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- Robb Deigh, member of the DC chapters of PRSA and IABC, and principal of RDC Communication/PR, penned a PR book called "How Come No One Knows About Us?" and promoted it at BookExpo America in Los Angeles.

- The Washington Independent Writers Board of Directors has approved a name change to American Independent Writers.  The 33-year-old communicator’s organization will expand its focus from a DC-only area organization to a broader national one. The new name is effective July 1.

- GovMark Council, a not-for-profit forum that facilitates education and networking for senior-level marketing executives who serve the government Information Technology a ... Read More »

The Capitol Communicator, earlier this month, hosted a seminar on public service announcements at Interface Media Group.  One of the presenters was John Quinn of WJLA-TV who offered attendees a tip sheet called “The Top Seven Concepts that Make Good PSAs.”  If you would like a copy of John’s tip sheet, please e-mail phil.rabin@capitolcommunicator.com.

The media is providing significant coverage of what’s happening in the ever-changing, challenging world faced by communicators.  Working with Fleishman-Hillard’s DC office, we have identified some media reports worth sharing:

If the local communications community is in a recession, it would be news to the experts we contacted. That’s the finding of our unofficial and unscientific survey we conducted this month. That’s not to suggest these are boom times, in fact we heard that companies are being cautious in hiring, but we heard that business has been firm for much of the local communications community. Perhaps, as one person suggested, since the Washington, DC, area has a relatively small retail base, we’ve been spared significant setbacks. In fact, said one expert, those communicators with skills in new media and with health and “green” expertise still are in demand. Regarding people being more cautious, we did hear that some projects are taking longer as clients are taking longer to launch new initiatives.

The media is providing significant coverage of what’s happening in the ever-changing, challenging world faced by communicators.  Working with Fleishman-Hillard’s DC office, we have identified some media reports worth sharing:

• Speakers at a major advertising conference urged executives to stop wallowing in self-pity and meet the challeng ... Read More »

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• May 20 and 21 are the dates for this year’s VCU Brandcenter’s Portfolio Review and Recruiter Session.  The Recruiter Session in Richmond is set up like an open house where each student has a table where his/her ... Read More »

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• Brand Resources Group adds the Heart Rhythm Society, an international leader in science, education and advocacy for cardiac arrhythmia professionals and patients; and The National Center for Healthy Housing, a nonprofit organization dedicated to decreasing children’s exposure to biological, physical and chemical hazards within the home.
• Bla ... Read More »
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• WestGlen Communications launches its next generation of its online multi–media audience development and promotion services. Geared towards assisting organizations in targeting video and audio to consumers directly through promotion via social media networks, bloggers and online communities, SocialPRo 2.0 combines numerous earned and paid media tactics with promotional and evangelical online efforts to connect marketers and their messages with key audiences and online communities.
• CARMA International launches a new, intuitive, online media measurement tool called CARMA NewsAccess, which will help companies and communications professionals stay abreast of daily media coverage that affects their business, issues and interests. NewsAccess provides basic, automated access to clients’ relevant coverage in traditional, non-traditional and social media and ... Read More »
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• WestGlen Communications launches its next generation of its online multi–media audience development and promotion services. Geared towards assisting organizations in targeting video and audio to consumers directly through promotion via social media networks, bloggers and online communities, SocialPRo 2.0 combines numerous earned and paid media tactics with promotional and evangelical online efforts to connect marketers and their messages with key audiences and online communities.
• CARMA International launches a new, intuitive, online media measurement tool called CARMA NewsAccess, which will help companies and communications professionals stay abreast of daily media coverage that affects their business, issues and interests. NewsAccess provides basic, automated access to clients’ relevant coverage in traditional, non-traditional and social media and ... Read More »
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Young MC

On April 29th, about 20 people gathered for the inaugural Young MC Happy Hour. Young MC is a new group for PR, marketing and advertising professionals under 35 working in or around DC.  The goal of the group is to bring folks together who share common professional interests and may otherwise never have the chance to meet. The invite-only crowd had a great time meeting new people, talking shop and enjoying some cocktails. To be included in future events, please visit: http://youngmcdc.wordpress.com/ or email youngmcdc@gmail.com.  All events will ... Read More »

Pum Lefebure, co-founder of Design Army, was honored in "People to Watch 2008" by Graphic Design USA Magazine. Each year GDUSA chooses a group of people to watch — creative, talented, successful, newsworthy and influential — who embody the spirit of the creative community.

