​COVID-19. This is a scientific phrase which most of the world would not become familiar with until March 2020. Little did we know that a seemingly “local” virus that started in Wuhan, China late last year would become a global pandemic that would impact trade, commerce, not to mention our daily activities, for the past several months.

Navigating the new normal in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic is an especially trying time for the nonprofit sector. This is the fourth article in our nonprofit leader series developed in collaboration with a diverse cohort of nonprofit consultants based in the Tampa Bay Area.

This is the third article in our nonprofit leader series on managing the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic developed in collaboration with trusted Tampa Bay Area nonprofit consultants.

This is the second article in our series aimed at helping nonprofit leaders navigate new challenges that have surfaced in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. This content was developed in collaboration with trusted colleagues in the Tampa Bay Area that also provide consulting services to the nonprofit sector.

Madeira recently had the pleasure of collaborating with Tampa Bay Area nonprofit experts on a four part series on survival strategies for nonprofit leaders navigating the complexities of the "new normal" in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is the first article in this informative series.

​It’s hard to plan for the future when staying afloat is the day-to-day focus. Madeira Public Relations will co-host a fast-paced webinar and interactive discussion with the Nonprofit Leadership Center of Tampa Bay on Thursday, April 30, 2020 at 2 PM.

We're grateful to everyone who has made this past nine years of providing public relations and marketing services to Tampa Bay and beyond possible. Thank you to our loyal clients, business associates, friends and family for your continued support! 

​If you’ve been spending your time in quarantine watching the Netflix docuseries Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness, you’re not alone. With our headquarters in the Tampa Bay Area, the story was only that much more riveting a watch.
 
Even before the seven-part docuseries was released, Carole Baskin, the founder and owner of Big Cat Rescue has been an infamous figure in Bay Area life since her second husband’s disappearance in 1997.
 
Now more than two decades later, that sensational side of Baskin’s narrative had long faded from the media spotlight and remained mostly as unsubstantiated whispers around town. Her appearance in Tiger King once again thrust Baskin into the national spotlight for more than her work to protect big cats. ​

of As we adjust to the new normal video conference conferencing is not just bringing us together on the work front but is now also a lifeline to stay socially connected.

Madeira Public Relations always used Google Hangouts for video meetings until video became our main lifeline to the outside world. While we loved the simplicity of Google Hangouts, we needed a platform with more bells and whistles to host larger meetings.

Based on client feedback, Zoom seemed like the perfect for both our team as well as our clients. Now that we've been using Zoom for a couple of weeks now, we've learned some valuable lessons on not just how to best optimize the platform's functions but also how to facilitate an effective video conference.

George Carlin's bit on the Seven Dirty Words You Can Never Say on Television is still a hilarious classic. And yes, he actually says the words. (Fair warning on profanity if you watch the video above. It will also make you laugh until your sides hurt!) If you manage a Facebook page, you've likely seen these seven words and probably dozens more. Internet trolls derail productive conversations, spread misinformation and sometimes make you wonder if social media is worth the effort at all.

Did you know Facebook has a built in profanity filter including one that you can upload your own seven dirty words to and more? Currently, our filter list contains more than 100 words that we tailor accordingly for each client.

If you'd like help protecting your page from trolls and other attacks on your brand, schedule a consultation today! We can help you take the steps necessary to safeguard your Facebook page and also position you to have the tools needed to successfully weather an unexpected social media crisis.  

Madeira will lead a media training workshop at the annual meeting of the National Farm to School Network in Florida next month. Participants can look forward to learning what has replaced the old-fashioned press release and how to dazzle assignment desk editors with story ideas that capture headlines and book television appearances.

Questions to always ask before an interview and how to build the perfect media contact list will also be covered in this interactive and fast-paced workshop. If your organization is looking to brighten its media spotlight, create a marketing plan or develop other critical communications skills, we'd love to work with you to build a customized workshop tailored to your unique needs and objectives.

Did you know our very own Stephanie Dufner was the social media strategist behind the Ice Bucket Challenge? She'll be sharing her insights on how the ALS Association used integrated communications in response to the flood of donations and publicity that poured in during the summer of 2014 at the Communicate Your Cause workshop on April 26, 2019, in Oxnard, California.

This half day event presented by the Gold Coast Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America and California Lutheran University's Center for Nonprofit Leadership has limited seating, so register today by clicking here.

Hurray! Facebook is making it easier to mobilize your followers around community issues. Facebook is now in the process of rolling out a new feature called Community Action. If you haven’t received an email yet, Facebook should soon be sending your page notification inviting you to try this new advocacy tool.
 
According to Facebook, here’s how it works:

It's 2019! Does your organization have a solid plan to navigate this year ahead? Madeira will be leading a workshop at the Nonprofit Leadership Center of Tampa Bay on Thursday, January 17, 2019 at 1 PM on how to craft a winning communications strategy. Register today by clicking here.

Madeira will be returning to the Nonprofit Leadership Center of Tampa Bay on February to 7, 2019 at 1 PM to offer a workshop on how nonprofits can generate publicity. Attendees will learn what has replaced the old-fashioned press release and how to dazzle assignment editors with story ideas that capture headlines and television appearances.

This high energy class will also cover basic media training skills ensuring you shine the next time you're in the media spotlight.

This class is designed for anyone who is new to marketing and communications as well as those whose job involves interacting with the news media. Earn 3 CFRE continuing education points for attending this workshop. Register today by clicking here.

If you're in the Greater Los Angeles Area, you won't want to miss this informative workshop taught by our campaign director, Stephanie Dufner on January 30, 2019 at 10 AM at the California Lutheran University - Oxnard Center.

This workshop encompasses best practice tips and tricks on generating news media coverage and working with journalists. Topics Stephanie will cover include:

• effectively pitching your organization
  
• news release writing and distribution
  
• telling your story in a compelling way
  
• interview preparation
  
• cultivating relationships with journalists.
  

The program includes specific tips, tactics and strategies to get you started or enhance your existing media relations efforts. Register today by visiting here.

Madeira is thrilled to be honored with a gold MarCom Award for a media relations project completed for our Florida Dream Center client. 
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MarCom Awards honors excellence in marketing and communication while recognizing the creativity, hard work and generosity of industry professionals.

For the second year in a row, Madeira has been named one of the top PR firms in Tampa, and we couldn't be more thrilled! We're grateful to the good people at Expertise for recognizing our commitment to our valued customers and our passion for championing organizations with purposeful missions.

Madeira was honored with an APEX Award in the category of Writing - Editorial & Advocacy Writing for an article published on behalf of the American Heart Association in Tampa Bay. This is Madeira's sixth APEX Award since 2012.

The APEX Awards is an annual competition for corporate and nonprofit publishers, editors, writers and designers. With over 1,4000 entries in this year's competition, Madeira was selected among 556 Awards of Excellence recipients.