Archive for the ‘Midwest News’ Category

MSL Chicago Summer Outing

Friday, August 12th, 2011

It’s been a great year so far for MSL Chicago…since January 2011 we’ve been able to add 15 new team members to our growing office and the collaboration and team morale couldn’t be better. As we start pumping up for the fall and winter we couldn’t pass up an opportunity to experience a perfect summer night in Chicago and head up to Wrigleyville for some ballpark food and drink and Boundless conversation, team bonding and fun!

A Cubs rooftop overlooking left center field – I have to admit it was hard to pay attention to the game as the conversation never had a dull moment.

 

Rumor has it the fun didn’t end after the Cubs beat out the Nationals four to two as the team rounded up for a tour of the great establishments in the area – A great way to finish off the night!

As summer wraps up, we’re able to put another exciting team outing into our history books as a great night with great friends.

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Posted in Midwest News, PR Careers, PR Industry | No Comments »

Chicago Art, in the Eyes of the Beholder

Tuesday, August 9th, 2011

If you are a Chicago resident who frequents the loop, you may have noticed that a new blonde rolled into town. She’s quite glamorous, and she stands above all the rest of us. If you haven’t experienced her presence yet, you can find Marilyn Monroe standing tall on Michigan Avenue. She stands on Pioneer Court and has been here since mid-July. Why is this singer, actress and American sex symbol standing tall, her skirt blowing, in our Windy City?

Art is certainly a subjective topic, and the city residents have expressed their take on the new guest. A resident comments in the Washington Post that her giant lace panties are “intrusive.” According to the Chicago Tribune, some have noted Marilyn as “a giant, silent avatar of nonconsent.”

Whatever the city’s opinion may be, Marilyn’s here to stay till next spring.

Perhaps it’s just a way for women in dresses to channel their inner-Marilyn in the Windy City? I personally see her as an art piece, symbolizing an inspirational American icon. Her presence adds to the fine art that makes Chicago a place of expression and courage.

When I moved to Chicago over a year ago, I immediately fell in love with the art that makes this city unique. The clash of skyscrapers with gothic-style architecture that crowd our downtown is eye-catching and magnificent. The Picasso sculptures in the corners of the city streets showcase the individuality that is Chicago. The art in this city is brilliant. Our skyline is like no other. Our sculptures cause you to stop and wonder. Chicago, like its people, has character. Our art expresses that.

In Marilyn’s biography, Marilyn: Her Life In Her Own Words, she stated “imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it is better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring.” Marilyn’s presence enhances our city’s expression of boldness.

What do you think of the statue? Do you have a favorite piece of Chicago artwork?

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Posted in Midwest News, Reputation | 3 Comments »

2011 Recognition Recap

Friday, August 5th, 2011

It’s been a busy summer for our office in many ways. Our account teams and our clients made a great showing this awards season, and we’re very excited to announce the full results:

DeVry University
· PRSA Silver Anvil, Reputation and Brand Management
· American Business Award, Communications/PR Campaign of the Year
· Platinum Hermes Awards, Communication Campaign and Company Branding
· Publicity Club of Chicago Golden Trumpet Award, Marketing
· IABC Chicago Golden Quill Award of Excellence

Kellogg School of Management
· PRSA Chicago Skyline Award, Events and Observances (Seven or Fewer Days)
· Publicity Club of Chicago Silver Trumpet Award, Special Events & Observances category

Brizo
· PRSA Chicago Skyline Award, Blogger Campaign
· Gold Hermes Award, Social Media
· Publicity Club of Chicago Silver Trumpet Award, Marketing

Delta Faucet Company
· PRSA Chicago Skyline Award, Research/Evaluation category
· Gold Hermes Award, Research

As we’ve mentioned before, we’re very proud of the work we do at MSL Chicago. The awards we’ve won across our consumer and corporate teams illustrate how every single person in our office contributes to our success—and the success of our clients.

Congratulations to all our client winners and account teams for all of the national and regional awards won this year!

