Paramount Public Relations, Inc. would like to wish you and your families a wonderful new year.  We can’t deny it has been a memorable year, so here are our team’s 10 most unforgettable media stories of 2009.

1. THE ECONOMY – Unfortunately for all of our sakes, the American economy seems fitting as the number one news story of 2009. The recession seemed to the backdrop of almost all news and discussion but we all have high hopes for a rebound in 2010.

2. OPRAH SAYS GOODBYE – Oprah announced that her talk show will be ending in September 2011. In the PR world, this is HUGE news. Arguably the most famous talk show host in America, Oprah has certainly left her mark on Chicago, the nation and the world. Whether Oprah’s goodbye is a PR stunt or for real, Chicagoans will just be happy to know they won’t be seeing Michigan Ave. closed down for a while!

3. THE KING OF POP DIES – Michael Jackson passed away on Thursday June 25, sending the world into shock and despair. Jackson will always be one of America’s favorite icons as well as one of the best selling artists in history. May he rest in peace. He will not be forgotten.

4. OBAMA – Americans welcomed President Obama into office when he gave his inauguration speech on January 20. America and Obama himself were shocked when he was awarded the Nobel Peace Price in October. All eyes and ears were on Obama again when he announced the healthcare reform bill. Only time will tell if Obama can meet American’s hopes of turning this country around.

5. SWINE FLU – The H1N1 virus, otherwise known as the swine flu, sent Americans into a fearful frenzy, with over 4,000 deaths from the virus recorded in the latest stats. The topic dominated health news including controversies over the vaccine.  We hope the story diminishes for all our health!

6.MOST POPULAR WORD OF 2009 – Social Media conquered all in 2009, when twitter was announced The Global Language Monitor word of the year. Beating out words like “Obama” and “H1N1”, the power of the tweet can not be argued.

7. OLYMPIC BID – “Back the bid! Back the bid!” High spirited Chicago natives were heard shouting this the morning of October 2^nd only to find out that Chicago was eliminated in round one for the Summer 2016 Olympic Bid. Approximately $50 million was spent on the campaign and Chicago didn’t even make it to round 2! What a bummer!

8. TIGER WOODS” GOLF’S GOLDEN BOY GETS CAUGHT- How could Tiger think that having numerous mistresses wouldn’t come haunt him? Tiger Woods will end 2009 with an embarrassing bang, going from hero to zero.

9. JOHN AND KATE DIVORCE - TLC’s show John and Kate Plus 8 was a huge hit, giving insight into the lives of loving parents who happened to have six sextuplets and twins. During Season 5 the Gosselin’s announced their divorce, leaving fans devastated to see their favorite family falling into another divorce statistic. Now with the huge media blitz and all of the scandals between the two the only question left is… Team John or Team Kate?

10.  BERNIE MADOFF – Ponzi crook Bernie Madoff was sentenced to 150 years in prison for defrauding investors of $65 billion, the largest swindle of money in American history and an extremely audacious move to make in the middle of a recession. We think he got what he deserved—a life in prison.

Best wishes and continued success in 2010.

Paramount Public Relations, Inc.

345 N Canal St., Ste C202

Chicago, IL 60606

312-544-4190

www.paramountpr.com

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Fall is here and winter is well on its way but with so much exciting stuff going on there’s no reason to hibernate. Check out some great happenings from PPR clients:

S Factor, the original women’s fitness movement that combines Pilates, yoga, ballet and pole dance, is hosting an event exclusively for women who have been touched by breast cancer at 6 p.m., Thursday, October 15. RSVP for a free intro class tailored specifically to honor your journey. For more information go to www.Sfactor.com or RSVP by calling 312.492.7596.

Join Friends of St. Jude for the 9th annual Under the Harvest Moon: Casino Royale on Friday, October 23 at Galleria Marchetti benefitting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Tickets include hors d’oeuvres, a chocolate fondue bar, premium open bar, and a silent auction. High Roller Guests will enjoy access to the FRESH FM Lounge, a private bar, High Roller Casino, and $50 in chips. For more information go to, http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=744819886&ref=ts

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month:

The Tie Bar, an online retailer of 100% hand-woven silk ties that cost just $15, is offering a free pink herringbone tie with any $75 purchase. Simply enter “Pink Tie” into the coupon code at checkout. Go to www.TheTieBar.com.

