Category Archives: Online Influence

Car Blogs: Start Your Engines!

Posted on July 20, 2012 by | Leave a comment

This week my focus is on car blogs. I don’t actually own a car. In fact, I ride a bike to work. But, even I know how crucial automobiles are. That is to say, I take cabs now and again. I even have a Zipcar membership. It stands to reason all my food is probably transported in cars or trucks at some point. And, if I were to call the cops, I wouldn’t want them taking the subway to the scene of the crime. Cars are important is what I’m trying to say. And trust me when I say these five car bloggers are just a few of the many great ones out there reporting on the subject. So with that in mind, let’s fill up our tanks, buckle our seat belts, and enjoy this brief tour through some of the best car blogs I’ve seen lately.

Green Car Reports is a blog that looks under the hood of electric and hybrid vehicles. Admittedly, this market is growing. And, not surprisingly, they have a lot to write about. They’re quick to discuss which models they like, but are also more than willing to discuss those they don’t. If I were to pitch this blog, I’d look for stories on electric and/or hybrid vehicles. Stories surrounding alternative energy might also work. Check out the full review here.

Cars for Girls is a lot what it sounds like. It’s a car blog for women. The thinking is a) it’s no longer 1950, and therefore, b) women should be informed about what they’re buying. This blog is about education. This blog is about purchasing power. Having said that, the color pink is still pretty prominent on the site. If I were to pitch this blog, I’d keep the title in mind and look for stories that surround women and automobiles. Check out the full review here.

Autoextremist often uses the word “rant” to describe its format. Another way to describe it is as a newsletter. The blog is authored by a veteran of the automotive advertising industry. And, as you might expect, it’s full of strong opinions. It’s also full of the type of perspective you’d expect from someone who has dedicated half a lifetime to the industry. If I were to pitch this blog, I’d look for stories around the car industry from a manufacturing standpoint. Those stories that also relate to the city of Detroit might work, too. Check out the full review here.

Celebrity Cars Blog fulfills a very specific niche. As you might expect, it’s about celebrities and their cars. We love celebrities in this country. We want to know who they’re dating, what they’re wearing and even what they’re eating. Why shouldn’t we gawk at what they’re driving, too? If I were to pitch this blog, I’d look for anything to do with celebrities and their cars.  Check out the full review here.

The name Winding Road refers to that perfect stretch of open highway. This is a car blog, sure. But, really, it’s about the experience of driving. It’s about the art of it. This blog loves their cars and it shows. If I were to pitch this blog, I’d look for anything to do with cars. Accessories or other items that have a ‘car theme’ might also work here. Check out the full review here.

That’s all for now. In the meantime, if there’s a blog I should be reviewing, drop me a line or a note in the comments, and I’ll take a look. Until next time…

Author Tom Hynes is PR Newswire’s manager of blogger relations. And as you may have guessed, he has a twitter31 account.

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World Media Summit: Global Journalism, Common Challenges

Posted on July 12, 2012 by | 1 Comment

At dinner at the Metropol. From left to right: Mujtabva Ayan, Senior Program Manager for Internews, Afghanistan (Kabul). Me (Colleen Pizarev, PR Newswire.) Kjell Dragnes, Foreign Editor of Actenposten, Norway. Markus Weidling, Head of International Services at DAPD news agency.

The first day of the World Media Summit was devoted to a city tour of Moscow, giving the delegates time to meet each other and discuss issues that are of particular interest to them.  Seeing the sights of Moscow was an interesting experience, but even more interesting was talking to the journalists on the tour.

Old and new. St. Basils Cathedral, amidst modern Moscow.

Having been on this journalist world stage for the past 15 years, I was not surprised at how well PR Newswire was regarded by the global media.  We play on an equal footing with many of the local news agencies, but I was a bit surprised at just how widely we are used as a trusted source of information.   I almost never had to explain what we do, or who we are.  The most common comment I received when handing out my business cards was how much the particular journalist liked our PR Newswire for Journalists site.  This is a testament to the effectiveness of our global Media Relations teams, who are the face of PR Newswire to the media in their regions.

Colleen’s Facebook updates from the Summit were addictive.