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Getting to Know Chicago Through WOM

Thursday, July 21st, 2011

As a student coming to Chicago for the summer from a small college town, I was immediately awe-struck by the innumerable options of summer festivals, events and concerts that I could choose from.  Although I read about different events each weekend in local papers and on advertisements on the train, as a new-comer to this great city, I was unsure of which festivals to try.

I began opening my ears in the MSL Chicago office and asking my co-workers what their weekend plans were. I discovered the best source of information about Chicago’s abundance of events was right in front of me.

For example, Geralyn, our office manager, was my inspiration to attend the Chicago Blues Festival.  She informed me it was the largest free blues festival in the world and located in nearby Grant Park.  I was amazed at the huge number of event attendees, the many talented performers and the fun and energizing atmosphere.

I realized if I was relying on my co-workers and Chicago friends to find out the best summer festivals to attend, other people were probably doing the same.  This got me thinking about the important of word-of-mouth marketing plays in promoting and creating successful events.

After doing some research, I found I am not the only person more likely to attend events my peers recommend than the events I see in advertisements.  According to Adage.com:

  • Up to 92 percent of consumers trust word-of-mouth recommendations, but only 24 percent trust online ads.
  • A recommendation from a trusted friend conveying a relevant message is up to 50 times more likely to trigger a purchase compared to another recommendation.

Ultimately, I feel very lucky to be spending the summer in city with so many events to talk about and share with my friends.  A few coming up I am looking forward to include:

What are some of your favorite Chicago summertime events?  What do you think about the growing importance of word of mouth marketing in today’s world?

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Posted in Events, Midwest News | No Comments »

Attracting Media to a Night of Glamour in the Name of Charity

Wednesday, June 29th, 2011

In PR, you are often tasked to ensure that media show up to an event. Fortunately for me, getting media to the Glamorama launch party for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana (RMHC-CNI) was pretty straightforward since it was such a well-run event!

The launch party kicked off Glamorama 2011: an unforgettable night of high fashion and fierce performances to be held August 12 at the Chicago Theatre with performances by Cee Lo Green, known for the chart-topping hit “Forget You,” and the electro-pop quartet Far East Movement. Following Glamorama is an official after-party on the 7th floor of Macy’s at State Street. The best part? If you purchase your tickets online, 100 percent of the proceeds will go to RMHC-CNI.

As for the launch party, it went into the wee hours of that warm June Thursday. Hosted by Chicago Now’s Candace Collins Jordan, the launch event was hosted at Room 1520 and put together by the leadership of RMHC-CNI’s Christina Thomas. Guests, models, and media crowded the floors throughout the night enjoying the entertainment provided by the “Hip Hop Connection” dancers and musical guest, up-and-coming Chicago group “blah blah blah.”

RMHC-CNI did it right—they held a great launch event and really generated a lot of buzz for Glamorama 2011. Here are some elements to keep in mind for sure-fire ways that media will be in attendance at your event:

• Glamour: This was an exclusive event that made both the mainstream media and bloggers feel privileged to attend.
• Timing: The event was held in the evening, not at a prime morning news media hour. Fortunately, there was also no breaking news coverage in the local area happening at the time.
• Treats: Like any event, good munchies guarantee better attendance.

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Posted in Events, Experiential Marketing, Media Relations, Midwest News | No Comments »

The Road Ahead for MSL Interns: Past, Present and Future

Friday, June 3rd, 2011

It’s rare when you find a corporate blog post dedicated to a former employee, and rarer, still, when it’s done to brag about a person who has left to seek her fortune elsewhere. But, this was no ordinary employee and she left for no ordinary company.

Rachel Handler joined MSL Chicago the summer of 2009 having bested eight other intern finalists in the annual MSLGROUP Intern Challenge. The University of Michigan graduate and Chicago North Shore native immediately established herself as a superstar, rising quickly through the ranks. Her ability to wage war on any challenging assignment was only matched by her sunny disposition that, seemingly, never ceased.

Earlier this year, Rachel did what countless other young people often do after several years of sharpening their career focus –  she left for a job that would allow her to concentrate her time and considerable talent on writing…at one of the hottest social media companies in the world – Groupon, based here in Chicago.

