Landing national media coverage is often considered the holy grail of PR – and for good reason. The credibility and reach it offers can elevate a brand’s story in ways few other tactics can. Breaking through to national outlets is no small feat. It takes insight, strategy, relationships and timing. At The Hodges Partnership, we’ve built a reputation for navigating this complex media landscape, and now we’re bringing that expertise to the forefront in a live conversation. Join us on the morning of Wednesday, June…
Across the commonwealth, there are hundreds of thousands of uninsured and underinsured Virginians. Many of these individuals turn to Virginia’s free and charitable clinics for care, which serve as an important safety net resource for working families who can’t afford healthcare or health insurance. By delivering important preventative and chronic care, the Virginia Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (VAFCC) helps patients remain healthy, reduce unnecessary visits to the emergency room and avoid missed time from work due to illness. Make no mistake, Virginia’s free…
I recently presented with colleagues during a Center for Nonprofit Excellence workshop in Charlottesville on communications strategies designed to help organizations connect with stakeholders and gain attention. Before I share a few tips from that presentation, first a shoutout to the attendees: I’m very thankful for the talented nonprofit public relations professionals in Virginia. While we often mention how people in the communications industry “wear a lot of hats,” our brethren in the nonprofit sector no doubt don the most striking and versatile collection. You’re…
Before embarking on my internship with Hodges this semester, my understanding of public relations was mostly confined to the pages of textbooks and lecture halls. And while the knowledge I’ve gained in the classroom has laid sturdy groundwork, it lacked the crucial element of real-world application. From The Robertson School to The Hodges Partnership, each step of the journey has taught me valuable lessons about blending education with hands-on experience. My journey at the Robertson School began with a deep dive into the theories and…
In the past five—scratch that, two—years, media relations practices have changed drastically. Once-reliable tactics, now outdated, are in dire need of reevaluation to ensure they remain relevant in today’s evolving landscape. For media relations practitioners, staying ahead of the curve is not just an advantage, but a requirement when it comes to keeping your clients happy and future clients interested. As newsrooms continue to shrink and technology evolves faster than you can say “dystopian”, the strategies for engaging with reporters are adapting just as quickly….
This fall, the Hodges team hosted HodgesCon, an all-day learning event with guest speakers for staff to learn from and engage with. I moderated a morning session with local journalists who shared perspectives on how they cover the news and how to best work with them. Ian Stewart with VPM, Eric Kolenich with the Richmond Times-Dispatch and Brendan King with CBS-6 joined the Hodges team for a look inside their workdays, how they cover the news and how to best work with them. Some of…
In the face of unexpected challenges, organizations must be prepared to weather the storm with a robust crisis communications plan. At The Hodges Partnership, crisis communication is not a one-size-fits-all approach; instead, it is a tailored strategy designed to address the unique needs of each crisis and organization. A tailored approach At Hodges, we recognize that every organization is different, requiring a customized crisis communications plan. By immersing ourselves within the team that is dealing with the crisis, we quickly learn any nuances or unique…
When Mercy Chefs, a Virginia-based disaster relief and humanitarian aid organization, springs into action at a moment’s notice, our account team follows suit with an all-hands media relations approach. Most recently, the team — known for its quick response and dedication to serving hot, chef-prepared meals during natural disasters and national emergencies – provided aid to Maui after wildfires ravaged the community of Lahaina. Mercy Chefs is currently serving thousands of meals a day, and it’s our job to make sure that the world knows…
A couple of weeks ago, Colonial Williamsburg’s partnership with Williamsburg’s historic First Baptist Church was featured on The Today Show. Colonial Williamsburg, the world’s largest living history museum, began an excavation of what’s been determined to be the first permanent structure of First Baptist Church, one of the nation’s oldest Black churches, in September of 2020. The Today Show shared early findings in a piece during Black History Month in 2021. I’ve been working in media relations for more than 20 years. National morning show features (or even mentions)…
I was talking the other day to a longtime journalist who, about a year ago, came over to the “dark side.” He took a position doing public relations for a nonprofit organization. His role as head of communications is not atypical – media relations, writing content, organizing webinars and a dash of community relations thrown in. Like many journalists, he has made the transition seamlessly, and the skills that he had as a reporter have translated well to PR. He’s enjoyed not having daily tight…
After more than five years of employing the EOP (earned, owned, paid) public relations model – for our clients and ourselves – I set aside some time to contemplate whether the paradigm had run its course, whether it was time to move on to new strategies and new ways of thinking. Short answer: It’s not. The EOP model (some call it the PESO model by adding “shared” into the mix) is every bit as effective today as it’s ever been. The combination of these interconnected…
We love everything about crystal ball predictions. And so, we asked our diverse group of Hodgers to stare into their crystal balls and share some of what they foresee for the year ahead. Strap in – it could be a bumpy ride in 2023! Media relations trends “Affiliate marketing will continue to impact media relations, particularly when it comes to product placements. We’ve seen examples of this in the last few years, but it’s a space that only continues to grow. We’re watching how publications…
