On Top of PR

Send us a textIn this episode, Vannyda Thach joins host Jason Mudd to discuss expert strategies for media pitching and journalist relationshipsTune in to learn more!Our Guest:Vannyda Thach is the Head of Media Success at Qwoted. With a background in media relations and digital communications, Vannyda helps journalists find trusted sources and build meaningful relationships through the Qwoted platform. Her experience spans PR campaign management, social media strategy, and work with major entertainment events, including Disney's “Big Hero 6” premiere.Five things you'll learn from this episode:1. Why building relationships (and not just landing placements) is the foundation of good media pitching2. The difference between cold pitches and media query responses — and how to craft both effectively3. Best practices for using Qwoted to match sources with journalists quickly and accurately4. How personalization, clarity, and relevance impact whether journalists notice or ignore a pitch 5. The role of urgency and profile optimization in earning top-tier media coverage Quotables“You want to be unique. You want to have your own take on the topic.” — @VannydaThach“Remember to call the journalist by their name. If your pitch isn't personalized, they'll see right through it.” — @VannydaThach“Pitching media is about being helpful, not selling. Focus on building the relationship.” — @JasonMudd9“Don't ghost reporters. Communicate early if something changes. It's all about respect.” — @JasonMudd9“Journalists are busy and under pressure. The more complete your profile, the more credibility you have.” — @VannydaThachIf you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share it with a colleague or friend. You may also support us though Buy Me a Coffee or by leavinging us a quick podcast review.About Vannyda ThachVannyda Thach is the Head of Media Success at Qwoted, a platform dedicated to connecting journalists with expert sources. Based in Los Angeles, she leads a team committed to supporting media professionals — including journalists, freelancers, podcasters, and producers by facilitating connections with the right experts for their stories, even under tight deadlines. With a journalism and public relations background, Vannyda earned her bachelor's degree in journalism with an emphasis in public relations from California State University, Long Beach. Her career began with roles such as a communications intern at AARP and public relations manager for DisneyExaminer. She later joined Citizen Relations, progressing from a junior account executive to senior account executive, managing PR campaigns and fostering media relationships. At Qwoted, Vannyda leverages her PR experience to assist journalists in finding trusted sources and building meaningful relationships through the platform. She emphasizes the importance of being helpful over selling in media pitching and building genuine connections with reporters.Guest's cSupport the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America's Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Send us a textIn this episode, Bill Zimmerman joins host Jason Mudd to discuss how the creator economy is transforming public relations and marketing strategy.Tune in to learn more!Our Guest:Our episode guest is Bill Zimmerman, a professor in the College of Communications at Penn State University. With a background in journalism and public relations, he recently authored a textbook on the creator economy. His academic work focuses on preparing students for the evolving landscape of influencer marketing, content creation, and digital media strategy.Five things you'll learn from this episode:1. Why brands must understand the difference between influencers and content creators2. The power of evaluating creators' niche audiences instead of just follower count3. Why trust, disclosure, and transparency are crucial in influencer partnerships4. How to build an effective creator brief and why it matters for brand alignment5. Tools and trends shaping the future of influencer marketing and PR educationQuotables“Trust is the currency of the creator economy. It must be earned and maintained.” — @BillZimmerman“A million followers doesn't mean a million buyers. Engagement matters more.” — @BillZimmerman“Creators are trusted more than institutions because they deliver real talk and transparency.” — @BillZimmerman“You hire a creator for their voice. Over-directing the message kills authenticity.” — @JasonMudd9“Disclosure isn't optional. It's ethical, smart, and legally required.” — @JasonMudd9“The creator brief is quickly becoming the backbone of successful campaigns.” — @BillZimmermanIf you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share it with a colleague or friend. You may also support us through Buy Me a Coffee or by leaving us a quick podcast review.About Bill ZimmermanBill Zimmerman is an assistant teaching professor at Penn State University's College of Communications. He brings a wealth of experience from his previous roles as a newspaper reporter and PR professional. Bill holds a bachelor's degree from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and another in higher education from Penn State, along with accreditation in public relations.A thought leader in the evolving world of digital media and PR education, Bill authored a textbook on the creator economy and is launching a content creator certificate program at Penn State. His work is helping shape how future PR and marketing professionals approach influencer strategy, creator partnerships, and audience trust in the digital age.Guest's contact info and resources:Bill Zimmerman on LinkedInUnderstanding the Creator Economy: Making Digital Media Work for YouAdditional Resources:Influential.coSupport the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America's Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Send us a textIn this solocast episode, On Top of PR host Jason Mudd discusses what every company must know about media relations before hiring a public relations firm. Tune in to learn more! Five things you'll learn from this episode:1. Media relations is just one part of strategic public relations2. What makes a story newsworthy3. What journalists really care about when evaluating your pitch4. Why relationships don't guarantee coverage5. What PR tools you shouldn't buy until you're ready Quotables"Public relations is not only media relations. Media relations isn't what most people think it is either." — @JasonMudd9"Earned media must be earned. If someone guarantees coverage, you're buying ads, not PR." — @JasonMudd9"The only audience that matters is the journalist's audience — not your CEO or marketing team." — @JasonMudd9"Great [news] stories beat great [media] relationships." — @JasonMudd9 "PR is a long-term business strategy — not a one-time campaign or quick win." — @JasonMudd9If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share it with a colleague or friend. You may also support us by buying us a coffee or leaving us a quick podcast review.About Jason Mudd, Axia Public RelationsJason Mudd is a trusted adviser and dynamic strategist for some of America's most admired brands. Since 1994, he's worked with brands including American Airlines, Budweiser, Dave & Buster's, H&R Block, Hilton, HP, Miller Lite, New York Life, Pizza Hut, Southern Comfort, and Verizon. Jason founded Axia Public Relations in 2002. Forbes named Axia one of America's Best PR Agencies. At Axia, Jason oversees strategic communications for national clients and leads top PR talent. Clients love his passion, innovation, candor, commitment, and award-winning team. He consults with leadership teams at billion-dollar global business-to-business and business-to-consumer brands, advising them on spokesperson training, crisis communications, analytics, social media, online reputation management, and more. In an increasingly tech-forward world, Jason's grasp of the technological demands companies face helps his multiple-sector clients reach their target audiences. After teaching himself HTML in 1994, Jason helped pioneer internet marketing strategies as an early adopter of e-commerce, search engine optimization, and social media, inspiring tech giants like Yahoo. He speaks to corporations and industry groups and writes about PR trends and best practices for American City Business Journals and other national outlets.Guest's contact info and resources:Jason Mudd on XJason Mudd on LinkedInAxia Public Relations 1:1 consultations and training with Axia Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America's Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Send us a textIn this episode, Linda Zebian joins host Jason Mudd to discuss the challenges journalists face in maintaining work-life balance and how PR professionals can better support them. She shares industry insights from Muck Rack, explores newsroom pressures, and offers strategies for improving media relations.Tune in to learn more!Our Guest:Linda Zebian is the senior director of communications at Muck Rack. She leads internal and external communications strategies across the enterprise. Her work spans across messaging, issues management, media relations, social media, and employee communications. As Muck Rack's first-ever communications hire, Linda brought extensive experience from The New York Times, where she spent 10 years in various communications roles. She was named a “Woman to Watch” by PRWeek in 2024 and recognized for her leadership in Ragan Communications' 2023 Top Women in PR list.Five things you'll learn from this episode:1. The current state of work-life balance in journalism2. Key stressors impacting media professionals today3. How PR professionals can improve relationships with journalists4. The evolving landscape of newsroom workflows5. Strategies to support journalists' well-being and efficiencyQuotables"The media industry has changed dramatically, and work-life balance is a bigger challenge than ever." — @LindaZebian"Journalists are under immense pressure. PR pros can help by being mindful of their time and needs." — @LindaZebian"The relationship between PR and journalists should be built on trust, efficiency, and respect." — @JasonMudd9"Empathy in media relations goes a long way. Understanding journalists' workload can improve PR success." — @LindaZebian"Being strategic and concise in your pitches will make journalists more receptive to your stories." — @JasonMudd9If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share it with a colleague or friend, buy us a coffee, or leave us a quick podcast review.About Linda ZebianLinda Zebian is the senior director of communications at Muck Rack, where she leads internal and external communications strategy, including messaging, issues management, media relations, social media, and employee communications. She joined Muck Rack in January 2022 as its first-ever director of communications, bringing a wealth of experience in media and corporate communications.Before working at Muck Rack, Linda spent a decade at The New York Times, where she held various communications roles supporting growth, product, and technology teams. She played a key role in reinforcing the company's innovation and financial success, driving subscription growth, and strengthening brand affinity. Prior to that, she worked at Consumers Union, managing media relations for Consumer Reports. She began her career as a reporter at Folio before transitioning into conference programming for Red 7 Media.Linda was named a “Woman to Watch” by PRWeek in 2024 and a “Top Woman in PR for Leadership” by Ragan Communications in 2023. She frequently givSupport the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America's Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Send us a textIn this episode, Brooke Kruger joins On Top of PR host Jason Mudd to discuss the latest hiring trends in PR and communications, the importance of networking, and strategies for standing out in today's competitive job market. Whether you're a job seeker or a hiring manager, Brooke shares expert insights to help you navigate the evolving landscape of talent acquisition.Tune in to learn more!Our Guest:Our episode guest is Brooke Kruger, a seasoned executive recruiter and founder of KC Partners. She has over 20 years of experience helping companies build high-performing leadership teams. Her expertise extends into the PR and communications world, where she has successfully placed top talent in roles that shape brand narratives and corporate messaging. With a keen understanding of industry trends, she connects organizations with strategic communicators who drive engagement and reputation management.Five things you'll learn from this episode:1. The latest trends in PR and communications hiring2. Why networking is essential for job seekers and hiring managers3. How to stand out in today's competitive job market4. The best strategies for companies to attract top talent5. Common hiring mistakes and how to avoid them Quotables— "Networking is critical in today's job market for both candidates and hiring managers." — Brooke Kruger— "Hiring managers have the upper hand right now, so they need to be strategic in selecting top talent." — Brooke Kruger— "Candidates should optimize their LinkedIn presence — hiring decisions start there." — @JasonMudd9— "Transparency in the hiring process leads to better experiences for both candidates and employers." — Brooke Kruger— "A well-structured hiring process ensures you make the right talent decisions for long-term success." — @JasonMudd9If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share it with a colleague or friend. You may also support us through buy me a coffee or by leaving us a quick podcast review.About Brooke KrugerBrooke Kruger, a seasoned executive recruiter and founder of KC Partners, has over 20 years of experience helping companies build high-performing leadership teams. Her expertise extends into the PR and communications world, where she has successfully placed top talent in roles that shape brand narratives and corporate messaging. With a keen understanding of industry trends, she connects organizations with strategic communicators who drive engagement and reputation management.Guest's contact info and resources:Brooke Kruger on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brookechilenkrugerKC Partners website: https://kc-partners.com/Our On Top of PR sponsors:Production sponsor: Axia Public Relations, one of America's Best PR Agencies, according to Forbes MagazinePresenting sponsor: Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America's Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Send us a textIn this episode, Mark Riggs joins On Top of PR host Jason Mudd to discuss how brands can build stronger relationships with their PR agencies, set clear expectations, and maximize their agency partnershipsTune in to learn more!Our Guest:Our episode guest is Mark Riggs, CEO and lead strategist at Pemberton, a consultancy helping PR and marketing agencies achieve organic growth. With over 20 years of experience, Mark has worked with top brands like Allstate, Honda, Ford, and Coca-Cola to create award-winning consumer programs. His expertise in client-agency relationships offers valuable takeaways for brands and agencies.Five things you'll learn from this episode:1. Why unspoken expectations can hinder agency-client relationships2. How agencies and clients can align their goals for better results3. The importance of defining measurable success metrics4. How agencies can push back when clients demand work beyond the scope5. The best way for brands to collaborate with their agencies for long-term success Quotables- "Unexpressed expectations lead to frustration. Transparency is key." — Mark Riggs- "Agencies should be treated as strategic partners, not just vendors." — @JasonMudd9- "Define your success metrics from day one to ensure alignment." — Mark Riggs- "PR is more than just media coverage; it's strategic communication." — @JasonMudd9- "If you're hiring an agency, give them the data they need to measure success." — Mark RiggsIf you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share it with a colleague or friend. You may also support us through buy me a coffee or by leaving us a quick podcast review.About Mark RiggsMark Riggs is the CEO and lead strategist of Pemberton, a management consultancy helping PR and marketing agencies achieve organic growth. With over two decades of experience, Mark has led successful campaigns for major brands and specializes in guiding agencies toward better client relationships and business strategies. His deep industry knowledge makes him a sought-after consultant and speaker.Guest's contact info and resources:Mark Riggs on LinkedIn: Mark Riggs on LinkedInPemberton website: Pemberton WorldwideOur On Top of PR sponsors:Production sponsor: Axia Public Relations, one of America's Best PR Agencies, according to Forbes MagazinePresenting sponsor: ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviewsCoffee sponsor: Fans like you fuel our efforts through buy me a coffee.Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America's Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Send us a textIn this solocast episode, On Top of PR host Jason Mudd discusses how the top 20 mistakes companies make with social media and how to fix themTune in to learn more!Five things you'll learn from this episode:1. How to properly resource your social media department2. The importance of platform-specific content optimization3. How to effectively incorporate user-generated content and employee advocacy4. Why social media crisis planning is crucial 5. The value of consistency in social media schedules and audits Quotables"Social media has become its own little marketing department because of all the resources that you really have to put into it." — @JasonMudd9"If you're not responding to comments and messages, your audience will move on to your competition." — @JasonMudd9"Social media moves fast. If your reply takes days, your audience has already moved on." — @JasonMudd9"A sporadic posting schedule makes your brand forgettable." — @JasonMudd9"Have a crisis readiness response plan in place and ready to go." — @JasonMudd9If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share it with a colleague or friend. You can also support us through buy me a coffee or by leaving us a quick podcast review.About Jason Mudd, Axia PRJason Mudd is a trusted adviser and dynamic strategist for some of America's most admired brands. Since 1994, he's worked with brands including American Airlines, Budweiser, Dave & Buster's, H&R Block, Hilton, HP, Miller Lite, New York Life, Pizza Hut, Southern Comfort, and Verizon. Jason founded Axia Public Relations in 2002. Forbes named Axia one of America's Best PR Agencies. At Axia, Jason oversees strategic communications for national clients and leads top PR talent. Clients love his passion, innovation, candor, commitment, and award-winning team. He consults with leadership teams at billion-dollar global business-to-business and business-to-consumer brands, advising them on spokesperson training, crisis communications, analytics, social media, online reputation management, and more. In an increasingly tech-forward world, Jason's grasp of the technological demands companies face help his multiple-sector clients reach their target audiences. After teaching himself HTML in 1994, Jason helped pioneer internet marketing strategies as an early adopter of e-commerce, search engine optimization, and social media, inspiring tech giants like Yahoo. He speaks to corporations and industry groups and writes about PR trends and best practices for American City Business Journals and other national outlets.Guest's contact info and resources:Jason Mudd on XJason Mudd on LinkedInAxia Public Relations 1:1 consultations and training with Axia Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America's Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Send us a textIn this episode, Nicole Scarbrough joins host Jason Mudd to discuss data analytics for social media growthTune in to learn more!Our guest:Our episode guest is Nicole Scarbrough, a social media analyst at Dun & Bradstreet, a leading global provider of business decisioning data and analytics. Nicole produces and manages organic social media content across platforms including LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, X, and TikTok. From writing copy and crafting impactful campaigns to reporting and graphic design, she continuously works to optimize content and processes.Born and raised in Northeast Florida, Nicole attended the University of North Florida, graduating with a B.A. in political science and a B.S. in communication. When she's not at the office or spending time with friends and family, Nicole is an avid distance runner, mountain biker, and gym goer. She also loves to take advantage of the plethora of scenic trails and parks in the area.Five things you'll learn from this episode:1. How to leverage LinkedIn Lives with strategic partners to build organic reach2. Strategies for managing social media platforms with distinct approaches3. Best practices for implementing employee advocacy programs 4. How to balance data-driven content with people-focused storytelling across platforms5. Essential tools and technologies for efficient social media management Quotables"LinkedIn Lives are a fantastic tool to grow your audience, and they really play off name recognition." — Nicole Scarbrough"From channel to channel, we have different strategies. LinkedIn is going to be more business-focused." — Nicole Scarbrough"I can't imagine not being in a role or a position with a company where you're not learning and getting opportunities to grow and do new things every day." — @JasonMudd9If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share it with a professional colleague or friend. You may also share your experience with others, buy us a coffee, or leave us a quick podcast review.About Nicole ScarbroughNicole Scarbrough is a social media analyst at Dun & Bradstreet, a leading global provider of business decisioning data and analytics. Nicole produces and manages organic social media content across platforms including LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, X, and TikTok. From writing copy and crafting impactful campaigns to reporting and graphic design, she continuously works to optimize content and processes.Guest's contact info and resources:Nicole Scarbrough on LinkedInDun & BradstreetSprout SocialOur On Top of PR sponsors:Production sponsor: Axia Public Relations, one of America's Best PR Agencies, according to Forbes MagazinePresenting sponsor: Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America's Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Send us a textIn this episode, Jennifer Radke joins On Top of PR host Jason Mudd to discuss the evolving landscape of social media marketing careers, professional certification benefits, and strategies for combating burnout in the industry. Tune in to learn more!

Send us a textIn this episode, Shel Holtz joins On Top of PR host Jason Mudd to discuss AI in corporate communications.Tune in to learn more!Our Guest:Shel Holtz leads communications innovation at Webcor, a premier commercial construction firm. As Webcor's senior director of communication, Holtz pioneers AI integration in corporate communications. He brings over two decades of Fortune 400 experience and strategic communication expertise to help organizations navigate digital transformation.Five things you'll learn from this episode:1. Strategic AI implementation in PR workflows2. Advanced prompting techniques for superior AI-generated content3. Cutting-edge AI platforms for diverse media creation, from visuals to audio4. Essential guidelines for ethical AI use in communications5. Career advancement strategies in an AI-enhanced PR landscape Quotables"AI is transforming PR fundamentally. It's not about uniform implementation but personalized workflows that enhance strategic thinking." — @ShelHoltz"The future belongs to communicators who leverage AI for enhanced productivity while maintaining human creativity." — @ShelHoltz"Strategic AI disclosure builds trust. Be transparent when AI use could influence audience perception." — @ShelHoltz"AI liberates PR professionals from routine tasks, enabling focus on high-value strategic planning." — @ShelHoltz"Success in modern PR requires mastering AI as a strategic tool, not fearing it as a replacement." — @ShelHoltz"Effective AI implementation requires understanding both technology capabilities and human communication needs." — @ShelHoltz"Tomorrow's PR leaders will be those who strategically combine AI efficiency with human insight." — @ShelHoltz"I'm definitely leading the charge of AI within my organization, showing examples and inspiring others instead of thinking the old way." — @JasonMudd9"We can produce more volume than before at a greater quality using AI. That's what makes us more valuable to our clients." — @JasonMudd9If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share it with a colleague or friend. You may also support us through buy me a coffee or by leaving us a quick podcast review.Guest's contact info and resources:LinkedIn: Shel HoltzWebsite: holtz.comTwitter: @ShelHoltzAdditional resources from Axia Public Relations:Listen to more episodes of the On Top of PR podcast.Find out more about Axia Public Relations.Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America's Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Send us a textIn this episode, Tyra Tutor joins host Jason Mudd to discuss career longevity, leadership tips, marketing strategies, and remote work trends. Tune in to learn more!Our Guest:Our episode's special guest is Tyra Tutor, president and CEO of TAD PGS, Adecco Group's government solutions subsidiary. Tyra's Adecco Group career spans 27 years, with roles leading investor relations, communications, marketing, mergers and acquisitions, special projects, and more. Axia's friend and VIP client since 2004, Tyra shares some of her secrets to success and longevity in a global organization.Five things you'll learn from this episode:1. Career longevity through adaptability2. Corporate marketing, communication, and development best practices3. Managing multiple brands, niche marketing, and reputations4. Day in the life — tips for aspiring CEOs5. Workplace flexibility and remote work trends Quotables“I had the great privilege of sitting in boardrooms, and in most of my roles, I was the right-hand person of CEOs. I got to witness a lot of great leaders.” — @Tyra Tutor “Have a willingness to learn, a willingness to work hard, and make sure you have a good boss — someone who is willing to give you a chance and to give you new opportunities to make sure you aren't stagnant in your job.” — @Tyra Tutor “When you have a lot of brands, you're probably not going to be a household name, and you have to be okay with that. So your expectation has to be lower.” — @Tyra Tutor “Work hard, be there when no one else is, and do the tasks that no one else wants to do. Many times, I held roles and took on tasks that were not in my job description, and sometimes, that got me into a meeting I wouldn't otherwise be in.” — @Tyra Tutor “I like to surround myself with people who love to work hard. I'm not saying they don't have balance, but when they're at work, they're working hard. They have a good attitude and are ready to do whatever it takes to finish a job and give ourselves a well-done.” — @Tyra Tutor “The most important thing for the CEO was that what we told our client through marketing, what we told the public through PR, and what we reported to the Wall Street analysts with numbers was all consistent, transparent, and accurate. That hit home for me.” — @Tyra Tutor “One of the challenges that many companies face is marketing multiple brands for different niches. I see this with a lot of companies — they are going after different audiences, different verticals, and not getting the funding necessary to pull all that off.” — @JasonMudd9 If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share it with a colleague or friend. You may also support us through buy me a coffee or by leaving us a quick podcast review.Guest's contact info and resources:Tyra Tutor on LinkedInAdecco Group websiteSupport the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America's Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Send us a textIn this solocast episode, On Top of PR host Jason Mudd responds to a fan letter about tips for pitching to podcasts. Tune in to learn more!Five things you'll learn from this episode:1. Do your research — know the show2. Pitch uniqueness and expertise3. Follow up4. Avoid common mistakes5. Preparation and promotion matters Quotables“It's ultra-important to consume the podcast before pitching to understand its focus.” — @JasonMudd9 “When you send a pitch, provide some context about who your expert is. A link to their LinkedIn profile would be great. If they have a common name like John Smith, maybe include a photo of what they look like so when we're doing our due diligence, we can easily find them.” — @JasonMudd9 “You'd be better off spending time crafting one great pitch than spending a little time on hundreds of pitches and getting a bunch of no's. Double down on the shows that have the right audience, the right topic, and the right fit.” — @JasonMudd9 “Come up with a really good topic — something unique that your guest has a provocative, contrarian, or unique point of view on. I'm looking for something that really pops and resonates with our audience.” — @JasonMudd9 “It might be easy to say it's easier to pitch a podcast than it is a major news outlet, but you've got to keep in mind there are big-time podcasts out there that are just as in demand as any mainstream, tier-one media outlet.” — @JasonMudd9 If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share it with a professional colleague or friend. You may also share your experience with others, buy me a coffee, or leave us a quick podcast review.Host contact info and resources:Jason Mudd on XJason Mudd on LinkedInAxia Public Relations websiteProven process for earned media coverageSolocast 130: Media pitching tipsE-book: Learn Media Relations from the MediaAdditional Resources from Axia Public Relations:Listen to more episodes of the On Top of PR podcast.Find out more about Axia Public Relations.Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America's Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Send us a textIn this episode, Bibie Wu joins On Top of PR host Jason Mudd to discuss how Del Monte Foods balances innovation and tradition in its PR strategies.Tune in to learn more!Our Guest:Our episode guest is Bibie Wu, chief communications and technical development officer at Del Monte Foods. She leads marketing, corporate communications, investor relations, product and packaging research and development, and environmental, social, and governance for Del Monte Foods' powerful portfolio of brands.Five things you'll learn from this episode:1. Balancing a 130-year-old heritage brand legacy with innovation2. Staying relevant with emerging trends 3. The launch and strategic plan behind Joyba Bubble Tea 4. Engaging Gen Z and Zillennials through influencer marketing 5. The importance of synergy across teams during campaigns  Quotables“We like to say, ‘This is not your grandmother's Del Monte.' You can make so much more than just a green bean casserole. We're innovating for today's consumer and staying on top of what's popular in culinary flavor trends.” — @Bibie Wu“People are getting their ideas and the recipes from social, from TikTok, etc., so we're incorporating those trends into our product.” — @Bibie Wu“It's all about synergy — integrating the PR agency, digital team, brand team, or internal media planning, it's important to make campaigns that can be meaty across all those platforms.” — @Bibie Wu“We've been putting more of our efforts behind developing products and marketing campaigns that speak to these younger millennials and Gen Z because they're going to be the families of tomorrow.” — @Bibie Wu“That's why we name the show On Top of PR — because there are so many topics, tips, and trends that our audience has to stay on top of that we do our best to try to bring those relevant topics to the table.” — @JasonMudd9If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share it with a colleague or friend. You can also support us through buy me a coffee or by leaving us a quick podcast review.About Bibie WuBibie Wu has more than 20 years of experience in consumer packaged goods marketing leadership with many well-known and respected brands at General Mills and Campbell's. Before joining Del Monte in 2018, she served as Henkel's vice president of marketing and head of laundry conditioners and home care. She was also responsible for Henkel's omnichannel and visual branding departments. She is a graduate of Amherst College and received an MBA from Dartmouth College.Guest's contact info and resources:Bibie Wu on LinkedInDel Monte Foods websiteAdditional Resources:How influencer partnerships can boost PR campaignsSupport the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America's Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Send us a textIn this episode, Mort Crim joins On Top of PR host Jason Mudd to discuss his career highlights, truth in journalism, and his newest memoir, “Anchored: A Journalist's Search for Truth.Tune in to learn more!Our Guest:Our episode guest is Mort Crim, a retired journalist, author, lecturer, and motivational speaker. He inspired the Anchorman character Ron Burgundy.Five things you'll learn from this episode:1.  