Pierce Mattie Public Relations New York

I'll be honest, it's not really news when someone joins Twitter. Even if you are Rupert Murdoch. Newsflash Mr. Murdoch: You could've avoided phone hacking by joining the social networking site years ago. Celebrities tend to overindulge here and there are no shortages of newsworthy tweets. And PS. They are all public, so it's all free game.

However, Murdoch may be using Twitter to draw up publicity or to give insight into the human side of the media mogul, rather than the ruthless businessman some consider him to be. While, Twitter has Murdoch's account verified, it certainly doesn't mean all the tweets are his own. And in the few short days his profile has been live, there has been some debate on that. If it is indeed Murdoch (and his wife, @Wendi_Deng, as well), this could be the PR-revamp he needs as 2011 saw the demise of News of the World, one of his most profittable newspapers.

What do you think? Will Murdoch being seen as a human being help play a part in some positive publicity? Or is this PR stunt doomed to fail? Tweet us @PierceMattiePR. 

Update: It appears Wendi's Twitter has now been unverified by Twitter and it is confirmed that it was a spoof. No word on if Murdoch's Twitter is real or not. 

Armed with smart phones, members of the Coalition to Ban Alcohol Ads on Public Property in Los Angeles and hundreds of community supporters launched a grassroots City-wide campaign today to document the over-proliferation of alcohol ads on public property. Activists are canvassing neighborhoods and contributing photos of ads in this first-ever mobile phone texting campaign designed to wake-up members of the Los Angeles Public Safety Committee to the public health threat of over-exposing vulnerable populations to seductive alcohol advertising.

"Our new year's resolution is to end the era of alcohol ads on Los Angeles public property," stated Jorge Castillo, Advocacy & Outreach Manager at Alcohol Justice. "With hundreds of residents taking photos all day throughout L.A., and texting them to 213 840-3336, we'll have graphic, snap-shot proof of just how prevalent alcohol ads are in our communities."

Coalition members are concentrating on documenting outdoor alcohol ads on public property in the districts of the Los Angeles City Public Safety Committee councilmembers Mitchell Englander, Jan Perry, Paul Krekorian, and Dennis Zine. The committee has thus far refused to put forth a motion introduced last summer by Councilmember Richard Alarcon that would ban alcohol ads on city owned and controlled property.

The start of a new year usually marks the start of many new beginnings. Businesses get the chance to make a fresh start and have the big year they have been working so hard for. We all watch television, read magazines (OK, read blogs) and spend time online looking for this years latest fashion and food trends to keep up with our progressively changing world. The public relations market is no stranger to changing trends. In fact, it should always be ahead of the newest trends and ready to catch the incoming wave that will carry them to higher success.

Here are some PR trends to watch for and become a part of in 2012:

Metrics are the name of the game. ROI has always mattered in PR, and for a while there didn't seem to be any true way to measure the value of social media as part of a PR campaign. With everyone's obsession over infographics, numbers continue to show the effectiveness of our campaigns (just visually now.) However, one thing to note is that the metrics of social media are ever evolving (a Like today doesn't necessarily equate to the same thing that it did a year ago) so keeping up on web measurement is vital.

Social Media. The platform in and of itself is not a trend, but certainly the networks that arise and the transitions that the current networks go through are something to monitor and learn more about. PR has definitely incorporated knowing, understanding and utilizing social media in order to deliver the most effective campaigns for clients.

Proactive not reactive: In the past, firms could handle a PR crisis AS it arose and due to the turnaround time in print and broadcast media, this could buy us some time. Not so since the emergence of the power of social media. Crisis' are not just reserved for weekdays, 9-5 with holidays off...a PR crisis can happen at 2am on a Saturday night (PR has learned since the Motrin and Nestle debacle, right?) And it can't just be left to sit on a Facebook fan page for the entire weekend just awaiting for all parties to discuss on Monday at 9am. This means that from the get-go a plan needs to be set in place for how to handle everything from that disgruntled customer venting on Facebook to your competitor dissing you on Twitter.

Are there any other prominent trends you see for this year? Tweet us @PierceMattiePR.

Pierce Mattie PR Client Comfort Zone was featured in Town & Country Weddings. If you’re working on a skin care story be sure to give our Pierce Mattie beauty PR team a call at 212-243-1431 or follow us on Twitter @PierceMattiePR and FaceBook.

Pierce Mattie PR Client The Company Store was featured in InStyle Magazine. If you’re working on a home furnishings story be sure to give our Pierce Mattie lifestyle PR team a call at 212-243-1431 or follow us on Twitter @PierceMattiePR and FaceBook.

