FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2017

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

City of Rochester Retains John Guilfoil Public Relations for City-wide Communications and Digital Services

ROCHESTER — City Manager Daniel Fitzpatrick is pleased to announce that the City of Rochester has retained the services of John Guilfoil Public Relations LLC (JGPR) to create communications platforms, distribute content to the public and the press, and train city leaders and agencies on best practices of mass communication.

City Council members approved an initial six-month contract with JGPR to focus on improving internal and external communication in Rochester while working to promote the timely and accurate release of information to the public and press about events and happenings in town.

“The City of Rochester is seeking a holistic communications strategy, and our decision to bring on JGPR was made with the entire city in mind,” City Manager Fitzpatrick said. “Our goal is to strengthen communication among city officials, residents, and the press to not only keep community members informed about what’s going on in the city, but also highlight some of the great work that goes on every day.”

JGPR is an award-winning public relations agency created by John Guilfoil in 2014. The company specializes in government communications and works with more than 150 cities, towns, and municipal agencies in six states.

The communications strategy will focus on four key areas:

• Consistent content production across multiple City departments

• Social media presence and diversity of social media channels across City departments

• Proactive public outreach from public works, police, fire and schools

• Promotion of events and occurrences in Rochester, with a focus on community development and the arts

The company will issue press releases and statements from within the city and various agencies including public works, schools, economic development, and public safety agencies. The company will also set up social media accounts for various town departments. Two websites will also be designed over the contract term, including the redesign the Rochester Fire Department’s website and the creation of a “magazine-style” news portal for the City, where news releases, photos, announcements, and event listings will be posted.

“I am very pleased to have the opportunity to work with the City of Rochester and its dedicated leadership team,” said John Guilfoil, Principal at JGPR. “I feel very positively that we will be able to put forward a suite of communications tools that will greatly benefit the city and its residents, businesses and visitors.”

JGPR will also give Rochester access to its 24/7/365 media hotline. Members of the news media can always contact city officials as they have in the past, but if for any reason someone is away or unavailable, the JGPR team is always on call, even on holidays. Reporters or editors can call 603-471-3154 for immediate assistance.

“Our job is to improve the communications efforts of our clients, not replace them,” Guilfoil said. “While reporters can always call us, our philosophy is to never be a gatekeeper or to prevent journalists from accessing pertinent officials. We are just an extra resource.”

About JGPR:
JohnGuilfoil Public Relations LLC is a full service public relations and communications agency specializing in municipal governments, police and fire departments, schools, nonprofits, and businesses that support government and public safety. JGPR provides content, social media management, press releases, media relations, branding, crisis management, and other communications services to more than 150 government agencies, nonprofits, and small businesses in six states. John Guilfoil was honored as the PR News National Public Affairs Professional of the Year for two consecutive years (2015 and 2016) and as the 2016 National Crisis Manager of the Year.

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