By now, we’ve all read the story. We’ve seen the interviews and heard the voicemails. Some believe Manti Te’o is the naïve victim of an incredibly elaborate hoax. Others firmly hold he helped to create the scheme to quell questions about his personal life or to gain Heisman votes. Regardless of Te’o’s level of involvement, a closer examination of the situation outlines the failings of Notre Dame and the national media –...

Have you ever sent an email, only to go into full-panic mode a minute later—like this guy? Too bad there isn’t an “undo” button for sending email. It happens to the best of us, but an inappropriate or poorly written email can make or break a business deal or ruin a first impression. As communicators, we are held to a higher standard, so here are a few tips to help ensure you don’t lose a client, disappoint a supervisor or just...

When I was in elementary school, my dad helped me write a letter to our local news anchor. I asked him to come to my school’s Career Day, and he did. The fact that Bob Grip from FOX 10 News sat next to me at school for a few hours that day says a lot about him. I guess it also says a lot about me, but mostly that I have always been a dork. That elementary school Career Day wasn’t going to get me very far in the real world, so in college...

At Cookerly, it is our job to power perceptions. Whether through traditional public relations, marketing or social media, we’re here to deliver results. We also want to take stock of what other companies are doing to reinvent or update how they are perceived. So, when I heard an NPR report that McDonalds was reaching out to mommy bloggers to promote new, healthier options, like apple slices and 100 calorie fries, for their Happy Meals, I...

Sometimes it’s easy to forget how good we have it. Certainly our government isn’t perfect, and neither are the people who run it. It’s easy to get caught up in the back and forth between political parties, arguments about birth certificates, health care and spending. But, if you ever needed a reminder of how sweet the freedom our great nation provides is, look no further than your Twitter timeline. You may think I’m crazy to...