Meeting Journalists Where They Are
February 25, 2026
There’s a version of media relations that lives in the past. A world where you pitch a reporter, they file a story, and it runs
There’s a version of media relations that lives in the past. A world where you pitch a reporter, they file a story, and it runs
80-plus kids were reported missing in Virginia in the first week of August. TikTok videos circulated about the mass kidnapping – millions viewed and shared
We travel where our clients need us. That’s what we did last month, heading to Nashville with our friends at Empire Solutions for Aluminum USA.
Look, we don’t play favorites with our clients, but if we did… Copper Peak would be right up there. And not just because they’re working
Media training isn’t about posture or wardrobe—though it’s important. It’s about preparing your leadership to speak with clarity, stay on message, and not freeze when
Michigan Irish Music Festival came to us wanting a brand refresh. What they got was a dedicated team that created a brand new look–but we’re
If you don’t already know, the 8THIRTYFOUR team has two former journalists. But if you asked anyone in the journalism industry, they’d say it’s two
Economic downturns don’t knock—they kick the door down. The companies that thrive aren’t the ones hoping for a miracle; they’re the ones with a plan,
Our clients may be national, but sometimes the major issues impacting our country bring us right back to our own backyard. That was the case
Ribbon cuttings typically aren’t exactly edge-of-your-seat events. They’re predictable – big scissors, forced smiles, the whole nine yards. But when LifeCircles PACE came to us
Let’s talk about how our clients kicked off 2025. While many people like to ease into the new year, we were making sure our clients
When Special Olympics Michigan (SOMI) approached us to help them get media coverage for their new facility—the world’s largest inclusive sports facility—we saw an opportunity
Look, we’re not ones to brag (okay, maybe a little), but we’ve been kicking some serious ass for our clients lately. And by “kicking ass,”
Let’s get real about PR for a hot minute. It’s not just press releases and crossing your fingers. PR is a strategic beast that requires
Here at 8THIRTYFOUR, we talk a lot about the importance of personal branding. That means defining who you are to your coworkers, your industry and
In our recent Happy Hour Hustle podcast, we invited influencers Aly Zuidervenn and Chelsea Sinke (@helloalymay and @mygrandrapidslife) to chat about the ever-changing world of
Stormy Kromer is a company built on heritage and tradition. The brand has a cult-like following, and its customers are loyal in a truly unique
If you don’t know what a “fleaster” is, we’re so very glad you’re here. Farmgirl Flea is a small business that organizes three separate flea
The 8THIRTYFOUR PR team is hard at work with pitch writing, stalking all the journalists, and navigating summer pitching schedules (insert headache here). We also
As PR specialists, we’re always seeking ways to accomplish our tasks quickly and efficiently, cause we have a lot to do. Artificial Intelligence has become
We get it, you are super busy. Being in PR means your days are booked. You have media lists, interviews, pitches, press releases, client calls,
What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think about the local media? For many companies they think ‘small time’ or ‘not worth
If there’s one thing about us, we love proving people wrong. One evening we were doing what we do best – you know, sipping on
The times are a-changing and as pop-culture icon and Clueless bestie, Tai Frasier would say, “we are rolling with the homies.” If you are not
Well howdy do, it’s 2023. We plan to start out every blog for the immediate future reminding ourselves it’s 2023 – apologies in advance. As
Before you start fidgeting and anxiously bouncing your leg at the thought of a media interview, just breathe — or gulp down a glass of
Another month, more earned media. Want the scoop on what we’ve secured? You don’t have to ask us twice. Meals on Wheels Western Michigan October
If we read one more boring-ass bio, we are going to scream. Who made the rule that professional bios have to read like an engineering
It’s fall y’all, which has nothing to do with this blog but we’re just so excited. We broke out the fall decor and pumpkin-vanilla scented
I (Kim Bode) had a Twitter scuffle a few years ago, it was between myself and a well-known statewide reporter. No blood was shed, some
First thing’s first. If you haven’t read part one of our RBV case study, head there so you’re all caught up. When we last left
We really do get to pitch the coolest stuff. From Michigan’s most iconic caps, women blasting through glass ceilings, fighting family homelessness in our community
If you’re just diving into the world of public relations and have made the decision to hire an agency to help with reputation management, brand
Isn’t it awesome when people take to the internets to air their grievances? As a business, reviews can make or break you and it’s incredibly
We’ll admit we had no idea a year or so ago what affiliate marketing was, but we kept running into it when pitching for our
Just kidding, there are no pros. There are no shortcuts to media coverage. If there were, every PR pro would be using them. We have
Dear [Insert Name], [Superfluous greeting, that is completely unnecessary]. I am writing to request that you write a story about my client. I will detail
