Copper State of Mind: public relations, media, and marketing in Arizona

The Olympic Games are not just international sporting events. They have become a platform for discussions about branding, sponsorship, sportsmanship, politics, nationalism, and many other important topics.

In this episode, Abbie Fink and Dr. Adrian McIntyre share their thoughts on the Olympics and the lessons we can all learn about teamwork, mental health, and striving to do better together by facing our challenges with grace.

Read Abbie Fink's blog post for this episode: "The Olympics is About More Than Athletics"

Additional Resources

• "Business Lessons We Can Learn From the #Olympics" by Abbie Fink
• "The Olympics – Bringing the World Together" by Abbie Fink
• "Olympiad: Just Another Day For PR Pros" by Scott Hanson

Follow the podcast

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow Copper State of Mind in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other podcast app. We publish new episodes every other Friday. Just pick your preferred podcast player from this link, open the app, and click the button to “Follow” the show: https://copperstateofmind.show/listen

Need to hire a PR firm?

We demystify the process and give you some helpful advice in Episode 19: "How to Hire a Public Relations Agency in Arizona: Insider Tips for Executives and Marketing Directors."

Credits

Copper State of Mind, hosted by Abbie Fink and Dr. Adrian McIntyre, is brought to you by HMA Public Relations, a full-service public relations firm in Phoenix, AZ.

The show is recorded and produced by the team at Speed of Story, a strategic communications consultancy for PR agencies and marketing firms, and distributed by PHX.fm, the leading independent B2B podcast network in Arizona.

If you like this podcast, you might also enjoy PRGN Presents: PR News & Views from the Public Relations Global Network, featuring conversations about strategic communications, marketing, and PR from PRGN, "the world’s local public relations agency.”

Common sense is increasingly uncommon. And when it comes to the media, there’s a lot of common nonsense that circulates all too easily, making it harder and harder for ordinary, well-intentioned folks to find reliable sources of accurate information about the issues we face today. “Media literacy” is more important – and more elusive – than ever.

In this episode, Abbie Fink and Dr. Adrian McIntyre are joined by Ilana Lowery of Common Sense Media, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization committed to helping kids and families thrive in a world of media and technology.

Read Abbie Fink's blog post for this episode: "Is It Okay To Be Skeptical When Consuming The News?"

Featured Guest

Ilana Lowery is Arizona Director of Common Sense. The former editor-in-chief of the Phoenix Business Journal, she retired from the daily business publication in June 2018 after 23 years as a key leader. The Chicago native also served as managing editor of the paper. She joined as a reporter and projects editor in 1995. As a reporter she covered nonprofits, finance, real estate, retail, travel, aviation, tourism, and sports business. Prior to the Business Journal, she was an editor for Independent Newspapers Inc., a community newspaper chain based in Scottsdale. Before moving to the Valley in 1989, Ilana served as a reporter and editor for Pulitzer Newspapers in Chicago.

Ilana is also an associate professor at Arizona State University's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications. She recently served on the advisory board for the Jewish News of Greater Phoenix and is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, the Arizona Press Club, and the Arizona Newspaper Association, which in 2015 presented her with the Order of the Silver Key, an honor for journalists who have been in the profession for 25 years or more, contributed to the journalism profession both locally and nationally, and inspired fellow journalists.

Additional Resources

• "Get Smart About News" by Scott Hanson
• "How harmful is social media?" by Marissa Baker
• "News Literacy 101" by Common Sense Media
• "News & Media Literacy" by Common Sense Media

Follow the podcast

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow Copper State of Mind in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other podcast app. We publish new episodes every other Friday. Just pick your preferred podcast player from this link, open the app, and click the button to “Follow” the show: https://copperstateofmind.show/listen

Need to hire a PR firm?

We demystify the process and give you some helpful advice in Episode 19: "How to Hire a Public Relations Agency in Arizona: Insider Tips for Executives and Marketing Directors."

Credits

Copper State of Mind, hosted by Abbie Fink and Dr. Adrian McIntyre, is brought to you by HMA Public Relations, a full-service public relations firm in Phoenix, AZ.

