A Media & Communications Checklist for Savvy Attorneys Sue Evans, Northwest Media Allies

Understand the fundamentals of communications: your goal drives strategy and tactics. Media, social media and marketing are tactics, not strategy. For most attorneys, the goal is to secure a strong result for their client. The second goal is to generate more referrals. Start planning your media strategy when you sign your client. Make sure you […]

Upcoming WSAJ seminar focuses on managing your case in the media

Sue Evans, owner of Northwest Media Allies, was invited to speak at the upcoming seminar for the Washington State Association for Justice on Friday, Dec. 6 at the Washington State Convention Center. She will be sharing best strategies and tactics for managing cases in social media and traditional media outlets.

Powerful story telling speaks for itself

Everyone once and awhile you come across powerful story telling. This is powerful story telling at its best. Take the time to watch this video: This is Water by David Foster Wallace.                  

Gov. Jay Inslee signs Rep. Gael Tarleton’s first bill in Olympia!

Gov. Jay Inslee signs House Bill 1647, a bill sponsored by Rep. Gael Tarleton, D-36th, that protects residents in multi-family housing. Northwest Media Allies worked with Rep. Tarleton on this important new law along with attorneys Jay Flynn and Kristi McKennon and their client Dana Widrig. This legislation was inspired by the courage of Dana […]

Why I love Tumblr and gifs

  Nobody has time to investigate every social media app or stream every second of the day. But I’ve fallen in love with Tumblr, Instagram and Gifboom, here’s why. Sheer impact. Like an asteroid aimed at Earth, these images give you pause. They tell stories that captivate your imagination and heart instantly. You either dig […]

Eat the meat of the feedback sandwich

My favorite thing I learned this week was this: When we deliver praise sandwiches, people only hear the bread, not the meat. It comes from an article in The New York Times by reporter Alina Tugend. She interviews Tim Harford, author of Adapt: Why Success Always Starts with Failure. He says this: “Most people offer […]

Have you picked up the tab lately?

Like most people, I have a favorite spot I like to hang out at and drink with friends. We share stories, debate politics, discuss community events, swap recipes and gossip about celebrities. It helps define my day, my outlook on life and what I care about. My friends are generous with their time, opinions and […]

Want to be more social? Talk to a six year old

It’s amazing how many adults suck at being social. We are typically terrified of intimate social conversations, anticipating that a judgmental and bloated egoist awaits us. Want to be better? Talk to a six year old. I was walking my dogs today when a school bus unloaded a pack of elementary school kids. They were […]

Social media – the free focus group

I’m a social-media binger. I jump on the merry-go-round of social media and then jump off to clear my head and stay focused on strategy and objectives. But my No. 1 objective when I jump on is to listen. Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn are still my preferred streams, easily managed through Hootsuite. They help drive […]

Congrats to Gael Tarleton as the new 36th District State Representative

Congrats to Northwest Media Allies client and Democrat Gael Tarleton on her victory as the new state representative for the 36th Legislative District in the Washington State Legislature. Gael is the outgoing president of the Port of Seattle Commission and won with more than 55 percent of the vote in a record-voter turnout in this […]

If you don’t vote, you don’t count!

Washington state has an Aug. 7th primary election with critical state and local races that need your opinion. If your ballot is not postmarked by Aug. 7th, your vote and your opinion in local elections don’t count. Mail the ballot!

Our quality of life begins with our quality of discourse in Olympia

If you want better dialogue in Olympia, you have to elect better people. Let’s start by electing Democrat Gael Tarleton to the 36th Legislative District. Gael was recently endorsed by The Seattle Times: “Gael Tarleton, Democrat, is by far the most qualified candidate for state representative in the 36th District for the seat being vacated […]

Trusting great journalism begins with a commitment to a truthful narrative

Trusting great journalism I have been married to journalism professionally and personally for nearly two decades. My husband is a journalist. I used to be a journalist. I don’t always agree with journalists, but I know I can’t live without them. In February, I lost my college friend Anthony Shadid, a two-time Pulitzer winner for […]

Visualizing the world we want

I posted a photo on Pinterest of a salad I made. The photo of the salad lied to my tastebuds. Nobody on Pinterest cared. It was too pretty. The salad was visually stunning. The caption read: “Strawberries (substituting for a bad watermelon), Feta, red onion, toasted almonds on a bed of crunchy Romaine.” The salad […]

Gael Tarleton – A standout candidate for the 36th District House seat

SEATTLE, WA – Port of Seattle Commission President Gael Tarleton today announced her bid to run for the 36th District House seat to be vacated by State Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson, D-Seattle. Tarleton says she will run on four key issues: job creation along with protecting women’s health and reproductive rights, higher education and the […]

Anthony Shadid – Journalism Inspired

I lost a college friend. The world lost one of the best journalists on the planet. His family lost a son, a brother, a husband, and a father. His name was Anthony Shadid. The journalism world has been mourning his loss, but celebrating the ferocity of his talent and the humbleness of his human spirit. […]

Soylent Green Apple: Jobs, the vegan who ate people

I own a MacBook Pro, an iPhone 4 and an iPad 2. It gets worse. If you include family Apple products – more iPhones, iPods, iTunes and holiday Apple family photo books – we’re pushing past $5K of Apple investments from my small business and my family. I used to brag that once you go […]

Owning 2012 – Mapping measured success

Happy New Year! As we launch 2012, I am reminded of just how important our allegiance to transparency and the truth is to public relations. When you make truth your friend, you have to answer for less. It’s a great resolution to follow in all things politics, friends and family. Say what you mean and […]

Smart tips for building a trusted brand of truth on social media

Jumping into social media streams can be like inhaling a cloud of gnats up your nose. How do you screen social media content for value? And how do you create it? I recently attended Seattle’s Interactive Conference #SIC2011 where the top social media gurus and brand managers gathered to highlight what’s working and what’s headed […]

The tricks and treats of political campaigns – political ads

Behind the tricks and treats of political campaigns is a lot of voter contact and hard work. There’s no substitute for voter outreach. And while candidates orbit the Earth like the moon in attempt to reach you, they can’t possibly do that without targeted mail and television ads. If you’re a political PR junkie like […]

Know what the shot is

“You want to learn the first rule you’d know if you’d ever spent a day in your life? You never open your mouth ‘til you know what the shot is.” -  Ricky Roma, Glengarry Glen Ross Only three questions matter in marketing – Do you love me? Do you hate me? Why? Knowing why you’re […]