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On Top of PR with Jason Mudd
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On Top of PR with Jason Mudd

Author: Jason Mudd, Axia Public Relations

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On Top of PR is a podcast dedicated to helping corporate communications leaders leverage the power of public relations to build a strong brand and great reputation. On each episode, we explore PR and marketing topics, tips, and trends with an expert guest as we help PR professionals stay on top of PR.

 

On Top of PR  is one of the top 5% most popular podcast shows globally, according to ListenNotes' Listen Score, and among the top 100 marketing podcasts in the world on Apple Podcasts.

 

Episodes feature guests from Carnival Cruise Line, Disney, Firehouse Subs, Southwest Airlines, Undercover Boss, Wells Fargo, Wounded Warrior Project, and more!


About Jason Mudd
Jason Mudd is a professional public speaker, accredited public relations practitioner, published author, podcaster, and entrepreneur. The World Communication Forum named him North America’s top PR leader in 2023. He’s the CEO and managing partner of Axia Public Relations. Forbes Magazine named Axia as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. He is a trusted adviser and dynamic strategist to some of America’s most admired and fastest-growing companies. His past PR work includes American Airlines, Budweiser, Dave & Buster’s, H&R Block, Hilton, HP, Miller Lite, New York Life, Pizza Hut, Southern Comfort, and Verizon. 

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In this episode, Holly Bishop joins On Top of PR host Jason Mudd to discuss why your company's social media isn’t working.Tune in to learn more!Guest:Holly is a seasoned social media and marketing professional with over 10 years of diverse experience spanning medical practices, retail/e-commerce, and non-profit sectors.Five things you’ll learn from this episode:1. Understanding the role of social media professionals2. How to manage a work/life balance as a social media professional 3. Why your company’s social media isn’t working4. How trust and flexibility with your social media team can improve your content 5. The importance of community engagement Quotables“There’s a lot of misconception that social media managers can do all of these things and that they’re experts at every single social media platform, and that is just not the case.” - Holly Bishop“Companies either don’t prioritize social media or they don’t have the resources to make it an entire team. Yet, social media is a powerful tool with a global audience.” - Jason Mudd“One person can’t do something great alone. They need others around them.” - Jason Mudd“I'm seeing a huge shift in social media managers embracing the fact that our screen time is probably triple what a normal person’s would be by Wednesday afternoon. It just is what is, but also knowing when to turn things off and when to be unavailable.” - Holly Bishop “This is the kind of role that you wouldn’t be doing unless you were genuinely passionate about it.” - Holly Bishop“We also have our own social media too, which are almost always suffering and looking terrible because we're always so focused on the brands that we run.” - Holly Bishop“They also don’t realize that what got them there doesn’t get them to be successful in social media. What I mean by that is they may be really good with their own social media, but what they don’t realize is that the expectation for professional social media is way higher. They can get away with typos and incomplete sentences on their own socials, but when you get to the corporate side, there’s not going to be a lot of patience or forgiveness when it comes to that kind of stuff.” - Jason Mudd“Even for serious brands, it’s important to have fun with the things that are being put out with social media because at the end of the day, as a consumer for your audience that you are speaking to, if it's boring or it's not giving a hook or not interesting or providing that value why would they want to read what you put out anyways?” - Holly Bishop“Having a really good professional working for your brand is so important because they are able to take that fun side but still utilize the important brand messaging and standards that you have for that specific brand but just making it their own, being able to speak in a way to that brand’s audience that captures their attention but still follows those rules of professionality.” - Holly Bishop“If there isn’t that support to give for that professional to be able to do those things with having that creative team in their corner, then they won’t be able to have that fun aspect in it.” - HolSupport the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.
In this episode, Linda Rutherford joins On Top of PR host Jason Mudd to discuss her take on current airline crises and go into depth about Southwest’s crisis communication plan and how they’ve managed their past crises.Guest:Linda Rutherford is the Chief Administration Officer for Dallas-based Southwest Airlines, the nation's largest airline in terms of domestic Customer boardings. Linda is known for creating and leading powerful teams that equip, empower, and engage the business to serve its people and customers.Five things you’ll learn from this episode:1. Linda’s take on current airline crises2. Southwest’s communications department and response plan3. How Southwest has responded to past crises4. How to manage the media and consumers’ perception of a crisis5. How to balance your message post-national crisisQuotables“Today, communications represent the pace of media. Before, it might’ve seemed a little slower and more leisurely, and today, I would also say that public relations represents a lot more responsibility for brand reputation and issues management.” - Linda Rutherford“Certainly, the role of journalists has changed significantly, much like our roles in communications have.” - Linda Rutherford“Obviously, first and foremost, it is the safety of our passengers and employees on the affected flight. It is what do we need to do to get them safely on the ground, and then what do we need to do to understand what happened so we can go about learning how we prevent it from happening in the future.” - Linda Rutherford“We like to say that we're in a deregulated environment, but we're regulated in the air and on the ground.” - Linda Rutherford“I also like to say that we operate, we fly the general public, and we operate in weather. So what could possibly go wrong daily? That's why you spend a lot of time preparing and understanding what your contingencies are.” - Linda Rutherford“My analogy is when Taylor Swift tickets went on sale, and Ticketmaster had a brownout, that's basically what happened.” - Linda Rutherford“We did have a union, which we were negotiating with at the time that was perpetuating the story by calling crew, scheduling technology, antiquated. So that storyline was out there, and a lot of media were picking that up.” - Linda Rutherford“There's a lot of demand to say everything at once, but we didn't necessarily have the credibility to say everything at once.” - Linda Rutherford“We did tell the whole story. We had our chief operating officer give congressional testimony before a Senate subcommittee and told the whole story like I'm telling you.” - Linda Rutherford“I tell people all the time that PR is about building up that equity so that when you have an issue, people already know that you're trustworthy and honorable and that you do the right thing.” - Jason Mudd“The first thing you need to do is respond to what's right in front of you, and then you can begin to build on the story as you go and as you learn more, admit mistakes, be honest, and then be very transparent about what you're doing to fix things.” - Linda Rutherford“Culture is not throwing a party or givinSupport the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.