This blog is dedicated to Frank Blossom, he was one seriously cool dude and our industry was better because of him. Below is a picture
Spring has most definitely sprung here in West Michigan (it’s fake spring, but we’ll take it) and our client, Bad Habit, opened their doors to
We do a bad job of celebrating our own successes and when we win for clients, it’s a win for us. We’ve had a busy
Press releases used to be faxed. Editors were at local papers for 30+ years. Journalists knew what agencies and PR pros represented the various companies
It was hard to narrow down what we wanted to focus on, so we went for the bald, the funny and the bleeding. Read on
This has to be our one gazillionth blog on the topic of public relations research, but it’s worth repeating and we really like to be
We write these blogs mostly for ourselves because half of these wins seem like they were 3 years ago versus this past year. Also, we
Cool title, right? We had to tie this into Halloween somehow, it’d be a marketing miss otherwise. It’s hard for businesses to truly understand public
Muck Rack recently released its 2021 State of PR report. The report covers PR challenges, tech, media outreach, digital, measurement and budgets—all very exciting stuff for
We’ve always known how important marketing and PR are for companies. Sometimes, businesses need a bit of convincing to understand the value, but in the
As an incoming intern and soon-to-be college senior, I figured I had a pretty solid understanding of what would be expected of me regarding public
Let’s talk money; it’s basically everyone’s favorite subject. Personally or professionally, you always need to know how much you will spend on an item or
It feels like everyone has a podcast these days, and if you’re thinking the same thing, you’re right. They do. According to a Podcast Insights
We really hate being described as “small” or “boutique,” as it often disparages the work we do for our clients, not to mention ourselves. After
Sometimes we feel like a broken record, but this point deserves to be made again and again and again. We set out to be a
If you’ve been following us at all lately, you will know that we have gotten some BIG media wins for our client, Lavender Life. Public
Our best friends at Muck Rack compiled their 2021 State of Journalism report by surveying 2,482 journalists from January 11th to February 8th, 2021. Considering
This is our third time writing this blog on the age-old question, “what is the difference between marketing, public relations, and advertising?” You guys sure
It’s interesting, the names approaches or actions are given. For example, we’ve been practicing integrated communications for over 14 years, and now most people in
We promise this blog will be interesting, albeit it’s title. In the ever-evolving and highly stressful world of public relations, practitioners are often asked “how
Whether it was the result of a well-timed star alignment or simply the fact that we aim to elevate women’s voices all year round, we
In this week’s Week in Media blog, we tackle the royals, burgers and crayons. It’s about to get interesting. Women Belong in the Kitchen That
The latest tool in PR pros’ toolboxes is the invite-only social networking app, Clubhouse. People are going crazy to get access to find out what
As a PR professional, your days are filled with research, media lists, interview coordination, segment rundowns, media kits, pitches, press releases, follow-up, emails, client calls
In this week’s edition of “shit you’re just not gonna believe,” we present the following. We’re sleeping better now We can’t wait to order GoodPillow,
This post comes to you directly from Kim. PR seems like a sexy field, am I right? If you’re older like me, then you think
A career in PR is often learned on the job, even though new grads like to think they know it all once they have the
Public relations professionals are required to abide by a code of ethics. You can read the entire code here , but for the purpose of
We’re all working towards great SEO and a high domain authority, aren’t we? There are so many ways to get there, but a lot of
If you haven’t noticed by now, we really love PR. In fact, the only things we love more than that are integrated communications as a
We recently had Josh Byler on the Happy Hour Hustle podcast. For those of you that don’t know, Josh is married to Kim. If you
Being named one of America’s Best PR Agencies in 2021 by Forbes will forever be a highlight of 2020 (at least something good came out
Public relations and digital are in a long-term, committed, and extremely healthy relationship (It’s Facebook official). To put it in perspective, they are a
Mistakes are a part of human nature. We all make them, and we’ll continue to do so. Think back to the last f*ck up you
Anyone remember what the inside of their office looks like? Believe it or not, we will all be together again soon, and business will slowly
Public relations is so vastly different from what we learned in college, and this applies to current grads. The way we learned it, agencies would
It really doesn’t matter what industry we’re talking about; women are underrepresented. For the sake of this blog, we’ve narrowed it down to focus on
Do you recall the last great story you read, watched or viewed? Don’t give us that crap about how you don’t read because you don’t
We live in a strange and crazy world. Just look around. Cars can sort of drive themselves, our president has a terrible spray tan, and
We know it’s still November, but we are already “rocking around the Christmas Tree” and “spreading cheer by singing loud for all to hear.” Why?
