Media Relations
January 17, 2020

The Value of Spokesperson and Media Training in Organizations

This week, Sinclair founder, Chris Sinclair, delivered the first media training of 2020 to members of the NC REALTORS® in Charlotte, NC. While many different organizations build relationships with the media, it is vital that key players in your organization have the appropriate training to address difficult questions and convey your organization’s message.  “Is it an assistant to the President?”…
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Integrated Situation Management
January 3, 2020

How To Set PR Goals For 2020

As we head into 2020, and for most companies the end of the fiscal year, it’s only natural to reflect on 2019. What public relations goals did you set for 2019? Were they met? What do you wish you would have known last year? Now is the perfect time to assess your 2019 PR goals and start setting some goals…
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Sinclair Hires
December 23, 2019

Sinclair Public Affairs Firm Hires Communications Director

RALEIGH, NC — Sinclair Public Affairs is proud to announce the hire of Ure Loop, who joins the North Carolina public affairs firm as the communications director. In this role, Loop will specialize in content creation, copy development and media relations.  “It’s an honor to be a part of the Sinclair family,” said Loop. “I am excited to dive into…
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Campaign/Issue ManagementPublic Affairs
November 14, 2019

The Important Role of Independent Expenditures in Politics

In today's political climate, a rising number of organizations and politically-engaged associations are including independent expenditures in their advocacy.   What are Independent Expenditures? Independent expenditures are payments by an organization, group or individual for political communications – such as a website, or print or digital ads. The ad or website “expressly” advocates for a certain candidate or cause, but…
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Campaign/Issue ManagementPublic Affairs
November 7, 2019

How Facebook and Twitter are Changing Political Advertising

Facebook and Twitter recently made changes that will impact political advertisements and campaigns.   Twitter Bans Paid Political Ads Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey announced Oct. 30 that the social media platform would ban paid political ads, citing that political reach should be earned, rather than bought. Paid ads are vital to political campaigns. With Twitter’s decision, candidates – and supporters…
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Crisis ManagementMedia RelationsPublic Affairs
October 31, 2019

4 Tricks to Avoid a PR Scare

Crisis can strike at any time, but businesses and organizations can take precautions to avoid a potentially frightening PR situation.   Plan for Everything  Crises can destroy a business’ reputation – particularly if the business is blindsided and unprepared. Having a crisis communications plan can limit the effects of the situation and protect your reputation. All crisis situations are different,…
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Public Affairs
October 24, 2019

4 Communications Tips You Can Learn from Political Campaigns

Political campaigns can be a source of communication ideas for businesses and organizations looking to tell their story.   Make It Personal To secure votes, politicians must foster a personal connection with potential voters. They accomplish this by sharing information about themselves, interacting directly with the audience, and fostering relationships. Voters appreciate a candidate they can sympathize with and relate…
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Crisis ManagementMedia RelationsPublic Affairs
September 25, 2019

3 Communications Mistakes Your Business Should Avoid in Crisis

Mistakes in communications are never ideal, but can be more detrimental during a crisis.   Take Your Time When facing a crisis, a business or organization should respond in a timely manner. Waiting to address the situation could be harmful, leading your audience to believe you’re hiding something. To ensure a quick response, plan for crisis situations ahead of time.…
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Campaign/Issue ManagementCrisis ManagementNewsPublic Affairs
September 23, 2019

Sinclair Public Affairs Adds Expertise to Growing Company

Raleigh, N.C. – Sinclair Public Affairs announced its first strategic alliance that will build on expertise by providing a layer of industry experience to clients - particularly in the government affairs and public policy sectors. Anna Roberts joins the Sinclair team with more than 15 years of experience in public relations - specializing in government relations and communications. Her broad…
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BrandingCampaign/Issue ManagementMedia RelationsPublic Affairs
September 18, 2019

Why You Need to Monitor Media Coverage

Monitoring your business' media coverage is a vital step in controlling the narrative.   Measure Your Impact When you monitor media coverage, you can view how many outlets are covering your story, and how many readers those outlets are reaching. You can see all stories and coverage, whether it’s in print, online, on a blog, or social media. If you’re…
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NewsPublic Affairs
September 18, 2019

