Sam Singer, named Spokesperson of the Year from PRSA and President of Singer Associates, discusses how communicators can effectively address challenges. Recorded at PRSA’s PR People Awards.

Some of Sam’s VlogViews:

“Corporations and individuals are going to have to follow the lead of President-Elect Barack Obama and create larger, visionary pictures for the public and for their audiences and for their employees to follow. To get them on board and have them understand that we’re all on the same team and that there is a larger vision that we are all heading for.”

“I think that corporations are going to have to really change the way they communicate, not just to their employees but to their investors and to their customers as well – by telling people what the big picture is, but also by admitting weaknesses and faults.”

“Content will always be king. And I think what has been missing from the debate from the last eight years during the Bush administration was there wasn’t the content; or if there was content, it was dubious content. I think that that’s the problem that America faces when they look at corporations who need to communicate more accurately and who need to communicate in a more effective and fast manner.”

San Francisco Zoo

Search Terms: San Francisco Zoo, Sam Singer, PRSA’s PR People Awards, Crisis Communication, PRSA

Ken Makovsky, Founder and President of Makovsky and Co., discusses the changing landscape of public relations and how agencies should respond to those changes.

Some of Ken’s VlogViews:

“The word ‘spin’ is going to disappear from the vocabulary of Americans in the near future… I have always hated that word because it has an implication of falsehoods, it’s misleading, it’s slick. We’re in an era coming out of this economic crisis where trust needs to be rebuilt with out financial institutions, with our government, with many businesses, with our banks.”

“[After this election] we are going to have [environmental] federal regulations. And I don’t think these companies are going to have a choice; so at a minimum, one thing they could be doing at this time is educating their employees about what is going to come and that doesn’t take a lot of money.”

“Everybody’s going green. I think that all client programs or nearly all client programs in some way are going to need to communicate that.”

Click Here for More Insights From PR Thought Leader Ken Makovsky

Check out Ken’s Blog My Three Cents
Makovsky and Co

Peter Shankman, CEO of the Geek Factory and the founder of HARO (Help a Reporter Out), discusses how PR practitioners can grow and stay relevant. Recorded at PR News’ Platinum PR awards.

Some of Peter’s VlogViews:

“Press releases are going to die. I think the only reason they are going to stay alive is that they are required by the SEC. I don’t believe that a press release within three to five years will be a viable option for disseminating your news.”

“If you’re not transparent and you’re not truthful with what you are doing in the beginning, you’re going to get caught.”

“In the end, the concept of me me me me me me is starting to go away. What used to be about what can you give me, has really turned into how can I help you?”

The Geek Factory
HARO (Help a Reporter Out)

Search Terms: The Geek Factory, HARO, Help a Reporter Out, Public Relations, Peter Shankman, PR News, PR News’ Platinum PR Awards

Mark Ragan, CEO of Ragan Communications, discusses Ragan’s social media approaches and Ragan’s process of going behind the walls of major companies with Christine Deerin, Divisional VP, West Coast for D S Simon Productions. Recorded at the ebay & Ragan Communications Social Media Revolution Conference.

Some of Mark’s VlogViews:

“We actually go to a company, Ebay, last year was Southwest Airlines, next year we are hoping, coca-cola. And we go behind their walls, and listen to their communicators talk…And I think the attraction to have a hosted event is, how many times do communicators get to go outside of their company or outside of their cubicle to see how other companies do it?”

“I think the thing that is stunning to me because Ragan has been doing social media summits for three years, is how many people still don’t know the basics.”

Ragan Communications

Search Terms: Ragan Communications, Mark Ragan, ebay, Southwest Airlines, social media