It’s another “emergency” pod episode! On this show, John, Matt and Jen discuss headline writers and the need for those that write said headlines to be detailed and, most importantly, correct in order to reflect the story at hand. Most times, writers can keep interest at large and drive readership with a good headline. In a world of clickbait, however, when headlines go astray, they can create an illusion of what’s in the body of a story, and lead to sensationalism. The trio expand on how clickbait has changed the true intent of what a headline should do, the good and bad of having a headline writer working separately from a reporter, how bad headline writing can ruin relationships and how PR pros can prepare their clients for these situations on how to navigate so they don’t burn bridges in the process.
There’s no doubt the NFL season has been filled with excitement and drama, and on this episode John and Matt dive into it all with National Reporter for ESPN’s NFL Nation, Kevin Seifert. The guys touch on how the reporting was handled regarding the breaking news of Tom Brady’s retirement, the Brian Flores class-action lawsuit and the impact of the Rooney Rule, as well as the most recent allegations from Hue Jackson and how the Brown’s PR team were quick to respond. Seifert discusses balancing the dynamics of reporting with the evolution of team reporters while maintaining relationships with independent reporters and what it’s like working with a large network. For all the latest NFL news, check out Kevin’s twitter @SeifertESPN. ...
What better way to kick off SPIN is a Four Letter Word than a visit with Baltimore Orioles great and Baseball Hall of Fame shortstop, the “Iron Man” Cal Ripken, Jr! Cal joins John Maroon for a sit-down to talk about their long-time friendship, forged from John’s first year with the Orioles as Public Relations Director in 1995 - the same year Cal broke Lou Gehrig’s consecutive games streak - through the end of Cal’s career and into his business ventures, starting Ripken Baseball and the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation. When John started Maroon PR 15 years ago, it was Cal who returned the favor becoming the first client and one of the organization’s most-trusted allies. Cal’s unique ability to provide insight into the current media landscape, compared to his playing career, comes through in this interview as he discusses the impact of social media on the game today. How would that have changed Cal's outlook on privacy during his playing career? Cal also talks about the journey into his own social media and how that has furthered his brand and how fan interaction has changed because of it. ...
Breaking news from the world of sports and the Maroon PR team is on it! This episode covers the ramifications from Major League Baseball’s polarizing decision to move this year’s All-Star Game out of Georgia in response to the state’s controversial new voting law. John Maroon is joined by Matt Williams and Jen Renehan as the trio discuss the path to least resistance MLB and Commissioner Rob Manfred took in their stance, along with the optics and potential pitfalls of this decision from a public relations lens. The team also dives into hot button issues of media slant and how the state of politics has made its way into not only the psyche of American sports, but in every aspect of our lives. ...
