OREM, Utah–(BUSINESS WIRE)–US Synthetic Corporation, a Dover Company (NYSE: DOV) and the leading provider of polycrystalline diamond cutters (PDCs) for oil and gas exploration, announced today availability of the industry’s first commercially viable radial bearing line based on synthetic diamond technology. Coming out of field trials with major manufacturers, this groundbreaking technology from the US Synthetic Bearings division has garnered the 2009 Spotlight on New Technology Award from the Offshore Technology Conference, and was also recognized by the 2009 Utah Innovations Awards, presented by Stoel Rives LLP and the Utah Technology Council…more

YouTube video about these new diamond bearings. www.youtube.com/ussynthetic 

There is an upside to everything. Although it may be hard to believe, there is actually a very visible upside to the current economy. This upside is innovation. During tough economic times the entrepreneurial spirit thrives, and innovation accelerates as the stock market decelerates. Just within the last year there have been impressive and ground breaking innovations ranging from outdoor equipment, solar power and super powered servers… Read more at Utah Business Blog

I love great Guerrilla PR. With some existing brand recognition like Steve Wozniak has, Dancing with the Stars  builds public relations momentum in a huge way. I’m excited for how “Woz” wizardry will build his next tech company, Fusion-io (www.fusionio.com).  Not a bad dancer… What do you think?

It takes 3 tons of wood and 20k gallons of water to make 1 ton of virgin uncoated paper. But, we plant more trees in the U.S. than we harvest. We are doing something right for the environment. This week I spoke on CSR and environmental PR at the Hewlett Packard Dscoop digital solutions conference in Orlando. I was greatly encouraged by the new print on demand, intelligent marketing world of digital print vs legacy offset. Offset, though it has its place, is on the decline, while digital in on the way up. Why? Less waste, variable print, distributed printing, socially responsible.

Did you know 30% of all offset print is stored, but never used?

How the heck does Wall Street react so fast to the Obama Stimulus Plan? Thumbs down was the ruling as stocks tumbled once again.  The answer, the Internet. It has changed everything. When FDR passed his massive social programs in the 1930’s,  radio, newsreels, and newspapers spent days,  months and years getting the details of those plans to “the end of the row” to the average Joe.

Today, the average Joe is connected to the Internet and gets news almost instantaneously. The Wall Street experts and the media know more about the Stimulus Plan than the average congressional representative – scary. This morning while on the treadmill at Golds Gym,  Fox News interviewed two congressmen who knew fewer details of the Plan than the reporter did. Wow!

Ramification for corporate public relations: Get fast or get dead!

What do you think?

The Pew Research Center released a study last month, about the use of Internet news outlets.

The Internet, which emerged last year as a leading source for campaign news, has now surpassed all other media except television as an outlet for national and international news.

Currently, 40% say they get most of their news about national and international issues from the internet, up from just 24% in September 2007. For the first time in a Pew survey, more people say they rely mostly on the internet for news than cite newspapers (35%). Television continues to be cited most frequently as a main source for national and international news, at 70%.

For young people, however, the Internet now rivals television as a main source of national and international news. Nearly six-in-ten Americans younger than 30 (59%) say they get most of their national and international news online; an identical percentage cites television. In September 2007, twice as many young people said they relied mostly on television for news than mentioned the Internet (68% vs. 34%).

The percentage of people younger than 30 citing television as a main news source has declined from 68% in September 2007 to 59% currently. This mirrors a trend seen earlier this year in campaign news consumption.

The survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, conducted Dec. 3-7 among 1,489 adults, finds there has been little change in the individual TV news outlets that people rely on for national and international news.

Contact us to discuss the implications of this massive change for your public relations strategy.

Yesterday, I attended the 2008 UVEF Annual Awards honoring companies and leaders that have contributed at the highest level to business growth and their communities. Great event! KSL’s Keith McCord covered the event in this great entrepreneurial story in terms of current economic troubles.  The Daily Herald story also discussed entrepreneurs as the remedy for today’s recession.

In this video, Entrepreneur of the Year John Edwards, CEO at Move Networks, shared why the company leads the world in HD Internet television delivery, as well as how entrepreneurs have what the economy needs to recover from its current recession – without bailouts.

 Other winners included:

Most Innovative Product – Hand-held X-Ray, Aribex

Ronald K. King Social Entrepreneur of the Year – Warner Woodworth

Community Service Award – Todd Manwaring

Greatest Contribution to Entrepreneurs – Paul Allen, Provo Labs  (one of my personal heroes)

Utah Valley’s Best Kept Secret - Reflect Scientific

Last week I flew to the Big Island of Hawaii to do public relations support for Certiport PATHWAYS conference.  Certiport is a global company certifying digital literacy skills and computer desktop proficiency in more that 120 countries. The annual PATHWAYS event attracted more than 200 dignitaries from media, education, government, and the private sector from every continent. 44 students competed here in the Finals for the Worldwide Competition on Microsoft Office, sponsored by Certiport. Thailand came away the winners in both Excel and Word categories. Germany won the IC3 World Cup for digital literacy. Peru garnered the Inspriation Award for Digital Literacy.

The great thing about this event is the phenomenal focus on advancing digital literacy around the globe. Why digital literacy? Most jobs worth having require computer and Internet skills. Previously marginalized countries are finding a level field with much larger competing countries by helping their populations get skilled up. Nations no longer compete just within their own boundaries. It’s a global market place. And, digitally literate populations will garner the best jobs and life opportunities.  Certiport PATHWAYS is helping advance and distinguish countries, one person at a time.

When PilmerPR has the chance to represent a truly great Green company, the feeling is terrific. Green PR is a passion for us and helping start a revolution in recovered energy power generation is a lot of fun.  ElectraTherm is a startup with huge potential. Today, they are making the following announcement:  

ElectraTherm, Inc. (www.electratherm.com) today announced the successful installation of its first commercial waste heat generator. The ElectraTherm Green Machine makes electricity from residual industrial heat that has, until now, gone to waste.    Using patented heat and pressure recovery technology, ElectraTherm employs minimal heat (200 degrees F liquid) to generate fuel-free, emissions-free electricity at a very low cost: three to four cents per kW/hr during payback period, under a penny/kW hour thereafter.  Testing of the 50kW ElectraTherm Green Machine, installed at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, by Gulf Coast Green Energy and ElectraTherm has exceeded expectations, reaching output well beyond its 50kW rating. 

The U.S. Department of Energy reports that the available seven quadrillion Btu of waste heat sources exceeds the current production of all other U.S. renewable power sources combined. This includes hydroelectric, wood, biofuels, geothermal, wind, and solar photovoltaic. With a  subsidy-free payback period of  three  years or less, the implications on the world stage of a modular, scalable (50-500kW output) unit making electricity from unused, accessible heat are huge.

As PR professionals, our ultimate goal is to get press coverage for our clients.  But not all press hits are created equally.  A truly successful PR campaign will result in a variety of hits in both small and large publications that cross all types of media.  The key is finding the most targeted publications, and then pitching the right editors.Depending on the company and their goals, the press list should have a minimum of three categories. 

• Vertical Trade Press
• Local Press
• Business Press

Remember, in each of these categories you should include social media, print and online publications, and broadcast media.  Then, once you’ve got a comprehensive press list to work from, you can pitch your client’s story.  For a more detailed look at building a comprehensive press list, click here to download more secrets to Building a Comprehensive Press List.