QUICK PR READS YOU CAN TACKLE BETWEEN BITES
Happy Wednesday, Lunch Breakers! As summer winds down and fall gears up, we hope you’re getting to spend some time in the great outdoors savoring the sunshine.
One thing that’s a constant throughout the year, no matter what season, are sports. Year-round, there seems to always be a sports story that motivates and captivates audiences. This week, we’re rounding up some recent sports stories with a PR connection.
“Someone Give This Girl a Crown!”
Simone Biles is rewriting the future of gymnastics. This past weekend, Biles won the all-around competition at the U.S. Gymnastics National Championship. She landed both a triple-double on floor and a double-double on beam, both tricks that have never even been attempted let alone executed.
Biles fielded media questions about her historic performance but also had an important message to share regarding U.S.A. Gymnastics, the sport’s governing body that’s filed for bankruptcy and continues its tumultuous path following the Larry Nassar sexual assault scandal.
Biles continues to use her platform and moments in the spotlight to call for change at U.S.A. Gymnastics. Last week after a training session she said,
”It’s hard coming here for an organization, having had them fail us so many times. We had one goal. We have done everything that they asked us for, even when we didn’t want to, and they couldn’t do one damn job.”
Biles uses her media interviews to highlight important key points and inform audiences of issues that matter to her. She’s incredibly well-spoken, and also solidly the best gymnast in history, so when she speaks people listen.
[bctt tweet=”Looking for an example on how to convey messages and speak to media? Look no further than Simone Biles. ” username=”@StantonComm”]
A-Rod + JLo = Great PR
A recent Fox Business story outlines the positive PR impact actress and pop star Jennifer Lopez has had on her MLB superstar fiancé Alex Rodriguez. Rodriguez was widely portrayed as a villain in the MLB, especially as far as Red Sox fans are concerned, for various reasons but has since landed commentator roles with ESPN and Fox Sports as well as an occasional seat on ABC’S “Shark Tank.”
In multiple interviews, Rodriguez has credited Lopez for his career and image 180, teaching him to connect with fans and press. We’d love to sit in on a spokesperson training session led by JLo!
Baby Shark
Who doesn’t love a puppy? Especially one with a mission to help others. The San Jose Sharks recently announced that they’re welcoming the aptly named Finn as the team’s official San Jose Sharks Assistance Dog in Training through Canine Companions for Independence. Finn will receive expert training to someday become an assistance dog, but in the meantime, fans may spot him around the “Tank” (aka SAP Center).
This is a feel-good story that surely gets Sharks fans excited for their team and new furry friend, but also a great PR move to show the team’s commitment to serving its community.
Sports Streaming Landscape
An important part of PR is understanding the media landscape, sports included. According to Axios, “Sports could be more consequential than entertainment to the future of live television,” so sports media shouldn’t go unnoticed.
Axios created a guide of all the players in the sports streaming space to give you a better understanding of the industry as a whole.
