Browse PRNewser February 2012 archives - PRNewser

Women Leaders in PR: Aedhmar Hynes Talks Work, Family, and Being ‘True to Yourself’

Tonya Garcia — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 17:56:49 +0000

In this latest installment of our Women Leaders in PR series, we profile Aedhmar Hynes, the CEO of Text 100 for more than a decade. Text 100 is a global firm that focuses on areas including energy, technology, consumer electronics, professional services, and travel and tourism.

Even with an international public relations business to run, Hynes manages a busy family life. She is the proud mom of four children in addition to being head of a big company.

After the jump, Hynes talks with us (in a charming Irish accent) about her professional career path (a term she doesn’t really like), the “agency of the future,” and why being a mother is part of what makes her successful.

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New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Citrix Online Services Chooses Weber Shandwick

Tonya Garcia — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 16:48:25 +0000

Citrix has selected Weber Shandwick as the AOR for the company’s online services division in the U.S. This division includes the GoTo set of cloud services, like GoToMeeting and GoToMyPC. The branding behind these sorts of remote tools is a “flexible work movement” that Citrix calls “workshifting.” Citrix has an entire blog dedicated to the topic and how it benefits companies.

This account will be handled out of Weber Shandwick’s northern California office.

Lewis PR works with Citrix in international markets and, according to a firm spokesperson, will not be impacted by this new hire. The firm has never worked with Citrix in the U.S.

We also reported in 2010 that Atomic PR was working on the Citrix account, with the firm handling the company’s GoTo tools. Atomic told us via email that they no longer work with Citrix Online or use the company’s tools. *

*This last sentence is an update to the story.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Location-Based Marketing Extends Beyond Check-ins

Nancy Lazarus — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 14:57:27 +0000

“Location, location, location” have long been known as the three things that matter in property. A keynote speaker at the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International Digital Marketing Strategy conference (HSMAI) on Tuesday also talked about how important it can be for marketing.

Asif Khan, the Location Based Marketing Association (LBMA) founder and president, defined location marketing as “the integration of people, places, and media,” and explained that it’s more than check-ins, the latest deals, and Foursquare. He also pointed out that location-based marketing takes being at home into account, takes place on more than mobile devices, and is equally popular now with both genders.

Click through for major takeaways.

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New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Roll Call: GCI Health, NBCUniversal, Media Connect, and More

Tonya Garcia — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 14:24:56 +0000

GCI Health has announced three executive hires. Andrea Pellicciari joins the firm as SVP handling neurology, urology, and advocacy accounts. She comes to the firm with 15 years of experience including work with clients like Allergan and Roche Molecular Systems. Mary Kate Watkins has joined the firm as VP, focused on consumer health and beauty. And Jennifer Gordon joins as senior media specialist. She was previously a producer at CNN and a line producer at Maryland NBC station, WBAL-TV.

NBCUniversal‘s Integrated Media group has announced four promotions to newly-created positions. Hilary Smith has been named SVP of comms and integrated media marketing, managing consumer and trade marketing and making her an overall strategist for the group. She’ll continue to lead comms for for iVillage, Fandango, DailyCandy, and Television Without Pity. She was previously SVP of comms for NBCUniversal Entertainment & Digital Networks and Integrated Media. Bari Komitee has been promoted from director of Women at NBCU, Integrated Media, to VP of marketing. She joined the company in 2010. Lenore Moritz is now VP of comms for Integrated Media and iVillage. She joined the company last spring from Dan Klores Communications. And Craig Coleman is now VP of partnership marketing for the group. He was previously Director of marketing for Green is Universal, Healthy at NBC, and Hispanics at NBCU.

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New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

You Think You’ve Seen an AriZona Ad, But You Haven’t

Tonya Garcia — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 12:50:54 +0000

AriZona Beverages, the makers of all those drinks you’ve seen in the colorful bottles at the local grocery store, announced last week that it reached three million Facebook fans. So what, right?

