You don't want to miss the Minnesota Women in Communications Professional Development Seminar on Jan. 18. The theme is, Energize Your Writing. There will be a panel discussion on writing for diverse audiences, writing for the web and e-communications, and writing blunders in the new millennium. Check out more details below:

Professional Development Seminar
Energize Your Business with Writing

Topics:

• Writing for Global Audiences: Panel Presentation
  Diversity of the audiences to whom we communicate is expanding. In this fast-paced society we live in, it is sometimes hard to keep up! Our panel of experts will share their insights on writing for global audiences, giving you key take-away concepts and some “dos” and “do nots” to guide you through your writing. Time will be set aside for open dialogue and questions at the end of this session, so be sure to bring those burning questions you have!
  
  
• Writing for the Web and E-Communications
  Is your Web site copy making users feel smart and successful? Or is it driving them away in droves? Customers come to your web site for two main reasons: to gather information and to complete tasks. As Web writers, our job is to make their visits as effortless as possible. From how we organize information on the page to the way we structure a paragraph, the most important question we can ask is: what does the reader need to succeed? In this session, led by Kristina Halvorson, you'll learn:
  

  o How people read online (and why it matters)
  o Top 10 Web writing best practices
  o 4 easy ways to edit your Web copy
  o How a content inventory can change your life

• Writing for New Media: Don't Forget the Basics
  Though we all have had grammar drilled in to our heads from grade school on up, many of us did not learn about the Web and other new media until much later. Join us as Laura French, communications consultant and Star Tribune freelance writer, walks us through the basics of new media and the key writing blunders. You’ll leave this session feeling energized and able to apply the concepts learned to your own writing.

To get more details on speakers and to register, please visit our Web site.

Creativity should be present in every business. On Wednesday, January 17, presents Fred Senn, co-author of "Juicing the Orange," and co-founder of Fallon Worldwide. The presentation is centered on how businesses and professionals can leverage, harness and foster creativity to help them grow. Don’t miss this opportunity to make sure your company is getting it’s fill of “Vitamin C”...the C being for creativity, of course.

Date: Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Agenda:
11:00 a.m. – Registration
11:30 a.m. – Buffet-style lunch
11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. – Announcements/presentation/Q&A
1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. – Adjournment and networking
Location: Metropolitan Ballroom – , Golden Valley
Register: or call

The Star Tribune is has reportedly been sold for $530 million dollars, roughly half of its value of when it was sold for $1.2 billion in 1998. McClatchy Co. sold the paper to Avista Capital Partners in a last minute tax benefit deal.

From Bloomberg:

The sale of the Star-Tribune allows Sacramento, California- based McClatchy to receive $160 million in tax benefits, the company said today in a statement. Avista, a New York-based private equity firm, will retain senior management.

Get the Star Tribune story here.

Roepke Public Relations announced last week that the year ending Dec. 31, 2006 produced strong growth and with growth comes new hires and the promotion of a key team member.

Melissa Bohlig and Michael Soricelli have been hired as assistant account executives and Jessica Sachariason has been promoted to senior account executive.

"We are delighted to welcome Melissa and Mike to our team," said Katherine Roepke, president of Roepke Public Relations. "They will be influential to our success as our firm continues to experience significant growth of new business."

Sachariason started with the firm as an assistant account executive. This is her second promotion in less than three years.

"Jessica is a vital member of our team," said Roepke. "She has been instrumental in securing national editorial coverage for clients. Her media relations skills are superb."

Effective Jan. 1, 2007, Risdall Advertising Agency (RAA)will broaden its organization’s structure to create Risdall Marketing Group, LLC (RMG), which will reflect the variety and multitude of integrated marketing competencies the agency holds.

With ever-changing industry trends, restructuring agency marketing strategies is necessary to create client growth and success.

“What clients are looking for has changed over the past 50 years. With the introduction of the Internet, everyone had to change the way they marketed,” said John Risdall, founder of RAA. “This new structure reconfigured our product offerings and platform as an integrated marketing group. Clients can engage with any of Risdall’s seven marketing companies as they see needed, yet have access to any of the others on a totally integrated basis to create success for their business.”

