Are you unsure of the ways to rock your sneakers? The sneaker trend has been taking the streets by storm, seen in every fashionable way with suits and joggers to the runway.
Read More
March Madness has lived up to the title so far this year. Today eight more college basketball teams will advance to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament, and eight more teams will have to head back home.
Today, Monday, March 22, will be the final day of the second round, and the Games begin at 12:10 p.m. and will continue all day. The Orange will be facing Houston on Saturday at 9:55 p.m. on TBS, while Syracuse fans will have to wait a few days for their next game.
The updated March Madness bracket and a schedule for this week’s second-round games are below!
Monday, March 22
12:10 p.m.: (2) Iowa vs. (7) Oregon, CBS, Bankers Life Fieldhouse
2:40 p.m.: (1) Gonzaga vs. (8) Oklahoma, CBS, Hinkle Fieldhouse
5:15 p.m.: (11) UCLA vs. (14) Abilene Christian, TBS, Bankers Life Fieldhouse
6:10 p.m.: (5) Creighton vs. (13) Ohio, TNT, Hinkle Fieldhouse
7:10 p.m.: (1) Michigan vs. (8) LSU, CBS, Lucas Oil Stadium Unity (South)
7:45 p.m.: (4) Florida State vs. (5) Colorado, TBS, Indiana Farmers Coliseum
8:45 p.m.: (2) Alabama vs. (10) Maryland, TNT, Bankers Life Fieldhouse
9:40 p.m.: (3) Kansas vs. (6) USC, CBS, Hinkle Fieldhouse
SWEET 16
Saturday, March 27
2:40 p.m.: (8) Loyola Chicago vs. (12) Oregon State, CBS, Bankers Life Fieldhouse
5:15 p.m.: (1) Baylor vs. (5) Villanova, CBS, Hinkle Fieldhouse
7:25 p.m.: (3) Arkansas vs. (15) Oral Roberts, TBS, Bankers Life Fieldhouse
9:55 p.m.: (2) Houston vs. (11) Syracuse, TBS, Hinkle Fieldhouse
When the rest of the world was canceling events last year, South by Southwest was one of the major events that joined. More than 400,000 people were expected to be in Austin, TX starting on March 12, 2020, but yet the city sat empty causing the loss of income for local venues, bars, and restaurants. SXSW decided to try to move forward this year by having an all-virtual event, so what will that look like?
SXSW is normally held over the span of two weeks with events of conferences and festivals that cover the film, music, and tech industries. The events attract top talent, celebrities, brands, and marketers to Austin, TX every year for over 30 years. This year one of the keynote speakers will be Stacey Abrams, a political leader, and entrepreneur. Joining her will be U.S transportation secretary best-selling author Charles Yu, and country music legend, Willie Nelson. With the event going online this year, it will change the way in-person networking has worked in the past. With the help of virtual reality tech, they will be attempting to take place of experiential marketing, concerts, and film screenings. Most of the prerecorded keynotes and panels will be available on-demand throughout the week.
Attendees will be able to use a VR headset to be able to attend panels, shows, and screenings at virtual venues like Mohawk Austin, Empire Control Room, Garage, and The Paramount Theatre, the places that would usually be completely booked for the two weeks of SXSW.
SXSW will be rolling out the red carpet for the Film Festival, the full lineup has been announced along with the Opening Night Headliner Demi Lovato: Dancing with the Devil; Centerpiece film Tom Petty, Somewhere You Feel Free, and Closing Night film Alone Together. Experience 75 features, 53 films from first-time filmmakers, 84 Short Films, 20 Virtual Cinema projects, 30 Special Events, and more. SXSW Online 2021 pass holders are able to now build their schedule. RSVP for Film Festival screenings with capacity limits is now open.
Beginning Tuesday, March 16, the Film Festival will launch seven different films at a time in two-hour increments from 10:00 am – 8:00 pm CT, most of the films launching during the first three days of the event (Tuesday – Thursday). Once a film is available, it remains available on-demand until it hits its audience capacity or the event ends on Saturday, March 20.
HBO will be bringing a new way of activation to life by using motion-detecting technology. HBO Max Orbit is accessible through desktop web browsers, iOS, or Android devices. This immersive experience will be able to track facial movements and verbal cues to offer ultra-personalized recommendations for the shows available on HBO Max’s stream service, including an unreleased clip of Godzilla vs. Kong.
CNN usually will take over a bar on Rainey Street, but instead, they have figured out how to bring the festival home to attendees. The news network will be sending gift boxes to around 100 influencers, partners, and press that would usually be the in-person activities during the festival. In the gift box, there will be local Austin goodies and include cocktail recipes from the Bungalow and Parlor Room, which have both hosted the CNN SXSW house in previous years.
There’s still time to join the festival! The SXSW Online Pass will be your key to all things SX — with the opportunity to connect with attendees, speakers, and exhibitors across multiple industries. Register today to be able to get the exclusive digital experience from March 16-20.
