5 Questions to Ask Before You Say a Campaign “Worked”
09.17.2026 – “Did our promotional campaign work?” sounds like a simple yes-or-no question. But it isn’t. I recently taught my Media and You students at East Tennessee State University that researchers who study media effects for a living don’t ask that question at all.
Media Literacy Strategies for Enhancing Your PR and Marketing
09.10.2026 – Understanding media literacy, how consumers process and think about the media they consume, can help you with your PR and marketing. I recently taught my freshman Media and You students at East Tennessee State University about the conscious model vs. unconscious model, as well as meaning matching vs. meaning construction.
An Insider’s Look at What PR/Communication Students are Being Taught
09.04.2026 – Studying public relations (PR) in college has changed drastically over the years. For me, it’s been nearly 40 years since I earned my undergrad in communications, with an emphasis in public relations. Today, if you want to get a degree in public relations, you’ll be expected to learn a lot more than creating a strategic communications plan
Sheer March Madness: When Truckers Produce a Promo Video
03.21.2025 – There’s March Madness. And then there’s March Marketing Madness. I had a small project fall into my lap this week, and I couldn’t help but see how it tied into the theme of this month.
Press Relations Lesson #7: 7 Ways to Maximize Your Press Coverage
02.28.2025 – If you secured press coverage using the tips from the previous six press relations lessons — congratulations! But landing a story is only half the battle. If you’re not leveraging your media coverage, you’re leaving credibility, exposure, and potential customers on the table.
Press Relations Lesson #6: 10 Must-Know Tips for Acing Your Press Interview
02.20.2025 – After you’ve completed the previous five press relations lessons, you’ve landed your first press interview — right? Well, congratulations! Now, let’s make sure you don’t blow it…
Press Relations Lesson #5: A 10-Step Press Pitching Process
02.15.2025 – Still at your same job? I ask because now that you’ve had four of the seven press relations lessons, I’m wondering if you’ve completely fallen so in love with the public relations profession that you decided to switch jobs
Press Relations Lesson #4: Essential Fuel for Your Press Campaign Launch
02.07.2025 – Ready to get creative? In Press Relations Lesson #4, we tackle press materials — what you need, how to format them, and how to make sure reporters actually use them. As you’ve seen in previous weeks, these lessons are for those new to press relations.