JSA+Partners

Looking for a hilarious way to settle holiday disputes? ? Amber Guetebier at CNET has the perfect recommendation:?Let’s Hit Each Other With Fake Swords,?a Black Friday steal from Exploding Kittens, Inc. Kittens, available for just $10 at Walmart (more than half off)! Whether it’s for family game night or a unique holiday gift, Exploding Kittens’ games are sure to provide endless fun, silliness, and a great way to shake off winter cabin fever.?? Check out Amber’s full piece for all the details and grab this deal before it’s gone! https://lnkd.in/gK3_afUz #BlackFridayDeals #BoardGames #ExplodingKittens #HolidayGifting

?? Big news! Flock Safety has been recognized as one of Fast Company's Next Big Things in Tech for 2024 in the Robotics and Automation category! ?? By integrating drones into their public safety platform, Flock Safety is transforming emergency response. Their Drone as First Responder (DFR) programs enable faster, safer, and more efficient crime response by deploying drones to incident scenes in under 90 seconds. These drones provide critical real-time insights, reduce officer response times by up to 80%, and optimize resources for higher-priority calls. Check out Fast Company's list to see how Flock Safety, along with other honorees, are shaping the future of tech: https://lnkd.in/gx74xBSQ

This past week, I had the privilege of being a guest speaker at Steve Fowler's USC Annenberg’s “The Industry, Science and Culture of Video Games” class. My presentation was focused on “PR in the Gaming and Esports Industry” as we covered how earned media can play a key role in any campaign. Here are a few of the key takeaways that the students were most surprised by: ?? PR is more than announcement day. Announcing a game, update or tournament is a big deal. But not the only deal. ?? Trendjacking is finding the trend and inserting your brand into the conversation. Being on top of the industry conversation is key. ?? Show don’t tell. Events are a great way to host journalists and have them experience large-scale tournaments.

What does a stay at the Red Bull Legends Inn look like? Well, for brands, it’s a masterclass in authentically engaging #gamers. Here’s how ?? Red Bull isn’t inherently a brand consumers know for gaming, but the functional beverage company used three tricks to show up in a way that resonated with core gaming audiences: 1?? Legitimizing Gaming - Converting the Godfrey into a giant scoreboard wasn’t just to turn heads – the vibrant display legitimized the influence of gaming and esports, and served as a way for Red Bull to show its belief in the power and impact of the industry.? 2?? Speaking the Language - The biggest pitfall for brands in gaming is failing to understand what makes audiences tick. At Legends Inn, doorstops were replaced with Caustic barrels, eye masks were styled like Mirage’s goggles, and trophies were replaced with chrome versions of iconic hotel items. 3?? Utility Wins - There’s at least one branded item in your home – whether it be a bottle opener, a pair of sunglasses, or a cooler – that you can’t seem to get rid of. Red Bull gets that and embraced vacation essentials such as soaps, shampoos, travel bags, and more in Legends Inn branding. Players weren’t the only ones who won. Head to the comments and read Amy Chen’s article in esports.gg about how the competition celebrated not only its 38 competitors, but Chicago’s bustling, yet underserved, #esports scene. ??

Exploding Kittens, Inc.'s hit kids’ game, You Little Stinker, was honored by PureWow’s 2024 Happy Kid Awards as one of this year’s Best Toys & Games! Named the “Best Game for Little Kids,” PureWow applauded You Little Stinker for its fast-paced and family-friendly nature, making it enjoyable for kids of all ages – even those with the shortest attention spans! Check out PureWow’s full list of top toys and games that made the cut this year!?https://lnkd.in/grU-e6Sk

?? When Trump Serves Fries, McDonald’s Handles the Heat ?? The Trump campaign made a pit stop at a Pennsylvania McDonald’s, and the beloved fast-food chain found itself needing to tread carefully to stay out of the political crossfire during the peak of election season. The Golden Arches kept it golden with a PR masterclass where they stayed neutral, clarified the facts, and reaffirmed their core values – “We are not red or blue – we are golden.” It’s a slippery slope between capitalizing on the PR beat and engaging in unwelcome political discourse. But when the fryer got hot, McDonald’s PR team kept it fresh, turning a viral moment into an opportunity to strengthen brand values. Read our full breakdown on Talking Points by JSA here ?? https://lnkd.in/g-sjb69h #CrisisComms #PoliticalPR #McDonalds

Most comms pros will recognize where this quote came from: "We are not red or blue – we are golden." McDonald's put on a masterclass earlier this month after the Trump campaign made an unconventional stop at one of the brand's Pennsylvania locations. In an election year as decisive at this one, and for a brand as universal as McDonald's, picking a side is simply not an option, and the company's response to customers, franchisees, and press hit the sweet spot. Jennifer Stephens Acree and the team at JSA+Partners provided a full breakdown on the contentious photo-op in their Talking Points newsletter. Read the full McFlurry scoop here ?? https://lnkd.in/eXSgftbh

BOO! ???? #HALLOWEEN is here, and PR pros know that a good strategy is like the perfect Halloween costume — it takes a blend of creativity, careful planning, and a lot of attention to detail! In #PR, we’re constantly brewing up ways to make our clients shine, so here are a few PR tricks to pull out of the cauldron this season: ?? Stay Treat-Worthy: Craft pitches that will give journalists a story that will make audiences crave more. Think about the sweet spots and what will resonate with target audiences. ??? Weave a Strong Web: Just like the strongest spider webs, media relationships are built over time. And the first step in making those connections? A solid, targeted media list! ?? Face Your Fears: Don't be afraid to reach out to media and meet up, face-to-face. While online access makes work convenient, nothing beats the impact of in-person interactions to build stronger relationships and lasting impressions. Happy Halloween from JSA to everyone who makes PR a “boo-tiful” field to be in! #SpookySeason #Storytelling #Media

?? The #TempestAwards were today, and we're thrilled to celebrate some major wins for our clients! A huge shoutout to SYBO for winning “Best Sustainability Initiative” with their impactful Subway Surfers x J Balvin x PlanetPlay collaboration ???? — setting a high standard for sustainability in gaming! We’re also incredibly proud of the talented women at Electronic Arts (EA), ESL FACEIT Group - EFG, and SYBO who received well-deserved recognition for their exceptional contributions in esports and gaming: EA’s Monica Dinsmore, EFG’s Maria Laura Scuri and Charlie Sirc, along with SYBO’s Yasmin I. and Anne Schnack. Special applause for our very own Casey (Tamkin) Borisoff for being honored as well for her outstanding work!? ???? Congratulations to all!? #Gaming #Esports #WomenInGaming

We are #hiring! JSA is looking for an experienced Director of Communications to join our team and elevate the profiles of key executives in digital media, consumer tech, and gaming. ?? Location: NYC or LA ?? Experience: 8-10+ years in PR/comms ? Perks: PTO, flexible Fridays, year-end office closure, 401K matching, and more. For more details and to apply please go to: https://lnkd.in/gTq54KqX #PR #jobs #ExecutiveComms