Isaac has left the building, but the story is far from over. As I dodged standing water so as to not soak my shoes on this Tuesday morning, I was reminded of the amalgam of ‘Isaac mockery’ memes making their rounds online over the weekend. As Floridians, we are used to the ‘over-promise/under-deliver’ method often employed by news teams when a storm threatens. The reporter being battered by wind and rain, the rattling stop sign on an abandoned street corner; we’re afforded these visuals every summer and for many of us it arouses a feeling of cautious skepticism. As conditioned as we are as Florida residents to hold a cynical view of hurricane forecasts (only further reinforced by Isaac’s underwhelming impact), it’s entirely easy to forget that sometimes the real story is what occurs after the real story is over.

While the damage assessment from Isaac’s impact on Florida may only amount to a list of blown over lawn chairs and soggy topsiders, the story does not end there for this tropical hooligan. Another interesting narrative has developed, as Isaac is now poised to form into a hurricane and make landfall on New Orleans, on the seven-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. There’s no need to dredge up any unnecessary memories from one of the worst natural disasters in U.S. history, and certainly no need to draw any kind of parallel between the two storms; but storylines drive news, and top stories will once again revolve around Isaac and how it will affect The Big Easy.

The point I’m making here is simple. While some stories don’t quite deliver the ‘Hollywood Blockbuster’ type payoff that news directors and producers seek while hoping for a ratings spike, the bigger story may actually be gleaned once the hype has died down. Will the reinforced levees do their job on Lake Ponchartrain? Georgia is undergoing massive droughts; what kind of influence will Isaac’s weather have on their climate conditions going forward? These are the questions that will be asked, and media sources will be scouring their network for qualified individuals to answer them.

The rain is still saturating us here in Orlando, but the severe storm-threat has all but passed. With Isaac inching towards New Orleans, our thoughts are with those residents, and our hope is that whatever secondary-storyline emerges from the storm’s impact will be one of resiliency and redemption. For those following news such as Isaac, just remember to always be prepared for your expertise to be called on. While the original story may not directly apply to you, there are always after-effects and undercurrents that can and will be explored.

-Carter Breazeale

PR/PR Public Relations

Isaac has got us fairly waterlogged, so a new blog post will be up tomorrow!

Stay dry!

My how the time flies. One year ago I volunteered for what would morph into one of my massive responsibilities: manning the S.S. PRBlog and keepin’er seaworthy and afloat. While we haven’t nicked any icebergs or found ourselves in the blogging Bermuda triangle, there was, admittedly, an adjustment period that accompanies any new and uncharted undertaking. We’ve run the topical gamut in one calendar year: from political analyses from a public relations viewpoint to admittedly embittered rants on Dwight Howard and the Atlanta Braves, it’s been an interesting ride thus far. So while I take a moment to adorn my own personal blogger’s birthday cake with all the necessary accoutrements, let’s examine some of the highlights from The PRess Release’s first year.   

The Indianapolis Rundown

Everyone around the office is acutely aware of my excitement when my sports-centered blog ideas are approved. This one was a joy to brainstorm and write, as I was still coming down from Super Bowl Sunday euphoria, and knew that putting Indy under the social media microscope was a worthy and necessary topic. The payoff was more than we could’ve imagined at the starting gate, as the post was picked up and shared via Twitter by the company who organized the publicity for Super Bowl XLVII, garnering some new followers and earning the blog captain a congratulatory pat on the back from the boss man.

Outlining PR Landmines

Politics has always been an area of interest for myself, and with 2012 being an election year, I’ve had the pleasure to write about the various happenings surrounding the Presidential race. One post in particular that garnered some attention focused on PR landmines and verbal gaffes, two aspects of politics that occur quite often in politics. The racist namesake of Rick Perry’s Texas ranch, Howard Dean’s infamous scream and Barack Obama’s shady business dealings with domestic terrorists: all ammunition for political opponents, a potential downfall and a topic that readers want to see.  

Waxing Nostalgic with MTV

This was one of Lindsay’s personal favorites, so I’d be remiss if I didn’t include it here. Pop-culture is a revolving door of what’s considered hip and what’s not. I shudder to think of some of the music I listened to in the late-nineties, but hey, at the time, it was par for the course. MTV is not the same beast it once was; you know – one that involved music. This piece took a look at MTV’s shift from a music-oriented television channel to a reality-based outfit, and the ups and downs associated with a drastic change in identity. In publicity it is essential to keep your finger to the wind as to the changing trends, and that’s why I enjoyed crafting this post.

So you’ve stuck with us for a year, and I can promise more quality content from your favorite resident blogger on Monday afternoons. Thank you for your support, and continuing to read about all things public relations-related here at The PRess Release.

-Carter Breazeale

PR/PR Public Relations

By nature, proper, effective publicity requires a tangible level of risk. Ideas that can potentially turn the status quo on its head will always be met with a degree of skepticism, whether in regards to their effectiveness or mere resistance to change, and individuals devoted to their cause will accept the acute risks and backlash they receive for the long-term payoff.

