•  Isn’t it great in the midst of this awful economy to read stories like this which tell us “Baltimore advertising, PR agencies teeming with jobs” – Absolutely true and many PR firms, including 5WPR are hiring (Send resumes to careers@5wpr.com
• Legendary journalist Mike Wallace of “60 Minutes” died this weekend – he was a real journalist who delved deep into issues. Fascinating to watch his old interviews – a real relic of journalism.  Am sure many crisis PR firms made money because of Wallace – the “inventor” of the  “ambush interview”
• The new ABC show  ‘Scandal’ has the potential to do a lot for crisis public relations – as Variety Magazine says the show is about “…the PR wizards who specialize in spinning the news when public figures and corporations have gotten themselves into a tight spot. On the show, the crisis managers seem more like defense attorneys, or maybe even members of “The A-Team.”
  • I think that description of our industry is much more receptive than various reality shows, or Samantha on Sex in the City.

Ronn Torossian

5WPR

U.S. News & World Report in their first-ever edition of Best Jobs said (this year) that Public Relations is one of the best jobs one can have and that the “profession should see significant growth over the next decade.” Full Article available at: http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2012/02/27/best-jobs-2012-public-relations-specialist

As CEO of 1 of the 25 largest U.S. PR Agencies, I concur – PR is an incredible field to have a career in. If you’ve ever read a newspaper, magazine, or watched TV, chances are you’ve seen the work of a PR professional. You may not know the content you’re looking at was provided by one, but without the help of a PR specialist, media would be drastically different. In today’s world, there has never been a more amazing time to have a career in the field of Public Relations.

As the article states “Whether you’re the press secretary for the President of the United States, a communications director for Google, or a media specialist for a small nonprofit, your main goal is to generate positive publicity for your client and improve their reputation. As a PR specialist, it’s your job to cultivate and maintain close and productive relationships with journalists, bloggers, and opinion leaders. You’ll be asked to create print and Web-based communications materials—which may include story pitches, press releases, Q&As, presentations, video scripts, and speeches—ensuring they are consistent with your client’s image and message. Other responsibilities range from acting as a company spokesperson for a wider variety of media inquiries and speaking directly to the press on behalf of your client (sometimes deflecting negative criticism) to preparing your client for press conferences, media interviews, and speeches. Social media outreach has become an integral part of a PR specialist’s job in recent years.”

Incorporating a perfect mixture of journalism, psychology, and lawyering, PR is an ever-changing and always interesting landscape. There is no such thing as a “typical” day. Some days may be spent entirely at a computer, when others may be spent running around from one place to the next. You’ll never find yourself staring at the clock and waiting for the day to end. Public relations provides independent, third-party recognition and endorsements- an incredible asset in a crowded media ecosystem, and a commodity that many companies will pay for over other products or services.

Additionally, there is an understated power that comes with being able to have somewhat of a handle on the media. As a PR professional, I’ve helped companies define themselves and their brands, stay out of the press or get on page one, grow a business, solve critical problems, improve results on search engines, and become thought leaders in their industries. PR is a profession that helps entrepreneurs earn more, small brands to become household names, Fortune 500 companies preserve and grow their positions, and personalities and politicians maintain and increase their credibility and relevance. And it helps all of the above rapidly increase brand value. If you have a great idea, product, or service, PR will do a lot to cut through the noise and let the world know.

As the article concludes: “The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects public relations specialists employment growth of 22.5 percent between 2010 and 2020.”  I am confident that 5WPR, as one of the fastest growing PR agencies will continue to benefit from the explosion of the PR industry.

Ronn Torossian

Everyone talks about a defining moment in their lives – I vividly remember in my 9^th grade Junior High school public school class in the Bronx a teacher calmly, and clearly explaining to me – in front of the whole class how I’d never be anything in life and should recognize it now.  When I cursed her repeatedly with 4 letter words, I was sent to the Principal’s office.  When the school called my mom to tell her I’d been kicked out of class, she asked me why, and when I explained, she let the school know I was right.  And I was.

Words matter – and last night when I spoke at New York University in front of a Masters class, where “For Immediate Release” by Ronn Torossian is required reading, I thought of that teacher.

If you can’t fly then run.

If you can’t run then walk.

If you can’t walk then crawl.

But whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.

Onwards and upwards – To see some of the video footage of Ronn Torossian speaking at NYU please go to the 5WPR Youtube Channel.

Ronn Torossian

5WPR

I am a student of Public Relations and Marketing in Scotland, day in and day out I work with Scottish issues and I am heavily involved in the political scene in Scotland – however something I can’t escape is the brand of America.

Now I’ll be clear, when I say “the brand of America” I’m not referring to Jersey Shore and Big Macs. What I refer to is the pull America has as a nation. A nation built on immigration and integration – eventually. Around this time last year I visited one of the top Public Relations firms in America with my Scottish college that firm was 5WPR. Now to say I was impressed is an understatement; I was overwhelmed.

I had never experienced America really in person and only had TV shows to go on, but the design of the offices, the friendly nature of the staff and the knowledge of the impressive character who showed us around. Juda Engelmayer was clearly one of the best in the Public Relations industry and he in the matter of minutes had us all open jawed at his prowess and the popularity of 5WPR as a firm.

Now whilst studying in Scotland it seems we cannot escape PR cases from the states. It seems clear to many of us, that the most exciting PR industry is present in America – now of course our home country has many different clients – but what really gets our blood pumping is America. America has such an array of sectors within PR and is at the frontier, yet again in the Public Relations industry. The key advances are being made in America, the biggest cases develop there and of course – the biggest array of skilled PR professionals is there.

I am now in my 3^rd year of study and it is clear to me, I want to work in America – to pursue that American dream, the “dream” that was surely one of the biggest PR scores for a country, ever.  Why though? Besides the fact that every day in university we are given case studies of American firms, we are told to look at firms like 5WPR and Weber Shandwick for the right way of doing things? Well to put it quite simply – it’s the brand.

Every PR expert knows about branding and attempts not to be pulled in – but America, you have pulled many of us in. In fact I can assure you almost every PR student I have spoken to looks at America in awe and aspires to make it there.

Sure there would be differences, sure it would be a challenge and sure it would be galling; but surely as someone who works in PR that is qualities that should be there anyway? The willingness to overcome challenges, that sheer passion for your industry – and of course networking and taking advice from professionals like Ronn, buying his book (which is better than most textbooks I’ve read recently) and subscribing to his videos.

Dear America, you have one student here – the most influential PR student in Scotland according to the Behind the Spin blog, run by the Chartered institute of Public Relations in the UK and he has fallen for you.

How have you fallen for the brand of America? How do you think it could be improved?

–

Thanks, Kenneth Murray – @Kenny_murray

5W Public Relations, will be hosting a career fair on Tuesday, September 13th from 10:00am – 3:00pm at the Park Central Hotel at 870 7th Avenue (55^th & 56^th St.) 5WPR is experiencing rapid growth and hiring Public Relations professionals at all levels. Attendees will have the chance to learn more about PR Careers and what it is like to work at one of the Top 25 US PR Agencies.

5W Public Relations is headquartered in New York, with an office in Los Angeles. Named to the Inc. 500 list of fastest growing companies, the agency was founded in 2003 and has grown very quickly. The agency is an aggressive full-service communications firm with core competencies in all aspects of public relations. From media relations to corporate communications, technology marketing, consumer goods, Beauty PR, Health Care, Crisis PR, Lifestyle PR, public affairs, social media and special events.

We hope to see you and are always accepting resumes at careers@5wpr.com

Ronn Torossian

5WPR