10/06/2010, New York, NY – Marketing Assistant Needed – Growing ‘virtual’ PR group seeks ambitious, multi-talented social media maven to develop effective email marketing programs for clients. Must be familiar with Constant Contact or similar email programs (or a fast learner) and have an eye for designing email newsletters with links, graphics, and dedicated content. Manage and analyze moderate databases for email newsletters. Growth potential for creative, responsible, ambitious person. Work from home. Contact news@prblognews.com. About us: http://influencecentral.com
Rubenstein Survivors Unite!
August 30, 2010 By 2 Comments
You don’t go through Rubenstein, you survive Rubenstein.
Howard Rubenstein photo by Patrick McMullan
Hundreds of shell shocked flacks have passed through the Rubenstein mill in Howard’s 40+ years as top scion of NY PR. No doubt all of us wondered: a) how did we survive? b) I hope this experience is worth something c) nobody but other Rubenstein survivors would ever appreciate what we really went through.
Oh, the stories we could tell! And now we have our chance. Check out the LinkedIn Rubenstein Associates Alumni Group.
Valerie Silverman Kerr, a 10 year veteran of the Rubenstein media department, has the idea that we should get together and swap stories and network. When I was at Rubenstein Valerie’s office was always crowded on Friday morning with desperate AE’s begging for a media placement before turning in status reports for Howard’s assistant to lug home in that over sized briefcase. It didn’t exactly make for a relaxing weekend wondering whether, come Monday morning, you would exult in Howard’s single-word accolade that came back on the status report, scratch your head over his begrudging acknowledgment, or sulk from his ire, usually written in big letters, with a bold hand, and an exclamation point in case you forgot that your single and only job in life was to GET PUBLICITY.
Early stage rules: No media (we want to be open), and you have to be a bona fide Rubenstein alum (a fair amount of AEs started their new job in the morning, realized what they were facing, went to lunch and never came back. You have to be at least a 24 hour survivor.)
See my paen to Howard in Strumpette, 7/11/2007.
Understanding NY Media
August 26, 2010 By 2 Comments
You want to ‘get’ New York City media? Then you have to understand the New York Post. This video will help:
New York’s Funniest Reporter … Again
August 7, 2010 By Leave a Comment
5th Annual New York’s Funniest Reporter Show Will Raise Money For Humane Society
The 5th Annual New York’s Funniest Reporter Show is Thursday, August 19th at 6:00 pm at Gotham Comedy Club (208 West 23rd St).
It will feature eight media professionals each doing five minutes of stand up comedy in order to raise money for the Humane Society of New York . At the end of the night, a winner will be declared. (RELATED: See Media Comics Plunge PR Guy at Comedy Fest, PRBlogNews, 8/4/2007)
Appearing on the show this year will be: Wendy Diamond (Animal Fair Magazine), Cooper Lawrence (Cooper Lawrence Show), Ellis Henican (Fox News & Newsday), Meredith Daniels (Newsday), Lauren Sivan (Fox News), Marlaina Schiavo (CNN), and Robert George (New York Post). 2009 NYFR Winner Marianne Schaberg will be performing in the show but, will not be competing.
Judging the competition will be: Judith Regan (Sirius / XM), Jeffrey Gurian (Comedy Writer / Filmmaker), and Tasha Harris (Founder & Editor-In-Chief of StageTime Magazine). The show emcee will be comedian Ryan Reiss.
“In five short years, the show has become a New York tradition. We’ve been so honored to have over twenty six media professionals participate in the event and raise money for worthy charities.” Said New York’s Funniest Reporter Show Co-Producer, Ryan McCormick.
The cost of admission is $15 in advance and $20 at the door. To make a reservation, please call (212) 367-9000.
The 5th Annual New York’s Funniest Reporter competition is produced by Goldman McCormick Public Relations and is part of the 8th Annual New York City Underground Comedy Festival.
Since it’s inception in 2006, New York’s Funniest Reporter Show has featured over 26 media professionals performing stand up comedy in order to raise money for worthy charities that include Operation Uplink and the Humane Society of New York. Participants have come from: NBC, WPIX, Good Morning America, CBS, NY1, Fox News, Star Magazine, ABC, News 12, MSNBC, CNN, The Resident, New York Post, and New York Daily News.
For over 100 years, the Humane Society of New York has been a presence in New York City, caring for animals in need when illness, injury or homelessness strikes. In 1904 they were founded to protect the city’s horses against abuse. Members fought for laws to punish negligent owners and place watering troughs in streets and parks. As funds allowed the Society to expand, a free medical clinic and a small adoption center for cats and dogs was included. Today their hospital and their Vladimir Horowitz and Wanda Toscanini Horowitz Adoption Center help more than 34,000 dogs and cats annually, and their numbers continue to grow.
Content Grid Good PR Tool
June 15, 2010 By 1 Comment
The people at Eloqua are on to something. Their new content marketing Infographic ‘The Content Grid‘ demonstrates what I’ve been talking about for a while – all communication can now be broken down into two broad components: content creation and content distribution.
When we understand that we are able to behave like news organizations that develop a story (a content element), and distribute it through multiple sites, print publications, Twitter teasers, Facebook, et al. This requires a new way of thinking that optimizes digital assets.