And success is a tradition that will carry over to RMG from previous years. The most recent Business Journal Top 25 List for web development and design firms ranked Risdall Advertising Interactive (RAAi) at number one. In the Top 25 List for advertising firms, RAA sits at number seven, and the April rankings for the Top 25 PR Firms placed Risdall McKinney Public Relations at number seven.

Including the advertising, interactive and PR services, RMG is comprised of the following divisions:

• Risdall Advertising Agency (RAA), Ted Risdall, President
  
• Risdall Advertising Agency Interactive (RAAi), Ted Risdall, President
  
• Risdall McKinney Public Relations, Rose McKinney, APR, President
  
• Risdall Fundraising Agency, Jerry Seppala, President
  
• Risdall Search Marketing, Jennifer Risdall, President
  
• Risdall Sandstrom Media Works, Jim Sandstrom, President
  
• Risdall Marketing Institute, Kevin Deshler, President

In addition to four of the division presidents listed above, RMG board members include:

• John Risdall – vice chairman, CEO and COO, RMG; chairman, RAA
  
• Ted Risdall – chairman, RMG
  
• Tom Wilson – president, RMG; executive vice president, chief connectivity officer, RAA
  
• Terri Lee – executive vice president, account supervisor, RAA
  
• Rose McKinney
  
• Jennifer Risdall
  
• Jim Sandstrom
  

Merry Christmas to all MNPR Blog readers. Hope you have a relaxing and joyous holiday season!

-Ryan

Yamamoto Moss Mackenzie took home three American Design Awards last month, including first prize for The Can Mailing, a corporate identity design, second prize for The Wood Postcard, a flyer/postcard and second prize for Dead Presidents, an invitation design.

"As this is a design award, it hardly makes sense to put words to our enthusiasm," says Tim Naylor, co-creative director, Yamamoto Moss Mackenzie. "But, as a copywriter, I can’t stop myself. We’re honored to be included amongst the unusual, interesting and arresting design winners featured in the American Design Awards this year."

The American Design Awards, based in San Diego , value the importance of eye-catching design pieces, whether in print form or on the web. Twenty design categories are open for competition semi-annually. For more information and to see Yamamoto Moss Mackenzie’s winning pieces and others, visit www.americandesignawards.com/.

Plumbers and Paparazzi Photographers Unite!!!

The Morris + King Company (MKC), yesterday issued the first-ever “Best ProfNet Queries of the Year” list.

Compiled from a collection of 52 weeks worth of email queries from PRNewswire’s ProfNet service, this list chronicles the funniest, most unique and peculiar reporter queries of 2006. On a typical day, PRNewswire, which is the global leader in news and information distribution services for professional communicators, transmits between 100 and 150 reporter queries. Throughout 2006, MKC Account Supervisor Lane Buschel and Senior Account Executive Justin Kazmark scoured through tens of thousands of such queries to fashion this year’s list. Without further ado, the Best ProNet Queries of 2006!:

10. Naked Workouts—New York Times (US)

I'm doing a story on nude sports—that is, people who exercise in the buff (i.e., in college you see 'naked lacrosse' and such). A strange question, I know, but are there any health or physical benefits to this? No phone calls, please. I'm a freelancer.

9. NON-EXPERT: Lemonade and Kidney Stones—First for Women (US)

I'm looking for women (ages 25-50) who drink lemonade to relieve pain associated with their kidney stones. If interested, please e-mail me a summary of your experience and photo as soon as possible. 06:00 PM US /Eastern JUN 08

8. MEDICINE: How To Fight Against Indestructible Head Lice—Univision (US)

Lice are becoming indestructible. Scientists believe that 80 percent of the bugs are immune to over-the-counter lotions. They found lice were untroubled by the chemicals permathrin and phenothrin, found in popular bug-busting brands. The experts say the process of natural selection means the insects have developed a resistance to the lotions. The findings will not just leave children, parents and teachers scratching their heads. It will almost certainly start a scramble to discover a lotion to do the job better. How to fight against head lice now? We won't make phone calls or interviews—just need experts to tell us by e-mail how to prevent pediculosis and which treatment is effective against head bugs. 01:00 AM US/Eastern JUN 22

7. TODAY/BEHAVIOR: Shrink—Star Magazine (US)

I need a shrink to read something a woman wrote and tell me what they think it means.

