Image Professors Founder Receives Media Honors....

While our business is predominantly focused on our clients, occasionally, the good work done by our firm is recognized by peer groups--which certainly is a nice bonus. Recently, our firm president and founder, Wendy Bulawa Agudelo, was awarded the 2009 MDSC Media Award for her work as the special needs liaison, columnist and freelance features writer for parenting publication, P&K. The newspaper was kind enough to feature an article on our founder on their home page, so we thought it worth linking to our blog as well, since it is pretty fabulous news.

Kudos to Wendy, our fearless and now, award-winning, leader!!

http://www.wickedlocalparents.com/content/pkspecialneedsliasonwendybulawaagudeloreceivesmediahonors

P&K Special Needs Liaison Wendy Bulawa Agudelo Receives Media Honors

Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress Recognizes Local Columnist For Efforts to Supplant Misperceptions Surrounding Special Needs

At the recently held 25th Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress (MDSC) Annual Conference, Wendy Bulawa Agudelo, who operates public relations consulting firm Image Professors, Inc., and serves as special needs liaison and columnist for Parents & Kids (P&K) Magazine, was awarded the prestigious 2009 MDSC Media Award.

The MDSC Media Award was established eight years ago to recognize with honor a person or company who exemplifies the MDSC mission to disseminate up-to-date information about Down syndrome. Past MDSC Media Award recipients include Irv Shappell, founder of Woodbine House Publishers, Cynthia Kidder of Band of Angels Press, K.C. Myers of the Cape Cod Times, Gene Lavanchy of FOX-25 Morning News, Amy Marcus of the Wall Street Journal, and Beverly Beckham, columnist for the Boston Globe.

Agudelo is mother to Abigail, a three-year-old girl with Down syndrome, and twin one-year-old boys. Since the arrival of Abigail, Agudelo has made concerted efforts in her print and online writing to educate readers about special needs—including Down syndrome. Through several of her columns and articles, she has helped to dispel myths about Down syndrome, while providing factual information to keep the Down syndrome movement progressing forward. Her canvas is P&K Magazine, a highly-progressive regional parenting publication that has confidently taken the lead at shining, without fear, a consistent spotlight on special needs and related elements.

As special needs liaison and columnist for P&K, Agudelo received top honors for her ongoing series of articles boldly focusing on controversy over the word ‘retarded,’ to a February 2009 cover story on Integrated Sports Programs for children with disabilities. She introduced ‘Dual Diagnosis: Autism and Down syndrome,’ while highlighting a local parent support group, Morning Travelers 2, founded by a local mother of a child diagnosed with the unique combination of autism and Down syndrome, and raised awareness of ‘Prenatal Diagnosis’ and preliminary steps including genetic testing which reproductive couples can take in planning and preparing for their future family.

“Wendy has proven tremendous dedication to the Down syndrome cause and special needs in general by going to great lengths to research and uncover unique topics to introduce to her readers,” said Maureen Gallagher, executive director of the MDSC. “Her articles provide a factual and thoughtful perspective of a special needs world that not everyone understands, yet one of which we should be thoughtful and aware. We are very proud to honor Wendy with the 2009 Media Award.”

Down syndrome, which affects more than 5,000 individuals in the state of Massachusetts, is a genetic condition that knows no boundaries and appears within all nationalities, socio-economic classes, ethnic groups and races. Most people with Down syndrome have an extra chromosome present in all or some of their cells. This additional genetic material alters the course of development for more than six thousand babies born each year in the United States.

“P&K has given the special needs community a consistent voice, and through the magazine, it has been my goal to share personal stories as well as useful information to raise awareness and help modify stereotypical mindsets about special needs,” said Agudelo. “The MDSC has been a home to my entire family and its wonderful group of member families, have provided inspiration and ideas to help supplant historic stereotypes and provide a more realistic, comforting and successful view of life with special needs. It’s my job and honor to turn those ideas into stories everyone can appreciate.”

About MDSC
Established in 1983, the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress (MDSC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to education about and awareness of Down syndrome. MDSC was founded to provide information, resources and support for families, while advocating for the inclusion of individuals with Down syndrome into all aspects of the community. Additionally, the organization gathers and disseminates the most accurate and timely news relating to Down syndrome to educate the public, while actively and aggressively addressing social policy and legislatively-driven issues alongside state and local human service agencies. The MDSC Parent’s First Call program delivers much needed answers for couples who have received either a high risk result or confirmed Down syndrome diagnosis, and connects educated parents of children with Down syndrome, their knowledge and experiences, with those couples. More information about MDSC can be found at http://www.mdsc.org/, or by calling 1-800-664-MDSC.

