Think Well, Be Well, Work Well by Morgan Obidowski

Keeping up with the demands of the workplace is no easy feat. When you’re being pulled in different directions, we sometimes forget what it takes to put our best foot forward. Every now and then, we need to take a few steps back and focus on bettering our daily routines. 

At Food Shelter, we believe you must think well and be well if you plan to work well. 

Think Well

Improve Your Mood: Surround yourself with things that make you happy.  Listen to music, snack on your favorite healthy foods, and be social with the people around you. 

Plan Ahead: Think about little things the night before. Doing so will cut the time you spend in the morning picking out your clothes for a client meeting or deciding what to pack for lunch. When you begin your work for the day, take a few minutes to plan out your day to stay organized. 

Be Well

Eat Healthy, Be Healthy: The foods you eat affect how you feel. Be mindful in selecting foods that benefit your mood, keep your energy high, and don’t leave you feeling sluggish. 

Take Time to Recharge: Remember it’s okay to slow down every once and awhile. Recharging your batteries will reduce stress, and help you prepare for more demanding times on the job. 

Move Your Body: Pay attention to your body. Staying active boosts energy, promotes better sleep habits, and can be a great stress reliever. It’s easy and it’s free. Take a walk, go for a run, or watch a workout video at home. 

Work Well

When you take care of yourself, you’ll be able to make the most of your office time and give your clients and your work the attention they deserve.

Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone: Q & A with Lu Ann Cahn by Morgan Obidowski

Food Shelter spoke with former NBC reporter, and I Dare Me author, Lu Ann Cahn about her new role at Temple University, stepping out of her comfort zone, and her experiences with PR professionals throughout her career.

Q: You have recently started working at Temple University. How are you feeling in your new role and what inspired you to make this move?

A: What inspired me to make this move is that throughout my broadcasting career, I always mentored interns. Nobody asked me to do it, nobody paid me to do it, but it was just something I realized I always loved. When this opportunity was presented to me through a friend. I thought, you know, I really like seeing people get off to a good start in their careers. I had so many people who helped me and believed in me, and took time to launch me. I want to help the next generation. I had the same job for 27 years, so that's a big change,  I never worked in academia except as an occasional adjunct professor. I knew I would love it, and I absolutely do love meeting with students.

Q: In 2013, you released your memoir, “I Dare Me”, and this was inspired because you felt “stuck” in your daily routine, can you describe what have you learned from sharing your story?

A: When you're stuck or making a life transition, you really need to start doing new things. As we get older, we start to feel that we are in a spot where we can't go forward or backwards, you really have to stretch outside your comfort zone. As adults, we stop doing that. There's this buffet of life, and we start choosing from the same part of the buffet over and over again. We realize we're not really so happy, we forget to do new things and forget to bring freshness into our lives. I definitely got to a point where I was stuck and didn't want to change. What I learned is that you have to push yourself, even with simple little things. Take a risk, and say yes to something new. This journey allowed me to open up again, and move forward.

Q:  While promoting your book, what was it like being on the other side of the interview?

A: Difficult sometimes, and I can really appreciate people who are really good interviewers. I loved when we had good conversations. It's hard because I like being in control of the interview. If I had to choose, I like to be the one doing the interview but I had a great appreciation for people who got the book, understood, asked great questions and challenged me. It was interesting being on the other side.  

Q: With many years of experience in the media at NBC10, how would you describe your interactions with PR professionals?

A: It's interesting because every day at Channel 10, I didn't really think about it. It was really just a part of my world. It's a really hard job from your side, pitching to news reporters. It's difficult today to get someone's attention. It's a needle in a haystack to find a reporter to cover or have any interest in your story. Your getting 200 emails a day, and most of them you don't even open. It definitely makes a difference if I know them or have had an interaction with them. Today, you have to tailor it so much to get through the noise and get to a reporters or a newsroom editor who will pay attention to what your pitching.

Q: What is your biggest pet peeve when working with PR professionals?

A: Well, probably the biggest pet peeve is when you decide to cover the story and the PR professional wants to manage it. Some of that can be helpful, but sometimes you have to let the reporter do their job. Also, I think inviting a reporter to an event is always a double edged sword. You're hoping for positive publicity, but if they are there and something goes wrong, the reporter is going to cover that as well, and you cannot stop that.

Q:  From a journalist perspective, how do you suggest we better our practices to help journalists?

