George Hood on Dec. 3, 2011, shortly after he set the Guinness World Record in the abdominal plank. George Hood, the ultra-endurance athlete extraordinaire from Aurora, Ill., isn’t slowing down at 55 (years of age). The five-time Guinness World Record holder on Saturday is supporting HeartChase, an American Heart Association fundraiser in Newport, Ky., as […]
Longevity counts for something. Go deep into the 15th round against heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali, as unheralded Chuck Wepner did 38 years ago yesterday, and become one of the most celebrated underdogs in the sport’s history. (It also doesn’t hurt your chances if a struggling actor named Sylvester Stallone, inspired by the fight, creates […]
There are certain sensitive, “adult” things that I will share with my wife, outside my 9-year-old children’s earshot. If that news contains some elements that my son and daughter should know, then I will tease out those details that I believe are most appropriate for them. Likewise, when taking a story that has national scope […]
When’s the best time to broach a potentially difficult conversation? As far in advance as possible–preferably days ahead of time, if not weeks, months or years. It’s proactive, pre-emptive and relationship-preserving. Every time I go through my bank’s drive-thru a proactive, pre-emptive, relationship-preserving message greets me. In essence, it plants the seed that they may […]
There’s nothing quite like returning a call or an email within a few minutes to communicate someone is a top priority. I try to do it in my personal life, likewise in my professional dealings. It’s something that helps distinguish you from the pack. When it comes to retaining PR support in Chicago or elsewhere, […]
By Matt Baron ULI Staff Writer This is a summary of the February 7, 2013 Roundtable of the Metropolitan Planning Council and the ULI Chicago District Council, held at Drinker Biddle in Chicago. The session’s discussion focused on the challenges and potential rewards that are anticipated with the emergence of the Cook County Land Bank. […]
February is National Children’s Dental Health Month, so there’s no better time to get the word out about the importance of proper dental care for youngsters. Dr. Jerry Udelson, a successful pediatric dentist in Forest Park, is tying in the national awareness campaign with a mini-barnstorming tour on the local level here in the near […]
For the third time in two weeks, I had a column appear in Bulldog Reporter–this time about the art of getting media coverage on speculative topics. Bearing the headline ‘Could Be’ Publicity: Picking Your Spots With Media Trial Balloons, the column yesterday flowed from seeing occasional client Tom & Eddie’s secure mention in Crain’s Chicago […]
Just so there’s no mistaking things, the words that are italicized below are satirical. There really is no such thing as a “National Liars Association,” at least not to my knowledge. I issue this warning because it seems that so many people–even journalists who are entrusted to be the watchdogs of accuracy and truth–will take so much […]
The NFL playoffs are in high gear, but when Bulldog Reporter this past Thursday published a column that I wrote, it was baseball that formed the backdrop for my metaphorical tips on building strong relationships with the media. The column, In Media Relations, ‘Fastball’ Pitches Go Nowhere Fast, marks my latest piece on the website that is […]