What Is It Like to Be Deputy Managing Editor of the New York Times?


What is it like to work at the New York Times? How has the paper adapted to the digital age? At a Meet the Media forum, a Times editor shared her inside perspective to help PR people gain a better understanding of the renowned outlet and its approach to journalism.

Rebecca Blumenstein is Deputy Managing Editor of the New York Times, a post she assumed in 2019. Prior to that she was Deputy Editor in Chief of The Wall Street Journal, the highest-ranking woman to lead the paper’s news organization to date. She’s received numerous awards including overseeing the China team for the Wall Street Journal that won a Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting in 2007.

PRSA-NY hosted the event featuring Rebecca and moderated by Doug Simon, CEO of D S Simon Media.

Inside Authentic Marketing With Racepoint Global CEO and Author Larry Weber


You may know Larry Weber as a successful entrepreneur, thought leader, and author, who founded several global marketing companies and is currently CEO at Racepoint Global. He joined us at the D S Simon Media office in New York to discuss key takeaways from his sixth and most recent book, Authentic Marketing. Authentic Marketing provides a new strategic framework that takes business, marketing and technology strategies out of their dated and effective silos and tightly integrates them around the central concept of corporate purpose. He was interviewed by Mike Bako, Director of Media and Content Strategy at D S Simon Media. During the interview, Larry discusses the importance of taking time to cultivate an authentic brand and the value of tying each piece of marketing to your company’s “story”.

Click here to purchase Larry’s new book: Authentic Marketing: How to Capture Hearts and Minds Through the Power of Purpose

Visit Racepoint Global’s website here.

It’s Not Fake News, It’s Local TV News


A recent Pew Research piece found that 41% of Americans say their preferred method of getting local news is from TV, outpacing the 15% who selected social media and 23% who selected websites or apps.

What does this mean? For starters: even if online news is convenient, it’s getting harder and harder for the public to trust it. The authenticity and familiarity of local news reporters has more viewers impressed. 81% of respondents believe the local news does fairly well or better at keeping them informed on the most important stories. So, whether you’re looking to share a news story with local markets or get your executive on TV, remember that Americans are listening closest to the local news stations.

Congrats Torod Neptune on the Big Win at PR Week Awards

 

During our pro-bono work at the Diverse Voices Book Launch, we were able to interview Torod Neptune, CCO and VP of Worldwide Communication at Lenovo. After meeting him, it’s no surprise he won the Outstanding In-House Professional honor at the PR Week Awards on March 21. During the interview, Torod explored the best ways to turn talk of increasing diversity into action and results. He is one of 40 extraordinary communicators featured in the book Diverse Voices, which comes from the PRSA Foundation and is designed to help communication leaders and professionals better understand the challenges faced by emerging majorities in the field.

To purchase Diverse Voices, visit www.diverseleadership.net.

Find Torod on Social Media:   

Beto’s PR Savvy Presidential Campaign Launch


On Thursday, Beto O’Rourke passed Kamala Harris for the best campaign launch of a Democrat. Doug Simon, CEO of D S Simon Media, noted he has three things in common with the last two Democrats to win the presidency. He represents generational change, he’s from neither coast, and he has a message of hope.

The key test will be if his numbers in Iowa grow after his visit. We’ll see what Biden does with his launch. Will he match Beto’s effectiveness? Here are some of his smart PR moves:

 

He first shared that he was running with local El Paso media, maintaining relationships
Had it coincide with a Vanity Fair profile/cover story that he knew would be friendly
Heading to Iowa immediately for a three day tour
Timed his launch to coincide with Trump being repudiated by Republicans in Congress over the emergency declaration
Shared a message of hope in his social video

 

Contact Doug At: dougs@dssimonmedia.com

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Former Trump Lawyer Ty Cobb Calls For “As Much Transparency as Possible with Mueller Report”

The video features all quotes from Former Counsel to President Trump, Ty Cobb from “Truth on Trial,” Ty shared thoughts on the Mueller Report, “spokesperson-lawyers” such as Rudy Giuliani and Michael Avenatti, handling corporate crises and cases like Jussie Smollett’s. The event was broadcasted live from the Schar School of Policy and Government on Tuesday, February 26th. Mr. Cobb was questioned by Doug Simon, CEO at D S Simon Media, who moderated the panel.

