We’ve talked about how to deal with a communications issue or crisis. But it’s equally important to understand how to prevent topics from becoming issues and issues from becoming crises. Welcome to the world of issues management. What is issues management, exactly? Like many communications principles, the idea of issues management is a simple one,… Read More »
The media landscape is evolving. The way consumers absorb news is much different today than it was even five years ago. We’re now living in an era of instant information; the days of the daily news cycle are fading, if not already behind us. Just look at the people in any public space—chances are that… Read More »
You’re about to make a big announcement. It’s something important and practical that will benefit many, and something that your organization has put a lot of time and effort into. It’s big news. You’ve planned a press conference to let everyone know about it – but how do you get reporters to show up? A… Read More »
Some people think you only need a crisis communications plan when a crisis presents itself. Those people are wrong. Creating a plan of action when there is no crisis to speak of will make sure that if and when your nonprofit organization experiences a crisis, you’ll be ready. When it comes right down to it,… Read More »
Media events are important and popular to attract publicity. And there are many potential reasons for a nonprofit to hold a media event, including: announcing the release of a report with some ground-breaking new findings; celebrating the opening of a new building that will offer housing to low-income people; showcasing the talent of your best… Read More »
Most communicators in nonprofit organizations understand the importance of data and reporting back to our stakeholders about what we’re doing and how our programs are succeeding. We have to communicate not only our outputs: how many people we served; how many shelter beds we offered; or how many meals we served. We also need to… Read More »
Whether you’ve been a part of #NPMC Twitter chat from the beginning, or dropped into the conversation a few times, you’ve probably noticed that many of the chat topics focus on digital marketing and communications. We’ve discussed everything from social media and blogging to websites and Google tools. But what about offline communication channels? Many… Read More »
Media relations have always been an important part of nonprofit marketing and communications. Unfortunately, they can easily become lost in a jumble of responsibilities and not given the attention they need. A recent project at work led me to start paying more attention to media relations. Over the past few weeks, I spent time sorting… Read More »
Seneca Garber is an arts enthusiast whose background in education influences his approach to marketing. Currently Director of Marketing at Seattle Chamber Music Society (a role he’s held for the past two years), Seneca previously worked at the Seattle Opera in the education department. “I always loved the arts but knew I wasn’t going to… Read More »
Throughout my career, I’ve attended professional development sessions and courses about working with spokespeople, particularly in the area of media training. I’ve watched TV interviews with the uncomfortable spokesperson or listened to radio PSAs that make no clear connection between a cause and the spokesperson. In some cases, the right media training can make all… Read More »