If you didn’t know already, it’s our favorite time of the year (besides Christmas)…spooky season. And while some of us loved to be frightened, our
2018 Inforum – Tarana Burke Capstone Event With Inforum’s 2019 Capstone event, featuring NFL’s Sarah Thomas, right around the corner, we thought now was the
When we published our last grammar blog, we didn’t realize everyone would be so excited about the titillating topic. Sure, we love grammar, but it’s
A lot of people think that the public relations industry is just a game of manipulation, spin, and fluff, but trust us. 99% of what
We like to ‘get down, get down,’ which is why we LOVE events. There is nothing better than creating a kickass theme and inviting all
It is pretty obvious that we love 3 things above all else at 8THIRTYFOUR: marketing, dogs and wine, in no particular order. That’s why when
The best writers can make something out of nothing. Look at Dr. Seuss, he did it and even made it rhyme. “One fish, two fish,
This past week, we gathered with our PR and communications friends at Clearwater Place for one of our favorite annual events: The PRoof Awards. If
Edit: This post is great, but the new version is even better. First off, if you are a college student who found this blog while
Picture it: you’ve got the story of a lifetime. You feverishly type out a pitch, send it to a million media contacts, and expect your
The reason that Public Relations is often ranked as one of the top stressful career fields in the country is, well… because it’s stressful. Being
The world is a hectic place nowadays, isn’t it? It’s hard to focus on just about anything, especially anything remotely important. It seems like no
Once upon a time, public relations and marketing teams operated in different worlds and didn’t often connect or collaborate. While that approach used to make
Our team at 8THIRTYFOUR likes to occasionally hop on our high horses to tell people how to live their lives, and in our latest installment
Somehow we are already nearing the end of another year, and as we look back on 2018, a time that was full of big stories
The announcement of Time magazine’s Person of the Year last week created a great opportunity for the masses to reflect on, and defend, the concept
We sometimes find that the perception of public relations is skewed by those who don’t work in the field, and a lot of people still
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again… Not all ghosts are scary! Last year we celebrated Halloween by sharing ghostwriting tips on the
One of 8THIRTYFOUR’s core values is “we work harder than the rest.” While we may be a bit bias, we’re almost certain that it is
To be a successful publicist, you need to be patient, thoughtful, and extremely organized. Landing the right stories can be an art form and something
The 8THIRTYFOUR team is known for being bold, creative and always ready to take on a challenge. That is why Miller Johnson, a well-known law
Back in April, we shared a blog that provided a few pointers for crafting the perfect PR pitch. Since we are wonderful people, we’re back
Southwest Airlines. YouTube. Starbucks. When you read those brand names, it is safe to assume that many of you may have also thought “Engine explosion
Now that it is 2018, we are basically living in the future, and most people have likely heard the term “influencer” or “social influencer” by
The concept of public relations can be a bit confusing for those who are not in the communications field, but trust us, it is vital
A recent Inc. article that explores “5 Macro Shifts Driving the Growth PR Evolution,” plus a recent cocktail party chat that posed the question, “Is
**Contains This Is Us Spoilers The year is 2018 – a year of advancements in space exploration, peaceful protests across the country, unrest and uncertainty
This time of year, many people are traveling. They may be on vacation or working remotely while offices clear out and get quiet. This means
If you’re anything like our ringleader, Kim Bode, then you’ve probably ditched the pumpkin spice for peppermint, put up Christmas decorations and are jamming to
Calling all badass college students, we want you! Yes, you. 8THIRTYFOUR is hiring not one, but two interns for the Winter 2018 semester! Our
Q: Are traditional media kits considered, “dead?” A: No. Q: Should you consider spicing up your traditional media kit to gain more attention? A: Yes. Today,
The last blog I wrote, A Media Pitching Guide For Dummies, covered the basics of media pitching (if you haven’t read this yet, what are
When I entered the workforce after graduating, I quickly learned that I obtained many informative and useful skills in college, but how to pitch to
When was the last time you hand wrote a letter or thank you notes? (Yes, you read that correctly. Not the last time you sent
834 is known for getting work done professionally and effectively. We like to think we make it look easy, but the truth is, our team
Today, it’s not enough to simply host a great event and hope that everyone enjoys it in the moment, the digital public demands more. They
As I scroll through my social media feed, I notice that 40-percent of posts are typical social media posts (Engagement announcements, baby milestones, dogs pictures,
Public relations is much more than relating to the public. According to the Public Relations Society of America, “Public relations is a strategic communication process
This blog was originally posted on smallbizmusings.com, but it was so good we had to share it again. Public relations can only do so much.