Attending the conference were the Managing Directors and Chief Editors of several of PR Newswire’s exclusive partners – Kyodo News Agency, Yonhap News Agency, APA (Austria), DPA (Germany), Middle East News Agency (MENA), ANTARA (Indonesia) and of course ITAR-TASS, our hosts.  It was nice to be able to see some old friends, and strengthen ties.

It was also nice to make so many new contacts with important publications around the world.  From the CEO and Publisher of Algeria’s most widely read independent newspaper El Khabar, I learned about how they continue to fight to maintain journalistic freedom in their country.  From Internews, the largest radio station in Afghanistan, I learned how they use radio to reach those citizens in remote areas, and to get news to those who have a low literacy level.  Keeping their journalists safe is another daily concern, and made for some interesting discussions.

I also spent some quality time with the Publisher of the Cameroon Tribune, and learned a lot about how news is researched and consumed in her country.   I also enjoyed conversations with senior journalists in Togo, Mauritius, Serbia, Croatia, Sri Lanka, Ukraine, Norway, Finland, Cuba, Argentina, Cambodia, and Libya.  We discussed the struggles they have to maintain quality journalism in the face of shrinking revenue and budgets.

Even the newly formed, but not yet recognized republic of Transnistria sent two representatives to this conference.  They were quite popular – most people wanted to meet representatives of a country they didn’t know existed until that morning – myself included. They were kind enough to share some of the challenges they face as journalists in their breakaway Eastern European republic.

One of the most valuable discussions I had was a lunch with Peter Horrocks, the Director of Global News from BBC Worldwide.  We discussed the Internet and Social Media and how it’s affecting journalism today.  I didn’t realize that was the topic of his plenary session presentation a few days later, but his insight was both interesting and valuable.

My knowledge of communications in many countries has not only been updated, but in many cases completely changed.  If you have any questions regarding media or communications practices in pretty much any country in the world, I would be happy to oblige with a discussion.  Contact your account manager at PR Newswire to arrange an appointment.  I’m very happy to share the knowledge I’ve gained from this experience.

Author Colleen Pizarev has vast experience in global public relations, and is PR Newswire’s vice president of communication strategies.

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July Media Moves

Posted on July 10, 2012 by | Leave a comment

PR Newswire’s Audience Research Department continually updates our Agility Influencer Targeting contact database. The MEDIAware newsletter, published by the team each month and featuring media news and job changes in the last month, is now available. Here is a sampling of this month’s edition:

Ann Curry Co-Host of NBC’s The Today Show (today.msnbc.msn.com/) announced her departure on Thursday, June 28th. She shifted into the Co-Host role last June after Meredith Vieira left the show. Recently, The Today Show has experienced a drop in ratings giving their rival at ABC’s Good Morning America ample opportunity to take over the number one spot for morning show ratings. Curry will remain at NBC and head a new team that will cover stories from around the globe. She will anchor prime-time specials and report for The Today Show, NBC Nightly News, Rock Center, Dateline and MSNBC, collectively. Her replacement is Savannah Guthrie. Guthrie was the Co-Host of the 9 o’clock hour of The Today Show and frequently filled in for Curry. She began her new co-host role Friday, June 29th. You can watch Curry’s departing words here: tv.msn.com/tv/article.aspx?news=739524

Just as former L.A. Laker Magic Johnson aspired to greatness on the basketball court, he is now hoping for the same success with his new venture – a cable network called “Aspire” (www.aspire.tv). The network is based in Atlanta (more specifically College Park) and was started in conjunction with gmc TV (Gospel Music Television). Programming includes a mix of family-friendly movies, films, documentaries, comedy and music as well a two-hour block of original, independent black features. The only specific programs mentioned, but not confirmed at press time were “Soul Train” and “I Spy.” Johnson has already lined up a number of exclusive, advertising deals with national brands such as Coca Cola, Wal-Mart, Nationwide Insurance, L’Oreal and Chrysler. Aspire’s direct competition includes the already existing minority-oriented entities of BET, Bounce (also in Atlanta), TV One and Centric. Twitter at twitter.com/tvASPIRE or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AspireTV.

A KATU-TV news helicopter helped Portland police arrest a suspected bank robber on June 20th. The suspect allegedly robbed a bank in Washington and drove across state lines into Oregon. Police on the ground lost sight of the suspect, but were able to relocate him by watching KATU while communicating with the station’s assignment desk about the location chase.