The show is recorded and produced by the team at Speed of Story, a strategic communications consultancy for PR agencies and marketing firms, and distributed by PHX.fm, the leading independent B2B podcast network in Arizona.

If you like this podcast, you might also enjoy PRGN Presents: PR News & Views from the Public Relations Global Network, featuring conversations about strategic communications, marketing, and PR from PRGN, "the world’s local public relations agency.”

It's more important than ever to become "news literate" and to develop the critical thinking skills needed to evaluate the sources of our information.

In this episode, Abbie Fink and Dr. Adrian McIntyre talk about news literacy, "fake news," and the responsibility we all have to be smart, active consumers of news and information.

Read Abbie Fink's blog post for this episode: "Why it is Important to be News Literate"

Additional Resources

• "How To Combat Misinformation"
•  "How Can Games Enhance News Literacy?"
• "What is 'News Literacy' in This Age of 'Fake News'?"
• "Trusted News Sources"

Follow the podcast

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow Copper State of Mind in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other podcast app. We publish new episodes every other Friday. Just pick your preferred podcast player from this link, open the app, and click the button to “Follow” the show: https://copperstateofmind.show/listen

Need to hire a PR firm?

We demystify the process and give you some helpful advice in Episode 19: "How to Hire a Public Relations Agency in Arizona: Insider Tips for Executives and Marketing Directors."

Credits

Copper State of Mind, hosted by Abbie Fink and Dr. Adrian McIntyre, is brought to you by HMA Public Relations, a full-service public relations firm in Phoenix, AZ.

The show is recorded and produced by the team at Speed of Story, a strategic communications consultancy for PR agencies and marketing firms, and distributed by PHX.fm, the leading independent B2B podcast network in Arizona.

If you like this podcast, you might also enjoy PRGN Presents: PR News & Views from the Public Relations Global Network, featuring conversations about strategic communications, marketing, and PR from PRGN, "the world’s local public relations agency.”

Whether you're a celebrity, a CEO, or a regular ol' person just going about your business, there's a good chance you've had to apologize at least once or twice in your life.

In this episode, Abbie Fink and Dr. Adrian McIntyre talk about the art of apologizing in a sincere and meaningful way -- and why so many people (ourselves included) struggle to do this well.

Read Abbie Fink's blog post for this episode: "Is it Enough to Just Say You’re Sorry?"

Additional Resources

• "What are the Pitfalls that Businesses Face When Engaging in Social Media?" by Abbie Fink
• "Crisis communication in the time of YouTube" by Annelise Krafft
• "United Airlines Dog Disaster" by Breanne Krager
• "H&M Under Fire" by Breanne Krager
• "A Tip for Tuesday – Talk Ain’t Cheap!" by Alison Bailin

Follow the podcast

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow Copper State of Mind in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other podcast app. We publish new episodes every other Friday. Just pick your preferred podcast player from this link, open the app, and click the button to “Follow” the show: https://copperstateofmind.show/listen

Need to hire a PR firm?

We demystify the process and give you some helpful advice in Episode 19: "How to Hire a Public Relations Agency in Arizona: Insider Tips for Executives and Marketing Directors."

Credits

Copper State of Mind, hosted by Abbie Fink and Dr. Adrian McIntyre, is brought to you by HMA Public Relations, a full-service public relations firm in Phoenix, AZ.

The show is recorded and produced by the team at Speed of Story, a strategic communications consultancy for PR agencies and marketing firms, and distributed by PHX.fm, the leading independent B2B podcast network in Arizona.

If you like this podcast, you might also enjoy PRGN Presents: PR News & Views from the Public Relations Global Network, featuring conversations about strategic communications, marketing, and PR from PRGN, "the world’s local public relations agency.”

When a company has a problem, a breakdown, a crisis -- something goes wrong and the whole world is talking about it -- it's often said that they have a PR problem. But what if that whole situation could have been avoided? And what if including your communications pros earlier in the conversation could have prevented all of that? 