It has been a full year since large crowds have been able to gather in a crowd to dance or listen to live music. As the country sits and waits for the approval of concerts and festivals to come back in full swing, one thing is for certain, being able to watch our favorite artist perform on television will be the highlight of the week. Taylor Swift, BTS, and Dua Lipa will be headlining the ceremony, joined by Cardi B, Bad Bunny, Harry Styles, and many others.
Who has been nominated?
This year the women in the music industry are leading the pack for nominations. Beyoncé has nine nominations this year, which will put her at 79 total career nominations – the most of any female artist ever. Taylor Swift, Dua Lipa, and Roddy Ricch are not far behind with six nominations each, both women are also up for best album of the year. The Album of the year category also features a mix of artists including Jhené Aiko, Black Pumas, Coldplay, Jacob Collier, Haim, and Post Malone.
Who’s performing?
For the lineup: Bad Bunny, Black Pumas, Cardi B, BTS, Brandi Carlile, DaBaby, Doja Cat, Eilish, Mickey Guyton, Haim, Brittany Howard, Miranda Lambert, Lil Baby, Lipa, Malone, Chris Martin, John Mayer, Megan Thee Stallion, Maren Morris, Ricch, Styles, and Swift.
Rolling Stone has reported that the Grammys will be “a multi-stage, audience-free show that highlights the year’s creative triumphs, social justice movements, as well as Covid-19′s impact on the arts.” The awards are set to last 3.5 hours and will take place at an “undisclosed building in Los Angeles” instead of its usual home at the Staples Center. The artists will be performing their sets on four stages, according to Rolling Stone, and one will be set aside for presenters.
Who’s hosting?
Trevor Noah, who runs The “Daily Show,” will be hosting the Grammy Awards this year. He was even nominated last year for the best comedy album.
How can I watch the telecast?
The 63rd Grammy Awards will air on CBS and stream on Paramount Plus (formerly known as CBS All Access) at 8 p.m. Sunday
Although hiring a PR agency is generally the best way to see results, entrepreneurs who don’t have the budget to engage an agency often reach out to media directly. If that’s the route you are aiming to take, do so with caution. Approaching media the wrong way can do more harm than good. Here are three things you should never say to a journalist when implementing your own PR campaign.
1. Can I pay you to run my story?
The first rule of thumb? Don’t offer to pay a journalist to cover your business. Journalists are employed to provide credible content and reporting. This question is not only insulting but can also put the reporter’s job and reputation on the line.Most news outlets have a policy where their team of journalists and contributors cannot accept gifts valued at more than $100.
2. This is off the record
For the record, it’s always on the record when speaking to the media. Read that again, it is always on the record when speaking to the media. Be mindful of every word you are saying to the press can and might be used in a story. Some journalists are willing to interview you on background or might agree to keep certain details out of the story, but generally speaking you shouldn’t say anything that you don’t want made public. Before you speak to a reporter, map out some key points you’d like to convey. To ensure you get all your key messages across, you can also write and submit a press release to send directly to the reporter before or after to assist the journalist for your interview.
3. Are you getting my emails and messages?
They are. No answer is the answer. There’s nothing worse than bombarding a journalist to see if they got your release. If the media is interested in your story, you will hear from them. It’s okay to follow up once, but stick to that. Though it’s rare, there’s always a slim chance your initial pitch wound up in their junk folder. If you emailed them the first time, try calling their work phone to follow up. Some journalists or freelancers might be okay with you calling their cell phones or texting them, but be careful not to bombard them, especially after normal working hours. Focus your energy on doing your homework before you start pitching so that your pitch is actually relevant to what they write about. Offering an exclusive (and indicating that in the subject line) will help you stand out in their inbox.
Journalists are people too, and they work under extremely tight deadlines to publish reliable stories. This is why the power of publicity is so credible compared to paid advertising, but understanding the idiosyncrasies that come with publicity is invaluable. Avoiding the three questions above will hopefully allow you to continue your PR journey without hitting any bumps in the road.
FOX32 Chicago – A suburban school has yanked controversial books from their summer reading list after one family uncovered a book’s racist past.
NBC Chicago – A suburban family says books with roots linked to racism are on their children’s summer reading list and they want them removed. But they feel like the school is dismissing their concerns. NBC 5’s Patrick Fazio reports.
NBC4 Creative Production
CNN – Actress Tiffany Haddish can’t even drive through Beverly Hills without getting stopped, she told CNN’s Suzanne Malveaux in an emotional interview Friday.
“And I got a Tesla,” she said.
The actress was out with protesters Friday outside of Hollywood’s Laugh Factory in Los Angeles. She says it’s important for her to be out there because she cares about her future, the future of her sisters and her brothers as well as black people overall.
“There’s certain people in my family, if they walk out the door, they might not come back,” she said.
The news about George Floyd and other unarmed black people getting killed by police has left Haddish mad, fed up and hurt.
“I try to laugh and figure out a way to make it funny … It’s really hard,” Haddish said. “I got PTSD watching my friends being killed by the police.
close dialog
“It’s scary, you shouldn’t be scared to be in America,” she said. “It’s supposed to be the land of the free, the home of the brave and you’re supposed to be able to have a pursuit of happiness. We’re just trying to pursue that you don’t get killed today.”