This is an old post! Check out our updated one here. Graphic design and public relations are often thought of as two separate disciplines, independent
Step #1: Don’t write the release. Public relations has changed a lot since I (Kim) started my career, with digital becoming integral in the process
Public relations is often intangible when it comes to measuring the effectiveness or effects it has on your overall company sales. PR is meant to
With growth comes hiring, with new hires comes lots and lots of interviews. How do you stand out from the crowd? How do you leave
We had a whole list of brand fails primed and ready to go for this blog, but over the weekend, a local brand demonstrated first
As we gear up for another week of media announcements, press conferences, media training and pitching, I wanted to share some tips on media
A communication strategy really does serve a purpose, it isn’t just something you read once and set on a shelf. It should be your roadmap
Unless you live your life under a very large boulder (possibly a mountain), you have inevitably heard something about Pokémon GO, the viral mobile game
The past couple weeks have been particularly eventful for Team834. Not to say that every week doesn’t bring a new series of events that we
Media kits have been a traditional part of public relations for some time now, becoming the best way to deliver client information to the media
A streamlined process is extremely important when it comes to getting public relations right. Today, that means using social media to reach-out and engage the people
View the updated 2019 version of Marketing vs Advertising vs Public Relations. At 834 | Integrated Communications, clients rely on our ability to provide
If you’re in a company that sells products or services to other businesses you might think that your approach to Public Relations and Marketing is
Aaah yes…perhaps the most important component in hosting a fundraising event is the promotion. If you missed Part 1 and Part 2 of Breathing New
This blog series is tackling the lame, boring and ineffective fundraising events the majority of us are forced to endure on a regular basis. If
We were recently asked for our input on the importance of having PR and Marketing people on a nonprofit board. Our team is involved in
The media is busy, there are less reporters and they are doing more work than ever before. Not only do they find the stories, write
Everyone always asks us, what is integrated communications? What do you mean 834 is an “integrated communication firm”? Here is the deal. A long time
An extra Friday in the month means a Bode Bonus Blog! I sit here writing this blog, right after #Team834 wrapped up another press conference
Whether you are creating or maintaining your brand image there are certain “rules” to follow to ensure the success of your brand. Patience: Consumers do
Grand Rapids, Mich., April 26, 2012 — Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge’s marketing department and 834 Design & Marketing have been honored with the 2012
PR is so important to the success of any campaign, and should be weaved into all aspects of a company’s marketing. We are incredibly lucky
April showers bring an outpouring of events to Grand Rapids! If you are a professionals looking to be build your personal brand, now is the
March Events With spring just around the corner, Grand Rapids is celebrating with lots of chances to connect in the month of March. There are
The American Marketing Association West Michigan Chapter has announced its president and newest board members for the 2009-2010 year. Source: Grand Rapids Business Journal, October
Monday, February Barcheski founded Axios in 1988 with the idea to provide executive outsourcing services to West Michigan companies, but the concept was a hard
After six years of working as the West Michigan Science & Technology Initiative marketing director, Kim Bode, a high-energy 29-year-old, decided it was time to
As millions of baby boomers approach retirement, employers know they need to fill the gap with boomer kids, often called simply “Millennials.” The question now
As she looks out the window from her office in the Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences, Kim Bode can see the explosion of healthcare-related construction