In our growing digital culture, people are increasingly turning towards email, text, Twitter, and Facebook as their first option for communication.  While this isn’t necessarily new or a bad thing, I still believe that picking up the phone is the most effective way for Public Relations professionals to communicate. Whether pitching a story idea or securing a briefing, more times than not, I get a response when using the phone. Everyone knows that each phone conversation can’t be successful and result in media coverage, but by the end of it, I have feedback to share with clients and colleagues. Most forms of digital correspondence do not afford the nuances of a phone conversation like tonality or free-flowing conversation. (more…)

There are more memorable quotes from the year I spent as a fledgling reporter/anchor in Coweta County, Georgia than any other period of my life. The people of Coweta have a kindness in their heart and an amazing ability to turn a phrase. What they inherently know takes most a lifetime to learn, but you have the benefit of grasping one part by scrolling down the page and reading Patty Barry’s “Listening Matters”. (more…)

I have a problem, one that really grinds my gears! My whole life I’ve seen one version of linguistic reality, only to have my world turned upside-down recently! (more…)