The PR Glow Up

01/13/2023

D-E-L-T-A S-I-G-M-A T-H-E-T-A
Delta Sigma Theta!! DST till the day we die - we love it, we love it, we love it!!!!!!! #1913

07/10/2022

Is it even social media if someone isn’t impersonating your account every year or so? That’s not me, so please don’t accept the follow. My only IG account is (no extra punctuation or characters). I’d appreciate it if you block and report that account, too!

10/17/2021

Look, ma - I’m an icon!! I’m excited to share that on 10/19, I’m speaking at (presented by ) on the "PRogress Through Tech in Digital Analytics" panel.

Aurora Meyer, and I will host a fun and informative session about how digital analytics is transforming the way the industry connects with stakeholders, influences conversations, shares information and receives feedback every day.

If you’re already registered for the conference, check us out at 3 p.m. on 10/19!!

04/12/2021

Excited! Please join me and Sharyn Flanagan/, Interim City Editor  on April 13 at 6 p.m. for a fireside chat about diversity in the newsroom, hosted by .
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We will dive into important topics like the role journalists and communicators play in creating fair, balanced coverage. Learn more and register here: https://philly.org/event/diversity-in-the-newsroom-a-fireside-chat-with-the-philadelphia-tribunes-magazine-editor-sharyn-flanagan/

04/08/2021

Won’t you join us? It’s going to be a wonderful conversation!

03/13/2021

The Temple University Chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) presents the Mid-Atlantic District Conference, “PRogress Through Tech,” March 13. This one-day conference is dedicated to giving students opportunities to learn and connect with public relations and communication professionals.
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“PRogress Through Tech” features educational sessions led by professionals in the field of public relations, education, technology, nonprofit, agencies, and corporate communications. Professionals will be sharing stories and how to succeed and improve skills for the rapidly developing digital age.
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I’m so pleased to be the moderator of the Digital Analytics panel, featuring Elissa Hill, Account Executive at Brian Communications, and Aurora Meyer, APR, Communication Manager for Colombia Public Schools. Join us!

02/23/2021

A popular American comic who was accused of s*xual misconduct and s*xual harassment last year released a video about the situation over the weekend. It is being widely referred to as an apology… but, it’s not. It’s what I call a “responsogy” (I made that up all by myself): a carefully crafted response that wants you to believe it’s an apology.
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It’s not an apology because he centered himself in it. He was introspective and emotional and honest and earnest… but about all the wrong things. He’s sad about letting people down. He’s sorry (kinda) for having a “hole” caused by the loneliness he felt on the road, insecurity, etc. and that he tried to fill it with deviant s*xual behavior. He’s sad that he’s got to live with the fact that his young son will grow up knowing what he did. And he wants our sympathy because, you see, he couldn’t control himself; s*x addiction is actually the real villain here.
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The majority of the video is an explanation of how he feels about his behavior. He was obsessed with getting s*x. He was defenseless and powerless to his desires. He’s even humblebraggadociously ashamed that as a celebrity, he has influence and power and access to women, and that he let it go to his head. He blamed his cavalier attitude about his transgressions on the flippant mindset he has as a comedian.
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But now he’s putting in the work. Dammit, it’s really hard for him to look at himself and admit that this is who he is, and that he has to live with this. But he’s getting the help he needs now. He’s on the path to recovery and he’s doing well.
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Again, it’s all about him.
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So, no… this is not an apology. Yes, he actually says “sorry” – but this responsogy video misses the mark in every way and I’m not sure what’s more unacceptable – that he believes his earnestness was worth sharing, or that his team, which no doubt includes PR, blessed this train wreck.
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I hope none of his accusers have the misfortune of seeing this.

02/21/2021

You know... *whispers* prostitution 👀

02/21/2021

Really... what is there to say? Ugh.

01/08/2021

Hyatt, the global hotel and resort chain, is scrambling to answer for photos and videos showing apparent members of the insurrectionist mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol on 1/6/21 relaxing and socializing in the lobby of the D.C Grand Hyatt.
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These are people who presumably took part in the domestic terrorism and violent rioting at the Capitol complex. They are unmasked and unbothered.
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The police were not summoned. Security guards are not moving to eject them. The FBI did not swarm the building. Hotel staff seems to be letting them go about their business… despite knowing that mere hours earlier, they violently looted and siege the Capitol in an effort to 1) overturn the results of the General Election and 2) start a revolution to keep the 45th president in power.
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WTEAF? Is this the appropriate response from the Hyatt? What would you have done?
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According to PRWeek, a Hyatt spokesperson shared the following statement: “The Grand Hyatt Washington team worked to address the situation in an effort to ensure guests were following COVID-19 protocols, including by offering face coverings or requesting guests return to guest rooms. We can confirm that, as a result of these efforts, individuals ultimately returned to their guestrooms, vacated the premises or complied with these protocols without incident. We will continue to work to enforce protocols so that guests are aware of their responsibility in helping protect the health and safety of our colleagues and their fellow guests.”
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Make it make sense. PRedictable = Preventable.

