Sandy Evans Levine

 

Posts by Sandy Evans Levine

Five Tips For Planning Fabulous PR In 2013

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We know things will be different in 2013. Already, we know tight budgets will be further tightened, and those of us providing services and solutions to the federal government will need to be more focused on the value we can deliver and problems we can solve to help our customers move forward in the new landscape.

Since we know changes are coming, now is a great time to assess your organization’s public relations and marketing strategies for the New Year, to make sure you’re answering your customers’ questions and concerns. And you want higher visibility and awareness, to ensure they can find you when they need you in 2013. Keep reading →

 /  Published January 9, 2013 at 11:00 AM

Print Is Dead? Not So Fast!

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We’ve been hearing it for years – print is a dying media.

Each week, it seems, there’s a new study released quoting social media statistics and predicting the inevitable demise of print. It stands to reason then, that your grandchildren may never lay eyes on archaic things such as hard copies of magazines and newspapers, right? Not exactly. A recent Ad Age article by Stephen Kraus and Bob Shullman explains how the demise of traditional media outlets has been grossly exaggerated. Keep reading →

 /  Published November 8, 2011 at 9:00 AM

9/11 Aftermath: Crisis Communications Now Interactive

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It used to be that most government organizations had a crisis communications plan that would be pulled out and reviewed maybe once a year, that was relatively static and standard in its contents.

The plan provided guidance on calling a press conference to update reporters who would in turn update the public on the process and progress being made in dealing with the crisis or disaster at hand, creating press releases and other briefing materials, etc. The process was largely reactive, rather than proactive, and definitely the information went one-way – from the public affairs representatives and government officials to the public. Keep reading →

 /  Published September 13, 2011 at 3:37 PM

Irene Inspires Proactive Communication From Government

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Disasters happen. How quickly and appropriately those in authority respond to those disasters can make the difference between a frightening but manageable situation, versus an all-out catastrophe.

It seems that government officials at federal and state and local levels took to heart the lessons from Katrina, and made sure that as Hurricane Irene captured the nation’s attention, they were in front of the storm – with their communications and their preparedness efforts. Keep reading →

 /  Published September 6, 2011 at 12:00 PM

Don’t Get Bogged Down in Gov Speak

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Is your organization still bogged down in ‘government-speak’? Isn’t it time you get with the ‘plain language’ program – and get back to clear, simple, direct communication?

Plain language is communication that your target audience can understand the first time they hear or read it. Use clear, direct language to say what you mean, so your audience can understand your message, and find what they need. Keep reading →

 /  Published August 15, 2011 at 7:00 AM

What’s Your Social Media Plan If Disaster Strikes?

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Federal agencies are embracing social media as an increasingly common way to interact with the public. Yet, a critical consideration that is often overlooked by agency officials is how social media will be incorporated in disaster and emergency preparedness plans. If your agency hasn’t fully developed a social media plan for disaster preparedness scenarios, it’s time to add it to your priority “to do” list!

Information about practically everything – both factual and wildly inaccurate – now travels around the globe literally in minutes, through new communication tools – Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, to name a few. In a natural or manmade disaster, if you don’t reach out to the public with the facts quickly, someone else will get there with rumor – and as we all know, misinformation can cause havoc, create panic, and potentially increase danger to those at risk who we want to protect. Keep reading →

 /  Published July 20, 2011 at 9:00 AM