We are in the business of storytelling, but not just on behalf of our clients. We’re interested observers in the fast-changing worlds of PR, media, branding, business and entertainment. We don’t just watch, read and listen, we create content, offering an insider’s take into the how, why and when of the communications business – including challenges, triumphs and fiascos.
To read news about Tanner Friedman and our team members specifically, select “Tanner Friedman” in the Categories drop-down menu below.
On Election Night, while setting up a press conference at Detroit’s TCF Center, where a record number of absentee ballots were being counted, I couldn’t help flashing back 26 years. As a TV news writer/producer in Atlanta, I arrived for my 1994 Election Night shift to find I wasn’t writing a lead election story, as … Continued
Any conversation about the state of social media these days calls to mind an absurd, but amusing, conversation in a classic movie. 40 years ago, in “The Blues Brothers,” characters played by comedy legends John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd chatted up characters played by music legends Aretha Franklin and Matt “Guitar” Murphy. It centered around … Continued
It has been 20 years since NBC’s Tim Russert created a memorable moment on Election Night. Trying to help his audience make sense of electoral college math, he used a white board and markers, along with the visual and personality power of the television medium, to emphasize the “need to know” points. It made for … Continued
The top priority in a crisis that affects the public is providing public information. For decades, our team has worked with clients in their crisis preparation, including simulations for a range of scenarios that have included hostage-taking standoffs, aviation disasters and chemical spills. Those situations mirror the illness of a U.S. President because suddenly, private … Continued
You didn’t sign up for it. But if you’re spending much of the day on Zoom and on conference calls then, congratulations, you also have a broadcasting gig. To be effective in your job, you now need the skills of a broadcaster. Think about it: Chairing a conference call meeting is a lot like anchoring … Continued
If you’re lucky enough to have a job these days and it’s in communications, chances are you’re spending at least some conference calls or Zoom meetings analyzing social media posts like they are chemical particles for the awaited vaccine. During the pandemic, we’ve seen an acceleration in sensitivity to what’s posted on social media platforms. … Continued