Congressfolk and Cameras

Susan Herr | September 15, 2009 | 0 Comments

For the second year in a row, PhilanthroMedia was invited to cover the release of the Middle Class Scorecard for our client, the Drum Major Institute for Public Policy.  Last year, representatives who received ‘A’s’ were willing to stay for a brief recognition event.  This year, they had come off the floor from a vote [...]

User-Generated Content Pointing the Way

Susan Herr | September 11, 2009 | 0 Comments

Does your website possess a seemingly insatiable demand for new content? Ever wonder if all the hype about Web 2.0 and “user-generated content” might ever lighten that feeding burden?  Or, if despite all your effort producing “objective” content about the foundation’s work, your grantees might not illuminate its value, in their own words, better than [...]

Communicating Hope in 2.0

Susan Herr | August 19, 2009 | 0 Comments

In these tough times, promoting a message of hope can be a hard sell. But for the Skillman Foundation, which has worked to promote healthy schools, communities and opportunities in Detroit for nearly half a century, video is becoming an increasingly important tool to help the foundation present stories about the Motor City’s deep resilience.
Click [...]

Replacing Reports With Online Tools

Susan Herr | August 19, 2009 | 0 Comments

It is increasingly hard in today’s world to get people’s attention — especially if what you say runs longer than 140 characters. So how can foundations engage audiences with detailed research and other information that could actually influence how and what they do?
That’s a question The Wallace Foundation regularly deals with as it disseminates knowledge [...]

Somehow, It All Adds Up

Susan Herr | July 1, 2009 | 0 Comments

Here at Pm, we’re lucky enough to have clients who teach us as much as we teach them. Here’s Bruce Trachtenberg, head of the Communications Network (our newest client), with some pretty interesting thoughts on Twitter:
“Personally and professionally, I’m rarely at a loss for words.  In fact, since becoming a regular user of Twitter, the [...]

Humor With Some Serious Messaging

Susan Herr | January 22, 2009 | 5 Comments

The Association of Small Foundations, in partnership with Pm, has launched a new website which uses humor to educate  Foundation board members and non-profit leaders about the dangers of self dealing. This revolutionary approach, led by Tim Walter, is sure to make a splash. See both products, produced by Dana Variano, below.

Engaging Youth Post-Election

Susan Herr | January 21, 2009 | 0 Comments

If you thought one of the most inspiring things about the recent presidential election was the engagement of America’s youth, you will want to check out this video featuring nonprofits working to sustain and expand that engagement.
PhilanthroMedia’s Dana Variano and Dave Yim identified what they called the PhilanthroFour of Youth Engagement. According to Dana, “We [...]

Ford Foundation Launches New Media Tool Project

Susan Herr | December 9, 2008 | 0 Comments

When the Ford Foundation gathered its worldwide program staff together, November 16-21 in NYC, PhilanthroMedia was part of the team implementing new media tools to enhance the gathering.
PhilanthroMedia’s Scott Riehs helped Ford Communications staff videotape more than 20 interviews in which program officers were asked to describe the work of their “most courageous grantees.” [...]

PM Interviews Majors, NY Times Takes Note

Susan Herr | December 7, 2008 | 0 Comments

“Instead of writing a report or issuing a critique or counting the number of times that the presidential candidates have talked about cities, we decided that the voices that really need to be heard are the mayors’ themselves. “
That’s Andrea Batista Schlesinger, head of the Drum Major Institute for Public Policy (DMI), commenting in the [...]

Online Video Use Soaring

Susan Herr | December 3, 2008 | 0 Comments

We’ve probably all had an experience of trying to view a video online only to find out it requires us to download additional software or wait forever while it “buffers.”
If you’re past 30, you might assume that the glitches mean web video isn’t yet ready for “prime time” consideration in your communications strategy. But [...]