Well, the company, a privately-held family-run operation based out of New York, has never advertised in the 20 years it has been around. So having a dedicated, loyal, and large social media following is important. Rather than advertising, AriZona chooses to interact with its customers in a different way, which has become part of the decision-making process for beverage flavors and packaging.

We choose to “involve our fans in our products,” says Jackie Harrigan, the company’s comms director.

“Our product is accessible, at a great price point, and has beautiful packaging,” she continued. “We use our dollars for packaging and flavors that stand out on shelves instead of a traditional media budget.”

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New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

H+K Launches Sustainability Reporting Tool

Tonya Garcia — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 11:42:37 +0000

Hill+Knowlton Strategies‘ sustainability and CSR practice has launched an integrated reporting tool that brings together financial, environmental, social, and governance data together into one form.

The firm has partnered with Harvard Business School professor Robert Eccles and his firm Glenelg Partners on the new offering. Eccles’ research has found that companies that have taken big steps in the areas of sustainability and good governance do better financially in the long run, both for themselves and for investors. As such, this tool is being touted as a way to improve the financial performance of those who use it.

“Investors find less risk in more transparent companies because there is less uncertainty about their ability to deliver expected financial performance,” Eccles says in a statement.

Robert Ludke, SVP of H+K’s D.C. office will lead this new service and Eccles will advise.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Vocus Buys iContact for $169 Million

Tonya Garcia — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 10:51:13 +0000

PR software company Vocus has acquired iContact, an email and social media marketing company, for $169 million, “$91 million in cash, $9 million in common stock, and approximately $79 million in redeemable convertible preferred stock,” according to an announcement made late yesterday.

According to that release, iContact is used by 70,000 organizations. The purchase brings an email offering into its existing marketing suite.

There will be no changes to either company’s products and services, and the iContact staff will stay put in Raleigh-Durham, NC. (Vocus is based in Maryland.) IContact was founded in 2003 and has since garnered media coverage and received $50 million in venture financing.

The news came on the same day as Vocus’ earnings announcement.

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New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

The Ticker: BusinessWeek.com; ‘Prometheus’ + TED; Scientology’s latest crisis; Socialize or perish; Ann Romney

Jason Chupick — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 09:55:42 +0000

AdWeek: ‘Businessweek’ Unwraps New Website: Site will provide more links to Bloomberg.com

HitFix: Guy Pearce gives a TED talk on artificial humans in clever ‘Prometheus’ publicity stunt

ABC News: Another PR Crisis for Scientology

ClickZ: Execs: Embrace Social Media or Wither

Politico: Ann Romney jests she could ‘strangle’ press

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

MDC Partners’ Full-Year Revenue Up 36.9 Percent

Tonya Garcia — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 18:16:40 +0000

Late yesterday, MDC Partners, home to Allison + Partners, Attention, Kwittken + Company, and other advertising, PR, and digital firms, reported a 36.9 percent jump in revenue in 2011. Revenue for the year totaled $943.3 million versus $689.1 million the previous year. Organic growth was up 17 percent.

“While our business is growing at a healthy pace, we are being diligent in our analysis of investments and are implementing a leaner operating structure across our network, aimed at expanding margins,” said CFO David Doft in a statement.

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New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Time Inc, CNN Make Executive Comms Changes

Tonya Garcia — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 17:15:00 +0000

Time Inc. has named former News Corp. comms exec Teri Everett EVP of corporate communications, effective March 5. Everett stepped down from her role at News Corp. – SVP of corporate affairs and communications — on February 10. She’d joined News Corp. in 2000. At the time her departure from News Corp. was announced, Everett said, “While it may be a tired cliche, I am ready for something new.”

At Time, she will manage all of the corporate communications for the company (from the employee comms to the company’s philanthropic endeavors), reporting to the company’s CEO Laura Lang.

