Working extensively in entertainment PR, including extensive work as a crisis PR agency for celebrities, an interesting story is the Angelina Jolie Brand – and will she incorporate her soon to be husband’s last name into her name ?

And my 2 cents? Angelina Jolie shouldn’t change her name to Angelina Pitt – the Angelina Jolie brand is a brand that has been built over many years of hard work, and it’s authentic. It has worked very well. Angelina Jolie is a great example of how building a brand can help restore a tarnished image. For a while, Jolie seemed not on the edge but all the way over the precipice, what with making out with her brother, breaking up Laura Dern’s marriage to Billy Bob Thornton, and wearing Thornton’s blood in a charm around her neck. She was a wild child; over the last few years however, she’s done a great job turning her image around (even while stealing Jennifer Aniston’s husband.)

Now she not only speaks out against global poverty when most actresses pontificate about metallic flats versus leather stilettos (or comment on political issues they know little about), but she also puts her money, time, and resources where her mouth is. The Angelina Jolie brand today is not only about being a gorgeous woman and a talented actress but also an effective activist and fundraiser for causes having to do with children around the world – and it should remain intact.

This Public Relations Agency owner says Angelina Jolie has worked hard to build her brand – she has worked hard for her and it shows.

Ronn Torossian

5WPR

Had a huge event this weekend we ran for a client – and I happened to speak to Mark Birnbaum, a friend and the mogul behind EMM Group, one of New York’s most successful hospitality, lifestyle and management companies and he had some great advice I wanted to share that anyone should know when running an event.

• Plan ahead and don’t leave anything for the last second

• As Mark Birnbaum says with your blackberry you have to “live life practically through this thing.”

• Be prepared physically – even if it looks easy, it isnt “…business is long hours, late hours. We have to maintain our health. Boxing is a great part of our lives. We [train and spar] three or four times a week. “

• Make sure the music is right – music sets the tone for many things – including an event.  Plan ahead.

As GQ says Mark Birnbaum of EMM Group is the “new king of nightlife” – and “…if you’re at one of their spots, chances are, you’re having the time of your life.”

Running an event is always a ton of work – and for more, follow Mark Birnbaum on Twitter at: twitter.com/markbirnbaumemm

Ronn Torossian

5WPR

“From a Public Relations & branding perspective, the NY Jets acquiring Tim Tebow is an absolute home-run. Already one of the most popular athlete-celebrities in the world, Tim Tebow coming to New York City has the potential to put him a different hemisphere when it comes to his marketing earnings.  Tim Tebow is already a marketing sensation – highly visible, he is appealing and as a New York Jet has the whole world open to him.

As a life-long New Yorker, our city has always been at the center of the media world – 2012 may be the first year we find ourselves at the center of the sports marketing world as well.  There’s little doubt that Tebow will sell a tremendous amount of jerseys and memorabilia – and the biggest immediate winners of Tebow coming to NY are Jockey Underwear and FRS, who Tebow currently endorses.

One wonders – how much will the first picture of Jeremy Lin and Tim Tebow together be worth? Will a brand try and put them together? From a personal perspective, Tebow will need to be prepared for what the big city brings – for good and for bad.  From temptation to privacy, the stakes in the Big Apple are different and one wonders how he will cope with the non-stop pressure. There’s no escape from the constant celebrity status in New York.

Tebow is likeable, and has already broken through the sports barrier as a known American celebrity – he has even more potential if he can make it happen in NYC.”

RONN TOROSSIAN is CEO OF 5WPR, a NYC PR agency, who has represented athletes and celebrities, as well as Evangelical organizations Torossian is also the Author of PR Book “For Immediate Release”.

• Who’s a bigger Public Relations genius than Sacha Baron Cohen ? (or who has created more PR nightmares for certain folks than his character Ali G ?) Never one to miss a marketing opportunity, Cohen is hoping to attend the Oscars playing the Admiral General Aladeen – the character he will be playing in his new movie The Dictator – and folks are worried about what sort of publicity stunt he’ll pull off when there.   He’s succeeded in the past – At the MTV Movie Awards in 2009 in character as the gay fashion reporter Bruno he was lowered from the ceiling and landed on Eminem’s face.  His new movie comes out in March and one wonders what he’s got planned for viewers. I for one as a huge Cohen fan cant wait. More at: http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Sacha-Baron-Cohen-Get-Away-With-Publicity-Stunt-Oscars-29572.html )

• The talk of the boxing world is a brawl which occurred between heavyweights David Haye and Dereck Chisora – and whether it was a publicity stunt to generate interest in a potential fight between them. One was arrested, and the other is being sought by police.  The promoter Frank Warren says its hogwash to suggest that it was a publicity stunt: “I would say they [those suggesting it was a stunt] were total idiots. I’m sure if you think somebody wants to do a stunt like that – to get hit with a bottle, to wind up in a Munich police station … You’ve just got to be a complete moron to come up with a suggestion like that,” Warren told Sky Sports News.

All press is not good press – and I cant believe that this was staged… More for review at: http://www.espn.co.uk/boxing/sport/story/136983.html

Ronn Torossian is CEO of 5WPR, a leading Public Relations Agency.

In what was clearly a great Super Bowl half-time show, Madonna did a great job of entertaining the millions watching the game – and in doing so scored a Public Relations coup in reaching a new generation of fans, with guest appearances with today’s stars including LMFAO, Cee Lo Green, Nicki Minaj and M.I.A. Madonna has always been a marketing genius – A lightening rod for controversy, her songs through the years, including “Like a Virgin”, “Papa Don’t Preach”, “Like a Prayer”, “Vogue”, and others – and clearly this Super Bowl performance continued that marketing genius.

53 years old, and looking HOT and way younger, she launched with an amazing remix of the classic “Vogue” (One wonders did Madonna/NBC pay a licensing fee to Vogue Magazine), the tight-rope walker/jumper, and simply amazing Like A Prayer, where the backup singers and dancers quickly turned into a gospel choir, as Madonna, Cee Lo and the choir finished up the show with her 1989 single.

Madonna is a living legend – There’s no one alive bigger and better than her and it was just such a special show.  Probably the biggest pop star in the world, and who is better than the world’s biggest pop star performing during such a huge world stage. She kept it tame for her – and realized she didn’t need to push the envelope – and with kudos to her she respected the boundaries.

For me, it was a time warp back to the 1980’s, and explaining to my kids that these songs were made when I was near their age – and how Madonna predates Lady Gaga contributed to the experience.  And that’s another mark of Madonna’s greatness and legendary status – bridging generations. (And to think I remember my mother in 1983 disapproving of me listening to Madonna.)

As a Madonna and pop culture fan, it was a special moment recognizing as she’s been called by Time Magazine one of the “25 Most Powerful Women of the Past Century” performing flawlessly on this stage. As a PR agency owner, and professional marketer I recognize the sheer marketing genius she has even at the age of her mid-50’s. Kudos Madonna.

Ronn Torossian is the President of 5WPR, 1 of the 25 largest Public Relations  Agencies in the US, and author of “For Immediate Release.”