R.I. Media Tour Series!

Win Danielson Uncategorized

Join PRSA/SENE for a different kind of tour around Rhode Island.

Over the course of three Wednesdays this fall, we’ll be getting an inside look at some of Rhode Island’s preeminent media outlets across print, digital and radio mediums. We’ll hear from reporters, editors, and other influencers about the latest endeavors of each outlet, and how we – as PR pros – can enhance our relationships with the media.

Dates and Locations:
–  Wednesday, October 2 from 5:30 – 7:30 pm: iHeartRadio
–  Wednesday, October 9 from 5:30 – 7:30 pm: Rhode Island Monthly
–  Wednesday, October 16 from 5:30 – 7:30 pm: Providence Journal

Attend:
–  PRSA members: Individual site visit: $15 each / Bundle discount: $36 (includes all three site visits)
–  Non-members: Individual site visit: $20 each / Bundle discount: $51 (includes all three site visits)
–  PRSSA members: Individual site visit: $10 each / Bundle discount: $21 (includes all three site visits)

Registration:
iHeartRadio only
Rhode Island Monthly only
Providence Journal only
OR Bundle – all three site visits

Space is limited at each media site. Register today!

RELEASE: PRSA/SENE 2019 Board of Directors Announced

Win Danielson Uncategorized 5,869 Comments

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Southeastern New England Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA/SENE) has announced its eight-member Board of Directors for 2019.

Christina Robbio of Lincoln, Rhode Island, has assumed the role of board president for 2019. She is the Director of Communications and Social Media for the Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau.

“It is a true privilege to serve as President of the PRSA/SENE chapter this year with along with a group of dedicated professionals serving on the board,” Robbio said.

Joining Robbio as returning PRSA/SENE Board members are:

• President-Elect/Treasurer: Giselle Mahoney – Account Executive, RDW Group
• Immediate Past President/Secretary: Kimberly Fraser – Corporate Communications Manager, IGT
• Conference Co-Chair: Sarah Dell – Manager of Public Affairs and Strategic Communications, Advocacy Solutions
• Membership Chair/Conference Co-Chair: Michael Masseur – Director-Public Relations, RDW Group
• PR/Communications Co-Chair: Jason Cunningham – Director of Public Relations, Centerbrook Architects & Planners
• Programming Chair/PRSSA Liaison: Kyrie Perry – Chief Marketing Officer, RIHousing

PRSA/SENE also welcomes Winfield Danielson to the board of directors for the first time as a PR/Communications co-chair. Danielson is the public affairs officer at the Providence VA Medical Center.

The PRSA/SENE chapter annually promotes a number of professional development and industry networking opportunities. This year PRSA/SENE is the host chapter for the PRSA Northeast District’s annual conference, which will be held June 7 at the Providence Marriott Downtown. For more information on the event, please visit www.prsanortheast.org/conference/.

Click here for the complete release.

Event Recap: R.I. Food Bank Volunteer Event

Giselle Mahoney Event Recap, Networking, News, Uncategorized 297 Comments

Our PRSA/SENE community was proud this December to lend our support and time to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank during our 2018 Annual Meeting.

We started the morning off with a brief look at the PRSA/SENE Chapter year in review; heard some Food Bank insights from its Director of Communications, Hugh Minor; and then get to the good stuff – rolling up our sleeves and together packaging more than 3,072 food items. The bags went to support 192 Rhode Island school-age children during the winter break. Our entire group was grateful for the opportunity to contribute to such a worthy cause, and we thank the RI Community Food Bank for accommodating us. Check out photos on Facebook!

2018 Year in Review:
- Annual Report
- Meet the PRSA/SENE 2019 Board of Directors
- See our 2018 event recaps

Event Recap: Communicating Controversy

Giselle Mahoney Best Practices, Event Recap, Networking, News , , , , , , , , , , , , , 2,763 Comments

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On October 10th, we hosted our Communicating Controversy event at Save The Bay in Providence. The night welcomed four panelists who shared their experiences in dealing with crisis in their everyday professions. Dan McGowan, the Digital Reporter for WPRI 12, was a fantastic moderator who posed engaging questions to panelist.

The night welcomed four presenters:

Key takeaways:

  • You have to monitor social media - explained Chris Hunter, who also talked about how our society is always online. Social media is the best way to listen and find out what’s going on. Keeping this in mind, he also referenced how you need to be careful with your words and use language that resonates with all especially when controversy is involved.
  • Always have a plan and follow it - the speakers told stories about how in their work experiences your first instinct is not always the best one. Before a crisis occurs, its best practice is to create a plan, communicate it with colleagues, and practice it.
  • Try to provide as much information as possible - Kristine Hendrickson mentioned that we need to be credible and authentic while balancing privacy and legal guidelines.
  • Let’s work together to do the best job possible - shared Cindy Sabato. Reporters as well as communications professionals have jobs to do. In collaborating with one another, the correct information can be shared with the public each step of the way.
  • Break down the information so it isn’t jargon - all four panelists referenced how they simplify their messages so the information is clearly understood by all. Specifically, John King deals with this every day in explaining complex concepts as a scientist in dealing with climate and oceanography.

Special thanks to our attendees, panelists, moderator, and Save The Bay for hosting us!

Event Recap: Pitch Perfect

Giselle Mahoney Best Practices, Event Recap, Networking , , , , , , , , , , , , 233 Comments

On August 7th, we hosted our “Pitch Perfect” event at AQUA at the Providence Marriott Hotel. Kimberly Fraser, our fearless Chapter President, led an informal Q&A session with local media professionals sharing their backgrounds and advice on the “do’s” and “don’ts” of pitching.

The night welcomed five presenters:

  • Scott MacKay – Political Analyst, Rhode Island Public Radio
  • Kate Nagle – News Editor, GoLocalProv
  • Tracy Slater and Brooke Rainville – Social Media Manager and Community Outreach, Providence Moms Blog
  • Elyse Major – Editor in Chief, Providence Media
  • Whitman Littlefield, Social Media and Innovation Editor, Providence Journal

Key takeaways:

  • It’s all about relationships – strongly emphasized by Scott MacKay, all presenters agreed that building relationships with reporters is key to knowing how each of them likes to be pitched and what their core interested are.
  • There are no “golden rules” of pitching – all five of the speakers preferred to receive their pitches in different ways. The better you know individual preferences, the better your chances of success (see above “relationships”).
  • Photos or no photos? – Elyse Major shared that she is a visual thinker and likes to write stories when she can picture it told through a photograph. While Whitman Littlefield relayed that the Providence Journal endeavors to take its own photos whenever possible. Overall, it was agreed that photos can help sell your pitch, even if they are not used in the end.
  • And what about attachments? – no surprise here with some yes, some no. Kate Nagle suggested the most popular compromise, which was to provide your press release in the body of your email and also as an attachment. This way, the reporter can opt for whichever approach is best for them.
  • Phone or email? – in an increasingly digital world and extremely tight deadlines, all reporters except for Scott MacKay preferred emails. (Note: you can still email your pitch to Scott, just expect he will likely be calling, not emailing, you back!)
  • Know your audience – as Tracy Slater and Brooke Rainville reminded us, always know the target audience of the reporter/media professional you are pitching; and make sure your topic fits with the reporter’s area of expertise and the nature of the publication as a whole.

Special thanks to our attendees, presenters, and AQUA for hosting us!