In my many years of counseling presidents and engaging with top management at major universities I have been fortunate to watch outstanding leadership in action. Though higher education has not been generally blessed with great leaders, I have seen some truly remarkable ones. A close friend once told me, “You could put a grapefruit in [...]
Read more →Throughout my career I have had the opportunity to scan hundreds, probably thousands, of cover letters and resumes. I got even broader exposure to letters and resumes when I handled the Job Placement Service for the Pittsburgh chapter of the Public Relations Society for a number of years while vice president for university relations at Carnegie [...]
Read more →Strategic planning for public relations can be a tough, time-consuming and politically challenging assignment, particularly at a college or university. Because public relations, unlike most other administrative functions, involves itself with almost every aspect of an institution and addresses (when it is done correctly) all of that institution’s key constituencies, development of a viable and [...]
Read more →If there was ever any doubt in your mind that Abraham Lincoln was the greatest of American presidents I suggest you read Doris Kearns Goodwin’s book, “Team of Rivals.” There are lessons in there for all us, especially public relations professionals. This wonderful and engaging work draws a compelling picture of a brilliant leader who [...]
Read more →Attended our daughter’s college graduation at The University of Texas at Austin recently. Having sat through many, many commencements over the years I had steeled myself for the inevitable tedium. But like so many seemingly mundane events in life this one provided some fodder for reflection. Because it was a College of Communication ceremony I [...]
Read more →Public relations professionals have long understood that they are involved in one of the world’s most stressful professions. Conflict, change and uncertainty are a daily part of a PR person’s life. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports on the latest evidence that our feelings about stress aren’t all in our minds. In a Dec. 29, 2011 column [...]
Read more →In this Feb. 18, 2011 interview hosted by the Counselors of Higher Education section of the Public Relations Society of America, Don Hale addresses the role of public relations in higher education with Amy Mengel of Read Media. (Please note: content may take some time to load…)
Read more →Thought we’d share some tunes that never got a lot of air time, but we think are worth a listen. Here are 20 to get us started. Give them a shot if you haven’t heard them and let us know what you think. Looking Into You Jackson Browne (A great songwriter at his best.) [...]
Read more →Opinion leaders are a crucial target for any public relations program. Why? Because they have the ability to influence other people’s actions through interpersonal contact. The challenge for PR professionals is identifying these opinion leaders so they can build their understanding of and support for their organizations, enabling them to be advocates for those organizations [...]
Read more →Colleges and universities pursue national news media coverage because it: Helps to build an institution’s reputation. Helps to build national awareness. Helps to build name recognition. Lends credibility to a college or university’s claim to be a major national institution. Brings value to key institutional messages by providing third-party endorsement. Can stimulate interest and support [...]
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