to keep our kids off screens during “bored” times. Here’s what I imagined -- opening a fresh cardboard-scented puzzle box brings a surge of excitement and anticipation of a new adventure. My reality -- we opened the box and looked at all the pieces and I immediately felt overwhelmed. That overwhelmed/puzzled/anxious/hopeful feeling was familiar. It’s the same feeling I get when starting the strategic communication planning process.
Working through Mommy Guilt During the Pandemic
Managing work and home life seems more challenging than ever, especially for working moms. To avoid burnout and feeling overwhelmed with the millions of choices related to our pandemic reality, I had to ask for help and lean on others. But let’s get real — it seems as though a working mother’s guilt is inevitable — pandemic or not. Here are some questions you can ask yourself to help get you through it.
How to Be COVID-Kind with Video Calls
Since the outbreak of COVID-19, there was been a wild increase in the use of video calls. As a PR person, I immediately worried that video calls would add undue volatility to an already unpredictable situation. Before you request a Zoom meeting, consider….is a video call the best tool for this? Would a conference call suffice? Or would a screen-share only video call be the best option for my audience?
How Livestreaming Can Help During COVID-19
Stay-at-home measures caused by COVID-19 in the United States are leading to an increase in the popularity of livestreaming content for consumers and creators. Livestreaming is a powerful tool that allows for direct communication in real-time, giving users a much needed sense of connection. In this blog, I share how to’s for individuals, professionals, and/or organizations who want to use livestreaming to adjust to life in this “new normal.”
Crisis Communication in the COVID-19 Climate
The COVID-19 pandemic has turned organizations of all sizes across the world upside down. Our independence and social norms have shifted dramatically to stop the spread of this novel coronavirus. Based on what I’ve experienced alongside journalists these past days, here are suggestions for how to move forward in our world’s new normal.
Two PR Materials Newsrooms Need
Two materials are critical for the PR tool belt of anyone who wants local newsrooms to publish their stories: the press release and the media alert. In collaboration with a top newsroom editor, we outlined what elements are necessary for each document- a breakdown that will help readers distinguish between the two frequently confused materials.
Nine Ways to Determine What's Newsworthy
Throughout my 19-year career specializing in public relations, I have worked with countless journalists to tell important stories. Pitching story ideas to reporters can seem daunting. Read about the nine ways that journalists determine what stories may be worth covering. Use these points as criteria on whether you should consider your “news” worthy of a story pitch.
Breakfast Meeting Spots in San Antonio
A compiled list of cost-conscious recommendations to accommodate your next professional breakfast meeting in San Antonio, Texas.
What is Public Relations?
Most people have heard of advertising and many want to work in that industry. Not as many seem to be aware of public relations (PR) as a field. And many students and professionals have no idea how welcoming, soul-satisfying and flexible it can be as a career path.
FTF: Week of June 7, 2019
Helping others is helping yourself. Relationships matter, but shallow relationships give you shallow support. Help others by…
FTF: Week of Aug. 24, 2018
1. Attention to detail is wildly important. Something as simple as one wrong word can ruin a deal, end your chance at a job opportunity, or put you into hot water with a client, spouse or even your kid. Slow down when you email…
Saying Farewell to La Prensa de San Antonio
I returned from a short vacation to learn that La Prensa de San Antonio has ended its run. What a loss for the city of San Antonio. The Duran family and their staff worked hard to tell positive stories that benefited an often underrepresented community…
FTF: Week of Sept. 8, 2017
OMG it's September. I can't even get into any smart reflections because typing that date seems impossible...