The inspiration behind Anchorman's Ron Burgundy2. Mort's journalism career highlights and pivotal moments3. Maintaining a trusted image in journalism and PR4. How the media has changed and ways to adapt5. Mort's book, “Anchored: A Journalist's Search for Truth”Quotables “I have a philosophy that if you run fast enough, old age can't catch you.” — @Mort Crim“Never have an ego or have arrogance about yourself because you never know when you're going to need help or the support of others in your community.” — @JasonMudd9“It's all about the story. History is made up of stories. We call journalists the people who write the first draft of history. But that hasn't changed — for all of the technological change, for all the proliferation of media — it's still about content.” — @Mort Crim“Become a good writer, and if you're a good writer, I can teach you how to stand in front of a camera. I can teach you how to hold the microphone. I can teach you how to be a broadcaster. But I can't teach you how to think, and I can't teach you how to write.” — @Mort Crim“Journalism is a profession that requires, first of all, a commitment to honesty and truth. But secondly, you need training. You need to have some understanding and experience in how to recognize a story, how to organize a story, how to tell a story in a way that is meaningful to the audience.” — @Mort Crim“PR needs to be all about the audience of the news outlet when you're pitching media.” — @JasonMudd9 If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with others, buy me a coffee, or leave us a quick podcast review.About Mort CrimMort Crim is a journalist, author, lecturer, and motivational speaker. He is the main inspiration for the character Ron Burgundy, a news anchor in the Anchorman movie series. His network and local broadcast experience in radio and TV includes five years as a correspondent for ABC in New York City and two decades as a senior editor and anchor for WDIV-TV, an NBC affiliate station in Detroit. He was backup for Paul Harvey's “The Rest of the Story” radio program for five years. He is the author of eight books, including his most recent memoir, “Anchored: A Journalist's Search for Truth.”Guest's contact info and resources:Mort Crim on XMort Crim on LinkedInMort Crim on FacebookMort Crim's websiteSupport the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America's Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Send us a textIn this episode, Doug Filaroski joins host Jason Mudd to discuss how a property insurance company manages crisis communications. Tune in to learn more!Our Guest:Our episode guest is Doug Filaroski, senior communications representative at Citizens Property Insurance. He manages crisis communications projects, provides strategic consulting, and oversees the production of all types of content — from leadership messaging to digital communications and video.Five things you'll learn from this episode:1. Citizens Property Insurance's communications strategies 2. How to respond to a crisis 3. The role of crisis response centers during catastrophic events4. The importance of fraud prevention campaigns5. Why companies need a crisis communication plan Quotables“We feel a great responsibility — because we are the state or the people's insurance company — to provide them with good service.” — @Doug Filaroski“Florida was responsible for 79% of all the lawsuits in the United States against property insurance companies.” — @Doug Filaroski “When I started with a company about 10 years ago, I don't think we had as good a plan as we have now. So one of the best tips is to have a plan. Frankly, a lot of people I talk to in crisis communications don't really have a formal plan.” — @Doug Filaroski“I'm personally a big fan of templates. If I have to send the same email twice, I'd sure like to have a template for it for the third time, and I always encourage my teammates to do the same thing.” — @JasonMudd9“A lot of the comments you're making speak to the culture of your organization and that you obviously care and you're there to serve, as opposed to just being the solution that's the least desirable for your customers. I think that really matters and goes a long way.” — @JasonMudd9If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with others or leave us a quick podcast review.About Doug Filaroski Doug is a former journalist who's covered presidential campaigns, government corruption, and growth. He now works as a corporate storyteller. After stints at a Fortune 500 company and the JAX Chamber, he moved on to internal, external, and crisis communications for Citizens Property Insurance in Florida. Doug is also the vice president of communications for the Florida Chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators.Guest's contact info and resources:Doug Filaroski on XDoug Filaroski on LinkedInCitizens Property Insurance websiteInternational Association of Business CommunicatorsInternational Association of Business Communicators - Florida ChapterAdditional Resources:Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America's Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Send us a textOur Guest:Linda Beltran is vice president of corporate communications at Holiday Inn Club Vacations, a leading vacation ownership company with more than 30 resorts across the U.S. She oversees a team of communications professionals who manage internal and external communications, executive visibility, corporate social responsibility, media relations, crisis communications, community relations, and thought leadership. Five things you'll learn from this episode:1. How internal communication management can prevent external crisis2. Executive media training and thought leadership3. The evolution of internal communications4. The future of internal communications5. Internal communications best practices  Quotables“Your team members are really your first and most important audience.” — @Linda Beltran“We have to be nimble and pivot. And I tell people all the time, improvising and pivoting are one of the undersold skills that you have to have in this line of work.” — @JasonMudd9“If you have a company and leadership that really puts their faith in their comms team, you're already ahead of the curve, and then the rest is just making sure that they're being received.” — @Linda Beltran“Pre-pandemic, people weren't necessarily paying attention to their internal audience.” — @Linda Beltran“I love the idea of trying something new. I love the idea of failing forward. And as I tell my team quite a bit, as long as you're working on something that won't be shown externally, take some risk internally.” — @JasonMudd9If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with others or leave us a quick podcast review.About Linda BeltranAs a seasoned communications leader with over 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Linda brings strategic, creative, and impactful solutions to diverse audiences and stakeholders. Her mission is to enhance the reputation, visibility, and engagement of the organizations she works with, aligning communications with their values, culture, and goals.Guest's contact info and resources:Linda Beltran on XLinda Beltran on LinkedInHoliday Inn Club Vacations websiteAdditional Resources:The value of being honest in internal communications4 ways to present your corporation as grateful to its shareholdersSupport the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America's Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Send us a textIn this solocast episode, host Jason Mudd discusses how to improve your media pitches and craft news releases journalists will notice.Tune in to learn more!Five things you'll learn from this episode:1. How to improve four media pitch examples2. Keep your pitch short and visually appealing.3. Tailor your pitch to match the journalist's beat.4. Offer value — why should the journalist care?5. Have a copy editor review the release. Quotables“About half of the news stories they write come from media pitches. So media pitching works when it's done right. Media pitching works when you have a relationship or attempt to build a relationship; you don't need a relationship to get media coverage.” — @JasonMudd9“You just want to send a teaser and have them say, ‘You know what, I would like to hear more' or ‘This isn't a good fit for me.' But instead of doing it in 10 paragraphs, what if you just did it in three sentences?” — @JasonMudd9“That's why we believe in having copy editors on our team who are grammarians. They're experts at what they do — the red-pen police or the people who correct your grammar in public that you don't like.” — @JasonMudd9“If you can't tell me who said it, then I'm probably not going to quote you on it.” — @JasonMudd9“You should not send a news release, or even a media pitch, through blast … think 1-to-1 with each media pitch that you send out.” — @JasonMudd9“More targeted, more selective pitches are going to help you be more successful.” — @JasonMudd9 “Just like in dating, just like in sales, in media pitching, the intent of the first meeting is to get a second meeting.” — @JasonMudd9 If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with others or leave us a quick podcast review.About Jason Mudd, Axia PRJason Mudd is a trusted adviser and dynamic strategist for some of America's most admired brands. Since 1994, he's worked with American Airlines, Budweiser, Dave & Buster's, H&R Block, Hilton, HP, Miller Lite, New York Life, Pizza Hut, Southern Comfort, and Verizon. He founded Axia in July 2002. Forbes named Axia one of America's Best PR Agencies.Guest's contact info and resources:Jason Mudd on XJason Mudd on LinkedInAxia Public Relations 10 elements of news10 elements of news with Jason Mudd | On Top of PR Podcast1:1 consultations and training with Axia Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America's Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Send us a textIn this episode, Alfredo Garcia joins On Top of PR host Jason Mudd to discuss best practices for producing PR events. Tune in to learn more!Our guest:Our episode guest is Alfredo Garcia, vice president of sales for Sight & Sound and Mugwump Productions. He started his journey with Sight & Sound as a marketing intern, where he discovered his passion for the audio-visual production side of events. Now an executive leader, he's played a pivotal role in the company's growth from 15 employees to more than 50 today. Five things you'll learn from this episode:1. Questions event producers will ask 2. Technical media accommodations 3. How much notice event production teams need 4. What organizations should consider before planning an event 5. Logistics and budget planningQuotables:“My first question is always the same, no matter what type of media event it is. And that is, “Why are we doing this event? Why are we spending your money? Why are we pulling in resources and what is the purpose and outcome we are trying to get out of this event?” — @Alfredo Garcia“If you're depending on media to be there, how embarrassed might you be if they just can't come or don't come for whatever reason?” — @JasonMudd9“If you're depending on media to fill the room, you better have a pretty good announcement.” — @JasonMudd9“Whenever I see a whole bunch of microphones, I think of crisis communication.” — @Alfredo Garcia“Why would you not want to engage with an expert company to have them bring their experience, know-how, and ideas that might save you time, money, and ultimately drive home that better first impression for the attendees at your event?” — @JasonMudd9“We try to become an extension of what our clients are trying to do. We are thinking of things people don't think about.” — @Alfredo GarciaIf you enjoyed this episode, please share it with others or leave us a quick podcast review.About Alfredo GarciaAs Sight & Sound's vice president of sales, Alfredo manages daily sales operations, develops sales strategies, and forecasts company revenue. He focuses on client retention and expanding the client base locally and nationally. Alfredo earned a communication degree from Jacksonville University, which laid the foundation for his career in the hospitality industry. He's drawn to the industry's opportunities for travel, bringing creative solutions to events, and building long-lasting relationships. His journey with Sight & Sound began in 2005 when he joined as a marketing intern and discovered his passion for the audio-visual production side of events. After progressing through roles as a marketing coordinator and project manager, he found his niche in sales. Outside of work, Alfredo enjoys gardening with his wife, traveling with his family, and supporting all his local sports teams. Support the Show. On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America's Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Send us a Text Message.In this episode, Axia's David Triana joins host Jason Mudd to discuss key strategies for nurturing mutually beneficial media relationships that make a lasting impact. Tune in to learn more!Our Guest:David Triana is a public relations professional specializing in media relations and securing earned media coverage for clients in a variety of industries. He currently serves as the director of media relations at Axia Public Relations. He has been mentioned in outlets such as the Daily Mail, Business Insider, and Forbes, providing commentary on topics related to the PR industry. Five things you'll learn from this episode:1. Always provide value when communicating with the media.2. Proprietary data can differentiate you from your competition.3. Respect for journalistic ethics is key.4. Stay ahead of the news cycle whenever possible.5. Make the media's job as simple as possible (and be as prepared as possible).Bonus: Tips on earning media coverage for PR professionals with no prior newsroom experience. Quotables“Not being afraid to fail — I think that is the most important thing and most important attribute you can have as a PR professional.” — @David Triana“It's like a venn diagram: what the media wants, what the company wants, and what is newsworthy and interesting.” — @JasonMudd9“Anytime I've reached out to the media on behalf of a client, I never want to go empty-handed.” — @David Triana“Sometimes a really good media pitch is just three sentences. You want them to say, ‘Tell me more, I'm interested.'” — @JasonMudd9“I tell clients, you probably have some data internally that you don't even realize would be valuable to help set a finger on the pulse of the marketplace and the economy and what it's doing.” — @JasonMudd9“So much of this is making a really good first impression that defines the longevity of that relationship. And if you're willing to be available right off the bat … things like that set you apart from many others.” — @David TrianaIf you enjoyed this episode, please share it with others or leave us a quick podcast review.Guest's contact info and resources:David Triana on XDavid Triana on LinkedInEmail David at DTriana@axiapr.comAdditional Resources:Axia Public RelationsResourcesSupport the Show. On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America's Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Send us a Text Message.In this episode, Kate Meyers Emery, Ph.D., joins On Top of PR host Jason Mudd to discuss ways organizations can use data-centric storytelling on social media to raise awareness and engagement. Tune in to learn more!Our Guest:Our episode guest is Kate Meyers Emery, Ph.D., senior digital communications manager at Candid, a nonprofit providing comprehensive data and insights on the social sector. Five things you'll learn from this episode:1. What to do when you are swimming in data and how to turn it into a story for your organization.2. How smaller social media teams can leverage their own data. 3. Ways organizations can experiment with data to drive brand awareness and engagement. 