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A Light in Oslo
12/22/2009

As I arrived in Norway for a seventh year of handling global media relations for the Nobel Peace Prize Concert, I saw the light in more ways than I ever could have imagined.

Moments after landing in Oslo, a spiral glow illuminated the skies just a day before our President was to be honored with the Nobel Peace Prize. The “mysterious light” story captivated the country and even momentarily upstaged the man poised to become laureate. The astronomy and extra terrestrial communities were abuzz with wild theories, although a few days later it was determined that a failed Russian missile test caused all of the commotion. It was an eventful start to my trip, albeit an ironic and sobering reminder that even as we all gathered to celebrate peace, the reality of war was ever present.

Enlightenment of a different kind followed as I focused on my task at hand, managing the media, hosts and artists for the peace concert, this year honoring our own commander-in-chief.

I’d never seen the streets of Oslo, or any city, so alive.

Giant murals of Obama greeted me at Central Station, thousands braved the Arctic chill for a glimpse of the First Couple waving from a balcony at the Grand Hotel and Scandinavian children with “hope” candles and American flags were everywhere. It was a sight to see and illustrated how much the perception of our country had changed from my previous visits.

I started working on the Nobel Peace Prize concert my first year at DKC and still remember the skeptical Nords wondering who this brash New Yorker was on their hallowed turf. As years passed, it began to feel more like old home week and I’m now hugging it out with guys named Knut and Geir, butchering a bit of the native tongue and wondering why more people haven’t heard of Vigeland Park.

Despite their reputation as provincial, the Norwegians decided fifteen years ago that inviting American celebrities to host the annual Nobel Concert would serve as a powerful way to spread the message of peace to a wider audience and more youthful demographic. It also morphed from a local classical show into a globally televised “happening” which attracts music’s biggest stars, from Alicia Keys and Diana Ross to Elton John and Paul McCartney. DKC was brought in to secure talent, land media coverage and manage all communications.

Will Smith and his wife Jada were gracious hosts this year. We arranged for them to chat with President Obama for a segment to air within the concert broadcast. An exclusive, no less, chosen by the White House as the only sit-down interview by the President during his Oslo visit.

My favorite quip involved the planet’s biggest movie star admitting to the planet’s most powerful man that he was actually nervous on camera for the first time since Jazzy Jeff was his sidekick. Obama paused, and as Will waited for a sage piece of presidential wisdom, Obama smiled broadly and instead told him to “just channel the Fresh Prince.”

Of course, more substantive dialogue followed, including talk of the President’s prize acceptance speech earlier in the day at City Hall and his overarching theme of “just wars.” The conversation turned out to be a centerpiece of the final show, which also featured Will and Jada’s supremely talented kids, Jaden and Willow, joining them on stage for surprise co-hosting duties. Wyclef Jean, Lang Lang, Donna Summer and Toby Keith had the traditionally reserved crowd on its feet, throwing Obama a celebration fit for a newly-minted laureate. Often stoic Nobel Committee members were dancing in the aisles. Alfred Nobel’s presence was felt in the house.

Throughout the evening, I found myself struggling to truly understand the historic magnitude of what I’d experienced over the past few days.

Backstage after the show, I spoke at length with Harvard professor Dr. Allen Counter, who so eloquently crystallized what we all witnessed here in Oslo. “Do you realize 20 years ago Barack Obama was a young law student with me in Cambridge and at that same time my friend Nelson Mandela was a prisoner serving a life sentence in South Africa. Could anyone in their wildest dreams have predicted that both of these men would each become Presidents and more improbably Nobel Peace Prize winners? Hope is truly alive.”

At that moment, I realized the light in the Norwegian sky a few days earlier had never left.

Posted by: Dave Donovan, Senior Vice President

Posted in Public affairs, Sustainability

The Climate Discussion Heats Up
10/13/2009

People throughout the United States – and a good part of the world – thought about global climate change this September as the United Nations General Assembly convened a one-day summit on the environment in anticipation of meetings later this year in Copenhagen and the hope of a global agreement to reduce emissions.

DKC was in the unique position of thinking about the environment and conservation past and present,, as the agency for Climate Week NYC, a coordinated effort by global non-profit The Climate Group to focus attention on issues related to emissions and Ken Burns’s latest film, “THE NATIONAL PARKS: AMERICA’S BEST IDEA.”