And this past Sunday, I was able to catch up on her in a New York Times Sunday Business story on the fabulous writers of Groupon – including a former MSL Chicago intern who was a pretty good account executive, too. Wherever Rachel’s career takes her, I’m betting somebody reading this blog will have a chance to work for her some day. And, they’ll be very lucky. Maybe it will be me.

My first internship was through the Walt Disney World College Program in 1983. I was responsible for creating hometown stories from among the more than 500 interns that spring.  I had no idea where that path would take me, only that I absolutely loved what I was doing. Days of uncertainty were constantly mixed with promise and new challenges to conquer. It is, still, one of the most exciting times of my career.

Since Rachel joined the firm nearly two years ago, we’ve had more Intern Challenge winners who have earned a full-time jobs with us. The new interns always remind me that the start of a career is like laying the foundation for a building that exists in a personal vision yet undefined. Next week, we welcome the summer class of 2011. New adventures – new careers – await them.

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Posted in Midwest News, PR Industry | No Comments »

Recognition Recap: MSL Chicago Accolades

Thursday, May 26th, 2011

Joan Cetera, Christiana Schaefer, Joel Curran and Jenny Sherman at the PRSA Chicago Skyline Awards Ceremony last night.

 

MSL Chicago had a great month on the awards front in May…which means that our clients had a great year in 2010. The accolades keep coming, but here’s where we’re at so far:

Publicity Club of Chicago Awards:
Golden Trumpet Winners
· Pepto-Bismol won in the Marketing category
· DeVry University won in the Marketing category
Silver Trumpet Winners
· Brizo won in the Marketing category
· Kellogg School of Management won in the Special Events & Observances category

The Holmes Report SABRE Awards:
· Pepto-Bismol is a Gold SABRE Award Winner in the category of Special Events
· SABRE Finalists included DeVry University and Brizo

The Hermes Creative Awards:
· Brizo is a Gold Hermes Award Winner in Social Media
· Delta Faucet Company is a Gold Hermes Award Winner in Research
· DeVry University is a Platinum Hermes Award Winner in the Communication Campaign and Company Branding categories
· Pepto-Bismol is a Platinum Hermes Award Winner in the Communication Campaign, Event Marketing, and Product Branding categories

The PRSA Chicago Skyline Awards
· Delta Faucet Company won in the Research/Evaluation category
· Brizo won in the Blogger Campaign category
· Pepto-Bismol won in Events and Observances
· Kellogg School of Management won in Events and Observances (Seven or Fewer Days)

We take a lot of pride in what we do. Sure, everyone likes to bring home hardware (the awards certainly dress up the trophy shelf in the lobby of our office), but it is a truly great feeling to deliver the client results that we set out to accomplish, and get recognized for it by our peers.

Congrats to all our award-winning account teams, clients and finalists! Stay tuned for updates on our June results from the PRSA Silver Anvils, the IABC Chicago Golden Quill Awards, and the American Business Awards!

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PR With a Purpose

Friday, May 13th, 2011

The ever-changing and ever-growing field of PR is one of excitement, shrewdness, quick-thinking, multi-tasking, real-time engagement.

As a result, I have acquired a unique skill set and some rare knowledge. I could probably identify the faucet you have in your bathroom, in addition to how many Facebook “Likes” the company has to date. I can name the top reads for a hotel owner and/or facility manager. I can tell you the components of your mattress, and statistics of what people really do in bed. When new business comes in, I may quickly need to understand the chemical components of your table salt. I read up on digital blogs so I am aware of the latest advancement, and I stalk the greatest professionals on Twitter.

Not a day goes by that I am not learning something new, or acquiring a new skill. I’m continuously advancing my career—that is why I love it.

One client has not only provided me with a learning opportunity in the non-profit sector, but has also touched my heart and allows me to feel satisfaction in a different way: Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana. If you are unfamiliar with the organization, check out this video (have tissues handy). Chicago holds homage to hosting the world’s largest Ronald McDonald House, right in Streeterville. Planned to be completed in 2012, this will be the newest “home away from home” for families of children under treatment at the new Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. The house will also serve families from the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Prentice Women’s Hospital.