PlatinumTel, a nationwide prepaid wireless provider, will be donating $5 from each pink sanyo Katana (6600) or Sanyo 3100 phone to the Breast Cancer Network of Strength to help provide immediate relief to anyone who is touched by breast cancer. Their mission is to ensure, through information, empowerment and peer support, that no one faces breast cancer alone. For more information visit www.PlatinumTel.com.

Chicago artist Dorian Allworthy’s “The Objects of Our Journey” be on display through October 15 at 4223 N Lincoln Ave. Come enjoy the evolution of over 30 years of painting. For more information go to www.DorianAllworthy.com.

Get a FREE hair cut for a cause at the Johnathan Breitung Salon & Luxury Spa when you donate to the Pantene Beautiful Lengths program October 26^th-31^st.  Hair donations will help women who are battling cancer by giving them a free real-hair wig and supporting their confidence as they undergo treatment.  Visit www.JohnathanBreitung.com and www.beautifullengths.com for more information.

Paramount PR client the 13^th Annual Chicago Half Marathon (taking place this Sunday, September 13) polled over 1,000 runners to see what they like to get down to while they run and the results are in! The 2009 Chicago Runners’ Playlist shows that Chicagoans are totally crazy over the Black Eyed Peas but still love to jam to the classics like the Rolling Stones.

The Top 13 (one for each mile of the Chicago Half Marathon) Chicago Runners’ Playlist is:

 1. Eye of the Tiger (Survivor)

2. Let’s Get It Started (Black Eyed Peas)

3. I Got a Feeling (Black Eyed Peas)

4. Boom Boom Pow (Black Eyes Peas)

5. Gonna Fly Now (Rocky Theme Song)

6. Born to Run (Bruce Springsteen)

7. Start Me Up (The Rolling Stones)

8. Let It Rock (Kevin Rudolf)

9. Thunderstruck (AC/DC)

10. Poker Face (Lady Gaga)

11. Viva La Vida (Coldplay)

12. Don’t Stop Believin’ (Journey)

13. Move Along (All American Rejects)

 The playlist is officially available for sale on iTunes here, http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewIMix?id=331034458.

The Citizen’s Utility Board (CUB) just released a cell phone report showing that 73% of cell phone users could save $300 or more a year (www.CitizensUtilityBoard.org). CUB suggested prepaid plans as an alternative to overpaying for wireless.  PlatinumTel today announced a unique new $50 unlimited wireless plan, available immediately, designed for consumers who don’t want to overpay for wireless or be bound by multi-year contracts. PlatinumTel, a nationwide pay-as-you-go provider that operates on an all-digital 3G Network that reaches 280 million people, offers simple yet competitive prepaid products with the goal of making wireless available for everyone. The new PlatinumTel Unlimited Plan offers unlimited nationwide talk, text, free long-distance and 100 megabytes of 3G web service.

 Big name wireless carriers such as Verizon and T-Mobile provide unlimited talk plans that in most cases cost double of what PlatinumTel offers. Those same plans many times contain additional fees and do not include web service. Other prepaid service providers like Cricket offer unlimited talk and text for $39 – $45 but don’t include nationwide roaming. PlatinumTel customers are provided load options which allow them to ‘top-up’ their unlimited accounts by adding $10 at a time.

 PRE-PAID CELL PHONE MONTHLY PRICE COMPARISON

 According to Omar Abhari, SVP of operations from PlatinumTel, “Having access to a full-featured, pay-as-you-go wireless plan is critical to millions of people who don’t want or can’t afford annual wireless contracts that ask users to pay month-to-month. Thus, prepaid has become one of the fastest-growing segments of the wireless market, where most people who want a cell phone now have one. Our new Unlimited Plan provides even greater flexibility for our customers at a price that can’t be beat.”

