Category Archives: Public Relations

In `School Administrator’ Magazine: Influencing Public Perception With Proactive Videos

Over a year after it was originally drafted as an essay about twice as long–less indeed is more–the American Association of School Administrators has published my insights in the Frontline section of its January 2024 edition. Headlined Influencing Public Perception With Proactive Videos, my observations flow largely from a 20-plus-year career in journalism, including my […]

Show & Tell to Add Value to Your LinkedIn Connections

Social media and networking platforms like LinkedIn are opportunities to demonstrate and deliver—not merely tout—your value. Case in point: though I am hardly a master photographer or photo editor, I have learned a thing or two creating and disseminating thousands of photos for various clients. That experience prompted me recently to offer counsel to a […]

Random Musings from a Cinco de Mayo College Frosh Pick-Up

Observations from a Cinco de Mayo pick-up of my son after his freshman year at Indiana University: Glad we have a van with ample room.  We’ve had the Grand Caravan for a grand total of 15 1/2 years, since the kids were 3-year-olds. It has never been cool, and has increased in its Decidedly Uncool […]

Promo Video: Celebrating Seniors Scavenger Hunt

The last time I worked with the Village of Oak Park’s longtime video manager, Joe Kreml, the occasion was our 11th & final “Beer With Baron” interview. That was 2 1/2 years ago, before the coronavirus pandemic. Recently, we teamed up on a video raising awareness of the inaugural Celebrating Seniors Scavenger Hunt, coming Saturday, […]

Shaker Recruitment Marketing’s 70th Anniversary Offers Lesson in Resilience

“Since its founding in 1951, Shaker Recruitment Marketing has evolved to meet new challenges, including the current problem of attracting employees that cuts across many industries. However, some founding principles remain and likely will never change. They’ve been central to the success of this third-generation full-service recruitment advertising agency: “Make a friend, make a deal” […]

At the Heart of Field of Dreams’ Allure: Relationships

My relationship with baseball goes back 46 years—my first memories are of the 1975 World Series between my hometown Boston Red Sox and the Cincinnati Reds. My relationship with the Field of Dreams goes back 32 years, when I saw the movie by that name when it came out. The film evokes so much for […]

Juneteenth Celebration at DuSable Museum Marks (Incomplete) Progress

Progress in combating systemic racism has been made, but so much more work remains. That was the overarching perspective of roughly a dozen speakers this past Saturday at the Juneteenth Celebration and Reopening of the DuSable Museum of African American History on Chicago’s South Side. Due to the pandemic, the 60-year-old museum had been closed […]

Dustin Pedroia Gave Baseball His All

It’s cliched, but with Dustin Pedroia, it’s absolutely apt: he gave it everything that he had. Often, that was considerable. A Most Valuable Player Award in his second full season, 2008, which came on the heels of his Rookie of the Year campaign. And then there are the four Gold Gloves, his four All-Star game […]

3 Simple Steps to Add Value to Your LinkedIn Connections

What is your reaction when someone you barely know, or don’t know at all, seeks to connect with you on LinkedIn? You may agree to the connection, but it will be a loose link at best, unlikely to generate much benefit to either of you. Keep that in mind as you reflect on whether, or […]