Agency Launches Free Email Newsletter on Advocacy Public Relations

MHP Communications LLC launches a free newsletter providing useful tips on the arm of public relations known as advocacy. The newsletter, "AdvocayNews...ammunition in the war of ideas," come out weekly, with advice for those on any side of an issue.

Purcellville, VA, March 18, 2003 -- MHP Communications LLC announced today the launch of a free email newsletter, "AdvocacyNews...ammunition in the war of ideas." The tightly written once-a-week publication provides advice, case studies and anecdotes about the arm of public relations known as advocacy.

It has been my dream for some time," said Mel Harkrader Pine, MHP President, to launch a newsletter devoted solely to advocacy communications. I see it as a discipline of its own within public relations."

Advocacy can be defined, said Pine, as the use of public relations or advertising to influence attitudes or behaviors rather than to promote a product. And the same methods work on either side of an issue.

AdvocacyNews will not attempt to judge which side of any issue is the right one," Pine explained. Well cover which methods are working and which are missing the mark, so that we can help our readers succeed. We aim to be a source of useful advice for companies, associations and other organizations, as well as for communications professionals."

Pine serves as Editor of AdvocacyNews and writes much of the content, but he has lined up a number of contributors whose experience in advocacy PR complements his. He intends to keep each issue 1,000 to 1,250 words long, so that it can be read easily at the computer. Hyperlinks lead readers to more information. Areas covered include crisis communication, reputation management, branding (when applied to an organization rather than a product), image advertising, media relations, and similar subjects.

Advocacy has been my career since 1976," said Pine. Thats when, after 10 years in major metropolitan newspapers, he joined the pioneering PR department of Mobil Corporation to write op-ed and other issues-oriented advertising. He went on to help guide Mobils communications through a number of political and legal crises and its worst-ever loss-of-life disaster. He subsequently directed the public relations programs of a national trade association and its members through an intense crisis involving major media, litigation, legislation, and regulatory issues.

Those interested in a free subscription can visit www.advocacynews.com to read the newsletter and join the mailing list via a link at the bottom of the page. More about Pine and MHP Communications LLC can be found at www.mhpcommunications.com.