The Lakeview Blog

When public relations is discussed – in newspapers, on Twitter, in coffee shops – conversation most commonly  focusses on the latest public disaster, ethical practices, or how someone needs the magic wand of PR (if only there was one) to promote something for them. What is less-often talked about is what goes on behind closed doors and the role that PR practitioners play in an organization’s decision-making process. One of the key tenets that I hold to be true of the job of PR is that we must always provide our best possible advice. But what does that mean exactly and how does that play out in the boardroom? In my experience, providing my best advice means first that I have to understand the business of my client or employer, know what the bottom line is and how the organization plans to achieve it. I have to know whether staff is engaged in the business and what clients/audiences think about the organization. Next, I must be able to articulate this knowledge in co...

As a small company, we understand the challenges of trying to conduct business while having to handle your own communication. There are never enough hours in a day. Let us help by telling us #1PRthing Have you ever thought, if only I had someone who could do _________; it would really help?  We’re offering to do that #1PRthing. In the coming weeks, we’d like to help a few businesses or nonprofits with one communication-type activity. Because this is offered at no cost, there are a few rules. It has to be PR/communication related and can include graphic design. It has to be something that we can finish quickly (i.e. within a few days or weeks.) We cannot guarantee that we can take on every request but will complete every request we accept at a deadline agreed to by both parties. Offer will end at a time of our choosing. Email us a short outline of the work you need (a paragraph or two is sufficient) and the deadline you have in mind. Be sure to include yo...

On my first day in my public relations program, the prof said something along the lines of: “If you’re taking this program because you like people, you’re here for the wrong reason.”  I was shocked. After all, I like(d) people. What he meant, I’ve come to understand, is that real PR isn’t the PR of Samantha Jones. It isn’t about drinks and parties and reclining with your feet on your desk. It is about people and relationships and continuous learning. There is likely no term more fraught than public relations. You’ve probably heard something along the lines of: “That was just smoke and mirrors; it was just PR.” Historically, there is a lot of truth in that statement. PR is an ancient practice. From the Caesar planning his grand return to Rome to Freud’s nephew using psychology to encourage women to smoke (Yikes to those “torches of freedom!), public relations hasn’t always been used with the purest of intentions. As PR practitioners worked to create a profe...