03:00 PM US /Eastern JUL 20

6. BEHAVIOR: Barbie Mutilated?—Exit Weekly (US/NJ)

Ever own a Barbie? Or maybe your sister did. Recent reports have concluded that many children do not regard Barbie as their idol, but rather something to be destroyed or defaced. Have any keen memories of destroying your Barbie or a sibling's? Share. Bonus if you're from New Jersey , our local area. 03:00 PM US /Eastern JAN 04

5. NON-EXPERT: Know a Jerk?—Author (US)

Tell me about the biggest jerk you know personally, in 200 words or less, for inclusion in a book proposal about the villains in our lives. Go ahead and vent. Names will be changed. 12:00 PM US /Eastern FEB 21

4. CHARITIES: Equine Charities—Horse Illustrated magazine

For Horse Illustrated magazine, I'm writing an article on equine charities throughout the world; what they are about and what issues they are currently tackling. Nov 02, 2006 18:11 PM EST(America/New_York)

3. LIVING: Got Poop?—News Journal (US/DE)

What's with all the pooper scoopers? Is this the end of civilization as we know it, or what we've always longed for? A lifestyle reporter with Delaware 's largest daily seeks serious and not-so-serious experts to talk about the explosion of personal services, especially the pooper scooper type. No phone calls, please. 06:00 PM US /Eastern JUL 03

2. FEATURES: Plumbers and Paparazzi Photographers Unite—First for Women

For an article that is not strange in the slightest, I need to speak with both a plumber or anyone who knows how to unclog a toilet, and a paparazzi photographer or anyone else who spends time trespassing. I'm happy to answer questions about the article and would love to have something set up by the end of the week. Nov 17, 2006 05:00 PM

1. BOOSTER: Ob/Gyn, Tech Guru, Dog Trainer—First for Women

I'm working on a story where I'll need an ob/gyn, a tech guru and a dog trainer to comment on very specific situations in their area of expertise (tips on how to tell if a woman is pregnant without asking, how to ensure e-mail gets sent to the right recipient, and how to teach your dog not to jump on others). Deadline is this week. Thank you in advance to those who respond, but only the three who most fit my needs will be contacted. Nov 01, 2006 12:11 PM EST(America/New_York

Buschel and Kazmark were inspired to create a best ProfNet Queries of the year list after coming across the following query in late 2005:

BOOSTER: Bowel Expert—Exit Weekly (US/NJ)

[Limited to the NJ/NY metro area] Bowel expert needed to address symptoms arising from extreme stress/fright. This is for our health section, so we’re needing to talk to a medical professional. NYC or New Jersey area professionals only, please. Exit Weekly, a new weekly geared toward younger readers, is a publication of North Jersey Media Group, publishers of the Record and Herald News.

“ProfNet is a great resource, and we pay special attention to the listings as they come in multiple times a day,” said Lane Buschel, an account supervisor at The Morris + King Company. “We often pass relevant queries around the agency, especially when we know people may be backed up with pressing matters. We look forward to producing this list annually.”

Colle+McVoy, Inc., announced that Chris Henderson has been named interactive creative director for the firm. His award-winning talents further the agency’s commitment to the digital space and belief that interactive will play a critical role in the future success of their clients.

“"Discovering unconventional and alluring ways to penetrate the market takes someone who displays strategic thinking, an integrated approach and passion—someone who inspires others, like Chris Henderson,"” said Christine Fruechte, Colle+McVoy’s president. "“Chris will play a critical part in building the company’s momentum and in our clients’ success moving forward.”"

“"With the constant changes in how people are consuming media, it’s more important than ever to raise the bar and consider all media to reach consumers, including interactive,"” said Henderson. “"It’s not about choosing one discipline over the other—now it’s how many ways can we impact the consumer and that’s exciting. I’m looking forward to bringing new innovative thinking and opportunities to our clients.”"

Henderson joins Colle+McVoy from Olson where he was executive creative director and spent the last seven years building their interactive department and developing award-winning work. His creative expertise has been recognized with several high-profile awards including 2006 Interactive Best of Show at the Minneapolis Show for the Nike Bauer Hockey site, two Gold EFFIE Awards and Best of Show at the Minnesota Public Relations Society of America. His brand experience includes Breathright, Detroit Pistons, Formica Corporation, Medtronic, Public Broadcasting Station (PBS), Supervalu, Target and Thrivent Financial.