In this episode, John Hewitt joins On Top of PR host Jason Mudd to discuss three ways franchisors can use PR to grow their company. Guest:John Hewitt is a renowned entrepreneur who has made a significant impact in the business world through his innovative ideas and strategic thinking. He is best known for his success in the tax preparation industry, having founded two of the largest tax preparation companies in the U.S.Five things you’ll learn from this episode:1.  How to use PR to build your credibility2.  How PR efforts can MAKE you money3.  The mindset needed to take advantage of PR opportunities 4. Where to start when looking for PR opportunities5.  Why maintaining relationships with journalists is important Quotables“Part of what a leader has to do is have a somewhat rational goal and be able to sell that goal.” - John Hewitt“You need a rival to inspire people and show them the path that you’re on.” - Jason Mudd“PR creates that brand name, and it creates support from the local community.” - John Hewitt“We often call this newsjacking. That’s the term we use for when something’s happening in the news, and you twist it or position it to your benefit.” - Jason Mudd“If you get to start all over again and you don’t do it much better, then you’re an idiot.” - John Hewitt“Building relationships with people and not rushing into relationships but just building them slowly over time is important to public relations.” - Jason Mudd“I’ve gotten more comments when I’ve provided substantive commentary and expert, helpful advice when I’m quoted in the news.” - Jason Mudd“How can someone do business with you if they’ve never heard of you.” - Jason Mudd“Happy successful franchisees, that’s our mantra. If franchisees are happy and successful, you can’t stop growing by leaps and bounds. If they’re not, you can’t grow.” - John Hewitt“There’s nothing more fun than changing and improving lives.” - John Hewitt  If you enjoyed this episode, would you please share it with others and leave us a review?About John HewittJohn T. Hewitt is an American entrepreneur and founder of Jackson Hewitt, Liberty Tax Service, and Loyalty Brands. Together these companies account for approximately 10,000 tax preparation and business services franchises in the USA and Canada. In addition, Hewitt is a pioneer in the development and use of specialized tax-preparation software, which is now the industry’s standard practice.After leaving Jackson Hewitt in 1996, John decided to launch a new company that would be the vehicle for further marketing and brand development innovations, Liberty Tax Service. The new company initially focused its operations in Canada. Liberty Tax Service was launched there when Hewitt purchased a Canadian tax company on September 1, 1997. The new concern achieved a huge measure of success by opening more than 4,000 offices in North America by 2012 which made it the fastest-growing major tax-preparation company in history. Liberty Tax Service is best known for the costumed "wavers" dressed as the Statue of Liberty used in front of offices across the country. Hewitt left Liberty Tax Service in 2018 and founded LoyalSupport the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.
In this solocast, On Top of PR host Jason Mudd discusses why time is of the essence. Media relations require quick responses because reporters are typically on deadline; therefore, Jason goes into depth about how to be more timely and responsive to journalists’ inquires.Five things you’ll learn from this episode:Why time is of the essence for media relationsHow to be more timely and responsive to journalists Why you should pad deadlinesThe definition of newsjackingWhat to do in 2024 for better media relations   Quotables“In the news business, time is of the essence.” - Jason Mudd“The news moves fast, and if your news is not hard, your news is not breaking news, and if it doesn't have one of the 10 elements of news, then you're not as likely to get news coverage.” - Jason Mudd“Newsjacking is when you hear of a story trending in the news, and you have the ability to hook onto that news story or tie or place or insert yourself, your employer, or your expert into that trending story.” - Jason MuddIf you enjoyed this episode, would you please share it with others and leave us a review?About Jason MuddOn Top of PR host, Jason Mudd, is a trusted adviser and dynamic strategist for some of America’s most admired brands and fastest-growing companies. Since 1994, he’s worked with American Airlines, Budweiser, Dave & Buster’s, H&R Block, Hilton, HP, Miller Lite, New York Life, Pizza Hut, Southern Comfort, and Verizon. He founded Axia Public Relations in July 2002. Forbes named Axia as one of America’s Best PR AgenciesResources Connect and learn more about Jason Mudd on LinkedIn.Follow Jason Mudd on ‘X’.Additional Episode ResourcesHow to use newsjacking to support brand awareness and engagementWhat is news? 10 elements of news and newsworthinessWhat is earned media (coverage)?The documented proven process for earned media coverage5 tips for responding to reporters’ media relations query toolsAdditional Resources from Axia Public RelationsListen to more episodes of the On Top of PR podcast.Find out more about Axia Public Relations. Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.