State of Public Relations in Boston

According to reports from the well-respected and still-in-business Boston Business Journal, the Bay State is experiencing a serious downsizing of its public relations forces.

As a PR person myself, I too have experienced a decline in overall revenues, and new business pitches have slowed a bit, yet I'm happy to report that business continues. The link to the story is below, but I'd ask my fellow PR folk whether or not this is a sign of the times, or finally, a burst of the technology bubble? I entered the PR industry not only in Silicon Valley, but when the technology revolution (read Steve Jobs/Apple and Steve Wozniak-Bill Gates/Microsoft) were just in their garage-based infancy. Since then, the tech industry has seen amazing strides tied closely with the proliferation of media and the unique exchange of information method people now leverage--i.e. podcasts, social media, and blogging to name a few.

With significant print publication declines in readership, subscriptions, and advertising dollars, it was almost inevitable that the marketing function too would feel a cutback. And, it has. Sadly, it is the marketing function that generates momentum for the sales process and simply put, brand establishment and management.

I therefore submit advice to all businesses--big and small--make room in your budget for marketing/PR. Without it, you may build it, but who will come if no one is aware that what you built is available for trial or purchase?

http://www.necn.com/Boston/Business/2009/02/03/BBJ-PR-firms-and-economy-/1233665911.html

Sign of the times....

The Boston Globe ran a report this morning about one of the technology industries major publishing houses ceasing the printing of the print version of PC Magazine. We've all heard and read about declining subscriptions, circulations and advertising dollars, but this news really hit home.

When I began my career in technology PR, PC Magazine was considered a top-tier industry trade publication. To get an interview or meeting for your client, you literally had to pray, beg, borrow or steal since every company dreamed of having their product or service written up in the pages of the PC Magazine bible. While the content and incredibly savvy writing will simply move from print to online, this news really does speak to shift in multiple industries--including PR.

PR pros, now more than ever, need to familiarize themselves with online editorial (and the lack of journalistic 'rules', social media, citizen journalism and the blogosphere. Getting your client on the front page of the Wall Street Journal is lovely--but only if someone reads it. Nowadays, getting your client launched via Mashable.com, CNET.com or the like, is a valuable accomplishment.

Delivery of news has also changed how we absorb information. Alerts to your phone, Blackberry or Treo or your RSS feeds seem more the norm than a read-through of the daily paper. Local newspapers have returned to their roots--focusing on just that--local news. A major shift is now afoot in media publishing, new media, and the value of a print-based outlet. Keep your eyes open since there is definitely more 'shake out' to come.

(From the Boston Globe; http://www.boston.com/)

PC Magazine will switch to online-only operation
Ad revenue is falling fast, publisher says

By Stephanie Clifford
New York Times News Service / November 20, 2008

Ziff Davis Media said yesterday that it was ending print publication of its 27-year-old flagship PC Magazine and would make the title online-only. It is the latest of several magazine publishers to drop a print edition as advertising revenue plummets and the cost of printing a paper version rises.

"The viability for us to continue to publish in print just isn't there anymore," Jason Young, chief executive of Ziff Davis, said.

However, while most magazines make most of their money from print advertising, PC Magazine derives most of its profits from its website. More than 80 percent of the profit and about 70 percent of the revenue come from the digital business, Young said, and all of the writers and editors have been counted as part of the digital budget for two years.

The change will not require much of an adjustment, because the focus has been on getting stories to the Web first, said Lance Ulanoff, editor of the PCMag Digital Network, which is what PCMag.com and its accompanying websites were renamed yesterday. "All content goes online first, and print has been cherry-picking for some time what it wants for the print edition," he said.

Circulation at PC Magazine had been declining since the late 1990s, when it hit a peak of 1.2 million. This year, the magazine's rate base was 600,000.Young said that while the print magazine would be profitable in 2008, he had forecast that it would lose money in 2009. The final print edition will be the January issue.

Seven production, circulation, and advertising employees will be cut as a result of the move, out of a total of about 140 who work on PC Magazine and PCMag.com. Young said the company was considering making its other print magazine, the video-game publication Electronic Gaming Monthly, into an online-only format, but would not decide before the end of the year.
Other publishers have also moved publications online-only.

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists recently announced it would go online-only beginning in January. "We're trying to deal with the cost pressures," said Jonas Siegel, the Bulletin's editor.
The Boston-based Christian Science Monitor said in October that it would cease printing its paper weekday edition and appear online only; also in October, Hearst Corp. closed CosmoGirl but kept its website.