For the last two years, DKC has been building a national conversation about our parks and the environment to coincide with the broadcast of the film, which premiered on September 27th. The film traces the birth of the national park idea in the mid-1800s and follows its evolution for nearly 150 years.

DKC developed and implemented a 60 some-odd market tour for the film, working with local PBS stations, national parks groups and friends associations and others to hold screenings, visit schools, and get people across the country to think about – and visit – national parks. In addition, thanks to support from the Evelyn & Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, and PBS, DKC’s client for the project, DKC helped to implement a diversity outreach initiative to reach minority communities that have not embraced the national parks as their shared property.

The campaign focused equally on public engagement initiatives and the media, including extensive outreach to writers focused on the parks, the environment and public policy. Editorials encouraging people to watch the film and addressing larger issues related to deferred maintenance in the parks ran in the New York Times, New York Daily News, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune and others. Ken Burns and his film were also featured on “The Today Show,” “NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams,” “The Late Show with David Letterman,” “Charlie Rose,” and many others.

A screening in Central Park the week before the broadcast, organized by DKC with the National Parks Conservation Association and PBS, took place as part of National Park Week NYC and, as it turned out, in the middle of Climate Week NYC.

Beginning with its announcement in June, DKC worked with The Climate Group and its partners for Climate Week NYC to build awareness among key media for the week’s 60 events and their significance vis-à-vis the upcoming global negotiations in Copenhagen.

DKC managed the Opening Ceremony held on Monday, September 21st to launch Climate Week NYC, featuring luminaries such as UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, actor Hugh Jackman, The Climate Group CEO Steve Howard and lead climate negotiators for the United States, China and India. With less than 80 days before the Copenhagen negotiations, this gathering of world leaders served as an opportunity to advance the conversation on climate change, emphasizing the ways that government, business, civil society, and consumers must work together to meet the challenge.

Using the momentum of this high-powered kickoff event, DKC secured high-profile media coverage for Climate Week NYC, ranging from multiple stories in top-tier outlets such as The New York Times and Newsweek to lifestyle outlets such as People and New York Magazine, as well as significant international coverage.

As climate change and the environment play increasingly large roles on the world stage, it is important to understand our past while looking toward solutions for the future. On both fronts, DKC is fortunate to have had the opportunity to build national and international conversations that stretched from the highest-levels of government and business to the grassroots.

If you are interested in learning more about DKC’s environmental practice, please contact Krista Pilot.

Posted in Newsletter, Sustainability

An Intern Perspective
08/26/2009

Just a few months ago, I thought a PR person was the stereotypical short-blonde-go-getter-party-thrower. It was easy to confuse publicist with public relations and assume any publicity was good publicity.

Despite those negative stereotypes, I decided to intern at a top PR firm this summer – DKC. And with the summer coming to an end, all prior misconceptions have been thrown out the window. I am finishing my internship at DKC and I am hungry for more.

One of the reasons I decided to intern at DKC was my curiosity and desire to learn and work at an innovative firm. My past internships have ranged from translating Hebrew Holocaust survivor testimony at the Museum of Jewish Heritage to editing and updating programming at the Center of Women and Enterprise. Though they range in industry and field, the internships were challenging and demanded my commitment and creativity. DKC is no different.

I have sat in on several new client meetings and pitch presentations, several brainstorming sessions, and helped with a press conference for the launch of Climate Week NYC headlined by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

As technology continues to evolve, today’s media requires more attention. A key point that I’ve learned in my time here has been that firms can’t ignore bloggers, Twitterers, Facebook users, and rely solely on traditional media to market their products and services. PR is vital in navigating through the onslaught of communication outlets.

One of the tasks I have, as other interns can attest, is to compile media lists. For example, I searched through green bloggers and reporters to find appropriate contacts to pitch the USTA’s major green initiative at this year’s US Open. While the task is not as grand as attending the Open, I know I am a part of one of the most basic – yet important – details of a successful campaign. And I gained a better understanding of just how significant it is to connect clients to consumers.

In my mind, PR is no longer exemplified by a publicist trailing Lindsay Lohan’s escapades, but a powerhouse who networks, pitches stories, and navigates media coverage.

And while I may not be blonde, I have learned that PR holds a place for me.

Intern – Aviya Slutzky, Tufts University, Class of 2010

Posted in Non-profit, Social media, Sustainability