It's a new year, and many Americans are dieting with new resolve. To help them, U.S. News & World Report has released its second annual Best Diets rankings. The centerpiece of Best Diets 2012 is U.S. News's first-ever ranking of Easiest Diets to Follow. Dieters who choose a diet at or near the top of this list are more likely to succeed in staying on their diet for the long haul. Any diet can promise weight loss, but it's those that dieters can stick with all year -- and year after year -- that prove successful.

Of the 25 diets evaluated, the five Easiest Diets to Follow are: (#1) Weight Watchers, (#2) Jenny Craig, (#3) Mediterranean Diet, and (tied at #4) Slim-Fast and Volumetrics.

Best Diets 2012 features six other rankings: Best Diets Overall, Best Commercial Diet Plans, Best Weight-Loss Diets, Best Diets for Healthy Eating, Best Diabetes Diets, and Best Heart-Healthy Diets. All six rankings were first published in 2011, when U.S. News evaluated a total of 20 diets.

The five new diets added for 2012 are the Abs Diet, Biggest Loser Diet, Dukan Diet, Flat Belly Diet, and Macrobiotic Diet.

Big winners across the rankings included:

Pierce Mattie PR Client No! No! Hair was featured in Glamour Magazine. If you’re working on a hair removal story be sure to give our Pierce Mattie beauty PR team a call at 212-243-1431 or follow us on Twitter @PierceMattiePR and FaceBook.

You’re driving down the road, listening to your favorite songs and then boom! … someone demolishes your beautiful Chevy Volt. Two things go through you mind: First, your car is destroyed but that seems to be of little consequence right now because Oh no your car is on fire!

It wasn’t the spontaneous explosion that we are all imagining when we heard about the Chevy Volt's battery spontaneously exploding and catching fire after a crash. In fact, after the test it took three weeks for the battery pack to catch fire. Following more tests GM issued a “call back” (not recall--semantics) of 8,000 vehicles to give them “enhancements” to fix the problem. This could create a problem or and golden opportunity for GM depending on how the situation is handled. How can GM avoid a PR crisis?

Were you distressed when Brooke Shields appeared on the cover of Cosmopolitan at 15 and Vogue at 14?  Then what’s this Dakota Fanning dilemma all about? The fact that Fanning, 17, has made an emergence on America’s most "scandalous" Cosmopolitan magazine has become quite the controversy. 

Is it because Dakota has the frame and face of a young girl?  Or is it more so due to the risqué words that surround her on the cover?  The choice of vernacular surrounding Fanning’s face is no revelation, as we all know what this subject matter of this particular magazine is and has been for years: sexual references and even sex-related tips. 

Is it really something to be discussed or are readers and bloggers simply creating an issue of scandal out of boredom?  Realistically, the magazine’s headlines would not change if the model pictured were to change, therefore in no way are the two related, nor are they mirroring any implications off of one another.

On the contrary, how do the mothers and fathers feel about their young Fanning fans, gazing at these titillating magazine headlines placed next to such a young and positive role model’s face and body?   

What do you think?  Let us know @PierceMattiePR.  

Pierce Mattie PR Client Revision Skin Care was featured in NewBeauty Magazine. If you’re working on a beauty story be sure to give our Pierce Mattie PR team a call at 212-243-1431 or follow us on Twitter @PierceMattiePR and FaceBook.

Happy Winter Everyone!
 
Recharging yourself and understanding where your brand fits into your overall communications in 2012 will help you clearly envision your goals for the coming year.
 
Here are 5 tips to work towards making this year a success.

1. LEARN from your consumer. By using your social media vehicles to gather information about your consumer, you can fast track the evolution of your brand, keeping it current and top-of-mind.
 
2. PARTICIPATE in the conversation.  The communications mix has shifted from static to participatory.  By engaging with your consumers on all levels in an authentic and transparent manner, you seamlessly integrate your brand into their lifestyle.
 
3.  RETURN to your roots.  Take a look at your original mission and vision statements and see if you are on track.  Sometimes reinventing yourself is less important than taking your brand essence and framing it in a modern fresh way that resonates with consumers today.

 
4.  SHOWCASE your brand where your consumer can see it.  While traditional advertising previously was the mainstay of reaching your consumer, brands now need to be innovative to drive their message.  Using creative delivery systems such as product integration and viral guerrilla marketing can breathe new life into your brand and engage the consumer in new ways.
 
5.  REVIEW current chatter.  Instead of being a silo, stay aware of trends and inflection points so that your brand can adapt to the changing landscape.  By identifying emerging shifts, competitor positioning  and consumer variations, you can have your brand fluidly respond the market, while remaining true to its core. 