In this episode, Jacob Shipley joins On Top of PR host Jason Mudd to discuss how a one-person social media team works, as well as some social media tips, tricks, and trends.Guest:Our episode guest is Jacob Shipley. He started as the first social media hire at YouVersion. He now works for Tyson Foods and has built his own LinkedIn following, leading him to start a social media content strategy newsletter.Five things you’ll learn from this episode:What first-party data collection isWhy B2B companies need to be on social mediaPros and cons of being a one-person social media team2024 social media trendsThe minimum viable social strategy needed to succeed Quotables“You're delivering tangible value so that your customers want to hear from.” - Jacob Shipley“The difference between B2B social media and B2C social media is B2C you are talking to consumers and with B2B you're talking to consumers that happen to work in a business.” - Jacob Shipley“The bigger the team, the more complex it is, the harder it is to fight that.” - Jacob Shipley“Some of the accounts that have grown the fastest were some of the ones with the least amount of resources because they had to be scrappy, they had to be really creative and really clever about how do I meet my audience's need?” - Jacob Shipley“If you look at what really performs well, it's the kind of stuff that feels off the cuff, that feels native, that feels personal, it's cliche, but you can't fake authenticity.” - Jacob ShipleyIf you enjoyed this episode, would you please share it with others and leave us a review?About Jacob ShipleyJacob started as the first social media hire at YouVersion, an app with half a billion downloads. While there, YouVersion's Instagram grew by over a million followers two years in a row. Their TikTok grew from 0 to 300,000 in less than 6 months. In his current role at Tyson Foods, he handles the technology and execution for organic social, paid social, and first-party data collection. Jacob also has a weekly newsletter, Social Studies, which has one goal: to help social media managers take their game to the next level.ResourcesConnect and learn more about Jacob Shipley on LinkedIn.Follow Jacob Shipley on ‘X’.Visit Jacob’s newsletter for more information. Follow Dave Adamson on ‘X’.Follow Tommy Clark on ‘X’.Additional Resources from Axia Public Relations:Listen to more episodes of the On Top of PR podcast.Find out more about Axia Public Relations.Social Media Content Calendar TemplatesSupport the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.
Steve Cody joins On Top of PR host Jason Mudd to discuss Steve’s book, “The ROI of LOL,” and how effective comedy within the workplace is.Guest:Steve is the author of “The ROI of LOL: How Laughter Breaks Down Walls, Drives Compelling Storytelling, and Creates a Healthy Workplace.” He’s also a comedian, climber, and dog lover, but not necessarily in that order.Five things you’ll learn from this episode:What compelled Steve to write “The ROI of LOL” The reaction of comedy in the workplaceWhy humor/laughter is so important for companies How a company can measure the ROI of LOLWhere the implementation of comedy in an organization can occurQuotables“We conduct a lot of due diligence ahead of time. We understand what the guidelines and guardrails are for each organization's culture.” - Steve Cody“When in doubt, leave it out.” - Steve Cody“Consumers trust corporations more than anyone else right now. I think that means that we’re in a weird place right now.” - Jason Mudd“I’m a big believer that a fun work environment is not only going to be a better place to work but it's also going to generate more creativity and innovation within the organization.” - Jason Mudd“It has to be authentic. It has to be meaningful.” - Steve CodyIf you enjoyed this episode, would you please share it with others and leave us a review?About Steve CodySteve Cody is a multifaceted individual, blending his love for climbing, comedy, and writing. From summiting the highest peaks in Africa and Europe to raising over $50,000 for charities through stand-up comedy shows, he finds pride in diverse accomplishments. Additionally, as a writer, he contributes to Inc.com, maintains a daily blog, and has made notable appearances on CNBC, MSNBC, NPR, and other prominent media outlets, as well as authoring his book: "The ROI of LOL." Guest’s contact info and resources:Connect and learn more about Steve Cody on LinkedIn.Follow Steve Cody on “X”Additional Episode Resources:WSJ: Why Is Everyone So Unhappy? The ROI of LOLAdditional Resources from Axia Public Relations:Listen to more episodes of the On Top of PR podcast.Find out more about Axia Public Relations.Disclosure: One or more of the links we shared here might be affiliate links that offer us a referral reward when you buy from them.Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.
Dan Gaynor joins On Top of PR host Jason Mudd to discuss the importance of a company narrative, how to craft and measure a narrative, the future of corporate narratives, and much more.Guest:Dan Gaynor is the co-founder of Kelp Data, the first AI-powered platform for corporate reputation, which was acquired last year by Signal AI. Serving nearly half of the Fortune 500, Signal AI's data analytics platform delivers industry reputation insights and benchmarks hundreds of companies — enabling communications and marketing executives to shift their strategies, capitalize on emerging opportunities, or mitigate new risks. Dan oversees Signal AI Strategic Solutions, which is the company's insights division, and works hand-in-hand with CCO's, CMO's, and CEO's to shape strategy and deploy AI across industries like big tech, pharma, and sustainability.Five things you’ll learn from this episode:Why every company needs a personal narrativeHow to craft and measure your company’s personal narrativeWhat the future of company personal narratives look likeCurrent company narrative trends and what to avoidHow to utilize AI to measure your company’s workQuotables“What we found over and over again was that the human being had an incredibly powerful role in shaping what the AI output would look like.” - Dan“We had to create industry-agnostic topics defined by human beings who would then train an AI to call back any piece of content across the world that that concept would relate to.” - Dan“AI is the only way that you can get to the necessary level of breadth and depth.” - Dan“Either you define your narrative or the marketplace defines it for you.” - Dan“One of the things that we've seen is that data is not just a thermometer, it is a guide in terms of how to act. The most successful organizations deploying our insights are the ones that take them, have a strategy meeting right after, and operationalize them across functions.” - Dan“If we have data on this, let's follow the data. If we don't have data, let's follow your recommendations.” - JasonIf you enjoyed this episode, would you please share it with others and leave us a review?About Dan GaynorDan Gaynor is a founder of Kelp Data, the first AI-powered platform for corporate reputation. The company’s data analytics platform delivers industry reputation insights and benchmarks hundreds of companies — enabling communications and marketing executives to shift their strategies, capitalize on emerging opportunities, or mitigate new risks. Kelp was acquired by Signal AI, which serves 40% of the Fortune 500, in July 2022. The deal brings together industry corporate reputation insights with Signal’s tech stack and global data sources, enabling enterprises to better understand where their reputation stands and how to strengthen it.Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.
