About Deborah Zanke

I am a self-employed communications consultant specializing in the non-profit social services industry.

I have a degree in sociology and social work and was employed as a child welfare social worker for several years before going back to school to study public relations.

For close to a decade I held communications positions in child welfare settings before forging out into my own consulting practice in 2006.

Now I help corporate and non-profit organizations communicate effectively with their clients/customers, donors, employees and other stakeholders. I assist with everything from conducting communications audits and creating communications plans to media relations and copy writing for promotional materials.

I live in the geographical centre of North America in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

This blog is a collection of my thoughts about public relations and broader communications issues related to the social services industry.

-Deborah Zanke

Contact:
deborah@messagecommunications.ca
www.messagecommunications.ca

5 Responses to “About Deborah Zanke”

  1. messagecom Says:

    October 10, 2008 at 2:46 pm

    Hey Hank,

    Thanks for the comment and the link. Cute illustration. It doesn’t convey the whole story on the differences (more to marketing for sure) but it’s a fun way to look at it. Good subject for a blog post. Will keep it in mind.

  2. Hank Osborne Says:

    October 10, 2008 at 2:34 pm

    Deborah, great blog. Currently in research mode for a meeting with our members (we are a primary care association)—they are interested in branding work to help them tap into corporate & individual philanthropy, and with diversifying their customer base…came across this from ZAG to differentiate between Marketing, Advertising, PR, and Branding
    http://brandautopsy.typepad.com/brandautopsy/2006/10/marketing_adver.html. Thought it might be of interest.

  3. Ways Non-Profits Can Start Leveraging Social Media | NFi Studios Says:

    March 12, 2008 at 10:14 am

    [...] There is no doubt that non-profits integrating Web 2.0 tools and techniques are growing rapidly and the benefits are becoming quickly apparent. However, “If the idea of employing social media causes that “deer in the headlights” look in your eyes, don’t fret. Take small steps.” So writes Deborah Zanke. [...]

  4. messagecom Says:

    December 16, 2007 at 2:34 am

    Thanks Karen. If you have any suggested topics for my blog I’d love to hear them.

  5. Karen Pierce Gonzalez Says:

    December 16, 2007 at 12:41 am

    Hi Deborah. I enjoy your blog and really appreciate the topics you bring up; in particular, the most recent one about pro bono service.
    I, too, work with many non-profit organizations and enjoy what it is they bring to the world… and it has been a delight to be able to work with those who are up to speed about the value of good pr services.
    As a journalist I learned that those agencies and organizations that expected all parties to serve as volunteers just didn’t fair as well as those who realized the need to hire professionals for specific tasks, such as public relations.
    Keep up the good work you are doing… perhaps one day I will be contact you for collaboration in your area.
    Best, Karen


Leave a Reply