Coined by Marshall McLuhan, the phrase “the medium is the message” is a staple in communications 101 courses. The idea is that the way a message is transmitted plays an integral role in how the message will be perceived now and in the future – how news is reported reflects societal changes like a mirror, and may even be causing some of those changes. Twitter is a great example of McLuhan’s concept in action. From the spread of...

Sometimes, television shows can be educational in a way never intended or imagined.  If you were one of the millions watching the second season finale of Game of Thrones last night, I doubt you were looking for lessons in business or public relations. Not many people would turn to a medieval fantasy on HBO for that kind of lesson, but here are three you can apply to your business today. Do Your Research Royal spymaster, Lord Varys, knows...

When it comes to pet peeves, my list is long and ever growing, ranging from drivers who fail to use turn signals, to cars taking up multiple spaces and people who read over your shoulder on the train. In recent years, however, one irritation has begun to reign supreme – the increasing use of texting and tweeting lingo in corporate communications and business emails. Example: “OMG. I just had the best idea. Can’t wait 2 share w/u,...

As someone who specializes in writing, I am called upon to write many things for clients – fact sheets, white papers, news releases, talking points, and the list goes on. But among the many things I might be asked to write, my favorite is an editorial. An editorial, of course, expresses a point of view, an opinion, an argument. A well-written editorial can not only inform, but make complete sense to someone who knows nothing about the...

I finally saw The King’s Speech over the holiday break and loved everything about it. The story was compelling, the central character intriguing, and the character development was fantastic. And it got me thinking….besides a pleasant way to spend two hours, what else do we really get out of watching movies? I realized part of why I enjoy films so much is that at the heart of a great film is great storytelling, and really so much of our...