No group of individuals took a more colossal risk than the signers of the Declaration of Independence, who committed which was considered an act of treason for the greater good of their perceived nation. In the eyes of the British, the moment quills were dipped in inkwells and graced that piece of parchment, every one of those men became enemies of the crown; traitors determined to lacerate the union and instill a society of brigands and ne’er-do-wells, dismantling their colonies in ‘The New World.’

Each of those men knew that inscribing their names on that document meant they were marked for dead. They knew they may potentially alienate the constituents who worked to put them in power, and they recognized that their actions in that momentous place in time may have been for naught, and history may paint them as villainous usurpers of the highest order. In spite of blatant risk of death, 56 brave men proudly pledged their allegiance to an infant nation, and made the first steps in establishing the United States of America we know today.

So here at PR/PR, we salute our forefathers this week, who truly took the biggest PR risk of all: putting their lives on the line for the promise of a brighter future for our country. Have a fun and safe July 4^th.

-Carter Breazeale

PR/PR Public Relations

Dads are stereotypically modest when it comes to Father’s Day, but we couldn’t let ours off the hook that easy! Here’s a tribute to the dads of PR/PR!

Russell Trahan:

My dad turned 75 this year, less than a month before Father’s Day.  I’m so grateful he is healthy and happy.  Since his retirement, nearly 15 years ago, he is particularly happy when he and my mother are at their winter home in the Palm Springs, CA area.  This is a great retirement community, with all kinds of activities and friends his age.  Being there keeps him physically and mentally active.  He was very active as a father; for example, he was the leader of my Boy Scout troop while I was earning my Eagle Scout award.  One of my favorite memories around that time was when dad announced he was stepping down as Scout Master just prior to my Eagle Court of Honor.  He wanted to be just my dad for the event.  All my life he’s been much more than ‘just my dad,’ he’s been a friend, a mentor and the best joke teller I know.  I pray he continues to be so for many more years.

Amanda Tucker:

When I think about my favorite memories of my father, I think of our family road trips. Whether our family of seven was driving the hour to my grandparent’s house or making the long trek from Florida to Massachusetts, he always did his best to keep everyone happy. He started a family rituatl we call “The Candy Game” where when we stopped for gas, he would buy a random selection of candy and surprise us with it. My four siblings and I would pass the bag around and choose one and once everyone had something, we would all rave about what we picked. As silly as it may sound, the anticipation of seeing my dad walk out of the store with a bag was always so exciting to us. Even though my siblings and I are all adults now, he still surprises us with “The Candy Game” every now and then and we get just as excited now as we did back then.

My father taught me one of the most important lessons…that family comes first and that we should always be there for each other no matter what. From simple things like “The Candy Game” or big things like guiding us through important decisions in life, he’s been there for us and set such an example for how we need to be with each other and our future families. I’m so thankful for that.

Lindsay Durfee:

“Most people think that my mom and I are very much alike, and while they are not wrong, I am also SO much like my dad.  My parents decided to only have one kid, so I grew up learning how to shoot, going hunting and fishing, and occasionally playing a random sport with my dad – which has become a legendary story in my family.”

“My dad taught (cough, forced, cough) me to play badminton.  He was a tennis superstar in his youth and can pretty much pick up any sport and excel.  I, however, cannot.  But, every afternoon for a year or so, he dragged me outside to play in our backyard.  It was a love/hate experience: there were always things I would rather do instead, and he can have a tough-love approach to teaching (a.k.a. hitting the shuttlecock so high I couldn’t see it anymore, and then I had to try to field the shot back!), but I always had fun.  And, I have to say, when my high school P.E. class got around to badminton, it was the only time I was ever picked first!  So, I must thank my Dad for my stubbornness, my drive to succeed (or, at least to be right!), and my perfectionism.  Also for teaching me to be pretty good at a sport almost no one plays!

Carter Breazeale:

My Dad and I have always shared a passionate affinity for Atlanta sports. Many times it’s to our detriment, as our diehard allegiance to the Atlanta Braves and their seemingly inevitable collapses have ruined many a summer (but that’s another tale.) Every year, Dad and I take a mini-vacation to a ballpark that we’ve never attended before and catch a weekend Braves series. This tradition of ours began three years ago, where Dad surprised me with weekend tickets to check out Atlanta play in St. Louis for my birthday. Our goal is to eventually make it to every National League park, but the games are often just the backdrop to my Dad and me spending quality time together and enjoying each other’s company. I cherish these weekends because life has a tendency to get in the way, and often it’s the only time my Father and I can kick back and enjoy some one-on-one time.

The above photo is from my first Falcons game two years ago, where we spent an afternoon throwing a football around and heckling Tampa Bay fans. Even nearing 60, Dad can still talk trash with the best of them. It was definitely one of my fondest memories with Dad!