This has allowed me the opportunity to assist in managing media at the groundbreaking ceremony, coordinate a tour of the model house in significant Chicago hotspots, and brainstorm best ways to publicize this year’s Glamorama, Macy’s annual fundraising event showcasing the hottest in fashion and music.

Working with RMHC-CNI has shown me how good and kind-hearted members of this great city are, dedicating time, money and other resources to help make this happen for those families and children in need. It has truly been a privilege and an honor to be a part of this monumental project.

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Posted in CSR & Cause, Events, Midwest News | No Comments »

In the Loop News Roundup

Monday, April 25th, 2011

It’s been a week full of news in digital, mobile, crisis and reporting. Check out what we’re reading this week:

Bulldog Reporter’s Daily Dog, “How’s Your Mobile Strategy? Half of Americans are Shopping with Mobile Device, New Arc Worldwide Study Finds” - As more Americans rely on mobile devices in making purchasing decisions, companies are cornered into delivering valuable mobile experiences, or risk biting the dust.

TechCrunch, “Five Reasons Twitter will Kill TweetDeck” – Digital experts fear Twitter’s acquisition of TweetDeck is purely a defensive business strategy and Twitter has no intention of developing TweetDeck further.

PR News, “Deepwater Horizon Explosion and Oil Spill – One Year Later” – Commentary on the PR fallout of BP’s oil spill appears mixed on the one year anniversary of the environmental disaster.

Gizmodo, “More Fingers Point to September for the iPhone 5 Launch” – Three sources with knowledge of Apple’s supply chain confirmed the next iPhone is expected to hit stores in September.

Crain’s Chicago Business, “Chicago Sun-Times Wins 2011 Pulitzer” – The Chicago Sun-Times earns a Pulitzer for its documentation of Chicago victims, criminals and detectives facing neighborhood violence in the city.

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Posted in Digital, Midwest News, News Roundup, Social Media | No Comments »

In The Loop News Roundup

Wednesday, March 30th, 2011

Welcome to our latest blog series at MSL Chicago. Every week, we will pull together intriguing stories in public relations, marketing, technology, Chicago and more. Check out what we’re reading this week and stay tuned for future blog entries:

TechCrunch, “Amazon Beats Apple and Google to Cloud-Based Music Storage/Streaming” The next revolution in music streaming is here, and believe it or not, it is not the brain child of Apple or Google.

PRWeek, “FDA Once More Delays Social Media Guidance” After multiple delays by the FDA to release its first draft guidance for social media, some PR practitioners struggle without some direction.

TechCrunch, “Salesforce Buys Social Media Monitoring Company Radian6 for $326 Million”
With consumer conversations building online, social media monitoring services have become increasingly more important. Check out how Salesforce.com is strengthening their offerings with the acquisition of Radian6.

Chicago Tribune, “Goose Island Sold to Anheuser-Busch for $38.8 million”
With the rise in craft beer consumption, Anheuser-Busch is taking note, buying Chicago-based Goose Island. What will this mean for other craft beers, the brewery industry, and thirsty Chicagoans as a whole?

Hashable, “SXSW 2011: A Bird’s Eye View of all You #Winners”
Check out the networking trends from SXSWi 2011 in this creative infographic. You can also check out the MSL Chicago take on SXSW from our own director of digital strategy, Jason Steinberg, in his blog post from last week on other SXSWi digital trends.

Gizmodo, “The Most colorful Readable Radiation Dosage Chart Yet”
There has been a lot a talk about radiation levels in the news lately- we found this great illustration that charts Fukuishma, Japan’s maximum radiation levels in relation with other points of exposure.

PRNewser, “NBCUniversal and Etsy partner for Earth Week”
Earth Day is around the corner, and NBCUniversal and online selling community, Etsy, are teaming up to launch a “The Art of Reuse” contest. Check out this innovative partnership approach to cause marketing.

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Posted in CSR & Cause, Digital, Food & Nutrition, Green Marketing, Midwest News, PR Industry, Social Media | No Comments »