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New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

The New iPad is Probably/Maybe Going To Be Unveiled March 7

Tonya Garcia — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 16:35:53 +0000

Let the frenzy begin.

Invites have gone out for a “special event” hosted by Apple in San Francisco on March 7 and there’s gleeful speculation that the iPad 3 will be revealed. Rumors and alleged “leaked peeks” of the new gadget have already gotten out with many thinking that this will be an iPhone 4S-style announcement: lots of tech changes inside but few changes on the outside. The Huffington Post says 4G compatibility and changes to the screen will be the big updates.

Despite the lukewarm reception, the iPhone 4S helped Apple top the list of smartphone vendors in Q4 2011. However, pricing became an issue after the introduction of the very affordable Amazon Fire. So perhaps it’s the price tag on whatever is revealed that everyone should really be keeping an eye on.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

PR Lands On ‘U.S. News’ List of Best Jobs

Tonya Garcia — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 15:52:11 +0000

U.S. News and World Report has released its “Best Jobs of 2012″ list and among those on the list is PR Specialist.

According to the profile of the profession, “The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects public relations specialists employment growth of 22.5 percent between 2010 and 2020. During that time period, an additional 58,200 jobs will need to be filled.” The median annual wage is listed at $52,090.

The article does point out that there are some stresses associated with the job, which we’ve written about here and here. But the prospects for the job — the article points out the wide range of industries one can work in (from politics to tech), the content creating, and social media work involved — make it look enticing on paper. PR Specialist is actually ranked number one for creative service jobs ahead of architect and artist/designer.

Also on this list of best jobs is event planner, which comes in at number one for the best jobs in business.

Click here for the overview and for the details about how the list is compiled. PR was also ranked a “best job” a couple of years ago by Money.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

PR Newswire and Poynter Partner for a Conference

Tonya Garcia — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 15:05:35 +0000

PR Newswire has teamed up with with The Poynter Institute for a day-and-a-half-long conference called “Creating Credible Content,” taking place between April 11 and the 13th. The conference will focus on how to use journalism techniques to build trust and strong relationships with target audiences.

The conference targets corporate comms pros and digital content providers and will take place on the Poynter campus in St. Petersburg, FL (which looks like it might not be too far from the beach, hint hint).

Among the speakers are Keith Jenkins, the supervising senior producer at National Public Radio and Anne Marie Borrego, director of media relations for the American Red Cross.

Tuition info and registration forms are here.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Spin the Agencies of Record

Tonya Garcia — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 14:54:18 +0000

CTP, the Boston-based PR and advertising agency formerly known as Conover Tuttle Pace, has added three clients to its PR roster. The firm will serve as the North American AOR for Objet, an international 3D printer company. Also in the tech practice, the firm has been chosen to provide interactive services to Red Bend Software, a mobile software management company. And the firm is the AOR for the Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club in Cape Cod. In addition to a new name and new clients, CTP is also introducing a new website and logo (left). The firm says it had “double-digit growth in sales and income” in 2011 and its staff grew 30 percent.

The Topps Company, makers of the collectible baseball trading cards, has chosen Warschawski for PR and marketing services. The firm will help with the launch of this year’s gold series of baseball cards that celebrate “Golden Moments,” young players, and more. Topps also makes cards for the NFL, the English Premiere League, the Garbage Pail Kids (ha!), and other groups.

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New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

Four Reasons PR Pros Will Love Facebook Timeline for Brands

Tonya Garcia — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 10:52:27 +0000

With the Facebook Marketing Conference set to take place tomorrow, speculation about what will be discussed is feverish. Many think that Facebook Timeline for Businesses will be on the agenda. (An outline of what to expect is available on AllFacebook.)

Facebook Timeline offers brands a new set of opportunities that they and their PR firms should be eager to take advantage of. In today’s guest post, Jared Degnan, social media and digital manager of Brandware Public Relations, outlines how the Timeline feature can be used for maximum benefit to brands.

Click through to read on.

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New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.