But Haddish did say these protests felt different than previous protests on police brutality.
“There’s definitely been a transition, people are waking up … people can see now and people’s hearts are opening up,” she said.
This isn’t the first time Haddish has spoken openly about social issues. In 2019, she postponed a show in Georgia over the state’s controversial law banning abortions at the onset of a fetal heartbeat.
You text. You snap. Today’s generation of device-addicted kids teens and adults has been a breeding area for cyber attacks.
Read More
Once a player achieves a little notoriety, it is not out of the question that he or she will become the focus of media attention.
Summer is here and Exact Publicity, as well as our clients, host great summer camps for parents to choose from. Here is a highlight of some of our players’ camps including Will Bynum, Cappie Pondexter, Renaldo Balkman, and Chris Johnson.
A breakdown of how to watch, who to watch and the parties following the upcoming awards ceremony.
The biggest stars in television will gather Sunday for the 71st annual Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. Here’s what you need to know about TV’s celebratory night.
How to Watch
The ceremony will be broadcast on Fox, airing live on both coasts, starting at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
Preshow/Red Carpet
Fox will air 90 minutes of preshow coverage starting at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT. The Masked Singer panelist Jenny McCarthy, Shannon Sharpe of Fox Sports and Kelly Osbourne will serve as hosts for the red carpet coverage, which will consist of a half-hour preshow and an arrivals special at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. They will conduct celebrity interviews and offer fashion critiques. A preview from season two of The Masked Singer is also slated for the preshow.
The Television Academy will also present Backstage Live during the awards broadcast. The behind-the-scenes look at the winners will stream on Emmys.com, Fox.com and Facebook Live.
Host
Following the lead of last year’s Oscars, this year’s Emmys will carry on without a host.
Who to Watch
Presenters for the ceremony include: nominees Angela Bassett, Stephen Colbert, Viola Davis, Michael Douglas, Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers and Billy Porter; the Emmy-nominated actors from HBO’s Game of Thrones, including Alfie Allen, Gwendoline Christie, Emilia Clarke, Peter Dinklage, Kit Harington, Lena Headey, Sophie Turner, Carice van Houten, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau and Maisie Williams; Empire stars Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard; 911’s Peter Krause, Zendaya and Naomi Watts; the cast of Veep, which will reunite following the HBO show’s final season, including Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Anna Chlumsky, Tony Hale, Gary Cole, Kevin Dunn, Clea Duvall, Sam Richardson, Reid Scott, Timothy Simons, Sarah Sutherland and Matt Walsh; nominees Anthony Anderson, Bill Hader, Amy Poehler, RuPaul, Ben Stiller and Phoebe Waller-Bridge; Ike Barinholtz, Cedric the Entertainer, Max Greenfield, Gwyneth Paltrow, Maya Rudolph and Lilly Singh. Additionally, Keeping Up With the Kardashians stars Kim Kardashian, Kendall Jenner and Kylie Jenner will also present at the awards show.
‘The Lion King’ Featurette: Hear Seth Rogen and Billy Eichner Sing ‘Hakuna Matata’
Well well…the sun rays are poppin’ as summertime is in full ray. If you are stirring up your summer plans…check out our quick list below of things you may want to try in the summer heat.
Press releases are still used as a means of communicating news to the masses. But is this really effective? Will sending out a press release ensure media attention and/or attention from your core intended audience?
Read More
Knocking down press coverage doesn’t just happen overnight. It takes more than a phone call, a fancy press release, a targeted email, a flashy social media post and a reach out.
Read More
Former NBA head coach and player Byron Scott Announces Launch of League
NBA legend and coach Byron Scott, officially announces the launch of Primetime Basketball (www.PrimetimeBL.com), a new 5-on-5, full court basketball league that will feature some of the best players who have ever played the game of basketball, all who have once played in the NBA.“I am so excited about our Primetime basketball league. “We are giving our players an opportunity to continue their basketball careers,” said Primetime Basketball CEO Byron Scott. Primetime basketball league, PBL, will begin with showcase games this summer 2018 and follow with the first full complete inaugural season to start in June 2019.
Diego has expanded its Ciroc Vodka line with the launch of a limited edition Summer Colada expression, infused with flavors of pineapple and coconut.
Read More
Former NBA Player Renaldo Balkman flew to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Irma to help. He tried to leave before Hurricane Maria hit, but could not as the massive storm left him trapped inside of his Puerto Rico home and airports closed for departure out.
Read More
“Fashion is about taking chances, it’s about taking risks, and just doing it the way you feel comfortable doing it. If you do that, people will respect it more.”
Fabolous performed multiple hit songs to the sold-out crowd at the Room Seven Chicago venue.
An accomplished singer and songwriter, a Soul Train Award R&B Songstress and a Billboard Award-winning group from Maryland headlined the Chicago Westside Music Festival (“WSMF”).
Read More
Exact worked with MINI for the Chicago Auto Show, MINI’s platform this year is, “More of What Matters.”
Read More