presidential news conference tonight.

I'm going to be watching this evening's presidential news conference with both personal and professional interest. While I am a PR practitioner and have typically had a solid working relationship with the media, I understand they are also duty bound to ask the tough questions and put subjects under the microscope. I hope they do just that with President Obama tonight.

Yes, I voted for him. But I have no respect for the media when they lob softballs at high-ranking officials.

From the other side, I'll be curious to see how Obama handles it.

We shall see.

a word or three about liam neeson.

I'm not sure the Natasha Richardson story has an overt PR angle. I'm not even sure it needs one. But there's something oddly comforting in the manner in which Liam Neeson and family handled themselves publicly through this very wrenching and private tragedy.

Being a celebrity certainly has its perks. And most outsiders find the glare of the public eye to be fascinating. Many celebrities, of course, would argue otherwise. That's why I'm so completely taken with Mr. Neeson's ability to walk the tightrope of grace in the spotlight while grieving over the death of his wife.

The cameras weren't shy about getting in his space, but Neeson never lashed out. He never turned his anger on them. And really, who could blame him if he did? Instead, he was polite and would acknowledge them; as though he felt a sense of public duty to the papparazzi.

If there's a lesson to be learned here, it's to never forget your social graces; even if those around you have none. It is unimaginable for you and I simultaneously grieve, plan a funeral and make public appearances to acknowledge the public sympathy you're receiving.

Mr. Neeson and his family have my condolences and respect for staying calm in the eye of a very sad storm.

a statehouse rally: still effective, still relavent.

Sometimes a textbook case of public relations serves as a reminder of why it's textbook. From IndyStar.com:

Charter school advocates rally at Statehouse
By Richard Gootee

Indiana Public Charter School President Russ Simnick told about 500 students and supporters today that charter schools are beginning to gain more support despite a proposal alive in the General Assembly that places a moratorium on establishing new ones.

"Anytime you get an elected official, or anyone, to a charter school they are very impressed. Obviously, they're very busy so we're bringing charter schools to the Statehouse," said Simnick during the first Charter Schools Statehouse Day.
Read more.

VERDICT: GOOD PR
In the interest of full disclosure, Russ is a friend of mine. But I'm not a rubber-stamp pal when it comes to PR issues. I also happen to believe in the cause for charter schools.

A rally at the Statehouse may be a simple idea to some, but never underestimate the value of keeping your message and your tactics simple. We live in a culture that places too high a premium on the next cool gadget and, as a result, our messages get muddled.

In this case, you know exactly what the message is. Nice work, Russ.

a pr firm that places ethics ahead of money.

I never thought I'd be writing about my former employer on this page, but this is an example of placing principle ahead of money; a concept that is surprisingly gaining value, given the current state of our economy.

From IndyStar.com:

PR firm drops casino over Timberlake incident
The company handling public relations for Indiana Live Casino terminated its contract with the casino today at noon because officials refused to provide information it requested regarding a Justin Timberlake no-show at the casino’s opening Friday night.

“We weren’t getting any information from them. We’ve asked for additional information from the casino and they have declined,” said Barbara Coles of Coles Marketing Communications. “When we don’t get information we can’t do our job, which is to provide that to the media.” Read more.

Verdict: Good PR for Coles Marketing. BAD PR for Indiana Live Casino
Look, there are times when "bad" PR is good PR, but Indiana Live Casino makes its money on getting people to believe they can win money there (while being entertained, of course). So when your biggest draw on opening weekend is a no show, you run the risk of hoodwinking the very people you whose business you want again and again.

I don't think the damage to Indiana Live Casino or Coles Marketing is permanent. But Coles took steps to repair any damage to its image. Hopefully Indiana Live Casino will follow suit.

you love him, you hate him, but you can't get enough of him.

You already know I'm no fan of Rush Limbaugh. I don't hate the guy. I simply do not prefer to listen to his radio show. But I can't help but laud him for making a career doing something we all wish we could do: make millions off the sound of our own voices.

In the crowded world of conservative talk radio—a world largely created by the likes of Limbaugh himself—it's easy to become stale and irrelevant. So I give major props to Rush Limbaugh for his self-PR master stroke two weeks ago in his keynote speech before the Conservative Political Action Committee.

VERDICT: BRILLIANT PR
Who else can speak and simultaneously have all of AM radio slobbering over him, Keith Olbermann going apoplectic, get written about on virtually every news and political blog, and even get discussed on mainstream shows like The Late Show with David Letterman?

Limbaugh, to me, is in the same class of radio personalities like Howard Stern. That's neither good nor bad. It is what it is. But let's be real here for a moment: Rush Limbaugh is an entertainer who needs attention to drive up his audience. The more he talks and the more you talk about him, the more powerful he gets.

And his supporters as well as his detractors are still buzzing over his speech. You can't even begin to calculate in dollars and cents the PR value...or the economic impact of Rush Limbaugh. At least for now, he's making people money, especially himself.