Antony Cousins discusses GPTs and how to use them in PR with host Jason Mudd.Guest:Our episode guest is Antony Cousins, Executive Director for AI Strategy at Cision. Antony is an accredited public relations practitioner who honed his PR and communications expertise in a variety of roles in UK Government organizations, including the Ministry of Defence, Home Office, and Cabinet Office.Five things you’ll learn from this episode:What GPTs are Implications GPTs have in the PR industryWhat autopilot AI isHow to build GPTsHow to prepare your employees for a world with AIQuotables“I fell into it really by accident.” - Antony Cousins“I was in that startup for five and a half years basically iterating, building on, and learning how to implement AI in businesses. And that stayed with me. Basically, I didn't want to do anything other than AI after that.” - Antony Cousins“People ended up doing jobs that were more interesting and more fulfilling and automating the kind of tasks that you don't really want to be doing as a human. And I think that's the thing that drives me.” - Antony Cousins“AI can't replace the human touch.” - Jason Mudd“We're not trying to remove the human from the process, just automate the basics, like the 80% is a good way to think about it.” - Antony Cousins“The human still needs to add that empathy still needs to add the emotional understanding, the contextual awareness that the model won't have.” - Antony Cousins“AI can replace some of the busy work that we don't like to do or the tedious tasks and work we don't like to do.” - Jason Mudd“If you create a campaign and your content happens to plagiarize a campaign from some competitor from two years ago, the reputational impact is still yours. So you still need to take responsibility.” - Antony Cousins“If you can think about writing your prompts in a very literal way, you're going to get a better outcome.” - Jason Mudd“That's exactly the value of an agency and the value of a specialist is because they've got more contextual awareness and a whole bunch of history of your brand, of your situation, of other competitors doing the same things.” - Antony Cousins“The idea is that generative AI is a good first draft, but it's never going to be a great final draft. So it's a good beginning and a bad ending.” - Jason MuddIf you enjoyed this episode, would you please share it with others and leave us a review?About Antony CousinsOver the last 23 years, Ant has held diverse roles in media relations, strategic communications, political analysis, counter-terrorism, and, over the last 10 years, AI-tech leadership including CEO of an AI startup focused on detecting fake news and misinformation. Ant is currently Head of AI Strategy for Cision, the largest global provider of media intelligence technology as well as the Tech Hub Chair of the Association for Measurement and Evaluation of Communications (AMEC). He is an accredited PR practitioner, CIPR committee member, part of the UK's All-Party parliamentary group on AI, and was named in PRWeek's 'Dashboard 25' in 2023 for tech influencers.Episode recorded: November 13, 2023Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.
Jason Mudd discusses editorial calendars and how to use them to pitch to publicationsGuest:Our episode guest is Jason Mudd, CEO of Axia Public Relations. Five things you’ll learn from this episode: What editorial calendars are Different types of media you can find editorial calendars for How to use editorial calendars to help determine pitches How to get/find a publication’s editorial calendar How to pitch once you have an editorial calendar Quotables “Editorial calendars are a tool that is used predominantly by print and digital publications and specifically their advertising departments to kind of help plan out and coordinate between advertising and the editorial or newsroom or features department upcoming coverage that has a theme.” - Jason Mudd“You want to use the calendars that determine the content/ideas that these publications are looking for.” - Jason Mudd“Once you have the editorial calendar in your hands, whether it's digital or you printed it out or however it might be, the first thing you want to do is you want to start being an investigator.” - Jason Mudd“I want to emphasize that this is a relationship business, and we in the public relations profession need to start putting more emphasis on relationships.” - Jason MuddIf you enjoyed this episode, would you please share it with others and leave us a review?About Jason MuddJason Mudd is the CEO of Axia Public Relations, with a career spanning decades and collaborations with prominent organizations, including American Airlines, Hilton, and Verizon. ResourcesConnect and learn more about Jason Mudd on LinkedIn.Additional Resources from Axia Public Relations:Listen to more episodes of the On Top of PR podcast.Find out more about Axia Public Relations.Free Blog Editorial Calendar TemplateEditorial calendars: A PR pro’s best friend Sponsored by:On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes Magazine as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands.On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.
Tina with IPR discusses the data around local journalism and how we as PR professionals can help it survive. Guest:Our episode guest is Tina McCorkindale, CEO of the Institute for Public Relations. She serves on boards of several industry associations and has received several awards for her contributions to the profession.Five things you’ll learn from this episode: What the Institute for Public Relations is and what it does Statistics on misinformation and disinformation Who people trust not to spread disinformation How disinformation affects elections and other important events How you can find disinformation and combat it Quotables“We have disinformation as a threat to our democracy” - Tina McCorkindale“When you ask who's doing a good job combating disinformation, we also added to that me, I am great at combating disinformation.” - Tina McCorkindale“Most people say they're doing a very good job of combating disinformation, but we know that's not true because we are the primary ones who spread disinformation.” - Tina McCorkindale“PR professionals should look at opportunities like you're describing to support nonprofit groups who are doing things to support local journalism, fund local journalism, and equip them with the tools and resources they need to survive and succeed.” - Jason Mudd“For companies, sometimes it's very easy to see the disinformation, But where it gets difficult is when people are having conversations and people aren't listening, and it's hard to do that on your own as an organization.” - Tina McCorkindale“Doing it well and doing it right, not necessarily doing it for the clicks and not necessarily doing it just to be the first, but to get it right.” - Jason Mudd“Journalism has this huge responsibility (of combatting disinformation), and if we don't support journalism, then who is going to provide us with that information?” - Jason MuddIf you enjoyed this episode, please share it with others and leave us a review!About Tina McCorkindaleTina McCorkindale, Ph.D., APR, is the President and CEO of the Institute for Public Relations, a nonprofit research foundation devoted to research that matters to the public relations and communications profession. Prior to that, she was a university professor and has more than 10 years of experience working in corporate communication and analytics. She serves on the boards of several industry associations and has received several awards for her contributions to the profession.ResourcesConnect and learn more about Tina McCorkindale on LinkedIn.Visit the Institute for Public Relations for more information. The Expanding News Desert (UNC) ReportsEpisode recorded: October 23, 2023Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.