Sinclair Public Affairs Named to List of Largest Triangle-Area PR Firms

RALEIGH, NC – Sinclair Public Affairs, a public affairs consulting firm with offices in Raleigh and Charlotte that opened this year, was recently named to the Triangle Business Journal’s list of the 25 largest public relations firms in the Triangle area.  “We are proud to be featured alongside other established public relations firms in just our first year of business,”…
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Media RelationsPublic Affairs
September 11, 2019

3 Keys to Understanding Journalism in 2019

Journalism has changed drastically over the years. Understanding this change is vital to your success in the media.   Short on Time In recent years, newspaper layoffs became more and more frequent, particularly at some of the nation’s largest and most respected papers. Newspapers now face a dilemma – a large amount of stories to write with fewer people to…
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Campaign/Issue ManagementNewsPublic Affairs
September 10, 2019

Sinclair Public Affairs Named a Finalist for National PR Award

RALEIGH, NC – Sinclair Public Affairs, a North Carolina-based public affairs consulting firm with offices in Raleigh and Charlotte, was recently named a national finalist in the Public Affairs Campaign category for the 2019 PRNEWS Digital Awards– which recognize outstanding work in digital communications and campaigns. Sinclair was nominated for its work with the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) in…
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BrandingPublic Affairs
September 5, 2019

How a Blog Can Help Your Business

As a business, a blog can be a valuable way to communicate your message to your audience.   Controlling the Story With a blog, you’re in control of all content and can tell your story exactly how you want it to be told. In media stories – whether print or online – reporters decide what makes the cut. They could potentially leave…
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Media RelationsPublic Affairs
August 28, 2019

3 Must-Have Communications Tools in 2019

School is back in session around the country, and students are piling the supplies they need for success into their bookbags. Here are several tools every organization should have to ensure a successful communications campaign.   Savvy Social Media Presence Ignoring social media is not an option – especially since people spend more time on their phones in 2019 than…
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Media RelationsPublic Affairs
August 22, 2019

3 Costly Communication Pitfalls (and How to Avoid Them)

A strategic communications plan is vital to your organization's success, but only if implemented correctly.   1. Careless Mistakes Accuracy is key, whether in print or online communications. For example, typos in a social media post or on direct mail can hurt your credibility and hinder your message’s impact. Spell check is a useful tool, but can let several types…
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BrandingMedia RelationsPublic Affairs
August 15, 2019

Why You Can’t Ignore Social Media

Social media should be a vital part of every communications plan. The platforms are widely popular, and allow you to spread your message in a variety of ways.   Everybody’s Online We’re more connected to our smartphones than ever – a recent report suggests the average adult will spend almost four hours a day on their phone in 2019, surpassing…
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Crisis ManagementMedia RelationsPublic Affairs
August 7, 2019

Tips for Dealing with Negative Press

Your business or organization may encounter negative press from media outlets. With precise planning, you can effectively tell your story.   Rely on Facts Reputations have been damaged by negative press based on falsehoods. With the 24/7 news cycle and social media, fake news can spread quickly and reach a wide audience. Gather the facts about the situation and create…
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Campaign/Issue ManagementPublic Affairs
July 31, 2019

3 Critical Campaign Elements

A campaign – whether branding, political or issue management – won't succeed without these key elements:   A Plan This may seem like a given, but a detailed campaign plan simplifies and streamlines the entire campaign process. The plan can, and likely will change somewhat, but serves as a roadmap to accomplishing the overall goal and should be referenced often.…
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Crisis ManagementMedia RelationsPublic Affairs
July 24, 2019

How to Succeed in a Nonstop News World

News never stops, and neither do we. At Sinclair, we're ready and waiting to help you, no matter your situation.   Stay on Top of Crisis Crisis can strike at any moment for a business and organization – making it vital to have a plan before this occurs. Social media and the 24/7 news cycle can heighten a crisis and quickly…
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Media RelationsPublic Affairs
July 10, 2019