Michael Petruzzello, founding and managing partner of Qorvis Communications will receive the Excellence in Business Award from the Sons of Italy Foundation at a May 22 black-tie dinner in DC. Before establishing Qorvis, Petruzzello was the CEO of Shandwick North America and, before that, was president of Shandwick Public Affairs in Wash ... Read More »

If you missed out on the ADDY competition, March 21 is the deadline for “Where Power Plays”, this year’s AMA-DC M-Awards, which is described as the area's most prestigious event honoring area marketers. AMA-DC notes the award competition is your platform to highlight your organization's ingenuity in meeting your client's needs. The award dinner is set for May 8 at Marriott Metro Center hotel. More info at www.amadc.org.

To state the obvious, for communicators these are times of evolutionary and revolutionary change. And one of the goals of the Capitol Communicator is to keep you abreast of what’s ahead in communications. To that end, we’ve assembled a premier group of experts who, on a regular basis, will keep you updated on what you need to know to remain valuable in the months and years ahead to your employer and/or clients.

Digital Currents

Every week, Fleishman-Hillard/Washington's digital communications group compiles and analyzes news stories focusing on the ever-evolving role of digital strategies, tools and tactics in the communications mix. A common thread can be found in this week’s compilation for the Capital Communicator, it’s the continued growth and importance of social media tools – from those with health conditions connecting with one another to major brands shifting significant communications resource ... Read More »

- The DC office of Ogilvy PR adds Virgin America, a new airline offering flights to cities including DC, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Diego and soon to Seattle. The agency also adds the National Crop Insurance Services and two senior staffers - Natalie Adler joins as senior VP and Dan Stoneking joins as VP. Adler joins Ogilvy PR after 15 years with Porter Novelli and Stoneking was deputy director of the National Guard Bureau’s Office of Public Affairs. Meanwhile, the agency’s 360° Digital Influence team adds Virginia Miracle as Senior VP and head of digital strategy. Prior to joining Ogilvy PR, Miracle served as director of word-of-mouth marketing with Brains on Fire.

- Qorvis adds Keep America Beautiful. The agency will produce public service announcements and create a new branding campaign for KAB, which is best known for its “Crying Indian” campaign.

Hillary Clinton’s crucial primary victories in Ohio and Texas were preceded by significant exposure and appearances on two of late night’s biggest TV shows: Saturday Night Live (“SNL”) and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. According to Dan McGinn, CEO of McGinn MS&L, communicators often overlook, at their own peril, the importance of late-night television. His observations follow:

It’s become well-accepted that television, at least in its current form, is declining in importance. After all, ratings for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Night with David Letterman, and SNL have generally been in a long, slow decline for many years. So who could blame communicators who view late-night as a losing proposition for their brands?< ... Read More »

We have two free tickets for a preview performance at the Arena Stage for either Death of a Salesman or A View from the Bridge. To enter our drawing, send an e-mail to phil.rabin@capitolcommunicator.com with the subject line “I want two tix to the Arena Stage” by March 21. The tickets are valid until April 2, 2008.

 The DC ad community honored the best locally-produced ads this month at the “Battle of Awesomeness.” Before an audience of about 375 communicators, the DC Ad Club presented its ADDY awards at the Ronald Reagan Building and Internal Trade Center. The award competition attracted 841 entries from 75 companies reflecting all facets of the communications community: Advertising and marketing agencies, design firms, PR companies, clients, media outlets, printers, suppliers and production companies.

In the awards competition, 104 ADDYs and 146 Citations of Excellence were awarded, with the Best of Show award going to Arnold Worldwide for its “25th Anniversary - A Conversation Piece” produced for USA TODAY. Arnold also won the most a ... Read More »