Prepare for Zoom Media Interviews or Presentations

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.

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Four Ways to Maximize Your Time Post-Graduation

Four Ways to Maximize Your Time Post-Graduation

The quest for meaningful employment can seem daunting, but these challenges should be used to strengthen our mindset and continue pushing towards our dreams. Instead of pulling the “I graduated into a pandemic and now I can’t get a job,” excuse card, ask yourself what you could be doing to make yourself more marketable to future employers. More importantly, what could you do that would positively impact your mindset and resume?

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Working through Mommy Guilt During the Pandemic

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.

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How to Be COVID-Kind with Video Calls
Business Communication, Business Tips, Digital Marketing Melissa Vela-Williamson Business Communication, Business Tips, Digital Marketing Melissa Vela-Williamson

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?

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Nine Ways to Determine What's Newsworthy

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.

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Ghosting Is a Don't. Show Respect by Responding
Business Communication Melissa Vela-Williamson Business Communication Melissa Vela-Williamson

Ghosting Is a Don't. Show Respect by Responding

I've noticed lately that not responding seems to be the new method many people are using to opt out of simply saying "no".  It used to happen more in my personal life. We've probably all sat on RSVPing to an event at some point in time. Now, it's happening more often in the business world.  Professionals, even professional communicators, are choosing silence as a response.

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