In this episode, Abbie Fink and Dr. Adrian McIntyre talk about why executives should make sure their marketing, communications, and public relations team has a seat at the table.

Read Abbie Fink's blog post for this episode: "Why You Want Your Public Relations Team at the Table"

Additional Resources

• "PR Problem or Operational Issue?" by Abbie Fink
• "What is PR?" by Andrea Meyer
• "Should We Be Educating Our Clients About Public Relations?" by Abbie Fink
• Common Myths in Public Relations" by Marissa Baker
• Related Episode: "Community Relations: Giving Back is Good Business"

Follow the podcast

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow Copper State of Mind in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other podcast app. We publish new episodes every other Friday. Just pick your preferred podcast player from this link, open the app, and click the button to “Follow” the show: https://copperstateofmind.show/listen

Need to hire a PR firm?

We demystify the process and give you some helpful advice in Episode 19: "How to Hire a Public Relations Agency in Arizona: Insider Tips for Executives and Marketing Directors."

Credits

Copper State of Mind, hosted by Abbie Fink and Dr. Adrian McIntyre, is brought to you by HMA Public Relations, a full-service public relations firm in Phoenix, AZ.

The show is recorded and produced by the team at Speed of Story, a strategic communications consultancy for PR agencies and marketing firms, and distributed by PHX.fm, the leading independent B2B podcast network in Arizona.

If you like this podcast, you might also enjoy PRGN Presents: PR News & Views from the Public Relations Global Network, featuring conversations about strategic communications, marketing, and PR from PRGN, "the world’s local public relations agency.”

In this episode, Abbie Fink and Dr. Adrian McIntyre discuss the pitfalls and possibilities of social media for marketing and corporate communications in 2021.

Someone posed the question the other day—are you really a business if you don’t engage on social media? Good question. Social media connects us with the world at large. Social media can replace email. For many people, social media is their only source of news. And it is no doubt a worthwhile tool for any company that wants to engage with its customers and potential customers. Or is it?

There is not a day that goes by that an ill-timed Tweet or insensitive Facebook post sends a business’ social media team into overdrive, requiring them to apologize, rephrase or re-do in order to take back control of the narrative. Any business using social media must do everything it can to ensure the right message reaches the right audience at the right time—and for the right reasons. When this fails, major problems will arise, and the negative impact will probably be amplified by the ability of social media posts to spread rapidly to an increasingly connected, global audience.

Read Abbie Fink's blog post for this episode: "Is Social Media a Blessing or Curse for Corporate Communications?"

Additional Resources

• "Should your CEO be on Social Media?" by Abbie Fink
• "How to Talk to Your Audience on Social Media" by Autumn Jarrett
• "Social Media Campaigns Showing Authentic Humor" by Marissa Baker 
• "How to Build a Crisis Management Strategy for Social Media" by Justin Liggin
• "Social Media Posts Matter" by Scott Hanson
• More articles on social media by the HMA Public Relations team

Follow the podcast

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow Copper State of Mind in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other podcast app. We publish new episodes every other Friday. Just pick your preferred podcast player from this link, open the app, and click the button to “Follow” the show: https://copperstateofmind.show/listen

Need to hire a PR firm?

We demystify the process and give you some helpful advice in Episode 19: "How to Hire a Public Relations Agency in Arizona: Insider Tips for Executives and Marketing Directors."

Credits

Copper State of Mind, hosted by Abbie Fink and Dr. Adrian McIntyre, is brought to you by HMA Public Relations, a full-service public relations firm in Phoenix, AZ.

The show is recorded and produced by the team at Speed of Story, a strategic communications consultancy for PR agencies and marketing firms, and distributed by PHX.fm, the leading independent B2B podcast network in Arizona.

If you like this podcast, you might also enjoy PRGN Presents: PR News & Views from the Public Relations Global Network, featuring conversations about strategic communications, marketing, and PR from PRGN, "the world’s local public relations agency.”

