Search past winners/finalists


  • MESA logo

Savoir Media LLC

Gold Stevie Award Winner 2012, Click to Enter The 2013 Steve Awards for Women in Business

Company: Savoir Media LLC, Belmont, MA
Company Description: Savoir Media is a strategic communications firm that helps companies tell their most compelling stories. Whether in print, online, on radio or on TV -- in blogs, in a speech, or in marketing collateral - our stories make people want to learn more about our clients. Every story we write is based on fact, and our clients trust us because our stories clearly reflect their credibility and integrity.
Nomination Category: Communications & Marketing Awards Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Communications or PR Campaign of the Year - Marketing - Business to Business

Nomination Title: Savoir Media Promotes Historic Public-Private Partnership for Allied Minds

In up to 500 words, tell the judges about the nominated campaign: its genesis, development, planning, commission, and performance to date:

A great public relations campaign is typically measured by the audience size and return offered to the group for whom the outreach is being conducted. At Savoir Media, we raise the bar on ourselves and add one more metric: our ability to identify, and develop, a quality storyline that fully communicates the mission and value of the service offered by our clients.

From May-September 2012, we worked on one of those gems that achieved all metrics. At its core, the story was about an historic event to help spur the US economy and create jobs. But its many angles made it fun to explore through a variety of reporter beats – and allowed us to make full use of the unique team model that distinguishes our P.R. approach from other firms.

Our client, private investment company Allied Minds, asked us to publicize a series of groundbreaking agreements with The Aerospace Corp., US RDECOM and NSWC Crane, three of the largest research centers and laboratories funded by U.S. Department of Defense, that create the first institutionalized approach to commercializing inventions developed within federal labs.

These first-of-its-kind Public-Private partnerships allow Allied Minds to research the commercial viability of inventions available for public access, and invest capital to build companies around them. Allied Minds will initially deploy $100 million, and aims to form 20 companies in the first 12 months – creating valuable high-technology jobs.

Our campaign was highly strategic to achieve depth and breadth in coverage. After interviewing each partner to understand the details of the story, we successfully worked one-on-one with several experienced journalists at some of the biggest media outlets to develop different angles. On our launch date, Sept. 12, we had front page coverage on Boston.com, New England’s biggest website, and the front page of The Boston Globe’s business section; home page coverage on Time.com, and stories on Forbes.com and Bloomberg. CNBC’s “Power Lunch” did an in-depth interview the next day.

After the initial launch, our team effort kicked into high gear. Recognizing the breadth of the Associated Press and the audiences of regional publications, we aggressively pursued media relations. An AP story resulted in national distribution on websites ranging from San Francisco Chronicle (www.sfgate.com) to Fox.com channels. Other publications followed, including Dow Jones Venture Wire, Inside Indiana Business and Baltimore Business Journal. We also orchestrated a coordinated social media effort with Allied Minds across Twitter and LinkedIn.

From September 12-27, 67 traditional, online and broadcast media outlets with more than 50 million unique monthly visitors covered the story. We continue to receive interview requests.

On Twitter, the followers of those who tweeted about Allied Minds totaled 20,650. The number of members in the 25 LinkedIn groups in which the story was posted totaled 1,751,405.

Most importantly, the stories reinforced the partners’ business relationships, and encouraged important stakeholders to contact Allied Minds about expanding their effort. This is the biggest reward since it means a fledgling system to help bolster the economy is getting deserved support.

Provide a brief biography of the person or persons who lead the team that created and carried out the nominated communications campaign (up to 100 words):

Savoir Media President Christine Dunn developed the P.R. strategy for Allied Minds, and managed the execution of the team effort to reach print, online, broadcast and social media. Ms. Dunn has worked for two decades in media, including years as a senior editor and bureau chief at Bloomberg. Ms. Dunn
applied her experience as a journalism team leader to P.R. by creating a unique, integrated team approach that mirrors a newsroom covering breaking news. As such, Savoir Media is comprised of seasoned professionals who combine their experience in the areas of media relations; writing and research; and business management.