It wasn’t supposed to be a big deal…..a dental procedure that would take about twenty minutes max.  I could go in and out of there lickity split, and get back to my work day. I could feel my hands getting sweaty as I pulled into the parking lot of the dental clinic.  I was nervous. ... Continue Reading →

In October of 2008, I did something I never, ever, ever, ever thought I'd do (I mean, never, ever, ever, ever, ever).  I left my beloved job as a television news journalist to do public relations for a wildlife agency.  I was little bit worried that I'd become depressed.  I was so used to the... Continue Reading →

  By: Joseph V. Trahan,III,Ph.D, APR, Fellow PRSA-President/CEO Trahan & Associates  and Joseph V. Trahan, IV, Director of Media Relations Dallas Cowboys           I believe that the phrase "Our hearts and prayers go out to the victims and their families" to be over used and meaningless.  It must be replaced with phrases that are relevant to... Continue Reading →

By Kirk Hazlett, APR, Fellow PRSA I write a lot…probably too much…about “loving your job” and “following your passion.” I do this for one relatively simple reason. For what seems like the better half of the past 50 years of my life, people…working professionals as well as young soon-to-be professionals (aka: “students”)…have been asking me... Continue Reading →

By Eleonore Verfaillie Whoever you are, you're experiencing diversity every day, and quite often, it’s a challenge. Do you ever get frustrated with older people in line at the grocery store? Do you feel uncomfortable when an autistic child is around? Did you give up talking to a co-worker who will not embrace digital? Did... Continue Reading →

I love learning about my colleagues in the field of public relations.  Of course, there are many more than 26 who are very worthy of mention. So, I will make this a regular post on PR Gumbo.  If your name isn't in here this time, believe me, it will be in the future! So, without... Continue Reading →

As a photojournalist, Rodney Rocker regularly meets grieving families while covering news stories.  Today, he is facing a tough loss of his own.  His mother, Mattie Rocker, passed away after a courageous battle with Alzheimer's.  The following excerpt is a tribute to his mother.   On the morning of June 29, 2017, I was working... Continue Reading →

By Penny Hatcher As with many other things in life, sometimes the hardest part of entering an awards competition of any kind is just getting started. There are so many nagging questions hindering you from even taking the first step. What to enter? Is any of my work even good enough? What if I don’t... Continue Reading →

In today’s politically charged atmosphere, it’s hard NOT to have a strong opinion.  Politics are EVERYWHERE.  It’s all over my Facebook and Twitter feeds, and the blogosphere is inundated with political “experts.”  The tone of these posts are often charged and aggressive.  Everyone on the internet seems to have an opinion, where facts are alternative,... Continue Reading →

If you are the media contact for a big event, you may think it's your job to walk the reporter through the story, and tell them step-by-step how they should cover it.  After all, it's your job to get the best coverage possible for your event, right? Wrong. In fact, the worst thing you could... Continue Reading →