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It seems there's more than just runway trends going on in Korea this season. A different kind of retail trend has emerged as a budding number of consumers are making their luxury brand purchases elsewhere…the European markets. The demand for luxury goods is up...but the desire to keep more cash en-pocket hasn't waivered. 

Recent reports have illustrated how Koreans leaving the country to travel abroad are attempting to avoid the customs taxes on purchases over $1000 won by either coming back into the country doing one of three things: 1. Taking their chances that they won't be screened and not reporting the purchase; 2. Under-reporting the price paid; or 3. Completing custom forms in advance stating they already had the item purchased abroad when they left Korea.

For clarity and illustration, the infamous 2.55 quilted Channel bag we all have seen and salivated over sells for 6.07 million won ($6,700) in Korea, while correspondingly in the US and France its price sits at 4.85 million won and 4.71 million won (quite a substantial price difference.)

An increasing number of tourists would like to enjoy the immunity of tax exemption (wouldn’t we all?) Yet countless travelers attempt to evade paying taxes, resulting in numerous dishonest tricks, such as exchanging the item online to receive a higher refund or re-selling the item and making a profit.

Has this been an ongoing issue only coming to light now or is this trend new because of the economy?  Let us know @PierceMattiePR.

Pierce Mattie PR Client John Masters Organics was featured in Prevention Magazine. If you’re working on a beauty story be sure to give our Pierce Mattie beauty PR team a call at 212-243-1431 or follow us on Twitter @PierceMattiePR and FaceBook.

When you think of dresses, flowers, cake, dancing, friends and family all together what comes to mind? Need a hint? It is custom that two people say the words “I do” before puckering up. A wedding of course! And with wedding season quickly approaching it is only appropriate that new helpful tips and advice are being put on the market to ensure a flawless day.

Weddings are full of beautiful flowers, delicious food, and a night full of the best music and dance moves. Thankfully a photographer is there to capture all the best memories from the day. The photographer’s main focus is to capture the guests having a great time and to catch those beautiful newlywed moments between the new couple. With all these photographs being snapped everyone wants to look their best from heir head to their toes, especially the bridal party and the bride.

To help the bridal party and bride attain their gorgeous look for the day, and avoid one more expense at the salon, Gorgeous Wedding Hairstyles by Eric Mayost has recently been published. This book is full of beautiful pictures with step-by-step instructions for hairstyles that are easy for anyone to duplicate. From classic and elegant styles to more modern looks, Gorgeous Wedding Hairstyles has a look for every member of the bridal party to look their best on the special day.

What do you think will be the wedding hair trends this wedding season? Let us know @PierceMattiePR

Job Description

• Plan and execute client activities in a timely, efficient and high quality manner under the direction of an Account Director
• Keep client programs on track and ensure all deadlines are met
• Develop and edit written materials including press releases, online materials and general client correspondence
• Execute media relations efforts including media list development, pitching and developing strong ongoing relationships with the media

• Minimum four years of professional experience required, agency experience preferred.
• Strong written and verbal skills, confident style in communicating with clients, and a proven ability to effectively organize and manage multiple tasks
• Solid client relationship and critical thinking skills
• Strong understanding of public relations concepts, tactics and media relations.
• Independence and autonomy with respect to their responsibilities and exhibit a deep understanding of the clients, accounts and industry
• Strong editorial relationships in the beauty arena
• Ability to work well with others in both team and independent environments, as well as motivate junior staff
• Positive, professional, and flexible attitude that lends itself to quality client service

Commemorating the Lunar New Year, the United States Postal Service issued a new Forever Stamp featuring a dragon, the fifth of 12 animals associated with the Chinese lunar calendar.

This colorful stamp is the latest collectible in the Postal Service's Celebrating Lunar New Year series, which began in 2008 with the Year of the Rat. The Year of the Dragon begins today and ends Feb. 9, 2013. The stamp goes on sale today at Post Offices nationwide, online at usps.com and by phone at 800-782-6724.

"The Postal Service is proud to celebrate the Lunar New Year with the issuance of this magnificent Forever Stamp," said USPS Vice President of Sales Cliff Rucker, who dedicated the stamp. "Dragons are regarded as magical or divine, welcome symbols of renewed hope for the future. With this new stamp, we hope that the year will bring the best to all of us, no matter what sign we were born under."

As one of the most diverse employers in America, "the Postal Service is extremely proud of our inclusive environment, an environment that respects the uniqueness of every individual and encourages the contributions of people from different cultures, backgrounds, experiences and perspectives," said Rucker. Nearly 40 percent of the Postal Service's employees are minorities, and of those, nearly 9 percent are Asian American or Pacific Islander.

