Two very different people are on my mind as I consider the problem of a lack of civility in our political discourse today: U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar (DFL-MN) and Mr. Erik Prince, Founder of the Blackwater USA Corporation. The two are very different: one a wealthy, middle-aged white male who is an advisor to President … Continue reading Responsibility for civility lies with all of us
The Greenlee Summit this fall at Iowa State University will focus on “Communications and Civility in our Democracy.” It is a timely topic (right before the Iowa Caucuses) that will engage and inform hundreds of people, many of whom work in and around communications and media. Media plays a critical role in cultivating and … Continue reading Civility in the Media, and its Role in Culture and Politics
Rick Phillips, Chair of the Greenlee School Advisory Council and the Chief Communications Officer for Nationwide, shares his observations of the 2018 Greenlee Summit, which was geared to industry professionals in journalism, advertising and public relations.
Every semester, I give a guest lecture on big data in advertising and public relations principles classes. In a span of 50 minutes, I try to help our students have a clear understanding of the definitions, characteristics, examples, uses, and caveats of big data. This is an extremely important topic because big data has become … Continue reading How I teach big data at Greenlee
It’s an age-old question, which came first…the chicken or the egg? In the world of advertising, the two forces at the center of this delicate dance are the creative idea and critical consumer insights derived from data. Data seems to be driving more decisions. Look no further than this past year’s Cannes Lions Awards which … Continue reading How does data drive the creative process?
It was October 2016, less than a month before the presidential election, when a colleague emailed me to say my name had appeared twice in the WikiLeaks publication of e-mails hacked from Hillary Clinton’s campaign chairman. I felt clammy and lightheaded as I clicked on the link. I had already seen media reports that these … Continue reading My brush with WikiLeaks
Truthful news and information are what the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication at Iowa State University stand for, whether it be in journalism, public relations, or advertising. This is increasingly important as faulty information has become available to more people than ever before in history. Stories with no basis in truth are coming from … Continue reading The importance of sifting the truth from fiction
Networking is not as easy or as natural as most people think. It’s not just a face-to-face meeting, networking could involve a combination of emails, phone calls, attending events and social media exchanges. It is hard to master and takes practice. Successful networking is achieved by having an open mindset, practicing and planning. Networking could … Continue reading 7 Practical In-person Event Networking Tips
In public relations, you are who you represent. Aren’t you? Recently, London-based public relations firm Bell Pottinger discovered the reality of their reputation being tied directly to their client’s. Bell Pottinger was contracted by an India-based firm to conduct public relations work on their behalf in South Africa. The work they were asked to complete … Continue reading The Company You Keep
"Research before strategy; strategy before action." It’s a Flynn Wright agency philosophy and mantra, the idea that it’s crucial to map out exactly what needs to be done and how to accomplish objectives before embarking on a campaign. With patience and discipline, gathering proper insights on the front end of communication planning can dramatically increase … Continue reading Using insights to set sights: the power of preliminary research