Online Entertainment Insider - Dec. 30, 2011

by Wonacott Communications

Another Holiday season passing, another belt size gaining. Good thing the Krav Maga studio is back to its normal hours. Hopefully, all of you had a nice Christmas and Chanukah – whether you spent it with loved ones or on your PC playing Star Wars: The Old Republic. Before we round out the year’s final Online Entertainment Insider, we’d like to wish everyone a Happy New Year!

Video is Great, but Showing Restraint is Better!

by Alex Van Lepp

I watched the Spike TV Video Game Awards (VGAs) a few weekends ago. They’ve become an annual TV event for gamers, much like the Emmys or Oscars are to TV and movie fans, respectively. But as is the case with the Superbowl, the vast majority of viewers are tuned in not for the awards, the eclectic nerd-themed interstitials or the less-than-A-list celebrities, but for the highly coveted commercial space available in the form of “Exclusive Trailers” for upcoming 2012 titles.

Online Entertainment Insider - Dec. 23, 2011

by Wonacott Communications

Happy Holidays, everyone! As we wind down 2011 over the next week, we wish you, your co-workers and family the best, which hopefully involves copious amounts of Egg Nog (whiskey optional). Read on for the rest of the Online Entertainment Insider!

Dear Santa…

by Chan Lim

The holiday season is the only time of the year when you can officially nag about things you always wanted. So, without further ado, here’s my holiday gift guide, or things I want this holiday season.

Wonachristmakkuh 2011: A Classy Affair

by Sarah Arvizo

‘Twas the night of our company holiday party
And no one knew what it had in store
But you can be certain, dear friends
That we all had good times galore

Online Entertainment Insider - Dec. 16, 2011

by Wonacott Communications

Tonight is our annual holiday party today, and I could not be more excited. We’ll be reprising last year’s “karaoke dive-bar” theme and I’m taking requests on the Wonacott Facebook page. Please note, my range includes anything you’d find in a “Monsters of Rock” collection from 1985 through 1999, and yes, this includes power ballads. If you want something sung *well*, make sure to tag our resident vocalist, Nathalie Nourian. Read on to find more of this week's news! 

Media Monitoring and Managing Deadlines: The Great Balancing Act

by Racheal Caswell

Monitoring the news is a large part of being a Public Relations professional. Some might even call it a “necessary evil.” So much of what we do relies on being up-to-date on industry trends and news around the world. But between writing press releases, pitching stories, making calls, editing documents, creating proposals, brainstorming, putting together mailings, staffing events and the myriad of other tasks you find yourself taking on, staying up on the news sometimes seems like the most harmless thing to let fall by the wayside.

The Continued Rise of Social and Mobile Gaming: A Look Back at 2011

by Alex Van Lepp

In the land of emerging tech, the video game industry is truly an open arena where developers can create anything from a handheld 3-D gaming device to a game you play by kissing your partner. While there were monumental events such as the Supreme Court’s ruling announcing video games are protected as free speech, all in all, 2011 was truly the year social and mobile gaming emerged as a force to be reckoned with. As the year comes to an end, here’s a look at what shaped the industry.

Looking for a PR Internship? Read This.

by Jason Wonacott

I don't know a single public relations agency that doesn't hire or even rely on interns to some degree. At Wonacott interns play an integral role. Though we are light hearted and fun, we take our interns seriously…and we want them to take the job seriously, too. It’s a big reason our internships are paid. Sure our interns do stereotypical tasks such as building media lists, monitoring and tracking media coverage, but depending on their individual skill level, they also get to write and pitch media, and they are totally integrated into our account teams. We value their insight and ideas for both client and new business brainstorms, and they help keep aging Gen Xers like me more in touch with current cultural trends, lingo and technology.

Online Entertainment Insider - Dec. 9, 2011

by Wonacott Communications

In news this week, Skyrim takes top honors as the most-played game of 2011 and World of Tanks shatters records with 250,000 simultaneous players on a single MMO server. All this and more in this week's Online Entertaiment Insider!

Gift Ideas from Wonacott Clients

by Wonacott Communications

Well, it’s coming down to the wire to get gifts for the holiday season. Fortunately, Wonacott has your bases covered – thanks to some great products from our clients! So if you’re looking for some last minute gift ideas (or if you’re an editor in need a last-minute idea for a feature story. Hint, hint), then consider this our gift to you.

My First Year at Wonacott: A Trip Down Memory Lane…

by Alex Van Lepp

If you ask me, there’s no better time to start a new job at a company than right as they’re about to take a week-long paid break. So, when I was hired at Wonacott Communications as an Account Executive on the interactive entertainment team a mere two and a half weeks before the holidays, I had definitely hit the jackpot. Just a quick, but intense, couple of weeks and I was home-free until the New Year. So what happened next? Well, a lot. Following the wise advice of El Jefe Jason Wonacott and for ease of reading, I present the highlights of my year at Wonacott, in bullet form:

Online Entertainment Insider - Dec. 2, 2011

by Alex Van Lepp

Did you know that in addition to a brand new kick-ass blog, that we also have a weekly newsletter? Delivered to your inbox every Friday, the Online Entertainment Insider is dedicated solely to bringing you the latest news, features and other nuggets from the world of online interactive and social entertainment. What's that you say? "How much would such an amazing service cost me," you ask? It's absolutley free! You can sign up for the email newsletter here or you can read it every week on the Wonablog. Hit the break to read the rest of what's important from this week's Online Entertainment Insider...

Mean Girls Need Not Apply

by Sara Campbell

As many of my colleagues can attest, PR is one of those professions that defy others’ attempts to describe what it actually is. Most of us have given up trying to explain it to our parents and loved ones – they just accept that we have something to do with how companies manage what is (or isn’t) said about their products and services. And while that’s vague, it works, for the most part.

“Engage, Number One.”

by Jason Wonacott