October 2016

Advanced Writing & Brand Journalism

 

Who: Mark Ragan, CEO Ragan Communications, Inc.

When:  Tuesday, November 15 (8:00am – 4:30pm)

Where: Waterfront Banquet and Conference Centre, Hamilton

Cost: $345 (CPRS and IABC Members)

 

 

Mark Ragan, Publisher and CEO of Ragan Communications, Inc. will be leading CPRS and IABC members through a two-part workshop on Advanced Writing and Brand Journalism which will include successful Canadian PR experiences and case studies.

CPRS Hamilton is expecting over 100 practitioners from across Ontario to participate in this workshop. Register today!

 

Workshop Agenda

 

8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. – Registration and Continental Breakfast

8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – Advanced Writing and Editing

12:00 p.m. – 1 p.m. – Lunch and Networking

1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.  – Brand Journalism

 

Session 1: Advanced Writing & Editing
Important messages get printed, streamed, e-mailed and Tweeted. Whether internal or external your audiences are reading, watching, listening-talking back. Even the bosses have discovered the power of storytelling! Your words, and how you present them, are more important than ever.

 

Session 2: Brand Journalism

 

Are you ready for brand journalism?

 

Brand journalism combines real reporting and lively storytelling (that’s the journalism), with your organization’s experts and experiences (that’s the branding). A few organizations have figured out a new way to tell their stories, using the tried-and-true methods of journalism to engage their audiences and boost their competitive advantage.

 

In this session, Mark Ragan will share the principles of brand journalism and show you how you can apply them to your own organization.

 

Mark Ragan (Bio)

Mark Ragan is the Publisher and CEO of Ragan Communications, Inc., the nation’s leading provider of corporate communication information and training. For 15 years, Mark covered Congress, the White House and national political campaigns for Copley News Service, States News Service, New York Newsday, the San Diego Union-Tribune and Insight Magazine.

Our Sponsors

 

CPRS Hamilton and Ragan Communications, Inc. thank our generous sponsors for making this event possible.

 

Gold

The McMaster-Syracuse Master of Communications Management (MCM) is Canada’s leading graduate program for communications executives, educators and entrepreneurs. Our curriculum combines core MBA and Strategic Communications, and our hybrid model allows you to apply your learning while you continue working.

Discover the MCM advantage today.

Contact: Sevigny@McMaster.ca
Bronze

Locomotion Communications & Public Relations

PR and Influencers: On Transparency, Disclosure and Trust

On September 28, 2016 the Canadian Public Relations Society (Toronto) kicked off its Annual General Meeting with a panel discussion titled, “PR and Influencers: On Transparency, Disclosure and Trust.” The panel included PR professionals and successful social media personalities offering their take on the importance of trust, and what it means to be an influencer.

With the rise of the social media influencer, it’s never been easier to reach an audience. Rather than relying on expensive celebrity endorsements, or extensive traditional media campaigns, brands can promote their products and services through social media-savvy individuals- with incredible results. For the public relations community however, this gives rise to a new challenge: how to build and maintain trust between influencers and their followers to the benefit of your client?

CPRS Toronto welcomed Jennifer Waxman Stallman of the popular Facebook goup, “Entertain Kids on a Dime,” Danielle Finestone of “TO Foodies,” and social media/digital marketing guru Sheldon Levine. The panel was moderated by former CPRS president and celebrated digital marketing expert, Martin Waxman.

During the discussion, the influencers shared their experiences using social media to build business. As a successful mom blogger, Jennifer Waxman Stallman highlighted the importance of trust among her clientele- mothers looking for entertainment, care, and products for their children through Facebook. “One woman posted an advertisement for necklaces she was selling around Christmas, and didn’t get a single response. I re-shared her post and she was fielding messages into the night,” she said. “I explained to her that they don’t think she’s a scam- it’s just I have their trust.”

Danielle Finestone launched TO Foodies through Instagram, and said she grew her following through a very grassroots approach: reposting, asking for tags, and posting and moderating the group herself. “Foodie culture in the city was focused on the high-end. We found a void and filled it, and we’ve maintained that reputation.”

With Advertising Standards Canada changing its disclosure laws next year, Sheldon reinforced the importance of full disclosure on the part of influencers when promoting free product from a brand. He also shared five tips for success for PR professionals working with influencers, which included creating a clear and realistic definition of success, and working together to create content.

Leandra Grant (leandrakgrant@gmail.com) is an independent blogger, PR writer and communications consultant who regularly works with Milestones Public Relations, Tuni Talks, and various publications.