Signing Time--They do PR well!

It seemed appropriate for me to take a moment to highlight the good work of a company based in Salt Lake City, UT called Signing Time (www.signingtime.com). The predominantly family owned and run operation was founded to create stimulating, unique and fun items to teach sign language to infants, toddlers and school-aged children. In the last year, the company has truly embraced the various forms of PR/Marketing available to engage multiple audiences--including YouTube video, blogging and social media networking. In preparation for the company's launch of its new Baby Signing Time series 3&4, the company even organized a contest among its constituency of bloggers--an impressive idea for a small business. As such, it made sense to give kudos to Communications Manager Lindsey Blau, who runs herself ragged alongside company founders, to insure that messages are in sync, opportunities are not missed, and all levels of media, engaged. Congratulations to the crew at Signing Time on the release of your next Baby Signing Time iterations. I've also linked Lindsey's personal blog in my "Cool Links of Note." Nicely done Lindsey!

Yippeee....one of my startup clients makes their public debut!


Phonesheet.com Introduces Phone Message Manager
WEB 2.0 MESSAGE ORGANIZER FREES DESKTOPS OF MESSAGE PADS and STICKY NOTES
TRACKS 'PHONE WORK' FOR ANYONE THAT RELIES ON TELEPHONE COMMUNICATION


LOS ANGELES, Sept. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- DROP THAT STICKY NOTE! In an
effort to free desktops and workspaces of stacks of phone message slips,
random pieces of scrap paper, and layers of sticky notes stuck to one's
computer monitor, Phonesheet.com today introduces the phone message
manager.


Unlike an online contact manager geared towards sales professionals,
Phonesheet.com is the only secure, Web 2.0 portal designed to aid in the
organization of phone calls and messages for anyone that relies on
telephone communication.


Making and receiving telephone calls are a necessary part of a work
day. Amazingly, calls and messages are still managed using phone message
pads, spiral notebooks and sticky notes, upon which call information or
important details extracted from a voicemail message are handwritten by
administrative or personal assistants, business colleagues, or us. Phone
message slips can quickly pile up and efforts to make four phone calls can
easily result in four voicemails (voicemail tag). Mental checks of calls
made, messages left, and calls that still need to be returned swim in our
heads alongside ever- expanding professional and personal to-do lists--
making the management of daily 'phone work' a tedious, inefficient and
disorganized process. In a day of technological innovation, a paradigm
shift away from the handwritten phone message is afoot with the
introduction of the online phone message pad.


With no complicated set up, no large manual to review, and no software
to install, Phonesheet.com is a tool designed to alleviate multiple
telephone challenges by providing amateur and savvy computer users alike a
web-based method of managing, sorting and storing phone messages. Once
entered into the spreadsheet-style application, calls and messages are
displayed as a color- coded overview -- allowing immediate identification
and sorting of calls that need to be made, calls that have already been
made, and new messages received. Anyone that relies on telephone
communication can leverage Phonesheet.com's 'virtual phone message pad'
which securely stores contact information and archives phone
messages-resulting in a personal, online phonebook for each user that is
accessible anytime and anywhere in the world where Internet access is
available


"Phonesheet.com solved the problem of always trying to find my phone
call note sheet and allowed me to keep track of my calls anywhere I might
be working," said Jim Gabriel, director of Michigan-based St. Hugo of the
Hills. "I've been recommending it to everyone."


Why Voicemail Isn't a Failsafe Solution
When known or expected callers leave a message in our voicemail box,
response is easy as many of us submit phone numbers to memory or program
them directly into our landline or wireless phone. Yet, should a message be
left by an unknown or unexpected caller, we're left reaching for a pen and
piece of paper to draft a handwritten and ultimately disposable message.
From a point of innovation using voicemail, we return to an antiquated
method of managing our messages. To maintain progress towards innovation,
Phonesheet.com augments voicemail by digitizing phone messages,
streamlining message management, and eliminating wasted paper-a nod to the
environmentally-conscious.


Phone Message Manager Can Become an Assistant's Most Used Application


Many businesses today employ administrative professionals or personal
assistants charged with scripting and maintaining a daily inventory of
phone messages for one or multiple team members. Phonesheet.com insures
that messages taken are in one location rather than scattered across
cluttered desktops or pasted amid swarms of sticky notes atop hidden
computer monitors. The US Department of Labor and the International
Association of Administrative Professionals report that in 2006, 4.2
million administrative assistants and secretaries were employed. This
figure is expected to grow an additional 362,000 by 2016. Administrative
professionals are not being replaced by technology or voicemail. Rather,
technology which aids these professionals and those they support becomes
more relevant.