Heads up DC political journalists: Politico (www.politico.com/)is expanding and is looking to add 20 people to its editorial staff. The success of their Politico Pro paid service has spawned this need for more quality content.

Check out Hudson Reporter’s newest magazine - 07030. Hoboken’s newest semiannual lifestyle magazine ((www.hudsonreporter.com/pages/07030_hobok…), covers everything from celebrities to food and all in between. The magazine will offer regular highlighted features of “How We Work” and “How We Live” aspects of Hoboken. Kate Rounds is the Editor-in-Chief and can be reached at 07030@hudsonreporter.com.

The G. Gordon Liddy Show will go off the air at the end of July. G. Gordon Liddy, who is 81, is retiring from the show but will still be a Commentator on the Radio America network. Replacing G. Gordon in the 10:00 a.m. – Noon spot on Radio America will be Economics talker Peter Schiff (twitter.com/PeterSchiff). G. Gordon was part of the Watergate scandal in the Nixon administration who had five operatives break into the Democratic headquarters. The break-in led to the demise of President Nixon and was captured in the movie and film “All The President’s Men” written by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, Washington Post Reporters at the time. G. Gordon spent over four years in prison for his part in the break-in, but he came back and became an expert on how things really work in politics, defense and at the White House.

CBS affiliate KBAK-TV in Bakersfield, CA took a unique approach in an effort to fill an open reporter position by conducting an on-air job interview. No word yet on who was chosen for the position.

We are sad to announce that Howie Chizek, a mainstay in Ohio radio has passed away. Howie died while on a trip taking underprivileged youths to Disney World. Howie has been in radio for 34 years and was still working at his show on WNIR-FM in Akron before his death. Howie was also the Cleveland Cavaliers Public Address Announcer at one time when they played in Richfield, Ohio.

U-T San Diego is following the lead of the Los Angeles Times by launching a pay wall. Non-subscription users will be required to participate in an online or print subscription after 15 monthly article views.

Congratulations to WATE-TV, Channel 6 in Knoxville, TN for winning two 2012 Edward R. Murrow awards. One was in the category of Best Use of Video in a small market. The other was for Best Video News Series in a small market with its piece on “Mission to Africa.”

Charlotte area residents will be familiar with the new afternoon drive team at WBT-AM/FM. Brad Krantz previously teamed with Richard Spires on WBT as recently as 2003. Now he’s back and teaming with Britt Whitmire. Whitmire arrives from various North Carolina stations including WPTF-AM and WSJS-AM. Their Facebook page is www.facebook.com/bradandbritt.

CNN International has launched a new program. “CNN Newsroom International” focuses on – what else? – international news and events. It is hosted by Suzanne Malveaux along with Hala Gorani, Michael Holmes and Richard Quest. The show airs 12:00 – 2:00 p.m. weekdays.

MSNBC debuted its new program called “The Cycle” on June 25th. (twitter.com/thecyclemsnbc) It airs weekdays at 3:00 p.m. EST. It is an ensemble show featuring four hosts that include conservative commentator S.E. Cupp, author Toure, Salon.com writer Steve Kornacki and former Congressional candidate Krystal Ball. All hosts will appear on every episode with each person taking turns heading the discussions. “The Cycle” is replacing “The Dylan Ratigan” show which aired its last episode on June 22nd after Ratigan decided not to renew his expiring contract with MSNBC.

Artnet Magazine has ceased publication after 16 years. It was the first online art magazine to exist. Unfortunately, the magazine was never able to make a profit. There are plans for its archives to be available on Artnet.com. Its Editors: Walter Robinson, Rachel Corbett and Emily Nathan are currently looking for new opportunities.

There is now an official Fox News lifestyle online magazine titled “Fox News Magazine” (twitter.com/foxnewsmagazine). The magazine covers love, style, beauty, nutrition, décor and celebrities. There is also a deal tracker Twitter page (twitter.com/foxmagdeals) offering the latest discounts on top brands exclusively for its readers. The magazine can be viewed on all platforms including phone, tablet, laptop and desktop. Don’t forget to visit the Facebook (www.facebook.com/FoxNewsMagazine), Twitter and Pinterest (pinterest.com/foxnewsmagazine/) pages today!

