Here's the thing about national media coverage being easy to get.  Anyone who knows anything about publicity and media relations knows that this is a big, fat lie. Unfortunately, there are way too many people who don't know anything about publicity and media relations.

So in case you  missed the big news, McDonald's is making changes. And it is taking the next 18 months to develop and roll them out. That's a lot of time, which would indicate the potential for some very serious changes.

Although created more than four years ago by the "PR" industry, the Barcelona Principles continue to be a topic of interest throughout the industry. I saw this misguided gem a few weeks ago: Why Measuring PR Shouldn't Include Sales. In case you didn't know (and count yourself lucky to be in that club) the BP outlines seven basic rules or principles for measuring public relations.

The phrase “but first, let me take a selfie” has a whole new meaning. Snapchat is steadily becoming a marketer’s dream for increasing brand awareness and direct marketing. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the app, Snapchat allows users to capture and send self-destructing videos and pictures.

According to Food Product News, "a new report shows the risk associated with having an obese sibling is more than twice as great as that of having an obese parent, and that risk is even stronger among siblings of the same gender." I read this story with tremendous interest, because the issue of childhood obesity is truly important to me.

Landing media coverage for your brand is not a science – although us public relations professionals would like to think so. Most of all it requires time, attention and dedication. The media relations process boils down to three key essentials. 1. Identify the Correct Media Contact: Not matter how amazing your pitch is, if you don’t have the correct contact, it's a waste of time.

Despite all the chatter, the annual B2B Content Marketing Trends Report from CMI and Marketing Prof confirms that only 4 in 10 marketers actually have a content marketing strategy. And maybe – just maybe – that's because no one really knows what they are talking about.

Timing is everything. Back in 1981, I was hired as an account executive at Burson-Marsteller/Chicago. Harold Burson was still very active in the business, working out of our New York headquarters. But Bill Marsteller retired in 1979 (selling the ad business to Young and Rubicam) and was immediately inducted as a member of the Advertising Hall of Fame.

Sweeney Promotes Lang to Assistant Account Executive WILMINGTON, N.C. – June 19, 2014 – Sweeney, a leading full-service marketing and public relations agency, announces the promotion of Morgan Lang to assistant account executive. In her new role, Lang will be responsible for traditional and digital marketing support of Acuity Brands® and Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores® accounts.

Sweeney Names Renwick Assistant Account Executive WILMINGTON, N.C. – June 19, 2014 – Sweeney, a leading full-service marketing and public relations agency, announces the hiring of Taylor Renwick in its Wilmington, NC office. As assistant account executive, Renwick will play a key role in digital and social marketing efforts supporting leading consumer and business-to-business accounts.