"After struggling to keep track of more than 80 calls a day, I went in
search of an application to help me organize calls and messages," said Jan
Zands, founder of Phonesheet.com. "Sadly, no available software or phone
message service fit my needs. There seemed to be a hole, and Phonesheet.com
now fills it."


Professionals in finance, broadcast media, real estate and business
consulting, through synagogues and small business owners, use
Phonesheet.com. "The business of being a broker in a top Dallas commercial
real estate firm requires an extraordinary amount of focus and
communication with a large clientele," said Collin Curtis of Harvard
Companies, Inc. "When making hundreds of calls a week, Phonesheet.com
becomes an invaluable tool."


The Phonesheet.com service is immediately available for US $15/month or
$160/year. A free 30-day trial and online tutorial are available at
http://www.phonesheet.com/.


About Phonesheet.com
Phonesheet.com is the premier online phone message manager. Through its
secure Web 2.0-based portal, users can track phone calls, messages and call
history in real-time when at their desktop or when working remotely.
Phonesheet.com simplifies the management of phone calls and messages and
helps to eliminate stacks of phone message slips and sticky notes stuck to
one's computer monitor. The company, based in Los Angeles, was founded by
an entertainment industry veteran seeking an easier way to manage a high
volume of phone work. More information and a free trial of the service can
be found at http://www.phonesheet.com/.

Strategic political PR or just dumb luck?

(Photo by Getty Images/BBC)

Was the appointment of vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin (AK) a smart move on the part of Republican presidential hopeful John McCain, or just a fantastic publicity stunt?

Interestingly, since the news made public McCain's selection of Palin, the most talked-about fodder of the Governor of Alaska hasn't been her track record, or even much about her political bent. In fact, the main focus has been on her as a working mother--to five children--the youngest of which has Down syndrome.

For members of the special needs community (of which I am a proud one), this is a coup! Individuals with special needs of all types comprise a sizable portion of our population and while strides have been made to reverse social stigmas and stereotypes, many still exist.

Palin is also a wife and working mother. Is she a perfect surrogate to Hillary's past profile, or not quite woman enough to fill those shoes?

Regardless of your politics, McCain and his team did something right. They selected a female politician, mother, and parent to a child with special needs. All of those tied together create an incredibly powerful media package for any journalist worth their salt. The potential articles that could be drafted from those components alone seem limitless. Add on her actual stance on abortion and the gun law (she's pro-life and a member of the NRA) and wow, it's fireworks set to explode!

While Obama's text messaging campaign was wrought with foibles and earned his office little more than negative publicity, McCain has started to fire with guns a blazing. From the PR perspective, Palin's appointment will assure the McCain camp a nearly endless opportunity to pitch the Republican party and its campaign for the White House.

It'll be interesting to see if McCain's appointment was strategic or simply lucky, and whether or not it will work for or against him. I remain in waiting on the sidelines like all other Americans to see what will happen next.

Favre's back??!!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/04/AR2008080400223.html

Although I'm not a Packers fan, I just couldn't resist reading the headlines today discussing Brett Favre's planned return from his recent retirement from football. WHAT???

Once a press conference is held and a public decree of retirement is made, how can any player with respect for his teammates, the sport, his fans, the media or himself possibly come out of retirement? Any sports figure (past and present) regardless of their level of greatness that comes out of retirement displays a huge amount of disrespect. I feel absolutely sorry for the Packers club now--especially since they offered Favre a multi-million dollar marketing deal with the team and he declined it. Again, I repeat, what?

I'm not sure how his agent 'Bus' is forging ahead alongside his client, but this situation has nightmare written all over it. For the sake of the fans, the media, the current, non-retired players, coaches and executives, it is a no-brainer for Favre to stay retired and to find a new direction for his incredible, field-level knowledge of football. Instead of trying to reinstate himself into the NFL, maybe he could use his knowledge to develop a new type of pigskin that allows QBs to grip the ball better in cold weather, or write a book on 'The most persuasive plays of all time?' This type of situation oozes a loss of credibility. I feel sorry for the media forced, by their job position and title, to cover Favre again after he seemingly (and so gracefully) made an appropriate exit. Are there so few good QB's in the NFL that he felt he needed to return to the sport?

My guess is that the PR pros within the Packers club are right now meeting with executives to figure out how to spin the situation. They are prepping to quickly type up a press statement, organizing yet another press conference and hoping that a deal can be arranged. Or, is this just a ruse to create some pre-season press not focused on the New England Patriots QB, Tom Brady?