Los Angeles Times Business Reporter Ken Bensinger wins the prestigious Loeb Award, business journalism’s highest honor. Bensinger received the award for a three-part series that he wrote on the ruthless used-car business called “Wheels of Fortune”. www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-award-201…

You can read the full July MEDIAware Newsletter here:
www.prnewswire.com/knowledge-center/medi…

And check out all of the Audience Research Group’s Updates by Region here:
www.prnewswire.com/knowledge-center/medi…

Follow all of the latest media moves and news from PR Newswire’s Audience Research Department on Twitter at: twitter.com/PRNmedia

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Wedding Blogs: Unveiled

Posted on July 9, 2012 by | 1 Comment

This week my focus is on wedding blogs. And, while I have no immediate plans to walk down the aisle myself, I do attend about four or five of these things a year.  People tell me it’s that time of my life. But, more than likely, weddings will always be a part of my life.  They may come in many different shapes and sizes, but they all represent on of our larger cultural institution. And as such, there are a great number of blogs dealing with the subject from a host of different perspectives and points of view.  So with that in mind, let’s cut the cake, reach for that bouquet, and enjoy this brief tour of some of the best wedding blogs I’ve seen.

The Best Gay Wedding Blog Ever! is, well, at the very least the best gay wedding blog I’ve ever seen. The truth is the gay wedding market is only going to grow and grow. Luckily, there are blogs like this one to help guide the way down the aisle. If I were to pitch this blog, I’d look for stories on same-sex marriages. Stories about marriage in general would probably work, too. Check out the full review here.

The Inspired Bride is a blog for those among us that like to do it our self. The site provides many examples of elegant weddings. But, they also provide the how-to information necessary to recreate it at your own wedding. It’s inspirational, sure. But, it’s also instructional.  If I were to pitch this blog, I’d look for stories that center around do-it-yourself weddings. Check out the full review here.

The Budget Savvy Bride believes that weddings can still be fabulous and beautiful without breaking the bank.   In other words, couples can be frugal without looking cheap. With a little creativity, money no longer has to be the determining factor.  If I were to pitch this blog, I’ d look for stories that highlight how couples can save money while planing their weddings. Check out the full review here.

Grooms Advice is a wedding blog geared toward men. I know… That sounds crazy, right? Men take part in most weddings, but I never knew they were given an opinion on how things go down. Well, this informative and funny blog begs to differ. If I were to pitch this blog, I’d look for wedding stories from the perspective of the groom. Stories about bachelor parties and anything including the word “groomzilla” would probably work, too. Check out the full review here.

Eco-Beautiful Weddings is a blog that believes that a married couple can express their love for one another while still expressing love (and care) for the planet.  Being wasteful isn’t just irresponsible. It’s also unfashionable. If I were to pitch this blog, I’d look for stories that sit at the intersection of weddings and environmental sustainability. Check out the full review here.

That’s all for now. In the meantime, if there’s a blog I should be reviewing, drop me a line or a note in the comments, and I’ll take a look. Until next time…

Author Tom Hynes is PR Newswire’s manager of blogger relations. And as you may have guessed, he has a twitter account.

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Fashion Blogs: Strike a Pose!

Posted on June 22, 2012 by | 2 Comments

This week my focus is on fashion blogs. For some, fashion can be an obsession, a path toward spirituality, even a form of fitness.  But, no matter how much you love your wardrobe, everyone’s got to dress themselves. And, no matter what anyone tells you, everyone wants to look their best. Luckily, there are options out there for people of all budgets and all styles.  So with that in mind, let’s straighten our collars, buckle our boots and enjoy this brief tour of some of the best fashion blogs I’ve seen.

Your Style Savior is not necessarily a religious blog. Though, the author is certainly passionate about saving people’s styles. Basically, she wants to help. And that doesn’t mean suggesting the most expensive items available. The site wants readers to look good without breaking their banks.  If I were to pitch this blog, I’d look for stories on fashion, but probably not spirituality. This is not the blog to pitch priestly robes. Check out the full review here.

Put This On is a blog dedicated to making men look their best. Whether it’s a guide for summer styles, what to wear on an interview or how to find a tailor, this blog wants to help their readers. The site also promotes second-hand (yet still good) threads on eBay, as well as extensive sections on how to fix and maintain clothes you already own. If I were to pitch this blog, I’d look for anything to do with men’s fashion. The clothes they feature are stylish, even if they’re not always the most expensive. Check out the full review here.

