Walters Hospitality’s Post

If you love what you do your passion can move mountains and make miracles happen. Or you have to be in PR! 😎   I have worked on some of the most interesting brands in my PR career and not all of them I have loved. Some were given to me because it was on fire and needed to be saved, others were allotted to the team so I had to be on it and still others were palmed off to me because of office politics.   I couldn’t control what was given to me but I could control how I reacted to it. I also did not want to say no to new work coming in because it gave me a chance to explore something new – industry or situation or people   I chose to find one good thing about the account given to me – either the brand offering itself, the people who worked on the brand, the team I got to work with or the impact I was creating via my work. One of these things had to resonate with me for me to be able to give my best.   As I worked on various brands with this mantra, it helped me meet and work with so many awesome people I am proud to have worked with. Each one of them helped me explore new strengths and capabilities I had by challenging me to be better. Do better.   And I continue to do that even today. I am still learning and exploring possibilities and pushing the boundaries of the impact of PR.     This Pic: From an event in 2005 where I was roped in for an event that I had predicted would go awry because of the date which coincided with the onset of the Mumbai monsoons. While I was sarcastically named a clairvoyant, I hopped on to the open-air bus with a million backup scenarios running in my head.  The ride was called to a halt midway as the rains hit hard and we quickly rushed to the event venue which was on the beach ( no less). With the rain pouring down the event was ready to be called a failure. I thought on my feet and turned it into a closed-door one-on-one media session with the hottie on the bus which was in line with the brand promise. Much to everyone’s delight!   Yes, profuse thank yous came later. Why I took this up : I admired the overall category head who was a comms savant & cut through BS. After understanding what went wrong at the event, he had a bone to pick with his team. Not without first graciously saying thank you for saving the event. He didn't have to do it. But he did. And my respect for him just kept growing ...😍 #pr #publicrelations #prinindia

Unveiling the Dark Side of Celebrity PR: More than a Decade-old Conversation - no publicity is bad publicity. Mumbai being the hub of showbiz is a "Mandi of celebrities" and "wannabe celebs" where some of the many strugglers are willing to go to any level to get the attention of their stakeholders. As PR professionals, we are entrusted with the task of shaping public perception and managing the image of our clients in the most ethical and responsible manner. However, recent events involving Poonam Pandey have brought to light the disturbing reality of how some individuals in our industry resort to deceitful tactics for the sake of publicity. The saga surrounding Poonam Pandey's fabricated death due to cervical cancer, purportedly as a means to raise awareness about the disease, has not only shocked the public but also raised serious questions about the integrity of celebrity PR practices. This reprehensible act not only exploits sensitive health issues but also undermines the genuine efforts of those striving to spread awareness and support individuals battling such illnesses. In the wake of these revelations, it is crucial to reflect on the conversation I had with Poonam Pandey's manager over more than a decade ago. During that discussion, her manager unabashedly boasted about his ability to transform a basic Kingfisher model into a star by orchestrating similar cheap stunts to generate buzz and inflate market value. At the time, I was taken aback by his cavalier attitude towards ethical standards, but little did I realize the extent to which such tactics would be employed in the future. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the ethical responsibilities that come with our profession. It is incumbent upon us to uphold the highest standards of integrity and honesty, even in the face of pressure to deliver results at any cost. The reckless pursuit of fame and fortune should never come at the expense of truth and decency. As PR professionals, we must hold ourselves accountable and strive to be guardians of authenticity and transparency. We must reject and condemn any attempts to manipulate public perception through deceitful means. Only by adhering to ethical principles can we truly earn the trust and respect of our clients, the media, and the public at large. To sum it up, the recent controversy surrounding Poonam Pandey's fabricated death serves as a sobering wake-up call for the PR industry. It is imperative that we learn from this episode and reaffirm our commitment to ethical conduct, lest we risk tarnishing the reputation of our profession and betraying the trust placed in us by those we serve. . . . . . #PoonamPandey #PoonamPandeyDeath #FakeNews #cervicalcancerawareness #cervicalcancer #cervicalcancerprevention

In the dynamic world of public relations (PR), every day brings new challenges, opportunities, and moments of creativity. Whether you’re managing a crisis, launching a product, or building relationships with media outlets, the life of a PR professional is a whirlwind of activity. Let’s take a peek inside a typical day in the bustling hub of PR. To read more, click below: Link - https://lnkd.in/dMwnHCKK #PublicRelations #PRProfessionals #MediaMonitoring #StrategySessions #ClientMeetings #PRCampaigns #EngagingMedia #CrisisManagement #DigitalPR #SocialMediaImpact #NetworkingEvents #IndustryConferences #BrandImage #DigitalWorld #Storytelling #Adaptability #CommunicationSkills #GeographicalImpact #CulturalDifferences #InnovationInPR #Mumbai #Maharashtra #India #ScenicCommunication

