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Nearly every day clients ask: should they “get out ahead” of bad news? In the wildly popular musical Hamilton, the title character also faces this dilemma.

Still humming “In the Room Where it Happens” and “It’s Quiet Uptown,” days after seeing the widely acclaimed Broadway musical Hamilton, I had the thought that the lead character - in history and in the play - faced a crisis not dissimilar to some of our current PR clients. Nearly every day we are asked to advise our clients: should they “get out ahead” of bad news and reveal it themselves? Or should they stand ready to respond, waiting to see if anyone finds out first? As this brilliant play unfolds, Hamilton is faced with this all-too common dilemma.

Public polling is about numbers, but when communicated thoughtfully, can tell a powerful story. Nonprofits should consider polling a tool in their communications toolbox – whether you commission a poll yourself or leverage polling data reported in the news.

Using polling data effectively can generate media attention, enhance your social media presence, provide a statistical foundation for personal anecdotes, and show strong public support for your cause.

Denterlein, an independent Boston public relations agency offering senior expertise in developing and implementing comprehensive communications strategies, has added Anusha Cicchetti as Account Director and Miles Grant as Vice President.

The Covid-19 pandemic has shifted the media landscape in more ways than one. News about the virus and its societal impacts first took place in the publishing lineup. Beat reporters that usually focus on other areas have been pulled away to cover testing site deployment and vaccine rollout.

A week ago, I participated in a panel discussion titled “When Independent Schools Must Atone for Past Sins.” The topic reflected on an increasingly common challenge for many orgs and businesses – what to do when asked to be accountable for past behaviors in light of current standards.

When maximizing your efforts on positioning your company, organization or cause there’s no doubt that your marketing strategy should be efficient and cost-effective. In a new normal in which mostly everyone is online, Facebook advertising has become one of the best allies for your advertising campaigns because it provides incredibly accurate targeting to relevant online audiences.

Getting out and about is harder than ever thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic--and of necessity during a time of social distancing, we're also spending far more time online than seeing people in person. 

For professionals and businesses looking to grow their networks, what's more critical today is a tactical, digital approach to reaching relevant audiences with the tailored messages that will resonate with them the most. Whether you’re marketing an event, releasing a report, inviting people to a community meeting, or trying to recruit a new client or member, digital media remains one of the cheapest and most effective ways to get your content in front of people. 

All it takes is one click to convene and collaborate. Thanks to technology and pandemic-induced changes to doing business, virtual events allow you to expand upon and engage your audience in new and innovative ways. While this helps to boost attendance since events aren’t geographically based, planning a virtual event requires more preparation and planning than in-person events. Here are some helpful tips and best practices to make your virtual event a success.

Leadership lessons for young professionals (and us all)

Identify the values that will anchor your mission. Make connections between your world and others. Create a community featuring a large table where people can come together and share ideas. These are some of the many takeaways from a recent webinar featuring Mary Skelton Roberts, Co-director of Climate at the Barr Foundation, that was hosted by Jayda Leder-Luis, Denterlein Account Director and a graduate of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce’s Boston Future Leaders program.

By Geri Denterlein

The Stoics may describe universal truths for a life well lived and Steven Covey may give us the 7 habits of highly effective people, but in our work as communications professionals, we have found if you follow these basic rules, in good times and bad, your voice will be heard and respected.