Tom Ciuba and Jason Mudd discuss crisis communications, crisis plan creation and updates, and social media management in the latest On Top of PR episode.Guest:Our episode guest is Tom Ciuba, Vice President of Communications at Genesee & Wyoming. His diverse background includes roles in consumer PR, association marketing, and employee communications.Five things you’ll learn from this episode:What’s considered a crisis and issue managementWhy you should hire an outside agency to establish your crisis planHow to update your crisis planHow to manage social media chatter during a crisisLessons learned from crisis communications  Quotables“It’s PR, not ER.” - Jason Mudd“No update is still an update.” - Tom Ciuba“We've written dozens and dozens of crisis plans for a variety of industries, a variety of companies of all sizes. And we've been brought in to manage those. So that body of knowledge from our entire team can really be contributed and added value to a crisis plan versus maybe what you can do from the inside.” - Jason Mudd“Come up with templated responses that if such a situation were to arise, you'd be prepared to answer quickly should the media or the public be knocking on your door.” - Tom CiubaIf you enjoyed this episode, would you please share it with others and leave us a review?About Tom Ciuba Tom has been a professional communicator for 15 years and currently serves as Vice President of Communications at a freight transportation company. His diverse background includes roles in consumer PR, association marketing, and employee communications. Additional Episode Resources:Tom Ciuba on LinkedInGenesee & Wyoming Strengthening a Crisis Comms Plan Amid DisruptionsAdditional Resources from Axia Public Relations:Listen to more episodes of the On Top of PR podcast.Find out more about Axia Public Relations.CrisisPoint Episode recorded: October 11, 2023Sponsored by:On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes Magazine as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands.Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.
In this episode, Kasey Klee, Marjorie Comer, and Bob Wiltfong join On Top of PR host Jason Mudd to discuss media relations best practices.Guest:Our episode includes Axia’s news team: Kasey Klee, Account Executive; Marjorie Comer, News Media Consultant; Bob Wiltfong, Public Relations Account Director; and Jason Mudd, CEO. Together they discuss the five best practices that come with media relations: preparing, relationship building, messaging, pitching, and following up.Five things you’ll learn from this episode: How to plan and prepare for pitching stories  How to build meaningful relationships with reporters What you’re messaging should look like How to go about pitching stories Why you should follow up Quotables“The goal for any public relations person is the media list, the contact list and the relationships that we build with the media.” - @Bob“You're always looking to localize a national story and PR people do that with news jockey. What we're trying to do is tie in a newsworthy item involving our clients to a national story. So it's kind of the same idea.” - @Bob“All news is local. And so if you can find a local angle to a national story, then that's very beneficial.” - @Jason“Relationship building is probably one of my favorite things that I get to do as a PR professional.” - @Marjorie“Building a relationship with a reporter doesn't have to be scary. It doesn't have to be this taboo thing. We're all people and we all want to build a connection with someone else.” - @Marjorie “The relationship between a PR person and a journalist could be such a dynamic duo if it's done correctly.” - @Kasey“It's not just who we know, but it's really who knows us.” - @Jason“Every pitch is a little bit of an experiment.” - @Jason“Smaller wins will lead to bigger things.” - @Jason If you enjoyed this episode, would you please share it with others and leave us a review?About the Axia TeamJason is the founder of Axia, serving as a trusted adviser to renowned brands like American Airlines, Hilton, and Verizon. He resides in Amelia Island, Florida.Bob, a PR strategist, and former award-winning news anchor, brings his expertise to clients like Boeing and Sony. He calls Jacksonville, Florida home and joined Axia in February 2023.Marjorie, an award-winning PR professional, has been with Axia since October 2011, skillfully implementing PR plans and handling reactive needs from her base in Joplin, Missouri.Kasey, known for her enthusiasm and attention to detail, coordinates client programs and has been a trusted adviser since August 2021. She resides in Jacksonville Beach, Florida.Guest’s Contact Info and Resources:Top PR pros share their tips for earning media coverageTop 5 media relations practices to attract more coverage Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.