1. Mai #PR likhu, log meri job samajh jayein! My best friends knows everything about me. This is my second job in PR, and trust me, this friend asked me yesterday “Vaise Shreya tu karti kya hai exactly?”, and “Yeh PR hota kya hai, zara samjha na” Continuing on that pain, heart break & PRoblem #PR people be like: 2. Main C likhu, coverage aajayein 3. Main I likhu, interviews lag jayein 4. Main M likhu, media relations ban jaye 5. Main J likhu, journalists khud approach karne lag jayein 6. Main F likhu, follow ups hojayein 7. Main S likhu, sheets fill hojayein 8. Main A likhu, saara content approve hojaye 9. Main Y likhu, mera why I chose PR job ka answer mil jaye 10. Main D likhu, log humara DUKH samajh jayein :’) PR is not easy bro. Am I forgetting something? List them down, let’s see what more we have! #publicrelations #PRlife #PRjob #joblife #prjokes #mediarelations #coverage #journo #linkedin #prpost #corporatecommunications #content

With Broadcast Interviews, Live is Always Best! It's Super Bowl week and I'm reminded that just because your spokesperson is paid to deliver commercial messages doesn't mean those messages will ever make in on-air. I know. For 18-years as a TV sports director, I was not only pitched thousands of times from PR agencies and corporations, but also sent hundreds of VNR's. (a VNR is a 'video news release,' most often sent on a BETA format videotape with a corresponding printout of detailed information regarding the product or service the spokesperson was promoting). This time of year, many crossed my desk with spokespersons who were former NFL stars, shot on video talking about various consumer goods, centered on the big game. Of course, there would always be something involving the game, match-up, players to watch, etc. With no mention of the sponsor, product, or pitch, I would run just the part of the VNR talking about the game. Damn, your chips, drinks, and pizza! Great for me and my sports audience. Really bad for the sponsor that paid good money for a celebrity spokesperson, but got nothing out of it but providing me awesome content for my sportscast. Now, before all you goody-two-shoes PR and comms folks start wringing your hands, this should serve as a lesson. Heck, I'm on your side now. Whether it's a satellite media tour where your spokesperson reaches millions of viewers in a 6-7 hour timeframe, a digital version of a VNR, or a one-off interview, the media is not obligated to air ANY of your messaging, if the interview is pre-recorded. This is why a live broadcast interview is always highly preferred, and for obvious reasons. Messaging can't be cut when it's live. With one exception. If your spokesperson isn't trained to organically pivot into messaging without being prompted, that's just as devastating. One way to combat a recorded interview that removes messaging is by having some sort of branding in the shot - anything from a spokesperson with a logo on his/her shirt, to a brand image incorporated somewhere in the framing. In pitching clients, be it for satellite media tours or single interviews, I always strive for live. But experience tells me that the more commercial the pitch, the more interviews will be recorded, and I always make sure there's visual branding. Just to be safe. Because I know there are a few former me's out there in broadcast land. Smart Connections PR offers complete satellite media tour production and booking, along with corporate video production. We also provide media training for individuals and groups, led by a team with more than 20-years of broadcast experience. Some of America’s most recognizable brands, companies and associations have benefited from our satellite media tour results and proven media training method. If you have a need, please email mark@smartconnectionspr.com.

New Post: Top 5 PR Agencies in India to Avail Services Without Fear https://buff.ly/3XvRLQG Top 5 PR Agencies in India to Avail Services Without Fear

I handle dozens of interviews for clients each month - but it always feels odd to be on the other side of the PR line and interviewed myself. Thank you Compare Retreats for this write-up on Companion Communications and my thoughts on PR trends in Asia; what makes a good influencer campaign; how we will consume travel, dining and property content over the coming months; and how our team works very differently to a 'standard' PR agency. #pragency #PR #interview

#IndianPRAgencies | Want to stand out in a cluttered market and boost media visibility? Here’s a list of public relations agencies helping build and drive narratives that shape public perception and corporate identities Adfactors PR Avian WE Edelman Genesis BCW Ketchum Sampark MSLGROUP India Perfect Relations PR Pundit Havas Red #Value360 Weber Shandwick Story by: Mishika Bangia #PR #PRAgenciesIndia #PressInsider #IndiasGlobalVoice

These PR firms can help drive effective strategic communication initiatives for Indian and global entities looking to stand out in a challenging Indian market and boost media visibility.

"Trusted media relations tactics and influencer relations teams can’t work in silos or even side-by-side, but need to morph into one blended approach that recognizes and embraces the wide spectrum of creators who can no longer be neatly categorized by the binary journalist or influencer." I started my career off launching Dobbernationloves then spent 5 years freelancing for print publications and now I almost exclusively manage my website full time. The feedback I get most from brands and agencies I work with is that I'm a "blogger with the professionalism of a journalist." More and more journalists are stepping into the content creator space, offering really well researched and insightful editorial perspectives...where the camera isn't necessarily pointed at themselves but at the story they're telling.