Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Symposium Date
4-20-2011
Abstract
Our interest in this subject came after visiting Wheatley & Timmons, a public relations firm headquartered in Chicago, IL. The firm launched an extremely successful public relations campaign for First Alert in 1994. Our public relations class was asked to design an innovative campaign aimed at spreading awareness about carbon monoxide poisoning, acting as though no one had ever heard of it. The facts about deaths related to carbon monoxide are shocking. We had a lot of questions to answer, such as: How much do people really know, what are the most effective techniques for spreading general awareness, and what laws already exist regarding CO detectors? We created a campaign using new technology and current public relations practices. Our strategies were placed in three overarching objectives. The first objective is to spread general awareness through traditional media awareness. The second is to get people to retail stores to purchase the detectors. Our third objective is to spread awareness through enabling publics. In greater detail, our plan is to utilize safety conventions, breaks on homeowners’ insurance, partnering with retail stores and fire departments, and lobbying for stricter building codes.
Recommended Citation
Brewton, Victoria; Hoffman, Ricky; Hohenstein, Megan; Myers, Ryan; and Ramette, Martha, "Modern Public Relations Strategies: Revisiting Wheatley & Timmons’ 1994 First Alert Campaign" (2011). Symposium on Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE). 25.
https://scholar.valpo.edu/cus/25
Biographical Information about Author(s)
Full text link is to abstract only.