11/18/2020

11/18/2020

10/07/2020

Electric transportation and sustainable energy news outlet Electrek reports that , headed up by the absolutely never disappointing Elon Musk, has eliminated its department (with the exception of media relations teams in Europe and Asia). Electrek says this was confirmed by someone “at the highest level at Tesla,” who stated, “We no longer have a PR team.” Best guesses are that there’s been no comms team since around January. 😳
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Journalists became suspicious some time ago, when press inquiries started to go unanswered and senior PR staffers either moved to non-communication roles within the electronic vehicle and energy giant, or left the company entirely. Hoot, there it is.
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See… this is a Very Bad Idea.
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The public relations team’s function is to help the organization develop and maintain relationships with all of its key publics and stakeholders by effectively communicating with these groups.
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Electrek noted that now, “the only ‘official’ response that the press can get from the company is from Elon directly — mostly on Twitter.” 😑
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“But LiRon, does a brand that ‘sells itself’ still need PR?” Hell yes. Stop being silly.
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Communication strategy is an important element of corporate strategy. PR isn’t just about telling a public or target audience about your product, service, or client.
Good PR communicates in a strategic, purposeful manner and helps create awareness, start conversations, improve/increase visibility, build clout, enhance reputation, and share information and expertise.
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Elon Musk can’t and shouldn’t take that on . But Elon’s gonna Elon. 😒
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Hhhwhateverrr. I’m suppressing my desire to point to other public figures who despise the media and are known for taking to Twitter with bombastic, confusing, and federal-regulatory-agency-beckoning comments to their millions of followers.

10/01/2020

Awwww, this warmed Prof. Anderson-Bell's little heart. It's true though. I encourage my students to have their screens on but I don't require it. However, the downside is that it's really hard to feel energy or read the room when you're looking at 25-30 black zoom boxes or static headshots 😔

Madison Moran posted a video of herself turning her camera on so her professor would have a face to talk to during a three-hour lecture.

09/24/2020

Back in June, as the U.S. was erupting in demands for an end to systemic racism and police brutality, Wells Fargo CEO Charles “Charlie” Scharf released an all-employee memo announcing upcoming diversity initiatives at the company. In this memo, he stated, “While it might sound like an excuse, the unfortunate reality is that there is a very limited pool of black talent to recruit from.”
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Again, this was a memo about increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion at Wells Fargo. Scharf had stated this same sentiment previously, in a Zoom meeting with employees -- the idea that Wells Fargo was struggling to meet diversity goals because there weren’t enough qualified POC to choose from.
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We are just hearing about it now, but many Black employees were stewing about this willfully ignorant comment that, if nothing else, proves 1) Scharf is part of the problem and 2) he is surrounded by executive communicators who are comfortable supplying and blessing corporate talking points that reinforce systemic racism and exclusion.
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Wells Fargo will stumble through a response to a PRedictable public backlash. But it was PReventable. In a perfect world, they’d have done the work to access diverse talent pipelines, but the failure I can’t ignore is that a team of senior communication executives whose job it is to draft and vet the CEOs comments green-lit such a talking point. Wells Fargo’s Corporate Media Relations team, which handles executive communication for the CEO and Board of Directors, has three members. NONE OF THEM thought this comment was a problem? ALL OF THEM were so OK with it that they let it happen with two audiences?
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But I digress. I refuse to waste time on Al Gore’s blessed internet pointing out how very dangerous and ignorant this stance is, but I will say this: you can’t find what you’re not looking for. Period.

09/22/2020

One more shout out to for having me on the podcast! The entire episode is 🔥, but I come in around the 57 minute mark to chat about good and bad media crisis management and Andrew Gillum’s appearance on the Tamron Hall Show. Enjoy!

08/27/2020

Great session in progress!

06/12/2020

*stares in confusion*
*thinks about advice I’ve given famous people*
*calculates how many people had to look their celeb clients in the face (on Zoom) and recommend they participate* @ Hollywood, California