Explore the world of storytelling and communication with host Jason Mudd and guest Ken Melton, Communication Strategist at Johns Hopkins.Guest:Our episode guest is Ken Melton, Communication Strategist at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory. Ken is a retired U.S. Marine public affairs specialist with a master's in public relations from Georgetown University and a bachelor's in communications from the University of Maryland Global Campus. He's passionate about public relations, employee engagement, storytelling, teaching, and writing.Five things you’ll learn from this episode:Why doubt can be good when completing a writing project The best ways to improve your writing skills Ways to make data and numbers easier for your audience  Ken’s most valuable writing advice  What roles emotions play in creating a complex story and how to leverage themQuotables:“Make your stories speak” - @KenMelton2001“You can't let what you've thought or what you know shape your story. It's all about what's inside you and what you want to get across.” - @KenMelton2001“Once you come to the realization that there's nothing more I can learn, nothing more I can do wrong, then you're doing yourself disservice.” - @KenMelton2001“I doubt myself because I want to answer myself in a positive light.” - @KenMelton2001“I really love talking about it and helping people find their voice and telling how their stories are going to be, even if it's something like talking about a project.” - @KenMelton2001 “Always write for the human reader first and then the search engine second.” - @JasonMudd9“Don't be afraid to ask for help. You never know the answer you're going to get, but it gets you closer.” - @KenMelton2001“A piece of advice that's been helpful to me over the years that I try to give to others is while you're writing, visualize the one person that you are writing this to.” - @JasonMudd9 “When you have a memory, it's always tied to maybe even a sound or a smell. The same thing goes to your reading. When you read something, that one nugget and it brings you back, you're like, Oh, man, I remember that.” - @KenMelton2001If you enjoyed this episode, would you please share it with others and leave us a review?Contact Ken Melton:Ken Melton on TwitterKen Melton on LinkedInJohns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory websiteAdditional Resources:Encouragement for your writing journey PRSA article Newsjack your way into the spotlight Listen to more episodes of the On Top of PR podcast.Find out more about Axia Public Relations.Episode recorded: September 6, 2023 Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.
Explore earned media coverage insights with Jason Mudd, CEO of Axia Public Relations, and gain valuable insights into effective PR strategies.Guest Bio:Our episode guest is Jason Mudd, the CEO of Axia Public Relations and a trusted adviser to some of America's most admired brands. With a career spanning decades, he has worked with prominent organizations, including American Airlines, Hilton, and Verizon.Five things you’ll learn from this episode:1. Why media coverage needs to feature your company’s products or services2. Why more prominent, bigger media isn’t always better3. Why you should act like a billion dollar company for media coverage4. How to act like a publicly traded company in the media5. How to make journalists care about your company and pitchesQuotables:“You are more likely to get more readership, maybe less eyeballs, but more readership on that brief than you are a full feature story because people are busy and they just don't have time to read a full feature story.” - Jason Mudd“At the end of the day, shorter means more people are going to invest in it.” Jason Mudd“In PR we tend to forget that it's about relationships and building relationships. So I'm a big advocate for putting relationships back into public relations.” - Jason Mudd“80% of the time they're covering prominent companies. Now, 20% of the time they're doing something else, and that's your opportunity, but it's only 20% of the time. So you've got to think more opportunistically about looking for ways to get woven into and tied into the organization.” - Jason Mudd“The more you act like a publicly traded company even when you're not public and you're willing to talk openly about your numbers, whether they're true financial dollars or percentages, then that makes you have more substance to the news that you're sharing and therefore automatically makes you more newsworthy.” - Jason Mudd“Have an audience focus, empathetic message about why they should care, how this is going to help them.” - Jason MuddIf you enjoyed this episode, please share it with others and leave us a review!About Jason Mudd:Jason Mudd is the CEO of Axia Public Relations, with a career spanning decades and collaborations with prominent organizations, including American Airlines, Hilton, and Verizon.Guest’s contact info and resources:Jason Mudd on TwitterJason Mudd on LinkedInAdditional Resources from Axia Public Relations:How to measure and categorize the different tiers of news media outlet types3 crucial differences between a news story and a feature story that will make you a better writerWhat is news? 10 elements of news and newsworthiness60 Second Impact  Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.
Pam Fultz and Jason Mudd discuss the importance of purpose-driven storytelling for PR professionals.Guest:Our episode guest is Pam Fultz, Senior Community Relations Manager at Bentley Village. Pam is also an adjunct lecturer for the University of Florida and Northeastern University. She is a past president of PRSA’s Gulf Coast chapter.Five things you’ll learn from this episode:What purpose-driven storytelling isWhy purpose-driven storytelling is importantHow writers can pull at their audience’s heartstringsWhy PR professionals should use mission-driven storiesHow to create purpose-driven stories without sounding too salesyQuotables“PR is not just about media coverage, it’s more.” — @Jason Mudd “Stories are designed to make an emotional connection with people … and ultimately create brand loyalty.” — Pam Fultz“PR's role is not just external communication, it's also internal communication.” — @Jason Mudd“You have to find the stories. You have to dig deep and find those connections.” — @Pam FultzIf you enjoyed this episode, would you please share it with others and leave us a review?About Pam FultzPam Fultz, M.S., APR, is an educator, public relations professional, and volunteer. She works as the senior community relations manager of Vi at Bentley Village and teaches as an adjunct lecturer for the University of Florida and Northeastern University. Pam teaches graduate courses in Public Relations Measurement & Evaluation, Public Interest Communications: Measuring Social Change, and Crisis Communications. She also serves as a Wildlife Committee ambassador for the Conservancy of Southwest Florida.Pam holds a Master of Science degree in corporate and organizational communications from Northeastern University in Boston and a Bachelor of Science degree in communications from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. She is a past president of PRSA’s Gulf Coast chapter.Guest’s contact info and resources:Pam Fultz on LinkedInBentley VillageEpisode recorded: Aug. 23, 2023Sponsored by:On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands.On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.
