The rumors are true: we’ve started a new comms agency

Now that everyone’s back from summer vacation, we have some exciting news to share— Pisano Slater Enterprises (PSE) is open for business! 

This is our new newsletter, A Better Way to Say That, and once a month we’ll be analyzing the good, bad, and baffling ways people communicate today. Annmarie Pisano and I write from the perspective of comms professionals who are also Regular Folks in our non-working hours. We’re interested in what our industry gets wrong (or right) when trying to reach an audience.

Here’s why we decided to start this agency and this newsletter at this moment:

We’ve spent the last decade neck-deep in the world of public relations. During that time, we’ve seen that there’s a lot of room for improvement. Too many agencies charge a fortune for turning in sloppy work at a glacial pace. And too many clients are left wondering, “What exactly are we getting out of this?”

We think people are ready for an agency that prioritizes the steak of tangible production and straightforward communication over the sizzle of exciting promises and opaque shortcuts to success. In fact, we’ve heard this directly from quite a few of you.

So we’ve decided to test our theory and see if there’s a market for an honest comms firm that does solid work at fair prices. The results have been promising thus far.

Annmarie and I don’t care about getting rich, and we have little interest in becoming Thought Leaders™. We just want to make a living by doing good work on behalf of decent people.

If that describes you (or someone you know), we hope you’ll get in touch! 

Oh, and one more thing…

Because the last word is rarely the end of the conversation.

• The encrypted messaging app Signal isn’t as ubiquitous as WhatsApp or as flamboyant as Telegram. But this WIRED profile of Signal CEO Meredith Whittaker makes a strong case that the platform offers the rarest of features in a modern app: a genuine commitment to protecting your privacy.

• Why do many U.S. tourists love walking around European cities, yet oppose policies that could make this possible at home? A new podcast episode featuring Rick Steves (who we hope makes a full recovery after his cancer diagnosis) does a great job of explaining this prickly topic with gentleness, humor, and wisdom.

• Is this the most effective fundraising email ever written? It ticks all the boxes: a header that makes you plumb the depths of your soul. Scene-setting that illustrates a universal issue in a deeply personal way. A clear and reasonable call to action. This is the difference that great writing (and the thinking that goes into it) can make.

Pebbles of the month

Much like penguins, we enjoy bringing you little gifts to brighten your day:

Six-figure remote job for someone who loves kids and books: Book Trust is looking for an Assistant Vice President to help kids across the country build their own personal libraries.

Fascinating new book on how ancient India shaped today’s world: From renowned historian William Darlymple, The Golden Road comes out on Sept. 5 (in the UK, but if you’re in the US and don’t want to wait until next April, the publisher will still ship you a copy). 

A communications career conference for women in New York: It’s exactly what it sounds like, and it’s happening on September 27 at Spotify in the WTC!

Brooklyn’s festival of books, books, and additional books: Back from September 22-30, the main programming day will be on September 29 in their usual space near City Hall. Annmarie is particularly excited to see Palestinian author/poet Hala Alyan and novelist Vanessa Chan.

Want to learn a little more about how we can help you or your organization? Check out our website, or follow us on LinkedIn!