What’s New
Two Reynolds clients — BabyBjörn and MD Moms — were prominently featured on Ellen DeGeneres' "Mother's Day" Show. Ellen averages 15 million viewers per week, and her Mother’s Day show is one of her most popular episodes. You can view the segment here.
The Publicity Club of Chicago and The Holmes Group recently honored our firm with awards for PR programs and projects that qualified as among both the best in Chicago and the nation. Our work on behalf of MD Moms, a maker of sunscreen and other lotions for small children, received Holmes’ Bronze SABRE for outstanding national publicity that increased Web traffic and sales. Our work promoting a youth-intervention program for clients Youth Guidance and World Sport Chicago earned a Golden Trumpet, the PCC's highest award. A car seat-safety viral video on behalf of Britax received the PCC's Silver Trumpet.
Salty and unapologetic Greg Hinz, chief political columnist for Crain’s Chicago Business, met recently with our firm and clients from the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF). After 45 minutes of tough questions, followed by a lot of extra digging, Hinz wrote: An Illinois pension plan that actually works… I don't want to believe it either… But after a few days of calling around, I can’t get anybody to say anything bad about (IMRF)... What I’m hearing is that good things have happened at IMRF, things that lawmakers might keep in mind as they try to staunch the bleeding (of other public pensions) elsewhere..." Click here to read the rest of Greg Hinz’ column.
Bebe Au Lait, the country’s leading provider of nursing covers for new moms, retained our firm for PR services. Bebe au Lait joins a prestigious roster that includes: BabyBjörn, Britax, MD Moms and Medela.
In Our Opinion...
It's Not Who You Know...
I’m asked often by clients or prospective clients about the depth of my relationships with editors, producers and reporters. They heard from some practitioners that being BFFs with a journalist will somehow lead to glowing stories. I wish PR counselors would stop saying that. Ninety-nine percent of the time, it simply isn’t true. Besides, it demeans what many of us do for a living.
Case in point: I'm related to a network news producer. I’m also very good friends (though not BFFs) with a reporter for a network morning show. Each has worked with me on stories — but neither did so because I was a buddy. In fact, both probably reject more of my ideas than they accept. The truth is, reporters have a job to do: uncover interesting, educational or entertaining stories and deliver them to their respective audiences. No reporter will stay credible — or keep his job — if he develops stories that aren’t important, just to help his friends.