Where Did U Get That is a question you often hear when clothes are being discussed. It’s not enough to compliment style. There’s always more to the story. The “where” is also so very important. This blog looks to answer that question, ask that question and share the answers with the readers. If I were to pitch this blog, I’d look for stories about the retail industry. Items surrounding the smaller boutique scene of either New York City or London would probably also work here. Check out the full review here.

Shopping Is My Cardio is one woman’s (usually) daily blog dedicated to making life more stylish. This blog represents a passion turned into something tangible. If I were to pitch this blog, I’d look for stories surrounding fashion. But, you know, don’t let the search engine do all the work. In other words, this is not an exercise blog! Check out the full review here.

Cashmere & Tweed is a blog dedicated to covering all the events, designers, products and pageantry of the fashion industry. The site may be relatively new, but it’s also pretty fearless. If I were to pitch this blog, I might look for anything to do with fashion events, up to and including Fashion Week. Collections that are heavy on, well, cashmere and tweed would probably work, too. Check out the full review here.

That’s all for now. In the meantime, if there’s a blog I should be reviewing, drop me a line or a note in the comments, and I’ll take a look. Until next time…

Author Tom Hynes is PR Newswire’s manager of blogger relations. And as you may have guessed, he has a twitter account.

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Inside PR Newswire: Sara Campbell, Senior Audience Researcher

Posted on June 19, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Welcome to Inside PR Newswire, a series that provides a special look into the people that make up PR Newswire. We’ll share their stories about what they do, how they arrived at PR Newswire, and a little about themselves as individuals when they’re not at work.

Sara Campbell is a senior audience researcher at PR Newswire. So Sara, tell us — what do you do?

As a senior audience researcher, I am responsible for updating media contacts for the New York metro region. I have also taken the lead training several employees during their transition from Targeting Services to the Audience Research team. Our Global Media Database has over 500,000 global media contacts.

How did you end up at PR Newswire?

In 2008, I met PR Newswire’s account manager Kelly Fuller at the PRSA Northeast District Conference in Rochester, N.Y., while I was working at a PR agency. In January 2009, I wanted to move down to the New York area to continue my career growth, and I reached out to Kelly for help. She told me about the Audience Researcher position at PR Newswire and I applied. I got the job offer and moved down to Hoboken one week later so I could commute to PR Newswire’s Jersey City office. Kelly even helped me move, and we continue to be great friends to this day.

What does a typical workday look like for you?

I am constantly juggling different tasks. I’m responsible for updating any and all media changes in the New York metro region, and then I tweet these updates on our Twitter page (@PRNmedia).

My position also includes handling client projects and requests. Our team is currently helping clients transition to PR Newswire’s new Agility platform, which allows our clients to target, monitor and engage with traditional and social media from one platform.

Additionally, I write for the Audience Research group’s monthly newsletter for clients, MEDIAware; and I occasionally assist our MultiVu Media Relations team with writing national alerts for satellite and radio media tours.

How large is your team?

The Audience Research team has 16 researchers based in the U.S., with an additional 12 researchers based in Mexico. We also have a team of researchers abroad. The U.S. and Mexico teams are led by Director of Data Services Jeff Veasey.

What has changed since you started working at PR Newswire? What’s stayed the same?

One of the biggest changes I continue to see is how journalists and PR professionals are using social media to engage with one another more. Twitter, Facebook and other social media sites are continuing to grow. Journalists and PR professionals are using these platforms to communicate, share stories and pitch ideas. As a media researcher, I try to collect as much data from these social networks to help our clients better connect with the media. We also use social media to strengthen our relationships with clients and journalists directly.

The one thing that continues to stay the same is the way our Media Research team collaborates to complete tasks and ensure that we are providing the best service to clients.

What’s the most fun part?

The most fun part of my job is the colleagues that I work with. We have great team chemistry and it is a pleasure to work with all of them. We work cohesively to complete projects and update our data, ensuring that our clients are receiving the most accurate information. Our team has seasoned audience researchers with many years of experience at PR Newswire; they continue to inspire and motivate me to grow professionally.