We’ve all heard that it’s not what you know, it’s who you know. But when it comes to the media, especially in today’s contentious political climate, it’s hard to know who to know and even who to trust … let alone how to get them to trust you.

In this episode, Abbie Fink and Dr. Adrian McIntyre talk about why it's important to build relationships with the media and how to do it.

If you want to earn media coverage and build real relationships with journalists and editors, you need to learn what makes each media outlet unique. What kinds of stories do they publish? Does a particular journalist have a specific beat? Is there any way to make your story more interesting and relevant to them? Find out what topics they cover, and don’t waste their time with ideas that aren’t a good fit. 

Follow the journalists and media outlets you want to build relationships with on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, and other social media platforms. Read their articles, watch their news reports, and listen to them on the radio.

Pro tip: use private Twitter lists to organize your feed and set up Google Alerts to get notified when relevant articles are published. Leave thoughtful, engaging comments when appropriate.

Above all, be respectful of their time and their deadlines. Focus on what you can give, not what you can get. And remember that the best time to build relationship with the media is before you need them.

Read Alison Bailin's blog post for this episode: "How Do You Create an Authentic Relationship With the Media?"

Additional Resources

• #MediaMonday - searchable profiles of Arizona journalists published weekly by HMA Public Relations (2010-present)
• "Will Old Fashioned Media Relations Ever Return?" by Scott Hanson
• "Twitter is a Valuable Tool for Today’s Journalists" by Abbie Fink

Follow the podcast

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow Copper State of Mind in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other podcast app. We publish new episodes every other Friday. Just pick your preferred podcast player from this link, open the app, and click the button to “Follow” the show: https://copperstateofmind.show/listen

Need to hire a PR firm?

We demystify the process and give you some helpful advice in Episode 19: "How to Hire a Public Relations Agency in Arizona: Insider Tips for Executives and Marketing Directors."

Credits

Copper State of Mind, hosted by Abbie Fink and Dr. Adrian McIntyre, is brought to you by HMA Public Relations, a full-service public relations firm in Phoenix, AZ.

The show is recorded and produced by the team at Speed of Story, a strategic communications consultancy for PR agencies and marketing firms, and distributed by PHX.fm, the leading independent B2B podcast network in Arizona.

If you like this podcast, you might also enjoy PRGN Presents: PR News & Views from the Public Relations Global Network, featuring conversations about strategic communications, marketing, and PR from PRGN, "the world’s local public relations agency.”

Is "influencer marketing" new? Do influencers make traditional public relations and marketing communications obsolete? These are questions Abbie Fink and Dr. Adrian McIntyre discuss in today's episode.

Merriam-Webster defines influence as "the power or capacity of causing an effect in indirect or intangible ways." In marketing, the use of "influencers" existed long before the digital era. Any celebrity, athlete, public figure, or scientific expert who could influence a buyer's decision was (and is) considered an influencer.

But the rise of social media influencers with their own audience or following -- usually on platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, etc -- has begun to change the way companies and marketing agencies alike think about the marketing mix. Influencer marketing is a strategy and a tactic, not unlike other marketing communications tactics. You still have to have a good story to tell, good content to share, and a good understanding of your target audience.

Read Abbie Fink's blog post for this episode: "Does Influencer Marketing Make Traditional Marketing Communications Obsolete?"

Additional Resources

• "Is Influencer Marketing Just the New Celebrity Endorsement?" by Marissa Baker
• "Reaching Gen Z in 2021" by Justin Liggin
• "Mega-Influencers vs. Micro-Influencers" by Autumn Jarrett
• "Insights from Influencer Report" by Alison Bailin
• "Influencer Marketing 101 – Making Powerful Connections" by Rachel Brockway

Follow the podcast

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow Copper State of Mind in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other podcast app. We publish new episodes every other Friday. Just pick your preferred podcast player from this link, open the app, and click the button to “Follow” the show: https://copperstateofmind.show/listen

Need to hire a PR firm?

We demystify the process and give you some helpful advice in Episode 19: "How to Hire a Public Relations Agency in Arizona: Insider Tips for Executives and Marketing Directors."