Amy Susán and Jason Mudd discuss disaster communications and five ways to make the most of a bad situation.Guest:Our episode guest is Amy Susán of Columbia, Missouri. She is the Director of PR and Communications at EquipmentShare, where she harnesses digital tools and an engaging approach to develop and guide mission-based visions, influential brands with purpose, and unforgettable campaigns.Five things you’ll learn from this episode:How authenticity leads actionIdentifying an ambassadorEstablishing a reputable partnerLetting others tell your storyThe power of internal communications Quotables:[05:59] “What we're talking about today is, you know, not necessarily how to take advantage of those instances, but how to do the best for your company and most importantly, for those people that are impacted.” - Amy[06:08] “When we talk about disaster communications and crisis communications as it relates to natural disasters, I really think it needs to be handled, and it sounds so ominous, but D.E.A.D. And that's handled delicately, empathetically, and diplomatically.” - Amy[06:30] “You have to imagine that you are there because it's going to have to come up authentic. And if not, it's just going to ring on deaf ears.” - Amy[07:13] “It's the traditional “P’s” of PR, so we protect our identity and our public image. We promote all of our services and then we position our company as a thought leader.” - Amy[08:25] “You have to remove yourself so that you can get the correct information. But then you also have to, at a later time, really go through those feelings and experience them.” - Amy[08:37] “Journalists are supposed to be independent observers, right? And so if you know, it can be hard for them to do that sometimes. It can also be hard for them to, you know, separate those emotions.” - Jason[11:35] “Identifying an ambassador on the ground that truly embodies your core values is really, really important.” - AmyIf you enjoyed this episode, would you please share it with others and leave us a review?Guest’s contact info and resources:Amy Susán on LinkedInAmy Susán on TwitterEquipmentShare WebsiteRagan Communications AI CertificationAdditional Resources:3 crisis communication action steps to takeEffective crisis communications with Christopher BrittonHow our PR firm is using AI and how you can too with Jason Mudd, CEO of Axia Public RelationsEpisode recorded: August 3, 2023Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.
Ryan Spalding and Jason Mudd discuss franchising, home improvement and home services.Guest:Our episode guest is Ryan Spalding of Toronto, Canada. He is the Director of Franchise Marketing at Garage Living where he has created and implemented the marketing strategy for over 40 franchise locations and leads the marketing team across all marketing channels. Five things you’ll learn from this episode:How marketing in the music industry differs from the home improvement industryHow customer home service has changed after the pandemic How online reviews impact lead generationThe nuances of doing business internationallyHow PR can be used for franchisorsQuotables:[04:50] “[In the music industry and the home improvement industry] you’re still using the same marketing principles. You're identifying your target market and you’re looking at tactics to reach those of that audience, whether it’s through traditional marketing, avenues, digital marketing avenues, or whether it’s through publicity campaigns.” - Ryan[09:52] “During the pandemic, it was almost easier [for franchises] to launch, because everyone is really interested in improving your home during the pandemic.” - Ryan[11:12] “I think that the demand is reverting back to what it was before the pandemic. Now you’re maybe back in the office and can travel. There’s options to spend your money in other places.” - Ryan[18:37] “Now more than ever, online reviews are more important than perhaps they were a couple years ago. Especially for our industry and our segment.” - Ryan[19:04] “People are going to online reviews whether it’s Google, Facebook, or the platform to see what the reputation is of the company, especially if they’re not too familiar with it. That’s a perfect place for them to go to.” - Ryan[19:30] “Google reviews are obviously super important because they feed into other aspects like your SEO and your google rankings.” - Ryan[21:00] “People are going to look to profiles to see if they’re active, if they have a lot of followers, how they are responding to people leaving comments. It’s just another way to build your reputation and your social trust.” - Ryan[23:00] “When we’re looking at our marketing strategy, we’re not looking at just one area of marketing, whether it be digital advertising, Google reviews, or social media, we’re not just looking at them in silos, we’re looking at them as a whole picture. I believe that PR plays a big role in that.” - RyanIf you enjoyed this episode, would you please share it with others and leave us a review?About Ryan SpaldingRyan Spalding of Toronto, Canada, is the Director of Franchise Marketing at Garage Living. Before breaking into the franchising and home improvement industry, Ryan worked in marketing for the music industry for 17 years. He worked with both Warner Music Canada and Dine Alone Records. Ryan joined Garage Living in 2020 where he has created and implemented the marketing strategy for over 40 franchise locations and leads the marketing team across all marketing channels. Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.
Bob Wiltfong and Jason Mudd discuss PR tips from a former news anchor.Guest:Our episode guest is Bob Wiltfong, a retired TV News personality and now Axia’s Public Relations Account Director.Five things you’ll learn from this episode: How to build media relationships Knowing when the pitch is right What is newsjacking The elements of news How to leverage local news on behalf of your brandQuotables4:10 “It's helpful to frame it as all you need is really one yes, that's all you're looking for is one yes. You're in a sea of no’s. So, you're just swimming through no's to get to that one yes, and you will find that one yes. You just got to keep swimming.” – @Bob Wiltfong 4:30 “In PR, I tell people that the first 50 rejections are the hardest. So, once you get past having people say no 50 times, then it just kind of rolls off your back. The other cliche I like to say is a quick no is better than a forever maybe.” – @Jason Mudd6:45 “Sometimes you just have to change things up if you're getting ghosted. Try to approach them from a different channel.” – @Jason Mudd8:28 “One practice that's very helpful is the idea of read and react [by Michael Smart]. Instead of trying to please the journalists and consume everybody, all you're trying to do is consume your top-focused targets. Every day make a point of consuming maybe one or two of their content pieces and then contact them or reach out to them with no pitch, just compliments.” – @Bob Wiltfong9:35 “PR people can't be PR people if they're not spending time consuming content. You can't pitch something that you've never seen. I don't know a single PR person who's really good at what they do, who does not consume news.” – @Jason Mudd12:20 “Clients who I see aren't successful with media are those that can't spend time with a journalist unless they're going to cover them. That's just the wrong approach. You're not investing the relationship the right way.” – @Jason Mudd19:30 “When you talk about real estate, you talk about location, location, location. With news, it's local, local, local.” – @Bob Wiltfong 23:50 “The three elements I was taught in J School are very true. Is it timely? Is it local? Is it out of the ordinary?” – @Bob Wiltfong28:37 “One of the things we have in our arsenal, as PR people, is that journalists and outlets are an open book for their staff.” – @Bob WiltfongGuest’s contact info and resources:Bob Wilfong on FacebookBob Wilfong on LinkedInBob Wilfong websiteAdditional Resources: Ten quick PR Tips Why is the news media important? The best media pitch is a story that's already done — and copy edited!Support the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.