What do you do when you are not working?

When I am not working, I am most likely dancing! I have been a dancer since age 3 and it is a true passion of mine. I just finished two years as an NFL cheerleader — it was the most incredible experience! I felt so fortunate to have the opportunity to dance on Sundays on the sidelines and do charity events in the community. I hope to be able to continue to perform or take dance classes.

I also enjoy traveling. My sister and I traveled to London and Paris last April. The picture above is me in front of Victoria Palace at Piccadilly Circus in London, before seeing the musical “Billy Elliot.” I hope to continue to travel the world and see new places.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

In 10 years, I hope I’ll have continued to grow my career in the communications/media industry. I also hope I’ll be sharing my love of dance by either teaching or coaching.
Written by Grace Lavigne, senior editor of ProfNet, a PR Newswire service that helps journalists connect with expert sources. To read more from Grace, check out her blog on ProfNet Connect.

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Pet Blogs: Sit, Stay, Read This

Posted on June 15, 2012 by | 1 Comment

This week my focus is on pet blogs. Whether you’re a dog person or a cat person, everyone can agree that animals are pretty important to our lives.  They act as companions and friends. In some cases, they even provide vital services. And in nearly every case, they are loved tremendously by a loyal legion of people.  As you may imagine, there are a great many blogs out there dedicated to them.  Admittedly, a lot of them are just silly pictures of animals (including my own internet contribution), but there are also some serious blogs dedicated to animal friends.  So with that in mind, let’s clean out the litter box, take the dog out once more, and enjoy this brief tour of some of the best pet blogs I’ve seen.

Pets in Italy is the story of an English woman living in Italy. It’s also the story of many pets. Now, again, this is just her story. But, the complications and considerations of living abroad with an animal are more than likely relatable to, well, anyone who has ever tried it. If I were to pitch this blog, I’d look for anything to do with pets living abroad. Stories about traveling with animals might also work. Check out the full review here.

Animal Law Coalition is a blog dedicated to using the legal system to protecting animals from cruelty, mismanagement and neglect. Sadly, this is a cause that needs championing. Some of the things reported on this blog might be tough to stomach, but the cause is one worth broadcasting far and wide. If I were to pitch this blog, I’d look for stories having to do with animals rights as well as anything to do with animals and the legal process, up to and including lawsuits and legislation. Check out the full review here.

Pet News and Views is a blog dedicated to the world of animals. Some blogs focus on one animal or another. (See below.) This is not one of those blogs. The site publishes useful information and other resources for pet owners, all while keeping a good sense of humor. If I were to pitch this blog, I’d look for anything to do with any kind of animal. Check out the full review here.

I’m not sure how else to say this, but Modern Cat is for cat people, but not for “crazy” cat people. They love their cats. But, they also love elegant design.  They want to have cats without having all the corny accessories. There’s a middle ground out there. And it’s found on this site. If I were to pitch this blog, I’d look for anything to do with cats or cat owners. Maybe don’t try to  get them to review frilly cat accoutrement, however. Check out the full review here.

Fidose of Reality is clearly a wonderful blog, because it deals with dogs. And dogs, as you all must know, are the best! Ok, clearly I’m a dog person. But, so are the people who run this site. It may be their job, but it’s also clearly their love. If I were to pitch this blog, I’d look for anything to do with dogs or dog owners. Check out the full review here.

That’s all for now. In the meantime, if there’s a blog I should be reviewing, drop me a line or a note in the comments, and I’ll take a look. Until next time…

Author Tom Hynes is PR Newswire’s manager of blogger relations. And as you may have guessed, he has a twitter account.

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PR Joins Advertising at AHAA Conference

Posted on June 6, 2012 by | Leave a comment

PR takes center stage at AAHA.

The Association of Hispanic Advertising Agencies (AHAA) held its annual conference recently in Miami, drawing participation from a number of notable brands, including Diageo, The Clorox Company, Nielsen and GM.  Hispanic advertisers and marketers gathered together to discuss tactics and strategies for successful integrated marketing programs.

Although the conference’s sessions have historically focused on advertising, this year, AHAA also offered a compelling PR-focused session entitled, “Hispanic Public Relations: Creating Brand Evangelists with Engagement and Trust.” As a PR professional, it was great to see public relations being spoken about in a room mostly filled with advertising professionals.