PlatinumTel offers subscribers the following:

• FLEXIBILITY – A dedication to delivering wireless services and choices designed for each subscriber’s specific needs.
• COST-EFFECTIVE – Prepaid cell phones and plans that are competitive, reasonable and accessible, particularly for customers looking to reduce expenses during the economic downturn or who may not have had access to wireless service in the past.
• PAY IN INCREMENTS – Unlike other prepaid carriers offering unlimited services, PlatinumTel also offers Dot10, a simple, no frills, pay-as-you-go plan that allows users to buy time/minutes only as needed. It’s ideal for those who do not want ongoing cell service or to budget a certain amount a month for cell service. Such users have the option of purchasing 1500 minutes for the whole year for $100 or paying a minimum of $10 for two months of service. 
• NO CONTRACTS – Products and services that are easy to understand and never require subscribers to enter into a multi-year service contract or ask them to pay more than what they need or can afford.
• CONTROL – The tools to control their accounts in a simple and convenient way, ensuring they are always in charge.
• NO DEPOSITS OR CREDIT CHECKS – Simplified billing with no deposits, termination fees, credit checks, monthly bills or hidden fees.

For more information on PlatinumTel and the new $50 Unlimited Plan, please visit www.PlatinumTel.com.

Twitter is taking over; it’s more than just a passing fad. We know this by now. You might even be tired of hearing about it. But that doesn’t change the fact that communicators and PR pros should stay on the lookout for new, effective ways to use the service. Here’s a good example of an emerging Twitter trend from the June 2009 edition of the BurrellesLuce newsletter http://www.burrellesluce.com/newsletter/

Enjoy, and don’t forget to follow @paramountpr!

Twitterview: 5 Tips for Success

With Twitter’s mainstream acceptance in the world of business, many public relations professionals seek to use the service in a way that positively impacts their brand, products, and professional network.

As with other forms of social media, it’s no longer enough to simply state “what you are doing” or to only “follow” or “retweet” someone who shares similar interests. Rather, the focus has shifted to creating meaningful content on which to form strong ties.

It all boils down to developing a solid community. And PR folks, as well as other social media users, are finding Twitterviews effective tools in their community-building efforts.

Twitterviews: PR in 140 Characters
Interviews on Twitter have gained in popularity these last few months, due in no small part to the increasing use of social media by public officials. However, journalists have been using Twitterviews for quite some time, such as when they conduct celebrity interviews. And PR professionals have followed suit. There’s even a whole website devoted to this form of online interview: www.twitterviews.net

So what explains the growth of the Twitterview? The primary reason is that a Twitterview is conducted in real-time, which allows for active participation from the audience.

Whether you are the PR pro who is hosting the chat or the person helping your client organize and prep for one, how do you help ensure a successful Twitterview?

Five tips to get you started

1. Make certain that a Twitterview matches your communication goals. Not all subjects or newsmakers are conducive for discussion on social media. Depending on your goals, it might just be better to do an in-person interview. For instance, if you or your client is being interviewed about a product recall, or speaking about changes in policies, a face-to-face interview could be the most effective way to convey your messages.
2. Arrange to speak with the person beforehand. Whether you are the interviewer or the interviewee, you’ll want to agree on the topic, a date and time to hold the Twitterview, the platform, etc. This will help improve overall communication flow the day of the event and make for a more enjoyable Twitterview experience.
3. Be prepared with “text bites.” Knowing the topic beforehand not only helps eliminate the chance of miscommunication, it gives you the opportunity to prepare strong text bites and short URLS to link to source material and examples. Remember: tweets are limited to 140 characters. When a question or response runs over, use the ellipsis (…) to indicate there is more to follow. Otherwise, the interviewer/interviewee might move on to the next question or respond before you’ve had a chance to finish your thought.
4. Encourage people to follow and participate in the live interview. Social media is designed to engage your audience and foster a sense of community. You may want to reserve a #hashtag (a way of tagging similar tweets on Twitter by following the # symbol with a short word of your choice) so your audience can follow the interview in real-time, and also see all the other tweets pertaining to the event. So, for instance, if a journalist were going to interview your CEO, you might create a #hashtag that reads #ceointerview and then promote it when you announce the event. (To set up a hashtag, please visit hashtags.org )
5. Publicize your Twitterview via social and traditional media. Tweet about the interview in advance, write about it on your blog, mention it on LinkedIn, or create an email blast to invite participants. In short, use your full array of PR skills to build an audience for the event.