4. How to create good social media content without visually appealing subjects.5. Common mistakes organizations make on social media. QuotablesData is really attractive to audiences. When you use numbers, people love it. People love numerals. It's our hook. — @Kate Meyers EmeryWhen you're communicating, there's two personality types: one is interested in emotion and the other is logic. If you can create a venn diagram and appeal to both at the same time without alienating one of the audiences, that's a good blend. — @JasonMudd9You gotta make the platforms happy. The platforms don't want you to leave social media. You have to put stuff out there that makes the platforms happy that drives more engagement on the platform. — @Kate Meyers EmeryPeople want to connect with other people. People don't want to connect with faceless brands. — @Kate Meyers Emery There's always three options. If you get more than that, you get analysis paralysis, and no one wants to make a decision. And the simple answer is usually the best answer. — @JasonMudd9If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with others or leave us a quick podcast review.About Kate Meyers Emery, Ph.D. Kate Meyers Emery, Ph.D., is the senior digital communications manager at Candid, where she leads the strategy, content production, and analysis of organic social media. Kate uses experimentation and data-driven storytelling to get people the information they need to do good.Guest's contact info and resources:Kate Meyers Emery, Ph.D. on LinkedInKate Meyers Emery, Ph.D. websiteCandid websiteCandid on LinkedInCandid on InstagramCandid on FacebookCanvaToggle TrackSprout SocialSupport the Show. On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America's Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Send us a Text Message.Leslie Cafferty, chief communications officer of Booking Holdings Inc., the world's largest global travel company, joins On Top of PR host Jason Mudd to discuss the pivotal role of communications professionals in business success and growth. Tune in to learn more!Our Guest:Our episode guest is Leslie Cafferty, chief communications officer at Booking Holdings Inc., the world's largest global travel company. She's also the executive sponsor for the company's employee resource group dedicated to equality and equity for women across the organization. Booking Holdings Inc. brands include Booking.com, Priceline, OpenTable, Kayak, and Agoda. Five things you'll learn from this episode:1. Differentiating marketing and communications in business2. Strategies to help with the rising cost of labor and doing business3. Tips for aspiring chief communication officers4.Evolving trends in communications5. The importance of diversity in communications and business Quotables“The art of what we do is storytelling. You could be writing a speech for a CEO, messaging points for a lawsuit, or sharing a consumer product story. That's art. You have to think creatively.”  — @Leslie Cafferty“Rising tide floats all boats. More data out there about travel, booking travel, and best practices probably inspire someone to want to go on a trip.” — @Jason Mudd“It's all about collaboration with the business. Communications is not seen anymore as just a subset of marketing — we have a seat at the table in leadership meetings.”   — @Leslie Cafferty“Anything you say can create or destroy value in seconds. Our role and expertise is about doing more creating than destroying.” — @Leslie Cafferty“The skills, talents, and responsibilities haven't changed, just the tools, platform, and speed at which you can communicate with your audience has increased, therefore making every move you make more critical and potentially vulnerable.” — @Jason MuddAbout Leslie CaffertyA 20-year tech company veteran with a passion for communications, marketing, and promoting more diversity in business, Leslie Cafferty is the senior vice president and chief communications officer for Booking Holdings, Inc., the world's largest global travel company, known for brands such as Priceline, Booking.com, Kayak, OpenTable, and Agoda. Cafferty oversees all corporate, financial, brand, crisis, CEO, executive, and internal communications initiatives for the company, which operates in more than 200 countries. She's also the executive sponsor for the company's employee resource group dedicated to equality and equity for women across the organization. Previously, Cafferty was the global vice president of marketing and communications at Nielsen, the world's leading global research company. Before Nielsen, she spent eight years as the director of global communications for IAC, a leading internet company operating more than 25 market-leading digital brands. She attended Harvard Business School and graduated magna cum laude from LehiSupport the Show. On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America's Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Send us a Text Message.Crafting winning media pitches, learning the elements needed to stand out and secure coverage. Five things you'll learn from this episode:What doesn't help your pitchesFollowing up — NOGASUse the phone to tell your storyExclusive/advance/embargo — know the difference Key elements to a good pitch Quotables“Great sales is about helping, not about sales. Great media relations is about helping a reporter uncover a news story that's valuable and interesting that they didn't know about previously.” — @JasonMudd9“People really like people who have confidence and who have a unique, contrarian, and provocative point of view.”  — @JasonMudd9“Improvising is one of the key attributes of being successful in PR.” — @JasonMudd9People care about stories about people. They don't care about stories about corporations.” — @JasonMudd9If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with others or leave us a quick podcast review.About Jason MuddJason Mudd, APR, is a trusted adviser and dynamic strategist for some of America's most admired brands. Since 1994, he's worked with American Airlines, Budweiser, Dave & Buster's, H&R Block, Hilton, HP, Miller Lite, New York Life, Pizza Hut, Southern Comfort, and Verizon. He founded Axia in July 2002. Forbes named Axia one of America's Best PR Agencies. Clients love Jason's passion, innovation, candor, commitment, and award-winning team. In an increasingly tech-forward world, Jason's grasp of technological demands on companies provides his clients in multiple sectors a unique advantage in reaching their top audiences. After teaching himself HTML in 1994, Jason helped pioneer internet marketing strategies as an early adopter of e-commerce, search engine optimization, and social media, inspiring tech giants like Yahoo.At Axia, Jason attracts, develops, retains, innovates, and leads top PR talent and clients. He oversees strategic communications for the firm's national clients and provides high-level consultations to client leadership teams at billion-dollar global brands, both business-to-business and business-to-consumer, including spokesperson training, crisis communications management, analytics, social media, online reputation management, and more. He also speaks frequently to corporations and industry groups and writes about public relations trends and best practices for American City Business Journals and other national companies.Jason's contact info:Jason Mudd on XJason Mudd on LinkedInAxia Public Relations Resources:Link to Bloomberg journalist's LinkedIn postSupport the Show. On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America's Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

AI strategist Kathleen Perley shares top recommended AI tools and how to optimize them for business communications strategies. Our guestOur episode guest is Kathleen Perley, professor of AI at Rice University's Jones School of Business. Kathleen is an innovative healthcare tech leader and trusted adviser in the emerging world of optimizing AI for business marketing and advertising. Five things you'll learn from this episode:The race for AI: staying authentic while building public trustUnique ways to use AI for business and personal developmentTop recommended AI toolsHow to utilize AI safely: best practicesAI and deep fakes: What is coming next? Quotables“Do we let this ego race to be first end up hindering our ability to have a public that trusts and aligns with AI and doesn't build this resistance?” - @Kathleen Perley“This [AI] is our generation's moon landing.” - @Kathleen Perley“How do we take the mundane, the rote out of our lives so we can spend more time doing what we do best, which is developing these relationships and human connections?” - @Kathleen Perley“It's one of those things I keep hearing over and over again — that if you use AI to help generate content, you'll get devalued in the algorithms from a search engine ranking perspective — but I'm not seeing that come true. I think the focus is more on quality and less on who is the creator or origin. If we use both humans and AI, it usually produces something even better than just a human or just AI alone.” - @Kathleen Perley“If you haven't started integrating AI into your crisis communication plan, now would be a great time to start thinking about that.” - @Jason Mudd “My biggest fear right now is that [AI] produces so much content so quickly that it almost takes just as much work to go through and improve it and fix it. But that first draft is awfully nice to have most of the time.” - @Jason MuddIf you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to share it with a colleague or friend. You may also share your experience with others by leaving us a quick podcast review.About Kathleen PerleyRecognized as one of MM+M's Women to Watch 2024 and with her agency on the Inc 5000 list for three years, Kathleen is a celebrated leader in merging AI with business strategy, especially in marketing and advertising. She also serves on MD Anderson's advisory committee and supports Ncourage, an investment fund aiding women-owned businesses.Guest's contact info and resources:Kathleen Perley on XKathleen Perley on LinkedInRice University's Jones School of Business Coursera class: "AI for everyone"Marketing Institute PodcastKathleen's Weekly NewsletterSupport the Show. On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America's Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

In this episode, Holly Bishop joins On Top of PR host Jason Mudd to discuss why your company's social media isn't working.Tune in to learn more!Guest:Holly is a seasoned social media and marketing professional with over 10 years of diverse experience spanning medical practices, retail/e-commerce, and non-profit sectors.Five things you'll learn from this episode:1. Understanding the role of social media professionals2. How to manage a work/life balance as a social media professional 3. Why your company's social media isn't working4. How trust and flexibility with your social media team can improve your content 5. The importance of community engagement Quotables“There's a lot of misconception that social media managers can do all of these things and that they're experts at every single social media platform, and that is just not the case.” - Holly Bishop“Companies either don't prioritize social media or they don't have the resources to make it an entire team. Yet, social media is a powerful tool with a global audience.” - Jason Mudd“One person can't do something great alone. They need others around them.” - Jason Mudd“I'm seeing a huge shift in social media managers embracing the fact that our screen time is probably triple what a normal person's would be by Wednesday afternoon. It just is what is, but also knowing when to turn things off and when to be unavailable.” - Holly Bishop “This is the kind of role that you wouldn't be doing unless you were genuinely passionate about it.” - Holly Bishop“We also have our own social media too, which are almost always suffering and looking terrible because we're always so focused on the brands that we run.” - Holly Bishop“They also don't realize that what got them there doesn't get them to be successful in social media. What I mean by that is they may be really good with their own social media, but what they don't realize is that the expectation for professional social media is way higher. They can get away with typos and incomplete sentences on their own socials, but when you get to the corporate side, there's not going to be a lot of patience or forgiveness when it comes to that kind of stuff.” - Jason Mudd“Even for serious brands, it's important to have fun with the things that are being put out with social media because at the end of the day, as a consumer for your audience that you are speaking to, if it's boring or it's not giving a hook or not interesting or providing that value why would they want to read what you put out anyways?” - Holly Bishop“Having a really good professional working for your brand is so important because they are able to take that fun side but still utilize the important brand messaging and standards that you have for that specific brand but just making it their own, being able to speak in a way to that brand's audience that captures their attention but still follows those rules of professionality.” - Holly Bishop“If there isn't that support to give for that professional to be able to do those things with having that creative team in their corner, then they won't be able to have that fun aspect in it.” - HolSupport the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America's Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

In this episode, Linda Rutherford joins On Top of PR host Jason Mudd to discuss her take on current airline crises and go into depth about Southwest's crisis communication plan and how they've managed their past crises.Guest:Linda Rutherford is the Chief Administration Officer for Dallas-based Southwest Airlines, the nation's largest airline in terms of domestic Customer boardings. Linda is known for creating and leading powerful teams that equip, empower, and engage the business to serve its people and customers.Five things you'll learn from this episode:1. Linda's take on current airline crises2. Southwest's communications department and response plan3. How Southwest has responded to past crises4. How to manage the media and consumers' perception of a crisis5. How to balance your message post-national crisisQuotables“Today, communications represent the pace of media. Before, it might've seemed a little slower and more leisurely, and today, I would also say that public relations represents a lot more responsibility for brand reputation and issues management.” - Linda Rutherford“Certainly, the role of journalists has changed significantly, much like our roles in communications have.” - Linda Rutherford“Obviously, first and foremost, it is the safety of our passengers and employees on the affected flight. It is what do we need to do to get them safely on the ground, and then what do we need to do to understand what happened so we can go about learning how we prevent it from happening in the future.” - Linda Rutherford“We like to say that we're in a deregulated environment, but we're regulated in the air and on the ground.” - Linda Rutherford“I also like to say that we operate, we fly the general public, and we operate in weather. So what could possibly go wrong daily? That's why you spend a lot of time preparing and understanding what your contingencies are.” - Linda Rutherford“My analogy is when Taylor Swift tickets went on sale, and Ticketmaster had a brownout, that's basically what happened.” - Linda Rutherford“We did have a union, which we were negotiating with at the time that was perpetuating the story by calling crew, scheduling technology, antiquated. So that storyline was out there, and a lot of media were picking that up.” - Linda Rutherford“There's a lot of demand to say everything at once, but we didn't necessarily have the credibility to say everything at once.” - Linda Rutherford“We did tell the whole story. We had our chief operating officer give congressional testimony before a Senate subcommittee and told the whole story like I'm telling you.” - Linda Rutherford“I tell people all the time that PR is about building up that equity so that when you have an issue, people already know that you're trustworthy and honorable and that you do the right thing.” - Jason Mudd“The first thing you need to do is respond to what's right in front of you, and then you can begin to build on the story as you go and as you learn more, admit mistakes, be honest, and then be very transparent about what you're doing to fix things.” - Linda Rutherford“Culture is not throwing a party or givinSupport the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America's Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

