Select a cause that resonates with the people in your organization

I've often told clients that corporate social responsibility (CSR) should be an important part in their public relations strategy. Giving back to the communities in which they operate portrays a sense of belonging, understanding of the needs of their employees and a willingness to provide support through funding or volunteering. What's important is that your CSR activity, is not only part of your PR strategy, but also aligns with your business objectives. What I mean by that is to choose a charity, organization, school or non-profit that can successfully utilize the skills and expertise of you and your employees. 

These days writing a check simply isn't enough. You need to select a cause that resonates with the people in your organization and one that fits the ethos of your business. We have supported Young People Guernsey and the Youth Commission in their public and media relations in Guernsey by gaining YPG exposure in The Guernsey Press and by providing PR strategy advice to the YC. More recently we’ve joined the Junior Chamber of Commerce, Jaycees, in Springfield, IL, USA. This is an international organization, with community links around the world. The Jaycees also provides the US-based directors of Gem PR & Media the opportunity to network with like-minded professionals in the city. We have volunteered at events in Springfield and Peoria. We also manage the Springfield Jaycees social media accounts; a true specialism of our business with a growing number of clients in the US, UK, Guernsey and Jersey. 

We also  support a number of charities through our international press service. We often approach publications with story ideas, which are focussed on organizations that we feel passionate about. Since launching the consultancy, almost two years ago we have negotiated coverage and written articles for The Priaulx Premature Baby Foundation, The Saumarez Park Playground Appeal and the Cochlear Implant Awareness Foundation to name a few. 

When Gemma met David

I’ll never forget the day Barack Obama was elected president of the United States of America. My husband and business partner Chris, an american living in Guernsey, booked the next day off work and promised to wake me up in the early hours once the result was in. I watched with him Obama’s acceptance speech, a speech I remember parts of till this day, and that morning I sat at my desk as the news editor of The Guernsey Press in love with politics as much as I’d ever been. When I left the paper to move into PR I told the MD I was taking the leap because I wanted to one day run political campaigns.

This week I met a hero, David Axelrod, one of the brains behind Obama’s 2008 campaign. He was in Springfield, IL for a book signing of Believer: My forty years in politics. We talked about the Illinois 18th Congressional race for which Gem PR & Media is managing the PR for democratic candidate Adam Lopez, about his visit to the capitol city and about Guernsey. On walking away he shouted: ‘don’t ever lose your accent.’ I said: ‘I promise I won’t.’ So in a matter of weeks I’ve met a man I admire as one of the greatest political minds of our time and have joined the campaign to get a democrat elected to a seat in The House of Representatives, which has belonged to the republicans since 1939 - an area which Abraham Lincoln himself served (although he represented the 7th district). What a fantastic start to a our first summer in the USA and the penultimate months in the second year of Gem PR & Media.