The 3 C’s – California, Cannabis and Communication
As the mother of a teenager, it’s impossible to escape the 420 innuendo that circulates en masse each April 20. Widely known as the day to celebrate cannabis, 420 – or 4/20 – has origins dating back to the ‘70s. Last year, airplanes towing 420…
State of the Agency 2016
Our client base in 2016 was an energizing mix, with our team deftly handling everything from circus hi-jinks to launching donut shops, nationally-renowned museum work to promoting athletic events and venues, and from highlighting prized wineries to transformative healthcare services. It was highly rewarding, and…
Good PR: Know When You Can’t Lean on Corporate Policy
First, it was the leggings. Now, United Airlines faces the far more troubling charge of passenger abuse after the horrific video of a paying customer unwillingly dragged down an airplane runway by two security officers went viral. (The passenger refused his fate as one of four…
Fineman Opines on Crises in the Washington Post
Because of our high profile crisis communications work, reporters looking for insight into complex organizational or reputation issues sometimes call on us as resource for commentary. When I receive an inquiry from a reporter, I typically open the conversation with an important disclaimer: I do…
Our Brash New World: Do Traditional Communications Rules Still Apply?
As of this week, the Los Angeles Times is the latest high profile media outlet to examine the communications approach of the current presidency. Let me emphasize, though, that my focus is less about politics than it is about how the current political scene has…
How IPREX educates, elevates and empowers Fineman PR
I recently joined representatives from 17 public relations agencies from around the world at a global leadership conference in Paris. The conference was hosted by IPREX, a network that comprises more than 70 of the world’s top independent communications agencies. Since Fineman PR joined IPREX…
Public Relations as Consciousness Raising
When people of a certain age hear the term “consciousness-raising,” what often comes to mind is Stewart Brand and The Whole Earth Catalog, Vietnam war protests, transcendental meditation, Greenwich Village and Berkeley; Timothy Leary, tie dye tee shirts, peace signs and the Moody Blues. …
Taco trucks, data and the facts about Latino entrepreneurship
From culture, to taxes, to the economy, the debate over how Latinos contribute to our country is often plagued by misperceptions. Too often, assumptions about Latinos in the U.S. are based not on facts, but on stereotypes, fear and hyperbole. In this environment of rising…
Preparing for the Future of PR
I was recently privileged to receive an invitation from the Native Society to be profiled among its list of nationwide public relations leaders. In its own words, its “mission is to feature and promote high-quality content from industry experts, leaders, entrepreneurs and equivalent role models…
Unseen risk: troubleshooting a crisis plan
Let’s face it: your crisis communications plan is inadequate. Sure, you have a document gathering dust on a bookshelf or somewhere in a seldom-used file folder. Or maybe that plan follows a generic template you found online. Or maybe you don’t have one. You can…