In this episode, John Hewitt joins On Top of PR host Jason Mudd to discuss three ways franchisors can use PR to grow their company. Guest:John Hewitt is a renowned entrepreneur who has made a significant impact in the business world through his innovative ideas and strategic thinking. He is best known for his success in the tax preparation industry, having founded two of the largest tax preparation companies in the U.S.Five things you'll learn from this episode:1.  How to use PR to build your credibility2.  How PR efforts can MAKE you money3.  The mindset needed to take advantage of PR opportunities 4. Where to start when looking for PR opportunities5.  Why maintaining relationships with journalists is important Quotables“Part of what a leader has to do is have a somewhat rational goal and be able to sell that goal.” - John Hewitt“You need a rival to inspire people and show them the path that you're on.” - Jason Mudd“PR creates that brand name, and it creates support from the local community.” - John Hewitt“We often call this newsjacking. That's the term we use for when something's happening in the news, and you twist it or position it to your benefit.” - Jason Mudd“If you get to start all over again and you don't do it much better, then you're an idiot.” - John Hewitt“Building relationships with people and not rushing into relationships but just building them slowly over time is important to public relations.” - Jason Mudd“I've gotten more comments when I've provided substantive commentary and expert, helpful advice when I'm quoted in the news.” - Jason Mudd“How can someone do business with you if they've never heard of you.” - Jason Mudd“Happy successful franchisees, that's our mantra. If franchisees are happy and successful, you can't stop growing by leaps and bounds. If they're not, you can't grow.” - John Hewitt“There's nothing more fun than changing and improving lives.” - John Hewitt  If you enjoyed this episode, would you please share it with others and leave us a review?About John HewittJohn T. Hewitt is an American entrepreneur and founder of Jackson Hewitt, Liberty Tax Service, and Loyalty Brands. Together these companies account for approximately 10,000 tax preparation and business services franchises in the USA and Canada. In addition, Hewitt is a pioneer in the development and use of specialized tax-preparation software, which is now the industry's standard practice.After leaving Jackson Hewitt in 1996, John decided to launch a new company that would be the vehicle for further marketing and brand development innovations, Liberty Tax Service. The new company initially focused its operations in Canada. Liberty Tax Service was launched there when Hewitt purchased a Canadian tax company on September 1, 1997. The new concern achieved a huge measure of success by opening more than 4,000 offices in North America by 2012 which made it the fastest-growing major tax-preparation company in history. Liberty Tax Service is best known for the costumed "wavers" dressed as the Statue of Liberty used in front of offices across the country. Hewitt left Liberty Tax Service in 2018 and founded LoyalSupport the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America's Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

In this solocast, On Top of PR host Jason Mudd discusses why time is of the essence. Media relations require quick responses because reporters are typically on deadline; therefore, Jason goes into depth about how to be more timely and responsive to journalists' inquires.Five things you'll learn from this episode:Why time is of the essence for media relationsHow to be more timely and responsive to journalists Why you should pad deadlinesThe definition of newsjackingWhat to do in 2024 for better media relations   Quotables“In the news business, time is of the essence.” - Jason Mudd“The news moves fast, and if your news is not hard, your news is not breaking news, and if it doesn't have one of the 10 elements of news, then you're not as likely to get news coverage.” - Jason Mudd“Newsjacking is when you hear of a story trending in the news, and you have the ability to hook onto that news story or tie or place or insert yourself, your employer, or your expert into that trending story.” - Jason MuddIf you enjoyed this episode, would you please share it with others and leave us a review?About Jason MuddOn Top of PR host, Jason Mudd, is a trusted adviser and dynamic strategist for some of America's most admired brands and fastest-growing companies. Since 1994, he's worked with American Airlines, Budweiser, Dave & Buster's, H&R Block, Hilton, HP, Miller Lite, New York Life, Pizza Hut, Southern Comfort, and Verizon. He founded Axia Public Relations in July 2002. Forbes named Axia as one of America's Best PR AgenciesResources Connect and learn more about Jason Mudd on LinkedIn.Follow Jason Mudd on ‘X'.Additional Episode ResourcesHow to use newsjacking to support brand awareness and engagementWhat is news? 10 elements of news and newsworthinessWhat is earned media (coverage)?The documented proven process for earned media coverage5 tips for responding to reporters' media relations query toolsAdditional Resources from Axia Public RelationsListen to more episodes of the On Top of PR podcast.Find out more about Axia Public Relations. Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America's Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

In this episode, Jacob Shipley joins On Top of PR host Jason Mudd to discuss how a one-person social media team works, as well as some social media tips, tricks, and trends.Guest:Our episode guest is Jacob Shipley. He started as the first social media hire at YouVersion. He now works for Tyson Foods and has built his own LinkedIn following, leading him to start a social media content strategy newsletter.Five things you'll learn from this episode:What first-party data collection isWhy B2B companies need to be on social mediaPros and cons of being a one-person social media team2024 social media trendsThe minimum viable social strategy needed to succeed Quotables“You're delivering tangible value so that your customers want to hear from.” - Jacob Shipley“The difference between B2B social media and B2C social media is B2C you are talking to consumers and with B2B you're talking to consumers that happen to work in a business.” - Jacob Shipley“The bigger the team, the more complex it is, the harder it is to fight that.” - Jacob Shipley“Some of the accounts that have grown the fastest were some of the ones with the least amount of resources because they had to be scrappy, they had to be really creative and really clever about how do I meet my audience's need?” - Jacob Shipley“If you look at what really performs well, it's the kind of stuff that feels off the cuff, that feels native, that feels personal, it's cliche, but you can't fake authenticity.” - Jacob ShipleyIf you enjoyed this episode, would you please share it with others and leave us a review?About Jacob ShipleyJacob started as the first social media hire at YouVersion, an app with half a billion downloads. While there, YouVersion's Instagram grew by over a million followers two years in a row. Their TikTok grew from 0 to 300,000 in less than 6 months. In his current role at Tyson Foods, he handles the technology and execution for organic social, paid social, and first-party data collection. Jacob also has a weekly newsletter, Social Studies, which has one goal: to help social media managers take their game to the next level.ResourcesConnect and learn more about Jacob Shipley on LinkedIn.Follow Jacob Shipley on ‘X'.Visit Jacob's newsletter for more information. Follow Dave Adamson on ‘X'.Follow Tommy Clark on ‘X'.Additional Resources from Axia Public Relations:Listen to more episodes of the On Top of PR podcast.Find out more about Axia Public Relations.Social Media Content Calendar TemplatesSupport the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America's Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Steve Cody joins On Top of PR host Jason Mudd to discuss Steve's book, “The ROI of LOL,” and how effective comedy within the workplace is.Guest:Steve is the author of “The ROI of LOL: How Laughter Breaks Down Walls, Drives Compelling Storytelling, and Creates a Healthy Workplace.” He's also a comedian, climber, and dog lover, but not necessarily in that order.Five things you'll learn from this episode:What compelled Steve to write “The ROI of LOL” The reaction of comedy in the workplaceWhy humor/laughter is so important for companies How a company can measure the ROI of LOLWhere the implementation of comedy in an organization can occurQuotables“We conduct a lot of due diligence ahead of time. We understand what the guidelines and guardrails are for each organization's culture.” - Steve Cody“When in doubt, leave it out.” - Steve Cody“Consumers trust corporations more than anyone else right now. I think that means that we're in a weird place right now.” - Jason Mudd“I'm a big believer that a fun work environment is not only going to be a better place to work but it's also going to generate more creativity and innovation within the organization.” - Jason Mudd“It has to be authentic. It has to be meaningful.” - Steve CodyIf you enjoyed this episode, would you please share it with others and leave us a review?About Steve CodySteve Cody is a multifaceted individual, blending his love for climbing, comedy, and writing. From summiting the highest peaks in Africa and Europe to raising over $50,000 for charities through stand-up comedy shows, he finds pride in diverse accomplishments. Additionally, as a writer, he contributes to Inc.com, maintains a daily blog, and has made notable appearances on CNBC, MSNBC, NPR, and other prominent media outlets, as well as authoring his book: "The ROI of LOL." Guest's contact info and resources:Connect and learn more about Steve Cody on LinkedIn.Follow Steve Cody on “X”Additional Episode Resources:WSJ: Why Is Everyone So Unhappy? The ROI of LOLAdditional Resources from Axia Public Relations:Listen to more episodes of the On Top of PR podcast.Find out more about Axia Public Relations.Disclosure: One or more of the links we shared here might be affiliate links that offer us a referral reward when you buy from them.Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America's Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Dan Gaynor joins On Top of PR host Jason Mudd to discuss the importance of a company narrative, how to craft and measure a narrative, the future of corporate narratives, and much more.Guest:Dan Gaynor is the co-founder of Kelp Data, the first AI-powered platform for corporate reputation, which was acquired last year by Signal AI. Serving nearly half of the Fortune 500, Signal AI's data analytics platform delivers industry reputation insights and benchmarks hundreds of companies — enabling communications and marketing executives to shift their strategies, capitalize on emerging opportunities, or mitigate new risks. Dan oversees Signal AI Strategic Solutions, which is the company's insights division, and works hand-in-hand with CCO's, CMO's, and CEO's to shape strategy and deploy AI across industries like big tech, pharma, and sustainability.Five things you'll learn from this episode:Why every company needs a personal narrativeHow to craft and measure your company's personal narrativeWhat the future of company personal narratives look likeCurrent company narrative trends and what to avoidHow to utilize AI to measure your company's workQuotables“What we found over and over again was that the human being had an incredibly powerful role in shaping what the AI output would look like.” - Dan“We had to create industry-agnostic topics defined by human beings who would then train an AI to call back any piece of content across the world that that concept would relate to.” - Dan“AI is the only way that you can get to the necessary level of breadth and depth.” - Dan“Either you define your narrative or the marketplace defines it for you.” - Dan“One of the things that we've seen is that data is not just a thermometer, it is a guide in terms of how to act. The most successful organizations deploying our insights are the ones that take them, have a strategy meeting right after, and operationalize them across functions.” - Dan“If we have data on this, let's follow the data. If we don't have data, let's follow your recommendations.” - JasonIf you enjoyed this episode, would you please share it with others and leave us a review?About Dan GaynorDan Gaynor is a founder of Kelp Data, the first AI-powered platform for corporate reputation. The company's data analytics platform delivers industry reputation insights and benchmarks hundreds of companies — enabling communications and marketing executives to shift their strategies, capitalize on emerging opportunities, or mitigate new risks. Kelp was acquired by Signal AI, which serves 40% of the Fortune 500, in July 2022. The deal brings together industry corporate reputation insights with Signal's tech stack and global data sources, enabling enterprises to better understand where their reputation stands and how to strengthen it.Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America's Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Antony Cousins discusses GPTs and how to use them in PR with host Jason Mudd.Guest:Our episode guest is Antony Cousins, Executive Director for AI Strategy at Cision. Antony is an accredited public relations practitioner who honed his PR and communications expertise in a variety of roles in UK Government organizations, including the Ministry of Defence, Home Office, and Cabinet Office.Five things you'll learn from this episode:What GPTs are Implications GPTs have in the PR industryWhat autopilot AI isHow to build GPTsHow to prepare your employees for a world with AIQuotables“I fell into it really by accident.” - Antony Cousins“I was in that startup for five and a half years basically iterating, building on, and learning how to implement AI in businesses. And that stayed with me. Basically, I didn't want to do anything other than AI after that.” - Antony Cousins“People ended up doing jobs that were more interesting and more fulfilling and automating the kind of tasks that you don't really want to be doing as a human. And I think that's the thing that drives me.” - Antony Cousins“AI can't replace the human touch.” - Jason Mudd“We're not trying to remove the human from the process, just automate the basics, like the 80% is a good way to think about it.” - Antony Cousins“The human still needs to add that empathy still needs to add the emotional understanding, the contextual awareness that the model won't have.” - Antony Cousins“AI can replace some of the busy work that we don't like to do or the tedious tasks and work we don't like to do.” - Jason Mudd“If you create a campaign and your content happens to plagiarize a campaign from some competitor from two years ago, the reputational impact is still yours. So you still need to take responsibility.” - Antony Cousins“If you can think about writing your prompts in a very literal way, you're going to get a better outcome.” - Jason Mudd“That's exactly the value of an agency and the value of a specialist is because they've got more contextual awareness and a whole bunch of history of your brand, of your situation, of other competitors doing the same things.” - Antony Cousins“The idea is that generative AI is a good first draft, but it's never going to be a great final draft. So it's a good beginning and a bad ending.” - Jason MuddIf you enjoyed this episode, would you please share it with others and leave us a review?About Antony CousinsOver the last 23 years, Ant has held diverse roles in media relations, strategic communications, political analysis, counter-terrorism, and, over the last 10 years, AI-tech leadership including CEO of an AI startup focused on detecting fake news and misinformation. Ant is currently Head of AI Strategy for Cision, the largest global provider of media intelligence technology as well as the Tech Hub Chair of the Association for Measurement and Evaluation of Communications (AMEC). He is an accredited PR practitioner, CIPR committee member, part of the UK's All-Party parliamentary group on AI, and was named in PRWeek's 'Dashboard 25' in 2023 for tech influencers.Episode recorded: November 13, 2023Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America's Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Jason Mudd discusses editorial calendars and how to use them to pitch to publicationsGuest:Our episode guest is Jason Mudd, CEO of Axia Public Relations. Five