Three Ways to Break Through the Noise

Everybody has a story to tell, but our team at Sinclair can ensure yours is heard loud and clear above the others.   Social Media Social networks – particularly Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram – are vital to telling stories in today’s tech-centric society. At Sinclair, we can help you establish a presence on these platforms to spread your message and build your…
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BrandingCase Studies
July 3, 2019

CASE STUDY: Kentucky Credit Union League

In January, Sinclair hit the ground running with the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) in Kentucky to accomplish two main goals: to establish a brand for the Kentucky Credit Union League and to help pass House Bill 139 – the "financial literacy bill."   The bill would require a financial literacy class for Kentucky high school students, while boosting the…
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BrandingCampaign/Issue ManagementCrisis ManagementMedia RelationsPublic Affairs
June 26, 2019

How Sinclair Can Be Your Solution

At Sinclair, we can help you accomplish your goals, no matter what they may be. We do this through – media relations, issue management, branding, crisis communications and public affairs. Media Relations Through decades of work, we’ve cultivated relationships with the media that have enabled us to effectively tell our clients’ stories. We understand that news still matters, and that…
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Campaign/Issue ManagementCase Studies
June 19, 2019

CASE STUDY: Marsy’s Law for NC

Sinclair began working with Marsy's Law for NC in 2017 with two major goals – placing the issue on the ballot and garnering voter approval in the 2018 election.   Marsy’s Law would amend the state constitution to provide an equal level of constitutional protection to victims of crime that is already afforded to the accused and convicted. Along the…
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Media RelationsPublic Affairs
June 11, 2019

4 Ways PR and Journalism Are Similar (And Work Together)

Before joining Sinclair as Communications Director, I spent nearly two years as a reporter at a daily newspaper. What have I learned? The two worlds aren't all that different.   Telling a Story Both journalism and public affairs are all about one thing – telling compelling stories. The main difference is that consulting firms like ourselves work for clients, while…
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Campaign/Issue ManagementMedia RelationsPublic Affairs
June 6, 2019

The Power of the Press Release

As a former reporter, I saw a myriad of press releases each day. Many served to clutter my inbox, but others piqued my interest.   Straight to the Point For me to open an email, the press release needed a good subject line. A good subject line gives the news and relevant information in a concise manner. The subject line is…
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Campaign/Issue ManagementCrisis ManagementMedia RelationsPublic Affairs
May 29, 2019

Controlling the Narrative: How to Tell Your Story

Have a message to share? At Sinclair, we understand the importance of making sure the most compelling story is the one you're telling.   Finding Your Story Deciding on your message is the first step in controlling the narrative. What do you want people to think about you, an issue, etc.? Research through survey polling and focus groups can be…
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BrandingPublic Affairs
May 22, 2019

Branding 101: The Basics of Branding

Any successful business or association has an effective brand – what people recognize them by or think of when they're mentioned. Logo Branding starts with a logo – a visual representation of your organization. When designing the logo, you want to keep your overall voice in mind to ensure the image you choose fits the company. The logo is a…
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Campaign/Issue Management
May 15, 2019

Hitting the Mark: Foundations of a Successful Campaign

Running for election? Pushing a ballot measure? Looking to expand reach? This can all be done through a dynamic campaign. To be successful, plan everything – the goal, message, delivery, and analysis. Goal First, you’ll need to know what you want to accomplish through the campaign. If it’s an election, the answer is simple – you want to win. But…
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Crisis ManagementMedia Relations
May 8, 2019

Rapid Response: Dealing with the early stage of a crisis

A crisis has hit your business or company. What do you do now? Your decisions early on can affect the whole process. Make a Plan First, don’t freak out. Crises come in varying levels of seriousness, but most can be managed if approached in the correct manner. It’s vital to have a plan – if you think proactively, you may…
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Crisis ManagementMedia RelationsPublic Affairs
May 2, 2019

What is Public Affairs?