Are you already working on your New Year's resolution for 2007? Have you decided to further develop your career or find new opportunities? If so, Minnesota PRSA’s Job Mart could help you obtain your goals and satisfy your New Year’s resolution. Minnesota PRSA Job Mart connects job seekers to employers with open positions.

Many PR agencies, corporations as well as government and non-profit organizations rely on PRSA's Job Mart placement service to successfully fill open positions. The Minnesota PRSA in partnership with the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) and the Association of (MWC) organize and administer Job Mart and the services are free for PRSA members for the first three months and it is a confidential service. Non-member rates and renewal fees are $40 per quarter. Whether you’re an employer with an open position to fill, or a job-seeker out looking for work – Job Mart wants to hear from you!

Register with Job Mart today! See:
http://www.mnprsa.com/index2.cfm?page=job_mart.cfm

Also, if there are any graphic designers who would like to get their work seen by other PR professionals, we’d love your help creating Job Mart materials.

Contact: Tony Deos at for more information.

The Sherwin-Williams Company, one of the world’s leading coatings manufacturers and distributors, has chosen public relations firm Carmichael Lynch Spong as its agency of record for its Paint Stores Group’s architectural segments. The firm will help Sherwin-Williams elevate and maintain its status as the leader in the coatings industry by providing strategic counsel, creating awareness and building demand for the company’s products.

Based in Cleveland , Ohio , Sherwin-Williams is the largest producer of paint in North America and holds the number two position globally. In addition to paints, Sherwin-Williams manufactures a wide array of coatings, finishes, applicators and varnishes. Sherwin-Williams branded coatings are sold exclusively through 3,000 Sherwin-Williams owned and operated paint stores throughout North America . Carmichael Lynch Spong will serve the Paint Stores Group, which is the largest single operating division within The Sherwin-Williams Company.

“Carmichael Lynch Spong is the perfect firm for our business. They have a shared set of values, similar spirit, and a creative culture that’s contagious. We expect them to play a significant role in growing and supporting our brand,” says Ellen Moreau, vice president of marketing communications for Sherwin-Williams.

As one of the 15 largest public relations firms in the nation, Carmichael Lynch Spong represents a select portfolio of clients that are the leaders in their industries. Among the companies it represents in the home and garden industry are American Standard, the world’s largest manufacturer of bath and kitchen products; MasterBrand Cabinets, the second-largest manufacturer of cabinetry in North America and a Fortune Brands company; TRANE, the world’s largest manufacturer of heating and cooling; Therma-Tru, the nation's leading manufacturer and most preferred brand of fiberglass and steel residential exterior entry and patio door systems; Clorox, a leading manufacturer and marketer of consumer products; Lutron, the world's leading designer and manufacturer of lighting control systems; and the Maytag, Jenn-Air and Amana brands of the Whirlpool Corporation, the world's leading manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances.

“Sherwin-Williams is one of the greatest brands in America ,” says Douglas K. Spong, APR, president. “We are excited to be partnering with a 140-year-old company that embodies a rich history.”

Weber Shandwick today announced the hire of three new employees in its Twin Cities office.
Whitney Mares was hired as a senior account executive in the consumer marketing practice. Mares previously worked for Total Higher Education as a public relations representative. A native of Minneapolis, Mares holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Ithaca College, Roy H. Park School of Communication, and a master's degree in strategic public relations from the University of Southern California, Annenberg School of Journalism.

Sarah Goldthwait has joined the technology practice as an account executive. Goldthwait most recently worked as an associate development officer for the University of Minnesota Foundation where she managed a diverse portfolio of donors and collaborated on fundraising and scholarship programs. A graduate of St. Olaf College, Goldthwait has a bachelor's degree in political science and French. She is a native of Minneapolis.

Kimberly Crumley has been hired as an administrative assistant in the corporate, community and public affairs practice. Crumley previously worked for the University of Minnesota as an account executive for printing and graphic design and, most recently, at a northern Minnesota resort as the interior design and resort operations assistant. A Minneapolis native, Crumley has a criminal justice degree from Alexandria Technical College.