Guest:Our episode guest is Jason Mudd, CEO of Axia Public Relations. Five things you’ll learn about in this episode:Starting using AIUsing caution with AISetting up policies around using AICommunicating and enforcing policies around AIWays to use AIQuotables“AI is a tool that can help you be more productive, and like anything else — when mobile technology came out, when social media came out, when e-commerce came out — you can either ignore those things or you could be early adopters of those things and start pioneering the way.” — @JasonMudd9“AI works really fast and is a very helpful and powerful tool. The issue is the quality of the tools. The quality of the tool reminds me of an intern, a college student or maybe even a high school student as far as the quality of the work goes.” — @JasonMudd9“You really are going to have to take this [AI] rough draft, and I emphasize the rough in it, and finesse it, tweak it, and modify it to get it to where it needs to be production ready.” — @JasonMudd9“Like what Ronald Reagan said, ‘trust but verify’ — so you need to verify that people are following the policies that you created, and you need to enforce those policies.” — @JasonMudd9“We are not using AI to replace the talent that we have at our agency or the talent assigned to your account. Instead, we’re using AI to keep those people doing what is called their highest and best use — HBU.” — @JasonMudd9“AI is a rough draft; it’s an entry-level virtual assistant giving you some guidance.” — @JasonMudd9“If [you] can’t give input properly, [you’re] never going to be able to use AI properly.” — @JasonMudd9If you enjoyed this episode, would you please share it with others and leave us a review?About Jason MuddJason Mudd is a trusted adviser and dynamic strategist for some of America’s most admired brands and fastest-growing companies. Since 1994, he’s worked with American Airlines, Budweiser, Dave & Buster’s, H&R Block, Hilton, HP, Miller Lite, New York Life, Pizza Hut, Southern Comfort, and Verizon. He founded Axia Public Relations in July 2002. Forbes named Axia as one of America’s Best PR Agencies.Guest’s contact info and resources:Jason Mudd on TwitterJason Mudd on LinkedIn Jason Mudd on FacebookAxia Public RelationsAdditional Resources:Create a usage policy for AI-generated contentHow PR Professionals Can Use Artificial Intelligence Tools To Enhance Their WorkChatGPTSupport the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.
Amy Diehl and Jason Mudd discuss how bias against women persists in female-dominated workplaces.Guest:Our episode guest is Amy Diehl, Ph.D., the chief information officer at Wilson College and a workplace gender bias expert and consultant. She has a 27-year career in information technology and is a prominent gender equity researcher. Her work has been published in academic journals, book chapters, and in Fast Company, Ms. Magazine and Harvard Business Review.Five things you’ll learn from this episode:Why men are in leadership roles more often than womenWhat makes an industry equitableHow to make your workplace healthy for men and womenThe phenomenon of presentismHow to eliminate bias and what can women do if they are confronted by biasQuotables“What's better is for managers, for leaders, to set goals for their employees, you know, certainly provide them with the resources to meet their goals and the support that they need, but measure the success by the goals and not just by the time spent in that chair.” - Amy Diehl“Workplaces were originally built by men and for men with men's needs in mind, but not women’s. So one aspect of male privilege is something called male gatekeeping. So when the men are in charge, they get to decide who gets to enter leadership. And when they do allow women into leadership, when they're using male gatekeeping, they put boundaries around women's authority.” - Amy Diehl“The problem is the pipeline for the sake of women, it leaks. And again, it's because of the barriers that they're facing day in and day out.” - Amy Diehl“There’s things you can do to make your workplace healthy, not just for women, but for men too. And so if you are the person at the top, you're a leader. There's lots of steps you can take.” - Amy Diehl“Whenever women encounter bias or are confronted by bias, the first thing is they should not take it personally.” - Amy DiehlIf you enjoyed this episode, please share it with others and leave us a review!About Amy DiehlAmy Diehl, Ph.D., is the chief information officer at Wilson College and a workplace gender bias expert and consultant. She has a 27-year career in information technology and is a prominent gender equity researcher. Her work has been published in academic journals, book chapters, and in Fast Company, Ms. Magazine and Harvard Business Review. She was named to the 2020 EdTech Dean’s List of Higher Ed IT Influencers Worth a Follow. She was also named a 2019 Central Penn Business Journal Woman of Influence and received the 2016 Women and Leadership Affinity Group Outstanding Scholarship for Emerging Scholars Award from the International Leadership Association.Order Amy Deihl's new book, Glass Walls: Shattering the Six Gender Bias Barriers Still Holding Women Back at Work at https://amzn.to/3O49bP5Disclosure: One or mSupport the show On Top of PR is produced by Axia Public Relations, named by Forbes as one of America’s Best PR Agencies. Axia is an expert PR firm for national brands. On Top of PR is sponsored by ReviewMaxer, the platform for monitoring, improving, and promoting online customer reviews.
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