Public Affairs is more than just part of our company name, so it's important to understand exactly what that encompasses. There's many aspects to public affairs but it boils down to two – building relationships and managing perception.   Building Relationships Relationships are at the center of all things public affairs, whether it’s with your audience, the media or potential…
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April 17, 2019

Quick Tips for Owning Social Media

Social media isn't going away, but it is changing every day. As new platforms gain popularity and new trends emerge, it can be difficult to know what's best for your business' online presence. 1. Be Authentic Some have always been skeptics of social media; other users became wary of how they used various platforms after stories of data misuse in…
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April 10, 2019

On Paper: The Importance of Print Materials in the Digital Age

In a world dominated by screens, digital platforms have become an integral part of delivering a message and operating a campaign. Digital and TV advertisements reach wide audiences and messages can be carefully targeted like never before. But it's critical to understand the continued importance of print materials – direct mailers, palm cards, yard signs – which successfully delivered narratives…
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April 5, 2019

News Never Sleeps: How Social Media Changed the Game

Before social media rose in popularity, news primarily came from two mediums – print newspapers and TV news. The news cycle, for the most part, followed a strict schedule based on time slots and deadlines. But that changed with the explosion of social media, specifically Twitter and Facebook. Move Over Print and TV It’s common in our tech-heavy society for…
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Media Relations
March 28, 2019

Media Relations: Dos & Don’ts

Whether you’re responding to a crisis or pitching a story, dealing with media is an integral part of public affairs. Media relations is vital to the success of your messaging, which makes it important to get it right.   Contact List    A vital part of media relations is the contact list – this is where you store the reporters…
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Media Relations
March 18, 2019

Pitch Perfect: Keys to Pitching Stories to Reporters

Pitch Perfect: Keys to Pitching Stories to Reporters You’ve developed and perfectly crafted your message. Now what? To reach a broad audience with your message effectively, you will likely have to pitch your story to a newspaper. It seems simple, but breaking through the noise can be difficult. As a former reporter, I read countless press releases each day and…
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News
March 11, 2019

Sinclair Hires Communications Director

North Carolina Public Affairs Firm Hires Communications Director   RALEIGH, NC (March 11, 2019) -- Sinclair Public Affairs is proud to announce the hire of Noah Grant, who joins the North Carolina-based public affairs firm as communications director. In this role, Grant will specialize in media relations, content creation, and writing for different mediums. “I’m excited to join the team…
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Crisis Management
February 1, 2019

5 Ways to Protect your Reputation BEFORE Crisis Strikes

1. Be Social In 2019, it is almost impossible to get brand recognition without a social media platform. Maintain a professional, and user-friendly presence on at least two of the following: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.  When selecting which platform to use, figure out where your customers, members or brand advocates are on social media, and then target those platforms. …
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headshot of chris sinclair, founder of sinclair public affairs Public Affairs
January 17, 2019

A Part of the Story

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Sinclair Public Affairs works with corporate clients to keep them in front of the stories that drive conversations about their business, reputation and brand. Effective corporate communication strategies must involve engagement with both digital and traditional media outlets in order to reach the right audiences and establish credibility. We provide the tools, resources, and relationships necessary to give our clients…
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News
January 8, 2019

Sinclair Public Affairs Launches New Business

North Carolina Public Affairs Firm Broadens Service Offerings   RALEIGH, NC (January 8, 2019) - Sinclair Public Affairs is a newly-formed public affairs firm in North Carolina with locations in Raleigh and Charlotte. The company, founded by Chris Sinclair, was established to serve corporate, individual and political interests as they intersect in the public sphere. The company focuses on crisis…
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Public Affairs
January 7, 2019

What’s in a Name?

For those of you who know me and my former firm, you may be wondering why the change from Cornerstone Solutions to Sinclair Public Affairs?  Simply put, it’s my name. I’m in the business of reputations, brand integrity and public affairs, and the time has come to build something new on my own name brand that I have worked tirelessly…
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