Ty Cobb: 

Doug Simon:    Contact at dougs@dssimonmedia.com

The Intersection of Law and PR – Why the Mueller Report Will or Won’t Be Made Public

Two key members of President Trump’s and the White House’s Legal Teams discuss what will or won’t be made public in the Mueller Report. The panel discussed the growing PR role of lawyers as spokespeople and whether it puts brands at risk. They addressed the key legal issues facing organizations including cyber security, privacy and how to navigate them.

The panel took place at the Schar School of Policy and Government on February 26 during “Truth on Trial”, the third in a series of events looking to grow our understanding of messaging in the digital age. “The Intersection of Law and PR” featured Ty Cobb, Former White House Special Counsel to President Trump; Stefan Passantino, Government Relations, Political Law and Public Policy, Michael Best & Friedrich LLP; Suzanne Rich Folsom, Award-Winning General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer; and Richard S. Levick, Chairman and CEO, LEVICK.

Ty Cobb: 

Stefan Passantino:   

Suzanne Rich Folsom:   

Richard S. Levick:   

Doug Simon:   

Can a Centrist Become President in Our Polarized Time?

Amazon pulling out of New York City is just one challenge brands face from the political divide. What can PR People learn from political strategists and politicians, who are in the cauldron of the political divide, about navigating the current polarization? Judging by this panel, quite a lot. You’ll gain insights into challenges faced by PR pros engaging in political strategy at the highest level. We also asked each panelist about their plans(?) to run for President.

The panel took place at the Schar School of Policy and Government on February 26 during “Truth on Trial”, the third in a series of events looking to grow our understanding of messaging in the digital age. The “Public Affairs in the Digital Age” section featured former Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe, Maria Cardona, Dewey Square Group, and Michael Caputo, Strategic Communications Expert.

Terry McAuliffe: 

Maria Cardona:    

Michael Caputo:  

Doug Simon:   

Why Have CEOs Stopped Talking to the Media? Experts Say It Is Time for Change.

A panel featuring public relations specialists and members of the media revealed a common trend: organizations aren’t doing enough to build relations with media. Reporters are being ignored or tossed low-level individuals, and companies reapproach only when they have a calculated story. Similarly, due to financial media cutbacks, reporters don’t have time to get to know the key players in the industries they cover. This dynamic only further fractures the public’s faith in both sides. A solution that some panelists seem to favor: CEOs need to talk more to the media, to build a genuine relationship and improve understanding, both ways.

The panel took place at the Schar School of Policy and Government on February 26 during “Truth on Trial”, the third in a series of events looking to grow our understanding of messaging in the digital age. The “Media and Communicators” section featured Lisa Ross, President of Edelman, Washington D.C.; Peter Carson, Managing Director, Public Affairs, North America, Weber Shandwick | Powell Tate; Steven Pearlstein, Columnist, The Washington Post; Gabriel Debenedetti, National Correspondent, New York Magazine.

Lisa Ross:   

Peter Carson:   

Steven Pearlstein: 

Gabriel Debenedetti: 

Doug Simon:   

David Rehr Explains How Communicators Can Cut Through the Clutter


Doug Simon spoke with David Rehr in preparation for Truth on Trial: Implications for Communicators, the third installment in a series of events looking to get a conversation started about truth and communication in today’s political, business and social climate. David Rehr has over 25 years of experience in advocacy, public policy, and governance. Among many other accomplishments, he was the former CEO and President of the National Association of Broadcasters, and directed the industries $1.2 billion marketing effort to create awareness for the digital TV transition. Now, he is a professor of policy and government at George Mason University.