I came across an interesting post this morning that is worth sharing. Fellow PR blogger, Mike Sacks at the Big Mouth, writes about the . I think he makes some good points. For one I agree that the PR industry should recruit people who understand business. Although, if it is true that business professionals don't value PR as he indicates, then why would someone who understands business want to work in the PR industry?

The answer, I think, is that when PR is executed strategically and with purpose business professional see that it adds value. But when it is done haphazardly it is disregarded. The most important statement Mike makes in his rant is the following:

We can't just call for change as if that is our due diligence. We actually have to do something.

So what do we do? As an industry we push accreditation, we work to find new ways to measure success and we show value by learning to better understand the business world we work in every day.

There is a new free clipping service available for those of you media junkies that can't get enough news fast enough. Clip&Copy offers free clips on breaking news "before it is picked up by portals or indexed by search engines." Check it out here.

Tunheim Partners, Inc., a Minneapolis-based public relations and public affairs agency, is pleased to announce that president and CEO Kathy Tunheim has been appointed to the University of Minnesota Foundation (UMF) Board of Trustees.

Kathy was unanimously appointed as a UMF trustee by the University of Minnesota Board of Regents at their Nov. 10, 2006 board meeting. The three-year term commences immediately and ends November 2009.

“I am a proud graduate of the University, and I understand the increasingly important role of philanthropy in ensuring that higher education is prepared to play its critical part in the vitality of our great State. I look forward to being a part of this well respected board,” said Kathy Tunheim.

The Twin Cities office of Weber Shandwick today announced the hire of (retired) Col. Richard "Denny" Shields as vice president in the corporate, community and public affairs practice group.

Shields brings to his new position a long history with the U.S. Armed Services and will play a key leadership role on Weber Shandwick's U.S. Army account team. In addition, he brings a wide range of skills and experience, including deep knowledge of the Minnesota legislative arena, public affairs, media relations and crisis communications.

Prior to joining Weber Shandwick, Shields was Director of Public Affairs for the Minnesota Air and Army National Guard, where he spent 14 years. From 2004 to 2006, he also served as the Assistant to the Adjutant General where he was directly responsible for the Guard's internal and external communications as well as government and community relations.

Shields has served as media spokesperson for several statewide emergencies, including the Red River Valley floods of 1997 and the overseas deployment of Guard units. He also managed the Guard's successful government relations campaign that blocked the closing of the Duluth Air National Guard Base.

Yep, it is that time of year again. Time to put together my performance development review for 2006. It was an amazing year with lots of things to brag about, but how do I convince management that it was all worthwhile?

Evaluation of public relations is one of the most important pieces of the PR puzzle but it is also the easiest to overlook or to do half-heartedly because it is time consuming and repetitive. According to Wikipedia, PR measurement is actually a science.

Wikipedia also offers some helpful suggestions for PR Measurement and evaluation including the following:

• Establish clear program, activity, strategic and tactical objectives and desired outputs, outtakes and outcomes before you begin, to provide a basis for measurement of results. PR goals should tie directly to the overall goals of the organization.
  
• Differentiate between measuring outputs, outtakes and outcomes.
  
• The measurement of media content, while of great value, needs to be viewed as only a first step in the PR measurement and evaluation process. It can measure possible exposure to PR messages and actual press coverage; however, it cannot, by itself, measure whether target audiences actually saw the messages and responded to them in any way.
  
• There is no one, simple, all-encompassing research tool, technique or methodology that can be relied on to measure and evaluate PR effectiveness.

Get the rest of the measurement guidelines here.

Of course, all of this doesn't help me complete the standard 18-page document we have for evaluating our individual performance.

about guys wearing black shoes with blue dress pants. The results were evenly split half of you said that it was a fashion mistake others said it was okay. Oh, and several of you said "Who cares!"

Well, according to , it IS okay to wear black shoes with blue dress pants. From About.com:

Black and blue are perfectly OK to wear together, and actually the preferred combo. I'm not sure exactly when the aesthetic changed, but I do remember when cordovan or brown were acceptable choices for navy.

Other comments on the Web regarding this topic can be found here.

So it may have been when I dropped my laptop going through security or when I threw my backpack into the rental car, but some how last week I ruined my wireless card. VERY FRUSTRATING! To make matters worse the hotel I was staying at only had a wireless connection. Anyway, that is why I haven't been updating this site very much. I am back at it now so stay tuned!