Ben Butler

We’re kicking off #PRStudChat in 2017, and you won’t want to miss a Twitter chat focused on the nuances of media relations and lessons learned from the field.  On Wednesday, January 25, 2017, at 8:30 p.m. ET, the monthly #PRStudChat Twitter Chat Community will gather to discuss how students and PR professionals can build better relationships with the media, from new ways to pitch to dealing with quick media cycles, journalist pressures and building trust by managing expectations and being reliable sources.

Joining us on the 25th, as special guests and co-hosts leading the discussion, will be Jason Mollica, President of JRM Comm and an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland and Ben Butler, APR, founder of Top Hat IMC.

 Here are a few of the #PRStudChat topics/questions we’ll discuss the night of January 25th:

• How much do you need to know about the journalist and his/her community?
• Can pitching be taught or is it an “on the job” skills you need to develop?
• What constitutes a slam dunk pitch?
• What are some of the new ways to capture (and keep) a journalist’s attention?
• What is the best way to follow up on a pitch with the media?
• What role does PR play when it comes to fake news?
• What constitutes a real relationship today?
• What can we do in 2017 to promote more transparency and trust?
• What’s your #1 secret to building a better relationship in 2017?

And many more!

We hope you’ll join us on January 25th for a dynamic discussion on the nuances of media relations in 2017. As always, we welcome your questions before or during the chat session. You can tweet @PRStudChat, @ValerieSimon, @JasMollica, @BenButlerAPR or @dbreakenridge with your questions. Be sure to also visit our LinkedIn Group to share your ideas.

 About Jason Mollica: Jason Mollica is the president of JRM Comm, an award-winning public relations and social marketing consultancy, located in a suburb of Washington, D.C. His clients range from technology to government agencies. Jason is also an adjunct professor at American University and the University of Maryland. He formerly worked in television and radio in Philadelphia and New York City.

About Ben Butler, APR: Ben Butler, APR, is the founder and client services director for Top Hat IMC  an award-winning marketing communications firm in Pittsburgh. In his past life, he served as a public relations guy for a motorsports complex, director of inbound partnerships for an inbound marketing agency and head of communications for a software startup. He’s been named a Top Under 40 Communicator and is Accredited in Public Relations (APR)—a distinction held by less than 20-percent of all practitioners.

About #PRStudChat: It began with a simple question asked by Angela Hernandez, then President of PRSSA at Central Michigan University (CMU). “Is PR Right for me?” A follow-up blog post by PR 2.0 expert Deirdre Breakenridge inspired a series of direct messages on Twitter between Breakenridge and fellow PR industry pro, Valerie Simon. This was an important question and one that should be explored beyond one student or one blog post. Why not build a community to help students across the country, and even the globe, learn from the experience and perspective of industry professionals … A community where everyone can learn and grow together.