Eloqua Content Marketing Infographic - The Content Grid
Useless Knowledge
June 9, 2010 By 2 Comments
In George Washington’s days, there were no cameras. One’s image was either sculpted or painted. Some paintings of George Washington showed him standing behind a desk with one arm behind his back while others showed both legs and both arms. Prices charged by painters were not based on how many people were to be painted, but by how many limbs were to be painted. Arms and legs are ‘limbs,’ therefore painting them would cost the buyer more.. Hence the expression, ‘Okay, but it’ll cost you an arm and a leg.’ (Artists know hands and arms are more difficult to paint)
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As incredible as it sounds, men and women took baths only twice a year (May and October) Women kept their hair covered, while men shaved their heads (because of lice and bugs) and wore wigs. Wealthy men could afford good wigs made from wool. They couldn’t wash t he wigs, so to clean them they would carve out a loaf of bread, put the wig in the shell, and bake it for 30 minutes. The heat would make the wig big and fluffy, hence the term ‘big wig.’ Today we often use the term ‘here comes the Big Wig’ because someone appears to be or is powerful and wealthy.
As incredible as it sounds, men and women took baths only twice a year (May and October) Women kept their hair covered, while men shaved their heads (because of lice and bugs) and wore wigs. Wealthy men could afford good wigs made from wool. They couldn’t wash t he wigs, so to clean them they would carve out a loaf of bread, put the wig in the shell, and bake it for 30 minutes. The heat would make the wig big and fluffy, hence the term ‘big wig.’ Today we often use the term ‘here comes the Big Wig’ because someone appears to be or is powerful and wealthy.
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In the late 1700′s, many houses consisted of a large room with only one chair. Commonly, a long wide board folded down from the wall, and was used for dining. The ‘head of the household’ always sat in the chair while everyone else ate sitting on the floor. Occasionally a guest, who was usually a man, would be invited to sit in this chair during a meal. To sit in the chair meant you were important and in charge. They called the one sitting in the chair the ‘chair man.’ Today in business, we use the expression or title ‘Chairman’ or ‘Chairman of the Board.’
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Personal hygiene left much room for improvement. As a result, many women and men had developed acne scars by adulthood. The women would spread bee’s wax over their facial skin to smooth out their complexions. When they were speaking to each other, if a woman began to stare at another woman’s face she was told, ‘mind your own bee’s wax.’ Should the woman smile, the wax would crack, hence the term ‘crack a smile’. In addition, when they sat too close to the fire, the wax would melt . . . Therefore, the expression ‘losing face.’
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Ladies wore corsets, which would lace up in the front. A proper and dignified woman, as in ‘straight laced’. . Wore a tightly tied lace.
Ladies wore corsets, which would lace up in the front. A proper and dignified woman, as in ‘straight laced’. . Wore a tightly tied lace.
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Common entertainment included playing cards. However, there was a tax levied when purchasing playing cards but only applicable to the ‘Ace of Spades.’ To avoid paying the tax, people would purchase 51 cards instead. Yet, since most games require 52 cards, these people were thought to be stupid or dumb because they weren’t ‘playing with a full deck.’
Common entertainment included playing cards. However, there was a tax levied when purchasing playing cards but only applicable to the ‘Ace of Spades.’ To avoid paying the tax, people would purchase 51 cards instead. Yet, since most games require 52 cards, these people were thought to be stupid or dumb because they weren’t ‘playing with a full deck.’
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Early politicians required feedback from the public to determine what the people considered important. Since there were no telephones, TV’s or radios, the politicians sent their assistants to local taverns, pubs, and bars. They were told to ‘go sip some ale’ and listen to people’s conversations and political concerns. Many assistants were dispatched at different times. ‘You go sip here’ and ‘You go sip there.’ The two words ‘go sip’ were eventually combined when referring to the local opinion and, thus we have the term ‘gossip.’
Early politicians required feedback from the public to determine what the people considered important. Since there were no telephones, TV’s or radios, the politicians sent their assistants to local taverns, pubs, and bars. They were told to ‘go sip some ale’ and listen to people’s conversations and political concerns. Many assistants were dispatched at different times. ‘You go sip here’ and ‘You go sip there.’ The two words ‘go sip’ were eventually combined when referring to the local opinion and, thus we have the term ‘gossip.’
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At local taverns, pubs, and bars, people drank from pint and quart-sized containers. A bar maid’s job was to keep an eye on the customers and keep the drinks coming. She had to pay close attention and remember who was drinking in ‘pints’ and who was drinking in ‘quarts,’ hence the term ‘minding your’P's and Q’s ‘
At local taverns, pubs, and bars, people drank from pint and quart-sized containers. A bar maid’s job was to keep an eye on the customers and keep the drinks coming. She had to pay close attention and remember who was drinking in ‘pints’ and who was drinking in ‘quarts,’ hence the term ‘minding your’P's and Q’s ‘
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One more and betting you didn’t know this!
In the heyday of sailing ships, all war ships and many freighters carried iron cannons. Those cannons fired round iron cannon balls. It was necessary to keep a good supply near the cannon. However, how to prevent them from rolling about the deck? The best storage method devised was a square-based pyramid with one ball on top, resting on four resting on nine, which rested on sixteen.. Thus, a supply of 30 cannon balls could be stacked in a small area right next to the cannon. There was only one problem…how to prevent the bottom layer from sliding or rolling from under the others. The solution was a metal plate called a ‘Monkey’ with 16 round indentations.
However, if this plate were made of iron, the iron balls would quickly rust to it. The solution to the rusting problem was to make ‘Brass Monkeys.’ Few landlubbers realize that brass contracts much more and much faster than iron when chilled.
Consequently, when the temperature dropped too far, the brass indentations would shrink so much that the iron cannonballs would come right off the monkey.. Thus, it was quite literally, ‘Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey.’ (All this time, you thought that was an improper expression, didn’t you.)
