Voice Matters Blog

As PR professionals, we strive to hit the right note with reporters and producers when pitching a story. We research the reporter’s beat, what issues they’ve previously written about, how they prefer to receive pitches. We familiarize ourselves with their news outlet so we can tailor our pitch. Pitching is a... Read More

Summer seems like the perfect time to momentarily break away from routines and allow your mind to go free. Our brain is an awesome machine that is able to compartmentalize and prioritize information to help us navigate through tasks; some which are arduous or rapid-fire and others that gratefully require... Read More

Every 10 minutes, someone in the US contracts HIV. Half are black. An estimated one in five Americans living with HIV doesn’t know their status. While the CDC recommends that health care providers test everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 as part of routine physical... Read More

Photograph courtesy of CNN. Every Friday we’ll round up the week’s most compelling stories about social justice, human rights, public health, and public relations. As blood donations decline, U.S. ban on gay donors is examined [CNN]   Texas to test 1965 voting rights law in court [Reuters]   Mitt Romney addresses NAACP, gets booed [ABC News]   Saudis... Read More

Finally—someone wrote an article that expresses how I view frequent usage of the exclamation point. I refrain from using the (!!) often in email communications as I believe the sentiment appears less sincere. Though the exclamation point is meant to convey enthusiasm, overuse can appear like you are yelling at... Read More

In last week's video blog post we drew your attention to a PBS "Frontline" documentary highlighting the devastating impact of the AIDS epidemic on the African American community in the United States. That documentary, entitled "ENDGAME: AIDS in Black America" highlights how racism and homophobia have played roles in the spread of... Read More

Photograph courtesy of CNN. Every Friday we round up the week’s most compelling stories about social justice, human rights, public health, and public relations. Boy Scouts Reconfirm Ban on Gays [ABC News]   South Africans celebrate Nelson Mandela's 94th birthday by participating in good deeds nationwide [CNN]   FDA approves Truvada, the first pill to help... Read More

We're excited to annouce the launch of our "Voice Matters Guest Bloggers Series" with this post by Chanelle Schneider, founder of @GenYChat. Every Monday we'll bring you a new post by an up and coming blogger. If you like to write for us, learn more about our Guest Bloggers Series... Read More

I recently heard a great speech given by an older man who, because of his age, was an authority on what I'm about to share with you. I'm sharing key elements of his speech with you because it resonated with me. This is the hallmark of any great speech—the fact... Read More

In our last two video blog posts we drew your attention to a PBS "Frontline" documentary highlighting the devastating impact of the AIDS epidemic on the African American community in the United States and then a hopeful new possibility: Are we looking at the beginning of the end of this tragedy? We... Read More

Photograph by Jay Buchsbaum/Muppets Studio LLC Every Friday we round up the week’s most compelling stories about social justice, human rights, public health, and public relations. Two More Patients HIV-Free After Bone Marrow Transplants [ABC News]   Sally Ride, the first US woman in space, reveals she was gay in a statement prepared before... Read More

Photograph courtesy of Thought Pick. We're excited to continue our "Voice Matters Guest Bloggers Series" with this post by Jordan Mendys, an independent filmmaker and blogger for Direct2TV. If you like to write for us, learn more about our Guest Bloggers Series here. Social media is nothing new, and neither is using... Read More

You’ve likely heard the old saying “loose lips sink ships.” The phrase originated from World War II propaganda posters created by the War Advertising Council’s campaign. The intended meaning was to warn service members and citizens against careless, unguarded talk about secure information that could be used in defeating the... Read More