I’m a graphic design student (as well as a Paramount PR intern) who’s always looking to network and work on my skill set. So I definitely didn’t want to miss the chance to check out digital collage artist Nick Haas’ (Haastyle.com) demonstration of his process at the Apple Store this past Tuesday. Nick did a nice job at the demo of explaining his process as a visual artist and sharing a few tech tips for users of Adobe Photoshop.

His collage pieces start with his gritty Chicago photography, and utilize a few cool Photoshop functions to combine the photos into abstract compositions that maintain his urban aesthetic. Here are two of Nick’s professional techniques that can help Photoshoppers work with images and practice their own collage work:

• When working with a photo, select Image>Adjust>Curves from the toolbar to access the Curves dialog. Try messing around with the axis on the grid displayed to change the light/dark range of the photo to improve its clarity or integrate it better into your collage.
• · Once you’ve dropped several images into different layers, use blend modes to combine them and take your composition to the next level. Experiment with the five primary blend modes: multiply, screen, overlay, color, and luminosity (found in the layers palette), to get different effects.

Be sure to check out Nick’s work at www.haastyle.com for more inspiration!

Nick Gorski

Paramount Public Relations’ client Texas de Brazil just hosted two events at the National Restaurant Association Show and International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event, the largest food and hospitality industry trade show in the U.S. at Chicago’s McCormick Center.

On Sunday, May 17, Texas de Brazil hosted a pairing event with Argentinean wine BCrux at the International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event, serving bacon wrapped chicken with an apple cranberry relish. Guests of the show raved about the food and how well it paired with BCrux’s award winning red.

On Monday, May 18 Texas de Brazil hosted a lamb butchering demo at the NRA’s Culinary Scene, wowing guests by butchering a lamb into the different cuts and sharing valuable knowledge on the butchery and preparation of lamb. Texas de Brazil shined at the show, demonstrating their expertise in the culinary world.

I spent the weekend wandering the show to see what else it had to offer, what other companies were doing, to check the new and noteworthy products and of course, to taste!

Some other companies I recommend checking out; Vinturi and their awesome wine aeroter, Dry Soda, Burn Cream and Desert Juniper Gin (best gin I’ve ever tasted.)

Lauren Bishop

Senior Account Executive

While on a flight home from visiting my mom for mother’s day, I had some time to reflect about how I was born to be a marketer. It’s in my blood, literally!  After filling my childhood with memories of crafts and creativity, my mom went back to work in the marketing department of a bank.   She recently retired after a successful career in meeting/event planning and marketing. It was wonderful to see her so happy and relaxed after all the blood, sweat, tears and entire being that she put into her career.  This is after all, written for all the marketing moms out there—dads, you will get your turn next month.

Here is to all the moms and moms-to-be in my life and yours, many of whom are marketers, whether by career or by nature!   Being a mom, aunt, step-mom, etc. gives a unique perspective to any marketing program, especially since moms are often the major caregivers and decision makers in their households.

Happy mother days to all of the Moms in my life, especially my Mom! Thank you for holding the world on your shoulders all the while with smiles on your faces.

“All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. That’s his.” -Oscar Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest

Here is a fascinating article in the New Yorker about the history of recessions and company spending.  Something to think about for those companies that are letting fear paralyze smart marketing decisions.

The New Yorker, The Financial Page, Hanging Tough

by James Surowiecki

April 20, 2009

In the late nineteen-twenties, two companies—Kellogg and Post—dominated the market for packaged cereal. It was still a relatively new market: ready-to-eat cereal had been around for decades, but Americans didn’t see it as a real alternative to oatmeal or cream of wheat until the twenties. So, when the Depression hit, no one knew what would happen to consumer demand. Post did the predictable thing: it reined in expenses and cut back on advertising. But Kellogg doubled its ad budget, moved aggressively into radio advertising, and heavily pushed its new cereal, Rice Krispies. (Snap, Crackle, and Pop first appeared in the thirties.) By 1933, even as the economy cratered, Kellogg’s profits had risen almost thirty per cent and it had become what it remains today: the industry’s dominant player.