"Diversity is one of our greatest strengths as an employer, and that diversity embraces a wide range of traditions, including celebrations like Lunar New Year," said Rucker.

Among the distinguished guest speakers joining Rucker to dedicate the stamp were San Francisco Mayor Edwin Lee; Organization of Chinese Americans President Clifford Yee; Board of Supervisors President David Chiu; and Organization of Chinese Americans Past President Claudine Cheng. Other key participants were Tony Fong, president, Chinese Chamber of Commerce; Thomas Ng, presiding president, Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association; and Geoffrey Palermo, managing director, Hilton Financial District.

“So what were you thinking about doing today?” These are the dreaded words you hear every time we sit down in the chair at the salon. You scoured images of hair colors, hair trends, and hairstyles for hours online only to sit down in the chair without the faintest idea of what you want to do. You often walk in with the intention of leaving with a new look, but because you have no idea what that new look looks like you end up leaving with your roots touched up, a trim, and a nice treatment to give you that soft and shiny look. Sounding familiar?

Well Aveda has come out with a new (and free!) iPhone app to help solve this problem: My Aveda Style. Download their app and you’re taken to the menu that consists of find styles, hair advisor, find Aveda near you, see our style in action, upload a style, and live chat.

1. Find Styles: Now you can show your stylist exactly what you want from your phone and you only have to go to one place to find your new look. You can search by hair cut (short/mid-length, long, waves/curls, and men’s) or by hair color (black, brown, blonde, and red) to find the perfect style. There are some great pictures and ideas posted by Aveda stylists and by other Aveda app users.

Meredith Corporation has completed its acquisition of FamilyFun from Disney Publishing Worldwide. The acquisition includes the highly popular magazine – with an audience of 6 million and rate base of 2.1 million – and its related assets, including its special interest publications, as well as the Toy Hopper and other digital magazine applications.

"We are delighted to bring the FamilyFun brand to market as part of our expanding media portfolio," says Meredith National Media Group President Tom Harty. "This acquisition significantly enhances our leadership and reach among women in both the parenthood and food spaces."

FamilyFun targets moms with a special focus on family activities such as cooking, crafts, celebrations and travel.  FamilyFun will report to Carey Witmer, President of the Meredith Parents Network.  The March 2012 issue of FamilyFun will be the first issue published by Meredith.

Pierce Mattie PR Client John Masters Organics was featured in Whole Living Magazine. If you’re working on a beauty story be sure to give our Pierce Mattie beauty PR team a call at 212-243-1431 or follow us on Twitter @PierceMattiePR and FaceBook.

A few weeks ago at a Papa John's store in New York, a woman was issued a receipt that contained a racial slur directed at her. Later that evening Minhee Cho posted a photo of the receipt on Twitter and sent a tweet to Papa John's. The story was picked up nationally and the photo now has over 213,000 views. We have to ask ourselves, in today’s marketplace, how does this keep happening?

Although things like this should never happen, when they do they provide a valuable lesson from a public relations standpoint. Papa John's promptly issued an apology on their website and several social media outlets. They said that they were “extremely concerned” about the incident and the matter went against company values. The public was then informed that they had taken care of the problem by firing the employee that issued the receipt. Papa John's recognized the problem, said it was against policy, said how they were going to fix the problem and apologized. That should be enough right? The answer is maybe.

The vanguard of beauty has been presented.  Author Phillip Tolendo raises many questions regarding with the evolution of beauty in his published work, A New Kind of Beauty.  The book addresses a number of remarkable wonderings when formulating the “new” definition of physical beauty and what its constituents are.

What is beautiful? What does beauty mean? Is beauty timeless?  Is it defined by history or has it changed over the decades?  Has it been redefined with plastic surgery?  If we choose to create our own faces by way of altercation through cosmetic practices, what is it we are attempting to achieve? 

Toledano presents a few fascinating inquiries himself: “When we re-make ourselves, are we revealing our true character, or are we stripping away our very identity? Perhaps we are creating a new kind of beauty. An amalgam of surgery, art, and popular culture?”

Truthfully, these particular propositions have never risen in my own mind.  Yet, it is exceedingly worthy of note.  I cannot even fathom and interpret my own analysis on such a topic considering its many dimensions and multifaceted existence. However, I can say that the image of what is classically beautiful has evolved into something more revolutionary and modernized…just as architecture has.  From naturally curvy pin-up girl to stick-thin Victoria’s Secret model with breast enhancement surgery.

What are your thoughts?  Has beauty been redefined to this day with surgeries and pop culture?  Or is beauty timeless?  Let us know @PierceMattiePR.