things you'll learn from this episode: What editorial calendars are Different types of media you can find editorial calendars for How to use editorial calendars to help determine pitches How to get/find a publication's editorial calendar How to pitch once you have an editorial calendar Quotables “Editorial calendars are a tool that is used predominantly by print and digital publications and specifically their advertising departments to kind of help plan out and coordinate between advertising and the editorial or newsroom or features department upcoming coverage that has a theme.” - Jason Mudd“You want to use the calendars that determine the content/ideas that these publications are looking for.” - Jason Mudd“Once you have the editorial calendar in your hands, whether it's digital or you printed it out or however it might be, the first thing you want to do is you want to start being an investigator.” - Jason Mudd“I want to emphasize that this is a relationship business, and we in the public relations profession need to start putting more emphasis on relationships.” - Jason MuddIf you enjoyed this episode, would you please share it with others and leave us a review?About Jason MuddJason Mudd is the CEO of Axia Public Relations, with a career spanning decades and collaborations with prominent organizations, including American Airlines, Hilton, and Verizon. ResourcesConnect and learn more about Jason Mudd on LinkedIn.Additional Resources from Axia Public Relations:Listen to more episodes of the On Top of PR podcast.Find out more about Axia Public Relations.Free Blog Editorial Calendar TemplateEditorial calendars: A PR pro's best friend Sponsored by:On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes Magazine as one of America's Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands.On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America's Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Tina with IPR discusses the data around local journalism and how we as PR professionals can help it survive. Guest:Our episode guest is Tina McCorkindale, CEO of the Institute for Public Relations. She serves on boards of several industry associations and has received several awards for her contributions to the profession.Five things you'll learn from this episode: What the Institute for Public Relations is and what it does Statistics on misinformation and disinformation Who people trust not to spread disinformation How disinformation affects elections and other important events How you can find disinformation and combat it Quotables“We have disinformation as a threat to our democracy” - Tina McCorkindale“When you ask who's doing a good job combating disinformation, we also added to that me, I am great at combating disinformation.” - Tina McCorkindale“Most people say they're doing a very good job of combating disinformation, but we know that's not true because we are the primary ones who spread disinformation.” - Tina McCorkindale“PR professionals should look at opportunities like you're describing to support nonprofit groups who are doing things to support local journalism, fund local journalism, and equip them with the tools and resources they need to survive and succeed.” - Jason Mudd“For companies, sometimes it's very easy to see the disinformation, But where it gets difficult is when people are having conversations and people aren't listening, and it's hard to do that on your own as an organization.” - Tina McCorkindale“Doing it well and doing it right, not necessarily doing it for the clicks and not necessarily doing it just to be the first, but to get it right.” - Jason Mudd“Journalism has this huge responsibility (of combatting disinformation), and if we don't support journalism, then who is going to provide us with that information?” - Jason MuddIf you enjoyed this episode, please share it with others and leave us a review!About Tina McCorkindaleTina McCorkindale, Ph.D., APR, is the President and CEO of the Institute for Public Relations, a nonprofit research foundation devoted to research that matters to the public relations and communications profession. Prior to that, she was a university professor and has more than 10 years of experience working in corporate communication and analytics. She serves on the boards of several industry associations and has received several awards for her contributions to the profession.ResourcesConnect and learn more about Tina McCorkindale on LinkedIn.Visit the Institute for Public Relations for more information. The Expanding News Desert (UNC) ReportsEpisode recorded: October 23, 2023Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America's Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Tom Ciuba and Jason Mudd discuss crisis communications, crisis plan creation and updates, and social media management in the latest On Top of PR episode.Guest:Our episode guest is Tom Ciuba, Vice President of Communications at Genesee & Wyoming. His diverse background includes roles in consumer PR, association marketing, and employee communications.Five things you'll learn from this episode:What's considered a crisis and issue managementWhy you should hire an outside agency to establish your crisis planHow to update your crisis planHow to manage social media chatter during a crisisLessons learned from crisis communications  Quotables“It's PR, not ER.” - Jason Mudd“No update is still an update.” - Tom Ciuba“We've written dozens and dozens of crisis plans for a variety of industries, a variety of companies of all sizes. And we've been brought in to manage those. So that body of knowledge from our entire team can really be contributed and added value to a crisis plan versus maybe what you can do from the inside.” - Jason Mudd“Come up with templated responses that if such a situation were to arise, you'd be prepared to answer quickly should the media or the public be knocking on your door.” - Tom CiubaIf you enjoyed this episode, would you please share it with others and leave us a review?About Tom Ciuba Tom has been a professional communicator for 15 years and currently serves as Vice President of Communications at a freight transportation company. His diverse background includes roles in consumer PR, association marketing, and employee communications. Additional Episode Resources:Tom Ciuba on LinkedInGenesee & Wyoming Strengthening a Crisis Comms Plan Amid DisruptionsAdditional Resources from Axia Public Relations:Listen to more episodes of the On Top of PR podcast.Find out more about Axia Public Relations.CrisisPoint Episode recorded: October 11, 2023Sponsored by:On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes Magazine as one of America's Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands.Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America's Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

In this episode, Kasey Klee, Marjorie Comer, and Bob Wiltfong join On Top of PR host Jason Mudd to discuss media relations best practices.Guest:Our episode includes Axia's news team: Kasey Klee, Account Executive; Marjorie Comer, News Media Consultant; Bob Wiltfong, Public Relations Account Director; and Jason Mudd, CEO. Together they discuss the five best practices that come with media relations: preparing, relationship building, messaging, pitching, and following up.Five things you'll learn from this episode: How to plan and prepare for pitching stories  How to build meaningful relationships with reporters What you're messaging should look like How to go about pitching stories Why you should follow up Quotables“The goal for any public relations person is the media list, the contact list and the relationships that we build with the media.” - @Bob“You're always looking to localize a national story and PR people do that with news jockey. What we're trying to do is tie in a newsworthy item involving our clients to a national story. So it's kind of the same idea.” - @Bob“All news is local. And so if you can find a local angle to a national story, then that's very beneficial.” - @Jason“Relationship building is probably one of my favorite things that I get to do as a PR professional.” - @Marjorie“Building a relationship with a reporter doesn't have to be scary. It doesn't have to be this taboo thing. We're all people and we all want to build a connection with someone else.” - @Marjorie “The relationship between a PR person and a journalist could be such a dynamic duo if it's done correctly.” - @Kasey“It's not just who we know, but it's really who knows us.” - @Jason“Every pitch is a little bit of an experiment.” - @Jason“Smaller wins will lead to bigger things.” - @Jason If you enjoyed this episode, would you please share it with others and leave us a review?About the Axia TeamJason is the founder of Axia, serving as a trusted adviser to renowned brands like American Airlines, Hilton, and Verizon. He resides in Amelia Island, Florida.Bob, a PR strategist, and former award-winning news anchor, brings his expertise to clients like Boeing and Sony. He calls Jacksonville, Florida home and joined Axia in February 2023.Marjorie, an award-winning PR professional, has been with Axia since October 2011, skillfully implementing PR plans and handling reactive needs from her base in Joplin, Missouri.Kasey, known for her enthusiasm and attention to detail, coordinates client programs and has been a trusted adviser since August 2021. She resides in Jacksonville Beach, Florida.Guest's Contact Info and Resources:Top PR pros share their tips for earning media coverageTop 5 media relations practices to attract more coverage Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America's Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Explore the world of storytelling and communication with host Jason Mudd and guest Ken Melton, Communication Strategist at Johns Hopkins.Guest:Our episode guest is Ken Melton, Communication Strategist at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory. Ken is a retired U.S. Marine public affairs specialist with a master's in public relations from Georgetown University and a bachelor's in communications from the University of Maryland Global Campus. He's passionate about public relations, employee engagement, storytelling, teaching, and writing.Five things you'll learn from this episode:Why doubt can be good when completing a writing project The best ways to improve your writing skills Ways to make data and numbers easier for your audience  Ken's most valuable writing advice  What roles emotions play in creating a complex story and how to leverage themQuotables:“Make your stories speak” - @KenMelton2001“You can't let what you've thought or what you know shape your story. It's all about what's inside you and what you want to get across.” - @KenMelton2001“Once you come to the realization that there's nothing more I can learn, nothing more I can do wrong, then you're doing yourself disservice.” - @KenMelton2001“I doubt myself because I want to answer myself in a positive light.” - @KenMelton2001“I really love talking about it and helping people find their voice and telling how their stories are going to be, even if it's something like talking about a project.” - @KenMelton2001 “Always write for the human reader first and then the search engine second.” - @JasonMudd9“Don't be afraid to ask for help. You never know the answer you're going to get, but it gets you closer.” - @KenMelton2001“A piece of advice that's been helpful to me over the years that I try to give to others is while you're writing, visualize the one person that you are writing this to.” - @JasonMudd9 “When you have a memory, it's always tied to maybe even a sound or a smell. The same thing goes to your reading. When you read something, that one nugget and it brings you back, you're like, Oh, man, I remember that.” - @KenMelton2001If you enjoyed this episode, would you please share it with others and leave us a review?Contact Ken Melton:Ken Melton on TwitterKen Melton on LinkedInJohns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory websiteAdditional Resources:Encouragement for your writing journey PRSA article Newsjack your way into the spotlight Listen to more episodes of the On Top of PR podcast.Find out more about Axia Public Relations.Episode recorded: September 6, 2023 Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America's Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Explore earned media coverage insights with Jason Mudd, CEO of Axia Public Relations, and gain valuable insights into effective PR strategies.Guest Bio:Our episode guest is Jason Mudd, the CEO of Axia Public Relations and a trusted adviser to some of America's most admired brands. With a career spanning decades, he has worked with prominent organizations, including American Airlines, Hilton, and Verizon.Five things you'll learn from this episode:1. Why media coverage needs to feature your company's products or services2. Why more prominent, bigger media isn't always better3. Why you should act like a billion dollar company for media coverage4. How to act like a publicly traded company in the media5. How to make journalists care about your company and pitchesQuotables:“You are more likely to get more readership, maybe less eyeballs, but more readership on that brief than you are a full feature story because people are busy and they just don't have time to read a full feature story.” - Jason Mudd“At the end of the day, shorter means more people are going to invest in it.” Jason Mudd“In PR we tend to forget that it's about relationships and building relationships. So I'm a big advocate for putting relationships back into public relations.” - Jason Mudd“80% of the time they're covering prominent companies. Now, 20% of the time they're doing something else, and that's your opportunity, but it's only 20% of the time. So you've got to think more opportunistically about looking for ways to get woven into and tied into the organization.” - Jason Mudd“The more you act like a publicly traded company even when you're not public and you're willing to talk openly about your numbers, whether they're true financial dollars or percentages, then that makes you have more substance to the news that you're sharing and therefore automatically makes you more newsworthy.” - Jason Mudd“Have an audience focus, empathetic message about why they should care, how this is going to help them.” - Jason MuddIf you enjoyed this episode, please share it with others and leave us a review!About Jason Mudd:Jason Mudd is the CEO of Axia Public Relations, with a career spanning decades and collaborations with prominent organizations, including American Airlines, Hilton, and Verizon.Guest's contact info and resources:Jason Mudd on TwitterJason Mudd on LinkedInAdditional Resources from Axia Public Relations:How to measure and categorize the different tiers of news media outlet types3 crucial differences between a news story and a feature story that will make you a better writerWhat is news? 10 elements of news and newsworthiness60 Second Impact  Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America's Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Pam Fultz and Jason Mudd discuss the importance of purpose-driven storytelling for PR professionals.Guest:Our episode guest is Pam Fultz, Senior Community Relations Manager at Bentley Village. Pam is also an adjunct lecturer for the University of Florida and Northeastern University. She is a past president of PRSA's Gulf Coast chapter.Five things you'll learn from this episode:What purpose-driven storytelling isWhy purpose-driven storytelling is importantHow writers can pull at their audience's heartstringsWhy PR professionals should use mission-driven storiesHow to create purpose-driven stories without sounding too salesyQuotables“PR is not just about media coverage, it's more.” — @Jason Mudd “Stories are designed to make an emotional connection with people … and ultimately create brand loyalty.” — Pam Fultz“PR's role is not just external communication, it's also internal communication.” — @Jason Mudd“You have to find the stories. You have to dig deep and find those connections.” — @Pam FultzIf you enjoyed this episode, would you please share it with others and leave us a review?About Pam FultzPam Fultz, M.S., APR, is an educator, public relations professional, and volunteer. She works as the senior community relations manager of Vi at Bentley Village and teaches as an adjunct lecturer for the University of Florida and Northeastern University. Pam teaches graduate courses in Public Relations Measurement & Evaluation, Public Interest Communications: Measuring Social Change, and Crisis Communications. She also serves