You’d think that everyone would want to emulate Kellogg’s success, but, when hard times hit, most companies end up behaving more like Post. They hunker down, cut spending, and wait for good times to return. They make fewer acquisitions, even though prices are cheaper. They cut advertising budgets. And often they invest less in research and development. They do all this to preserve what they have. But there’s a trade-off: numerous studies have shown that companies that keep spending on acquisition, advertising, and R. & D. during recessions do significantly better than those which make big cuts. In 1927, the economist Roland Vaile found that firms that kept ad spending stable or increased it during the recession of 1921-22 saw their sales hold up significantly better than those which didn’t. A study of advertising during the 1981-82 recession found that sales at firms that increased advertising or held steady grew precipitously in the next three years, compared with only slight increases at firms that had slashed their budgets. And a McKinsey study of the 1990-91 recession found that companies that remained market leaders or became serious challengers during the downturn had increased their acquisition, R. & D., and ad budgets, while companies at the bottom of the pile had reduced them.

To continue reading, please follow this link.

http://www.newyorker.com/talk/financial/2009/04/20/090420ta_talk_surowiecki

PPR Company News

Paramount Public Relations is proud to share its recent success in local, national and international media relations, product and brand launches, national media tours, events and marketing and social media campaigns.

PPR Client News

Gizmine.com Launches at Consumer Electronic Show

Paramount conducted a successful media tour at the 2009 Consumer Electronic Show in Las Vegas, NV with Japanese gadget retailers Dynamism.com and Gizmine.com. The Consumer Electronic Show is the world’s largest consumer electronic trade show attracting companies and media from around the globe. Paramount securing meetings and coverage with CNN, CNET, MSNBC, FOX, Urbandaddy.com, LAPTOP, BoingBoing, Tekzilla, T3, G4 among others.

MONTAUK SOFA’s Annual New York Media Tour

Paramount coordinates a yearly New York City media tour with carbon neutral furniture company Montauk Sofa.  Most recently, Paramount hosted a media tour with national editors to introduce them to Montauk Sofa’s new collection, Salvage collection and “Closing the Cycle” recycling program. National coverage included Elle Décor, House Beautiful, Country Living, Domino and Ty Pennington at Home, among others.

The Tie Bar’s Media Tour Preview

Paramount recently signed on with new client The Tie Bar, an online retailer offering department-store quality silk ties for just $15 each, and just completed New York City media tour with Lead Designer and CEO Greg Shugar. Paramount secured desk-side interviews with Maxim, Spin, Urbandaddy.com, Best Life, Brides, Cookie, The Knot, Modern Bride and Playboy magazines, among others.

One of Many Celebrity Events at Enclave

Paramount produces significant media coverage for Enclave Nightclub in Chicago’s celebrity events which include Carmen Electra’s Lingerie Fashion Show and Tennis Star Anna Kournikova’s Union League Boys & Girls Club Holiday Charity event. National and local coverage included Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Social, Michigan Avenue Magazine, Chicago Magazine, TimeOut Chicago, Redeye Chicago, Chicago Social, WKSC-FM (KISSFM), Chicagoist.com, Metromix, among others.

Marketing Texas de Brazil

As well as handling public relations for this national restaurant chain, Paramount also is involved in the planning and execution of Texas de Brazil’s marketing programs. Paramount executed a VIP program in several cities, outreaching to top executives and offering them a VIP dinner at the restaurant. Paramount also plans and coordinates ongoing concierge and meeting planner events, inviting local industry insiders to experience the restaurant. Other marketing programs include business lunches for local companies, discount offers and more.

Social Media Success with Lincoln Park Young Professionals

Paramount is executing a social media campaign on behalf of Lincoln Park Young Professionals to bring new attendees to LPYP’s ongoing events and expand their reach in Chicagoland. By creating, updating and managing their Facebook page, LPYP is now getting more than 25% of event attendees from the Facebook community, a new audience.

For more information, please contact Jessica Prah at 312-643-2460 or jprah@paramountpr.com.

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