Credits

Copper State of Mind, hosted by Abbie Fink and Dr. Adrian McIntyre, is brought to you by HMA Public Relations, a full-service public relations firm in Phoenix, AZ.

The show is recorded and produced by the team at Speed of Story, a strategic communications consultancy for PR agencies and marketing firms, and distributed by PHX.fm, the leading independent B2B podcast network in Arizona.

If you like this podcast, you might also enjoy PRGN Presents: PR News & Views from the Public Relations Global Network, featuring conversations about strategic communications, marketing, and PR from PRGN, "the world’s local public relations agency.”

Giving back to the community is good for business. Whether through cash contributions, board or volunteer service, businesses that make a commitment to community will reap the benefits.

Beyond the buzzwords like CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) and ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance), community relations is an essential part of public relations practice -- and a key corporate strategy for "do-good programming" that is mutually beneficial for the company and the community.

In this episode, Abbie Fink and Dr. Adrian McIntyre talk about the importance of community relations and giving back. Why should business leaders care about community relations? Is this a "nice-to-have" or a "need-to-have"? What are some best practices and common mistakes to avoid?

Read Abbie Fink's blog post for this episode: "Should Your Business Have a ‘Do Good’ Community Relations Strategy?"

Additional Resources

• Community Relations at HMA Public Relations
• "What is Community?" by Abbie Fink 
• "How to Step Up a Community Relations Effort," by Scott Hanson
• "What Does Your Community Really Think of Your Business?" by Marissa Baker

Follow the podcast

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow Copper State of Mind in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other podcast app. We publish new episodes every other Friday. Just pick your preferred podcast player from this link, open the app, and click the button to “Follow” the show: https://copperstateofmind.show/listen

Need to hire a PR firm?

We demystify the process and give you some helpful advice in Episode 19: "How to Hire a Public Relations Agency in Arizona: Insider Tips for Executives and Marketing Directors."

Credits

Copper State of Mind, hosted by Abbie Fink and Dr. Adrian McIntyre, is brought to you by HMA Public Relations, a full-service public relations firm in Phoenix, AZ.

The show is recorded and produced by the team at Speed of Story, a strategic communications consultancy for PR agencies and marketing firms, and distributed by PHX.fm, the leading independent B2B podcast network in Arizona.

If you like this podcast, you might also enjoy PRGN Presents: PR News & Views from the Public Relations Global Network, featuring conversations about strategic communications, marketing, and PR from PRGN, "the world’s local public relations agency.”

Whether you are President of the United States or the president of a small business, managing media relations and fielding questions from journalists requires careful planning, preparation, and practice. There are tried and true communication tips and techniques everyone can use whether you are being interviewed by the media, addressing your investors, or communicating internally with your employees.

In this episode, Abbie Fink and Dr. Adrian McIntyre share media training strategies and examples to help YOU prepare to meet the press.

Additional Resources

• "Win the Press Conference" by Scott Hanson
• "What is Media Training?" by Abbie Fink 
• "What are Key Messages?" by Alison Bailin

Follow the podcast

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow Copper State of Mind in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other podcast app. We publish new episodes every other Friday. Just pick your preferred podcast player from this link, open the app, and click the button to “Follow” the show: https://copperstateofmind.show/listen

Need to hire a PR firm?

We demystify the process and give you some helpful advice in Episode 19: "How to Hire a Public Relations Agency in Arizona: Insider Tips for Executives and Marketing Directors."

Credits

Copper State of Mind, hosted by Abbie Fink and Dr. Adrian McIntyre, is brought to you by HMA Public Relations, a full-service public relations firm in Phoenix, AZ.

The show is recorded and produced by the team at Speed of Story, a strategic communications consultancy for PR agencies and marketing firms, and distributed by PHX.fm, the leading independent B2B podcast network in Arizona.

If you like this podcast, you might also enjoy PRGN Presents: PR News & Views from the Public Relations Global Network, featuring conversations about strategic communications, marketing, and PR from PRGN, "the world’s local public relations agency.”