as a Wildlife Committee ambassador for the Conservancy of Southwest Florida.Pam holds a Master of Science degree in corporate and organizational communications from Northeastern University in Boston and a Bachelor of Science degree in communications from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. She is a past president of PRSA's Gulf Coast chapter.Guest's contact info and resources:Pam Fultz on LinkedInBentley VillageEpisode recorded: Aug. 23, 2023Sponsored by:On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America's Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands.On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America's Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Amy Susán and Jason Mudd discuss disaster communications and five ways to make the most of a bad situation.Guest:Our episode guest is Amy Susán of Columbia, Missouri. She is the Director of PR and Communications at EquipmentShare, where she harnesses digital tools and an engaging approach to develop and guide mission-based visions, influential brands with purpose, and unforgettable campaigns.Five things you'll learn from this episode:How authenticity leads actionIdentifying an ambassadorEstablishing a reputable partnerLetting others tell your storyThe power of internal communications Quotables:[05:59] “What we're talking about today is, you know, not necessarily how to take advantage of those instances, but how to do the best for your company and most importantly, for those people that are impacted.” - Amy[06:08] “When we talk about disaster communications and crisis communications as it relates to natural disasters, I really think it needs to be handled, and it sounds so ominous, but D.E.A.D. And that's handled delicately, empathetically, and diplomatically.” - Amy[06:30] “You have to imagine that you are there because it's going to have to come up authentic. And if not, it's just going to ring on deaf ears.” - Amy[07:13] “It's the traditional “P's” of PR, so we protect our identity and our public image. We promote all of our services and then we position our company as a thought leader.” - Amy[08:25] “You have to remove yourself so that you can get the correct information. But then you also have to, at a later time, really go through those feelings and experience them.” - Amy[08:37] “Journalists are supposed to be independent observers, right? And so if you know, it can be hard for them to do that sometimes. It can also be hard for them to, you know, separate those emotions.” - Jason[11:35] “Identifying an ambassador on the ground that truly embodies your core values is really, really important.” - AmyIf you enjoyed this episode, would you please share it with others and leave us a review?Guest's contact info and resources:Amy Susán on LinkedInAmy Susán on TwitterEquipmentShare WebsiteRagan Communications AI CertificationAdditional Resources:3 crisis communication action steps to takeEffective crisis communications with Christopher BrittonHow our PR firm is using AI and how you can too with Jason Mudd, CEO of Axia Public RelationsEpisode recorded: August 3, 2023Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America's Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Ryan Spalding and Jason Mudd discuss franchising, home improvement and home services.Guest:Our episode guest is Ryan Spalding of Toronto, Canada. He is the Director of Franchise Marketing at Garage Living where he has created and implemented the marketing strategy for over 40 franchise locations and leads the marketing team across all marketing channels. Five things you'll learn from this episode:How marketing in the music industry differs from the home improvement industryHow customer home service has changed after the pandemic How online reviews impact lead generationThe nuances of doing business internationallyHow PR can be used for franchisorsQuotables:[04:50] “[In the music industry and the home improvement industry] you're still using the same marketing principles. You're identifying your target market and you're looking at tactics to reach those of that audience, whether it's through traditional marketing, avenues, digital marketing avenues, or whether it's through publicity campaigns.” - Ryan[09:52] “During the pandemic, it was almost easier [for franchises] to launch, because everyone is really interested in improving your home during the pandemic.” - Ryan[11:12] “I think that the demand is reverting back to what it was before the pandemic. Now you're maybe back in the office and can travel. There's options to spend your money in other places.” - Ryan[18:37] “Now more than ever, online reviews are more important than perhaps they were a couple years ago. Especially for our industry and our segment.” - Ryan[19:04] “People are going to online reviews whether it's Google, Facebook, or the platform to see what the reputation is of the company, especially if they're not too familiar with it. That's a perfect place for them to go to.” - Ryan[19:30] “Google reviews are obviously super important because they feed into other aspects like your SEO and your google rankings.” - Ryan[21:00] “People are going to look to profiles to see if they're active, if they have a lot of followers, how they are responding to people leaving comments. It's just another way to build your reputation and your social trust.” - Ryan[23:00] “When we're looking at our marketing strategy, we're not looking at just one area of marketing, whether it be digital advertising, Google reviews, or social media, we're not just looking at them in silos, we're looking at them as a whole picture. I believe that PR plays a big role in that.” - RyanIf you enjoyed this episode, would you please share it with others and leave us a review?About Ryan SpaldingRyan Spalding of Toronto, Canada, is the Director of Franchise Marketing at Garage Living. Before breaking into the franchising and home improvement industry, Ryan worked in marketing for the music industry for 17 years. He worked with both Warner Music Canada and Dine Alone Records. Ryan joined Garage Living in 2020 where he has created and implemented the marketing strategy for over 40 franchise locations and leads the marketing team across all marketing channels. Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America's Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Bob Wiltfong and Jason Mudd discuss PR tips from a former news anchor.Guest:Our episode guest is Bob Wiltfong, a retired TV News personality and now Axia's Public Relations Account Director.Five things you'll learn from this episode: How to build media relationships Knowing when the pitch is right What is newsjacking The elements of news How to leverage local news on behalf of your brandQuotables4:10 “It's helpful to frame it as all you need is really one yes, that's all you're looking for is one yes. You're in a sea of no's. So, you're just swimming through no's to get to that one yes, and you will find that one yes. You just got to keep swimming.” – @Bob Wiltfong 4:30 “In PR, I tell people that the first 50 rejections are the hardest. So, once you get past having people say no 50 times, then it just kind of rolls off your back. The other cliche I like to say is a quick no is better than a forever maybe.” – @Jason Mudd6:45 “Sometimes you just have to change things up if you're getting ghosted. Try to approach them from a different channel.” – @Jason Mudd8:28 “One practice that's very helpful is the idea of read and react [by Michael Smart]. Instead of trying to please the journalists and consume everybody, all you're trying to do is consume your top-focused targets. Every day make a point of consuming maybe one or two of their content pieces and then contact them or reach out to them with no pitch, just compliments.” – @Bob Wiltfong9:35 “PR people can't be PR people if they're not spending time consuming content. You can't pitch something that you've never seen. I don't know a single PR person who's really good at what they do, who does not consume news.” – @Jason Mudd12:20 “Clients who I see aren't successful with media are those that can't spend time with a journalist unless they're going to cover them. That's just the wrong approach. You're not investing the relationship the right way.” – @Jason Mudd19:30 “When you talk about real estate, you talk about location, location, location. With news, it's local, local, local.” – @Bob Wiltfong 23:50 “The three elements I was taught in J School are very true. Is it timely? Is it local? Is it out of the ordinary?” – @Bob Wiltfong28:37 “One of the things we have in our arsenal, as PR people, is that journalists and outlets are an open book for their staff.” – @Bob WiltfongGuest's contact info and resources:Bob Wilfong on FacebookBob Wilfong on LinkedInBob Wilfong websiteAdditional Resources: Ten quick PR Tips Why is the news media important? The best media pitch is a story that's already done — and copy edited!Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America's Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Guest:Our episode guest is Jason Mudd, CEO of Axia Public Relations. Five things you'll learn about in this episode:Starting using AIUsing caution with AISetting up policies around using AICommunicating and enforcing policies around AIWays to use AIQuotables“AI is a tool that can help you be more productive, and like anything else — when mobile technology came out, when social media came out, when e-commerce came out — you can either ignore those things or you could be early adopters of those things and start pioneering the way.” — @JasonMudd9“AI works really fast and is a very helpful and powerful tool. The issue is the quality of the tools. The quality of the tool reminds me of an intern, a college student or maybe even a high school student as far as the quality of the work goes.” — @JasonMudd9“You really are going to have to take this [AI] rough draft, and I emphasize the rough in it, and finesse it, tweak it, and modify it to get it to where it needs to be production ready.” — @JasonMudd9“Like what Ronald Reagan said, ‘trust but verify' — so you need to verify that people are following the policies that you created, and you need to enforce those policies.” — @JasonMudd9“We are not using AI to replace the talent that we have at our agency or the talent assigned to your account. Instead, we're using AI to keep those people doing what is called their highest and best use — HBU.” — @JasonMudd9“AI is a rough draft; it's an entry-level virtual assistant giving you some guidance.” — @JasonMudd9“If [you] can't give input properly, [you're] never going to be able to use AI properly.” — @JasonMudd9If you enjoyed this episode, would you please share it with others and leave us a review?About Jason MuddJason Mudd is a trusted adviser and dynamic strategist for some of America's most admired brands and fastest-growing companies. Since 1994, he's worked with American Airlines, Budweiser, Dave & Buster's, H&R Block, Hilton, HP, Miller Lite, New York Life, Pizza Hut, Southern Comfort, and Verizon. He founded Axia Public Relations in July 2002. Forbes named Axia as one of America's Best PR Agencies.Guest's contact info and resources:Jason Mudd on TwitterJason Mudd on LinkedIn Jason Mudd on FacebookAxia Public RelationsAdditional Resources:Create a usage policy for AI-generated contentHow PR Professionals Can Use Artificial Intelligence Tools To Enhance Their WorkChatGPTSupport the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America's Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Amy Diehl and Jason Mudd discuss how bias against women persists in female-dominated workplaces.Guest:Our episode guest is Amy Diehl, Ph.D., the chief information officer at Wilson College and a workplace gender bias expert and consultant. She has a 27-year career in information technology and is a prominent gender equity researcher. Her work has been published in academic journals, book chapters, and in Fast Company, Ms. Magazine and Harvard Business Review.Five things you'll learn from this episode:Why men are in leadership roles more often than womenWhat makes an industry equitableHow to make your workplace healthy for men and womenThe phenomenon of presentismHow to eliminate bias and what can women do if they are confronted by biasQuotables“What's better is for managers, for leaders, to set goals for their employees, you know, certainly provide them with the resources to meet their goals and the support that they need, but measure the success by the goals and not just by the time spent in that chair.” - Amy Diehl“Workplaces were originally built by men and for men with men's needs in mind, but not women's. So one aspect of male privilege is something called male gatekeeping. So when the men are in charge, they get to decide who gets to enter leadership. And when they do allow women into leadership, when they're using male gatekeeping, they put boundaries around women's authority.” - Amy Diehl“The problem is the pipeline for the sake of women, it leaks. And again, it's because of the barriers that they're facing day in and day out.” - Amy Diehl“There's things you can do to make your workplace healthy, not just for women, but for men too. And so if you are the person at the top, you're a leader. There's lots of steps you can take.” - Amy Diehl“Whenever women encounter bias or are confronted by bias, the first thing is they should not take it personally.” - Amy DiehlIf you enjoyed this episode, please share it with others and leave us a review!About Amy DiehlAmy Diehl, Ph.D., is the chief information officer at Wilson College and a workplace gender bias expert and consultant. She has a 27-year career in information technology and is a prominent gender equity researcher. Her work has been published in academic journals, book chapters, and in Fast Company, Ms. Magazine and Harvard Business Review. She was named to the 2020 EdTech Dean's List of Higher Ed IT Influencers Worth a Follow. She was also named a 2019 Central Penn Business Journal Woman of Influence and received the 2016 Women and Leadership Affinity Group Outstanding Scholarship for Emerging Scholars Award from the International Leadership Association.Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America's Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Guest:Our episode guest is Alan Cohen, an author, public speaker, executive coach, and trainer for organizations and individuals seeking to maximize potential and drive peak performance in their lives, organizations, and careers. He is a Ted Talk speaker, and trains other speakers to speak on the stage and to use speaking to grow their business.Five things you'll learn from this episode:What makes a good speechHow to stand out against other TEDx applicantsHow to be bold and back it upWhy you need to identify your goal of being a TEDx speakerWhy you shouldn't be afraid if your idea isn't newQuotables“I tell people all the time, you know, you've got to say something provocative, contrarian, and unique that they haven't heard everybody else say, because you sound like everybody else, they're not going to pick you.” — @JasonMudd9“The thing that I think makes a great TEDx speech is it is when people really bring their stories and their histories into the story and are willing to be vulnerable in that way too, regardless of what the topic is.” - Alan Cohen“So if you've got props like bring them, if you feel like if, if singing is part of your story, then sing. Do creating art on stage. Do that, play the drums, do whatever that. I think creativity goes a long way, as long as it doesn't obscure the key message and the way that you want people to be thinking differently.” - Alan Cohen“The more pure your purpose for doing it, I think, the more the energy of your application will appeal to the committee.” - Alan Cohen“It's researching the different TEDxes that are happening all around the country, all around the world, looking at the themes online, and seeing if you can connect your origin story, your journey to one of the themes.” - Alan CohenIf you enjoyed this episode, please share it with others and leave us a review!About Alan CohenOur episode guest is Alan Cohen, an author, public speaker, executive coach, and trainer for organizations and individuals seeking to maximize potential and drive peak performance in their lives, organizations, and careers. He is a Ted Talk speaker, and trains other speakers to speak on the stage and to use speaking to grow their business. Spending decades as both a marketing expert and Human Resources consultant, he presided over the successful launch of the Harry Potter series as Scholastic's Director of Marketing, as well as Director of Communications for the Broadway League. As an Executive Coach, Alan has worked with global organizations including Bloomberg, Tiffany, American Express, NBC, Bravo, Edelman Public Relations and MetLife.Guest's contact info and resources:Alan Samuel Cohen Coaching and SpeakingAlan Samuel Cohen Coaching and Speaking on FacebookAlan Samuel Cohen on LinkedInSupport the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America's Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Guest:Our episode guest is Dave Auchter, vice president at Haskell. In this episode, Dave Auchter joins host Jason Mudd to discuss all things content. They discuss the three pillars of content and other information regarding technology Haskell uses and how they keep their job sites safe. Five things you'll learn from this episode:No tricks, just contentThe technology stackThe three pillars of contentHow Haskell is creating safer job sitesTips on attracting, recruiting, and retaining talentQuotables“We typically say 70 to 80% of our customers are repeat customers, but as you can imagine, as we've grown, it's taken new customers to help with that growth.” — Dave Auchter“Optimize first for the human and second for SEO.” — @JasonMudd9“If you're going to buy a mattress, buy a good mattress because you're going to be on that mattress for a third of your life. That's the same with your work.” — Dave Auchter“Yeah, but not just content. We talk about business development in three stages.” — Dave AuchterIf you enjoyed this episode, would you please share it with others and leave us a review?About Dave AuchterDave is chief marketing officer at Haskell overseeing enterprise-wide corporate marketing. Haskell delivers more than $2 billion annually in architecture, engineering, construction (AEC) and consulting solutions to assure certainty of outcome for complex capital projects worldwide.Dave Auchter's contact info and resources:Dave Auchter on LinkedInHaskell's websiteAdditional Resources: Motivating your employee with the value of PRDisclosure: One or more of the links we shared here might be affiliate links that offer us a referral reward when you buy from them.Sponsored by:On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America's Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands.On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America's Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Jason Mudd discusses best practices for procurement in public relations with Leah Power.Guest:Our episode guest is Leah Power. Leah has been working with agency leaders and their executive teams for over 25 years – first agency-side at media and creative agencies in Canada and the U.S., and now at the Institute of Canadian Agencies, the not-for-profit trade association agencies across Canada.Five things you'll learn from this episode:The reason brands and clients hire an agencyThe difficulties that come with having an in-house agencyWhen to involve procurement when hiring an agencyWhen to not involve procurement when hiring an agencyNon-negotiables you should have when going to procurement during the agency hiring processQuotables“The client needs an expert, and that's why they go to any agency.” — @power_lp“It's really hard to recruit, develop, and retain that expert in an in-house environment.” — @JasonMudd9“Know when to make it and know when to buy it.” — @power_lp“It's important for clients to connect with their procurement department to understand what their role is, to understand what they bring to the table. They're there to mitigate risks. It's a really important role.” — @power_lp“Procurement works for the department that is seeking out the relationship as opposed to that department having to work under and for procurement.” — @JasonMudd9“I like to talk about the relationship between the client, procurement professional, and the agency as a three-legged stool. And you know what happens when you don't involve one of the legs on the stool – it falls over.” — @ power_lpIf you enjoyed this episode, please share it with others and leave us a review! About Leah PowerOur episode guest is Leah Power. Leah has been working with agency leaders and their executive teams for over 25 years – first agency-side at media and creative agencies in Canada and the U.S., and now at the Institute of Canadian Agencies, the not-for-profit trade association agencies across Canada.Guest's contact info and resources:Leah Power on TwitterLeah Power on LinkedInLeah's podcastAdditional Resources: www.20percent.com/ Additional Resources from Axia Public Relations:Hiring a PR agency with Shannyn LeeThe cost of hiring in-house PR vs. a PR agency with Jason MuddDisclosure: One or more of the links we shared here might be affiliate links that offer us a referral reward when you buy from them.Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America's Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Jason Mudd discusses his podcast journey in this solocast for our 100th episode of On Top of PR.Guest:Our solocast is with host Jason Mudd, CEO at Axia Public Relations. Five things you'll learn from this episode:How Axia started podcastingWhy you might want your own branded podcastThe three phases of starting a podcast How to successfully promote and monetize your podcastWhat producing and launching a podcast consists of Quotables“This is when your hard work starts to pay dividends because you'll want to build relationships, you'll want to promote the episode, and you will want to obviously attract sponsors who are underwriting the show itself.” — @JasonMudd9“Consumers have this idea subconsciously or otherwise, that if you haven't launched 10 episodes yet, you're probably not established or credible. So if you launched day one with 10 episodes, you're giving quite a menu of options and topics that people can enjoy.” — @JasonMudd9“I recommend you invest the time it takes to do it well and do it right, but don't have analysis paralysis. The first step is launching, and then you can improve on an ongoing basis."  — @JasonMudd9If you enjoyed this episode, would you please share it with others and leave us a review?Guest's contact info and resources:Jason Mudd on TwitterJason Mudd on LinkedIn Axia Public RelationsAdditional Axia Resources:Axia 60 Second ImpactTake our On Top of PR audience questionnaire!Axia's ServicesDisclosure: One or more of the links we shared here might be affiliate links that offer us a referral reward when you buy from them.Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America's Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Casey Mank and Jason Mudd discuss best practices for internal communications.Guest:Our episode guest is Casey Mank, co-founder of Bold Type, a woman-owned communications skills training firm that focuses on workplace writing skills. She's led writing workshops for organizations including Kellogg's, Sephora, and Mastercard.Five things you'll learn from this episode:Why you are not a great writer yetBottom Line Up Front (BLUF) & what it meansThe importance of keeping everything you do forward-friendlyWhy you should answer emails in a timely mannerHow to decide what emails should be conversations Quotables“I'm always emphasizing that they need to understand at least the difference between a goal and an objective, and a strategy and a tactic.” — @JasonMudd9“Writing is really social and you need other people to look at your work, and you need feedback from real humans, not just you going over your draft alone again and again. So yeah, you're not a great writer alone. You need other people to react to your draft with you and give you that perspective.” — @bold_type“I would love it if teams within organizations would actually just take a few minutes to sit down and set out what their own best practices are around emails for emailing each other and their clients.” — @bold_type“So (BLUF) bottom line up front, it just means you come in and you immediately say what is the main high-level takeaway from this communication? And then you can go back and say, and here's the background and here's the details, and here's how we got here.” — @bold_type“Especially when I see somebody sending an email that's just all over the place, I'm like, tell me what you're gonna tell me. Tell me, and then tell me what you told me again.” — @JasonMudd99“Any email you send, there's a very permanent electronic record of it. And I want you to imagine that it can be on the front page of the New York Times.” — @bold_typeIf you enjoyed this episode, please share it with others and leave us a review!About Casey MankOur episode guest is Casey Mank, co-founder of Bold Type, a woman-owned communications skills training firm that focuses on workplace writing skills. She's led writing workshops for organizations including Kellogg's, Sephora, and Mastercard. Mank has a background as an English teacher, teaching in different programs and schools around Georgetown University. She's previously been at the business school and currently teaches in the school of nursing at Georgetown's medical campus. Mank got into teaching professional teams how to do their workplace writing tasks and likes to stay on the line between academia and workplace writing.Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America's Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Kim Ades and Jason Mudd discuss recruiting and retaining young PR professionals. Guest:Our episode guest is Kim Ades, the founder of Frame of Mind CoachingTM and co-founder of The Journal That Talks BackTM. She's a pioneer in leadership coaching and thought mastery. She uses her unique philosophy and direct coaching style to help leaders identify their blind spots and learn to direct their thinking to achieve extraordinary results. Five things you'll learn from this episode:The four things companies need to have to slow turnoverWhy organizations lose their top talentImproving mental well-being in work and your personal lifeThe myth of work-life balanceWhy empathy is not a good ideaQuotables“I started to understand that young people are faced with a whole bunch of challenges that perhaps I wasn't faced with when I was young, or I saw them a lot differently.” — @kimades“We can be compassionate, we can be understanding, we can acknowledge that someone is suffering, but jumping in the pool beside them never serves them.” — @kimades“So they want to be part of an environment where they are accepted, validated, and appreciated. They want their work to count in the grand scheme of what they're doing at work. And so noticing what they are doing, noticing their contribution is very, very important. When they are under-noticed, then that's a problem for them.” — @kimades“They need support outside of the workplace. So when they're feeling that anxiety, when they're feeling that turbulence, when they start a new job and they're unsure of themselves and they're not reading the room properly, or they get feedback from their boss and they think it's the end of the world, they need a place to go and work through that.” — @kimadesIf you enjoyed this episode, please share it with others and leave us a review!About Kim AdesOur episode guest is Kim Ades, the founder of Frame of Mind CoachingTM and co-founder of The Journal That Talks BackTM. She's a pioneer in leadership coaching and thought mastery. She uses her unique philosophy and direct coaching style to help leaders identify their blind spots and learn to direct their thinking to achieve extraordinary results. Guest's contact info and resources:Kim Ades on TwitterKim Ades on LinkedInFrame of Mind CoachingAdditional Resources:The Journal That Talks BackAdditional Axia Resources:How to stay positive when working in PRLeadership's responsibility of mental wellbeing with Vance Meyer | On Top of PR podcast  Disclosure: One or more of the links we shared here might be affiliate links that offer us a referral reward when you buy from them.Episode recorded: September 15, 2022Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America's Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Mark Mohammadpour and Jason Mudd discuss easing stress that comes with working in the PR industry. Guest:Our episode guest is Mark Mohammadpour, the founder and chief well-being officer at Chasing the Sun. After experiencing the stress of the PR industry and realizing the toll it took on his body, he made a change in his life, allowing him to lose 150 pounds and help others with their well-being too. Five things you'll learn from this episode:Why is PR stressful? How to make the PR profession less stressfulHacks for saving employees' timeHow to successfully wind down after workWhat employers need to consider of employeesQuotables“Since at least 2012, a company called CareerCast has named PR manager or PR executive as one of the top 10 most stressful jobs” — @JasonMudd9“Our role is building relationships, that's literally the title of what we do and the definition, and it takes a lot of time.” — @markmoh“It's important to acknowledge that, because we are building relationships, it takes time, it takes a lot of brain power and it takes a lot of physical energy as well.” — @markmoh“But not only is there a new cycle that's 24/7, there's a social media cycle that's 24/7, there's the search engines, and web content that's 24/7.” — @JasonMudd9“Because we're seeing employees really ask themselves, ‘How is my life positively impacted at this company, what's the relationship like,' you know, why is it that people are staying, and what's being impacted there, and what are those, what are those variables?” — @markmohIf you enjoyed this episode, please share it with others and leave us a review!About Mark MohammadpourMark Mohammadpour is the founder and chief well-being officer at Chasing the Sun. After spending his public relations career as an executive at Edelman and Weber Shandwick, and after losing and keeping off 150 pounds over the last decade, Mark launched Chasing the Sun to empower PR professionals to prioritize their well-being so they can shine in the family room and the board room.Guest's contact info and resources:Mark Mohammadpour on TwitterMark Mohammadpour on LinkedInChasing the SunAdditional Resources:Chasing the Sun: Your Chief Wellness Podcast with Mark MohammadpourAdditional Axia Resources:How to stay positive when working in PRLeadership's responsibility of mental wellbeing with Vance Meyer | On Top of PR podcast  Disclosure: One or more of the links we shared here might be affiliate links that offer us a referral reward when you buy from them.Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America's Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.

Shanita Akintonde and Jason Mudd discuss building anticipation and brand loyalty for your company.GuestOur episode guest is Shanita Akintonde, CEO at ShanitaSpeaks. Shanita Akintonde is an international speaker, author, and educator. She's also a former PRSA Diversity and Inclusion Committee National Chair.Five things you'll learn from this episode:How to sell the anticipation of your brand and companyPR best practices that infuse branding strategies Big brand concepts to borrow as a PR pro How to borrow those big brand concepts for your own company Time-tested traditional and nontraditional ways to ensure PR successQuotables“Being true to themselves as a brand and also being true to their consumers creates a perfect creme brulee because it allows for the authenticity of the brand to shine on the consumers in a way that lets them be their best selves.” — @_ShanitaSpeaks“Don't be afraid of a multimedia approach to getting the word out.” — @_ShanitaSpeaks“It's not about what people are thinking about us in our brands, it's how we make them feel.” — @_ShanitaSpeaks“The written word is so powerful; it's even more powerful in some cases than the spoken word because I can go back and revisit it and look at it and hold it close.” — @_ShanitaSpeaks“Being notable and quotable is about changing the world.” — @_ShanitaSpeaksIf you enjoyed this episode, please share it with others and leave us a review! Guest's contact info and resources:Shanita Akintonde on TwitterShanita Akintonde on LinkedInshanitaspeaks.comAdditional Resources:When Leadership Fails Unleash the Leader Within YouLeading From the Heart Shanita's Podcast: Marketing InsightsAdditional Axia Resources:Brands are using a “window of loyalty” to turn young consumers into lifelong fans Brands capturing the audience with strategic PR “stunts” Episode recorded: August 18, 2022Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America's Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.