During this session, we heard from prominent PR professionals including: Rosanna Fiske, the first Latina president of PRSA;  Manny Ruiz, CEO of Hispanicize (and former PR Newswire VP of the Multicultural Division); Natalie Boden, President and Founder of BodenPR; and Solomon Romano, Head of Hispanic Marketing at Delta Dental.

One point of emphasis was the importance of bloggers because, as Manny Ruiz described, they are “mini-celebrities” or “mini-influencers.” Just a few years ago, brands were not very keen about working with bloggers. Today, they are embracing them because they realize the importance of these brand ambassadors in our communities. These are people who care about an issue, brand or topic, and make others care. Consumers nowadays don’t want to be talked to and instead want to be part of the conversation. Brands realize that bloggers are connecting with their consumers in the way consumers want to be engaged and they want to be a part of that phenomenon.

Research presented indicated that the Hispanic consumer is much more social than their black or white counterpart.  Rosanna Fiske noted that 30% of Hispanics are using social media six (6) hours per day. This compares to 20% for blacks and less than 10% for whites. That leads to the inference that Hispanics are early adopters of social media, are thirsty to engage and are conversationalists. This statistic alone makes a great case for why brands need to reach Hispanics through social media.

Yosmay Valdivia is an account manager with PR Newswire’s Multicultural Division.

Photo by Maggie Hernandez, PR Newswire.

PR Newswire’s Hispanic PR Wire:  El principal servicio de distribución de noticias dirigido a la prensa y los líderes de la opinión pública.

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June Media Moves

Posted on June 5, 2012 by | Leave a comment

MEDIAware, PR Newswire’s Audience Research Department newsletter, featuring media news and job changes in the last month, is now available. Here is a sampling of this month’s edition:

Advance Publications and Newhouse Newspapers recently announced four major papers will discontinue daily publication and staff cuts will be made in an effort to cut costs and focus on online content. The Times-Picayune (http://www.nola.com/t-p/) in News Orleans, The Birmingham News, The Huntsville Times and the Press-Register, all in Alabama, will be published three days a week on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. With this change New Orleans becomes the largest city in the U.S. without a daily published newspaper.

Quartz is coming from the Atlantic Media group. Quartz is a business publication designed for tablets, smart phones and all digital formats. It is tentatively scheduled to begin late this year with former Wall Street Journal-ist Kevin Delaney as Editor-in-Chief and Chris Batty as the Publisher. Former Economist Media Editor Gideon Lichfield is in charge of news content. Zach Seward has also been hired as Senior Editor. The web site is: http://qz.com and they will be tweeting: https://twitter.com/quartznews.

Beth Macy, a Reporter at The Roanoke Times, is taking a year sabbatical from the newspaper to concentrate on a book titled “Factory Man” based on articles she wrote earlier this year on the battle to fight China furniture imports by furniture company leader John D. Bassett III. You can read her series here: http://www.roanoke.com/multimedia/pickingup/still-making-it-in-america/ Beth also tweets here: https://twitter.com/papergirlmacy

Larry Platt has resigned as Editor at the Philadelphia Daily News. He lasted 16 months. Before this brief stint Platt was Editor of Philadelphia Magazine. This has opened the door for Michael Days (mdays@phillynews.com) to return as Editor. Michael had been working as Managing Editor at sister publication The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philly.com includes content from both newspapers: http://www.philly.com

Washington Times (http://www.washingtontimes.com) Columnist Arnaud de Borchgrave has taken leave after being accused of plagiarism. His weekly columns also appear on UPI (http://www.upi.com). Check out the whole story here: http://washington.cbslocal.com/2012/05/22/washington-times-columnist-arnaud-de-borchgrave-takes-leave-amid-plagiarism-probe/

The sports team recently lost their roster spots at USA Today (http://www.usatoday.com). Horse Racing veteran Reporter Tom Pedulla, Sports Blogger Tom Weir, Basketball Reporter J. Michael Falgoust, Auto Reporter Gary Graves Sports Biz Media Reporter Michael McCarthy were all let go.

