“The” Trademarks and Tribulations

“The” Trademarks and Tribulations

Disclaimer: The thoughts and opinions expressed by the interviewee are the interviewee’s own thoughts and opinions. They are not legal advice and they do not represent the thoughts and opinions of Brient IP Law, LLC. A brand is what the public uses to identify a company, but the trademark protects specific aspects of that brand. […]

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Evolving DEIBJ Education

Evolving DEIBJ Education

DEIBJ (diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and justice) initiatives are not crafted for overnight appeal, but rather, for long-term success. Schools and businesses working to create a welcoming environment for all need to initiate conversations surrounding things like race and gender equality with a constant mindset of growth and learning. Roanoke native Kat Pascal advises businesses […]

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How to Give a Great TV Interview

How to Give a Great TV Interview

Your department is promoting a new fundraising campaign. Your PR team sends out a press release, and a few hours later you’re on the phone with a reporter asking when they can schedule an interview. Are you prepared? Talking on the phone with a member of the media is going to feel different from answering […]

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The Exodus of Educators

The Exodus of Educators

Last week, Inside Higher Ed published a story about college professors falling in line with the Great Resignation. Educators, especially K-12, have been caught in the crossfire of social, cultural, and political battles about everything from testing to masks to mass shootings. Kathryn Dill’s report in The Wall Street Journal detailed the turnover statistics since […]

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Three Sides to Every Story: Objective Journalism

Three Sides to Every Story: Objective Journalism

“There are three sides to every story: your side, my side, and the truth. And no one is lying. Memories shared serve each differently.” – Robert Evans   A May submission to The Chronicle of Higher Education’s Newsletter, The Review, asks if objectivity is a problem for journalists. The “appearance” of objectivity versus maintaining balance […]

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A Name is Not a Brand

A Name is Not a Brand

“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell just as sweet.” – William Shakespeare   There’s just something about name brands that have power over trends. Gucci, Abercrombie, Nike… But is it really the name? “Nike” comes from the name of the Greek goddess of victory, and […]

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Talking to the Media in Times of Crisis

Talking to the Media in Times of Crisis

When it comes to public relations, a lot of times we think about media relations as the major component, but remember, the media are not your audience. They are a valuable conduit for getting your information out as broadly as possible. A key way to do that is to make sure that you’re collaborating with […]

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Why Opinions on Trade Schools Need to Trade-Up

Why Opinions on Trade Schools Need to Trade-Up

The main hurdles to development and expansion faced by career and technical education (CTE) programs are funding and public perception according to a new report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). To rise above this, community colleges are trying to obtain more federal grants, like the US Department of Defense’s Manufacturing Engineering Education Program, […]

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The Logistics of Managing a Crisis

The Logistics of Managing a Crisis

Exploring how institutions and organizations have handled past crisis events affords even the savviest of PR practitioners an opportunity to reconsider how we plan for crises in today’s environment. It’s time to look at new ways to communicate our message. We’ve heard it a lot, but there really is no more room for the platitudes […]

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Meeting Your Social Media Mark

Meeting Your Social Media Mark

In the last few years alone, stances on ESG (environmental, social, and governance) issues have become increasingly important. Businesses have had to jump in and take part in online conversations out of necessity as well as responsibility and, in doing so, their entire social media strategies are being publicly scrutinized. Not every online conversation will […]

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Lessons Learned from Crises’ Past

Lessons Learned from Crises’ Past

Crises are cyclical, what has happened once can happen again. Just because history repeats itself doesn’t mean it has to replicate itself. When it comes to crisis PR, many lessons can be learned from the experiences of others, which can serve as the basis of your crisis communications plan. However, the specifics of your plan […]

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