A: I think gone are the days that you can send out a generic blast email, and obviously it depends. I think you really have to take a personal approach, and if you don't know the journalist personally,  if you know kind of what they do, their brand, and what they do. When I was an investigative reporter, people knew the kind of stories that I did. The more PR people understand who they are pitching,  the better it's going to be.

Q:  If you could tell your 22 year-old self anything right now, what would you say to her?

I would say, be patient, you'll get there. Enjoy where you are at the moment. Don't think so much about where you are going all the time. Take in what's happening at this moment. I think when I was 22, I was in such a hurry to get to the next thing, I often forgot to appreciate where I was. Be in the moment more, and the future will take care of itself.

Q:  What advice do you have for people looking to work in the communications industry?

A: Be versatile, be flexible, and always have plan A, B, and C. I think you must be a good writer. You have to learn all these formats now from TV, Web, Social Media. The truth of the matter is that if you are a good writer you can learn how to do all those things. If you're not a good writer, it's going to be difficult for you. I think you should do everything you can to boost your writing skills, and if you do, you will succeed.

 

Connect From Your Couch by Morgan Obidowski

Struggling to leave the house this winter? When the weather keeps you from going outside, it's an ideal time to network from home. We encourage you to brew yourself a cup of tea, grab a blanket, and start connecting!  

Using Food Shelter's tips you'll be networking from your couch in no time:

1. Be Social

Create an online presence. Follow new people on Twitter. Take it a step further, and introduce yourself. If you reach out to someone in the media, find out what type of stories they cover and how you could act as a resource to them in the future.  

2. Make Conversations Meaningful

Ask questions, use hashtags, and find out what other PR pros are thinking. Make it your goal to learn something you didn't know before. 

3. Use Your Voice

Don't be intimidated to use your voice. Take twenty minutes and make a phone call, it will create a personal connection with your new contact.

4. Join an Online Community.

Expand your professional circles by joining an online network like Linkedin or Facebook. These sites allow you to join conversations with hundreds of people at once. Who knows, you may leave a lasting impression on someone, and it may lead to a job or new business.  

5. Reconnect With Someone You Already Know.

Maintaining relationships with the media and other professionals is just as important as getting to know new contacts. Make sure the foundation you have with older contacts is solid. All it takes is an email to say hello!

Use these tips the next time you're stuck inside this winter, and keep in mind why it's important to network in our business, even if it's from your couch.

 

Media Says the Darndest Things by Joanne Jordan

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A Letter to Bill Cosby

You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know that 9 times out of 10, silence implies guilt.

In a recent interview with the Associated Press, Bill Cosby, had “no comment” to questions regarding sexual assault allegations.

To make matter worse for Cosby, he asked the AP reporter to not air the particular part of the interview where he failed to give a response to the allegations.

Of course they aired it.

Since the interview, NBC, Netflix, and TV Land have cut ties with Cosby and two more woman have come forward with allegations against him.

In an effort to end this swarm of bad press, we decided to write a letter to Bill.

Dear Bill,

We like to think of your predicament as a blind man trying to cross the street. No matter how badly he wants to get to the other side, it’s almost impossible for him to cross the street without getting hit by oncoming traffic. His only shot at survival is if he is armed with a guide dog or walking stick to assist in the treacherous journey.  In your case, you can’t make the bad press disappear unless you use the tools at your disposal. Utilizing a PR person, listening to their sound advice, and following their lead will help to alleviate the situation.

Sorry to break it to you bud, but the media isn’t just going to brush your highly illegal sexual escapades under the rug…despite their fascination with Kim Kardashian’s butt.

With all of the silence and no comment BS, people are losing their trust for you by the second. If you want to get the media on your side, try telling the truth.

Do an interview and be honest with America…because until you do, the press will continue to mercilessly annihilate you.

Godspeed,

Food Shelter PR

 

 

Slow isn't necessarily a 4-letter word by Joanne Jordan

While we may work at 20 miles per minute, we are constantly trying to find ways to slow it down

As big believers in the movement towards things like slow food, slow money, and slow education, we think everything is better slow. Except for getting back to journalists/clients; that shit needs to be fast. 

With slow PR, we are able to build relationships with journalists and fully understand what makes them tick. It is a known fact that journalists can inevitably sense half-assed effort and will unsubscribe as soon as a blanket email arrives in their inbox. 

We like to think of it this way. Expecting a good placement via a mass email is like expecting your teenage daughter to not to throw a party when you leave town for the weekend. It's just not a reality. So why not take some time and figure out who you're dealing with first. Let's face it, if you wouldn't marry a complete stranger, you have no place spamming an editor. End of discussion. 