Katie Couric is the new Host of “Katie’s Take”, a weekly digital program on Yahoo. (http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/katies-take-abc-news/) “Katie’s Take” covers topics including wellness, parenting, nutrition and health.  Couric will also be hosting a new syndicated daytime talk show called “Katie”. The show is set to premiere on September 10th and will be distributed by Disney-ABC Domestic Television. Couric and Jeff Zucker are the Executive Producers.  You can follow Katie on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/katiecouric or facebook at  http://www.facebook.com/katieshow

It’s not over until the Fat Lady Sings: Talk about fast work — less than a day after the Metropolitan Opera Guild announced it would no longer include reviews of Metropolitan Opera productions in its magazine, Opera News (http://www.operanews.com), the readership spoke. And now the reviews will remain. The Opera News was born in May 1936 and remains a healthy monthly with more than 100,000 subscribers. The Metropolitan Opera Guild is an affiliate of the Metropolitan Opera but has different leadership.  They also “sing” about opera here: https://twitter.com/operanews

He has been on CBS. He has been on NBC. Now Bryant Gumbel will be on ABC as he guest hosts on “Live! With Kelly” in early June. Gumbel will appear on the program on the 4th and 5th. Since Regis Philbin’s retirement, the show has had a revolving door of guest co-hosts. The network has yet to decide on a permanent replacement for Philbin.

The Boston Globe could be up for sale again. The New York Times Company tried selling the paper three years ago but was unsuccessful in finding a deal. The possibility of selling the paper was revisited again last year, although, CEO Janet Robinson wanted to wait in hopes that the launch of the Globe’s new pay wall would improve its sales.

You can view the whole June Issue here: http://www.prnewswire.com/knowledge-center/mediaware/ And all the latest media changes by region here: http://www.prnewswire.com/knowledge-center/mediaware/June2012AgilityUpdatesbyRegion.html

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Technology Blogs: Geeking Out

Posted on June 1, 2012 by | 1 Comment

This week my focus is on technology blogs. You may have noticed that technology plays a big part in our world. Not surprisingly, technology blogs come in all different shapes and sizes.  Some talk about developments in the startup industry. And some talk about twitter-inspired sneakers.   But, each of them focus on how advancements in the field shape and affect our lives.  And they all do it pretty well. So with that in mind, let’s enjoy this brief tour of some of the best technology blogs I’ve seen lately.

Infworm is a young blog written by a young man in Mumbai. Still, as anyone who follows the tech world can attest, age hardly matters. In fact, sometimes youth can be an advantage.  This blog is hardly childish, though, as it approaches the field with dedication and passion. If I were to pitch this blog, I’d look for stories dealing with telecommunications and gadgetry.  Stories having to do with technology in Asia might also work.  Check out the full review here.

Thug-Geek covers the world of technology as it pertains to both thugs and geeks. Now what does that mean exactly? Well, I’m not sure. But, I do know that I like pretty much everything on this site. So maybe that helps.  If I were to pitch this blog, I’d look for stories having to do with technology’s role with entertainment, specifically video games and movies. Check out the full review here.

I met a writer from Pando Daily during a layover on the way to SXSW. And while the site is not about panda bears as I originally misheard, it is pretty much the authority on the startup industry and Silicon Valley. This site yearns to be the first to break the news. But, if they don’t, they’re quick to give credit to those who do. If I were to pitch this blog, I’d look for anything to do with startups or Silicon Valley. Check out the full review here.

Geeks are Sexy focuses on the lighter side of technology. Or maybe it’s where technology meets bath towels and pancakes. Having said that, they also have a deep appreciation for that which is eternally cool about technology. And I guess that’s at least a little sexy. If I were to pitch this blog, I’d look for stories having to do with technology-based conferences or events. Things having to do with technology’s fun side might also work. Cosplay, whatever that is, would probably work here, too. Check out the full review here.

Digital Trends is probably the most significant blog on this list. They’ve definitely got the audience numbers to back it up. They’re probably also the most thorough, publishing on the most varied amount of topics pertaining to technology. If I were to pitch this blog, I’d look for stories having to do with technology in general. They seem to write about pretty much everything. Check out the full review here.

That’s all for now. In the meantime, if there’s a blog I should be reviewing, drop me a line or a note in the comments, and I’ll take a look. Until next time…

Author Tom Hynes is PR Newswire’s manager of blogger relations. And as you may have guessed, he has a twitter account.

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