Don't be a Dead Fish by Joanne Jordan

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“All publicity is good publicity” is a phrase that we believe pretty much holds true across the industry.

Publicity leads to visibility, which generates awareness that potentially leads to interest, and combined with earned media could lead to sampling or a decision to buy.

Unfortunately for some companies, but fortunately for our entertainment, there have been a few publicity stunts that have gone terribly wrong for the brand, but also resulted in some unintentional casualties.

The South Australian Government approved the sending of 55 goldfish to media agencies to promote a tour by Advantage SA, bearing the message “Be a big fish in a small pond and come and test the water.”

Even though they provided enough food to last 6 months, most of the fish arrived dead.

It doesn’t help that South Australia has a reputation for the worst water in Australia.

Food Shelter Commentary:  PR people who send live animals to media deserve to get slapped.  Enough said.

Check out some of the bad press Advantage SA received as a result of the genocide:

http://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/pr-agency-apologised-for-fishy-stunt-gone-wrong/story-e6frfq80-1226215814407

http://mumbrella.com.au/boss-apologises-for-dead-goldfish-67723

http://www.2oceansvibe.com/2011/12/07/clever-campaign-not-too-smart-goldfish-die/

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/state-politics/pr-stunt-flounders-as-goldfish-turn-up-dead/story-e6frgczx-1226215569077?nk=ab24613d3d274262f62d08ed18050264

 

 

 

Apparently You Can Buy My Livelihood For $5 by Joanne Jordan

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Like almost all public relations agencies, writing press releases is a major part of our day to day (when we’re not stalking our favorite reporters/bloggers on Facebook, and Twitter of course).

Press releases are the lifeblood of our existence.  I mean, we’ve been writing them since the glory days of The Jackson 5.

Ok, we’re not that old..but you get the gist.

Even though the easy accessibility and instant nature of social media enables journalists to get stories in seconds and somewhat minimizes their reliance on press releases, they are still very much important.

They are the reason we wake up every morning (other than our kids fixed 5 am internal alarm clocks).

The reason we can afford to go on vacations and eat out at nice restaurants (and let go of our depressing ramen tendencies).

And finally…

The reason we have jobs! (aka why people hire us and pay us in things other than high fives and potato chips).

Now, this company called Fiverr decided to show up and is trying to take that all away.

So yeah…we’re pretty pissed about it.  

If you are unfamiliar with Fiverr, which we were until about 20 minutes ago, it is a global online marketplace offering tasks and services at a cost of $5 per job performed.

One of those $5 tasks being press releases…

All I’m going to say, is there is no possible way these press releases are of high quality..

Because if they are, Food Shelter PR is calling it quits and starting a pirate ship birthday party company on the Schuylkill.

It’s a niche market, we swear.

 

http://www.mediabistro.com/prnewser/the-value-of-a-press-release-is-apparently-five-dollars_b101123

 

 

There is a 90% Chance... by Joanne Jordan

...that in the last ten minutes you watched a video of cats doing funny things, a baby singing in a car, a puppy just being a puppy, or hopefully the “apparently kid”.

And you aren’t really sure how it happened, but it was just sitting there, on your newsfeed, staring at you, and you thought to yourself, ‘there is nothing more important that I can be doing right now other than watch this cat do a somersault.’

And then you were laughing out loud to the point where your coworkers were huddled around your desk seeing what the fuss was about. So you sent it over to them and before you could count to ten, they were laughing and peeing and sending it to their friends, who are also struggling through a similar 9 to 5 hell somewhere far away, and would love nothing more, if only for a few seconds, to escape the monotony.

And that my friend is how a video goes viral.

Now reading this you are probably thinking, ‘wow, I am a sad pathetic individual who needs a hobby and should spend more of my time catching up on the news or actually do the job I am being paid to do…

But where’s the fun in that?

Sites like Buzzfeed and Upworthy generate millions of page views each day and they succeed by praying on one simple thing: human emotion.

A recent study confirms that videos that evoke human emotion have the greatest viral potential. Even though videos with positive human emotion have the greatest viral potential, videos that evoke negative emotion have a higher chance of spreading than those with neutral content. 

Researchers have also found the reason videos with emotional content spread are because emotions are contagious. Just like you can catch the common cold, or yawn after seeing someone else yawn, people can “catch” on to the emotions of others.

With this newfound wisdom, Food Shelter Public Relations has made the conscious decision to change its pitching strategy drastically.

Say goodbye to boring emails and hello to hilarious viral videos laced with subliminal messaging about our clients.