Monday, August 30, 2010

NEWS FROM WINSTON COMMUNICATIONS

NEWS FROM WINSTON COMMUNICATIONS


CONTACT: Steve Winston
President, WINSTON COMMUNICATIONS
(954) 575-4089
steve@winstoncommunications.com


TOP NEW YORK ATTRACTION HITS 7.5-MILLION-VISITOR MARK

New York, NY: August 30, 2010 – NY SKYRIDE, one of New York City’s top ten attractions according to attendance figures, reached a new milestone recently – the 7.5-million-visitor mark. That’s an average of more than half-a-million visitors a year since the attraction opened in 1996.

NY SKYRIDE is located in one of the biggest tourist draws in the world for the past eighty years – the Empire State Building. And it takes visitors on the most unusual ride in New York City – up, up, and away, over the Big Apple, while never leaving the ground. It’s a virtual helicopter tour of the city, from the comfort of a seat on the second floor of the world’s most famous building. You’ll feel the sensation of flight, as you lift off and then “fly” low over one great attraction after another. The ride is narrated by actor Kevin Bacon, a New York City resident. And you’ll get an aerial “tour” of the world’s greatest city.

“Reaching the 7.5 million mark really means something,” said Matthew Day, NY SKYRIDE’S Vice President of Business Development. “This is an attraction you won’t see anywhere else, and – combined with the fact that it’s located in the most famous building in the world – it really makes for a special experience. And while you’re ‘flying’ over New York, you can get a bird’s-eye view of thirty other attractions you may also want to explore.”

One of those attractions is about a hundred floors north of NY SKYRIDE – the Observatory of the Empire State Building. The two attractions offer a joint Combo ticket that not only gets you into both for a discounted price, but also gains you access to the “Fast Track” line for the observatory. The Fast Track allows visitors to bypass most of the regular Observatory line, which can sometimes have waits of up to three hours.

NY SKYRIDE (www.skyride.com) is New York’s only virtual aerial simulator, and it’s one of only a few New York attractions that also serves as a tourist guide to the city. This “aerial” swing over the streets of the Big Apple utilizes digital technology, moving platforms, and an 18-foot-screen. And it’s also proven a very big draw for local residents, as well, along with corporate, civic, and student groups that can get special rates.

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WINSTON COMMUNICATIONS (www.winstoncommunications.com) is an award-winning public relations, marketing, and communications firm in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Its Client List includes organizations such as CitiGroup, American Airlines, Alamo Rent A Car, The Florida Panthers National Hockey League Club, and The State of Florida. Steve Winston, President of WINSTON COMMUNICATIONS, was named by “PR Week” as one of the Top Twenty Public Relations Executives in America.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

WINSTON COMMUNICATIONS SIGNS MAJOR NEW CLIENT

NEWS FROM WINSTON COMMUNICATIONS


CONTACT: Steve Winston
President, WINSTON COMMUNICATIONS
(954) 575-4089
steve@winstoncommunications.com


WINSTON COMMUNICATIONS SIGNS MAJOR NEW CLIENT

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL: August 25, 2010 – Winston Communications today announced a major new addition to its client roster – NY SKYRIDE, one of the top ten attractions in New York City.

NY SKYRIDE recently hit the 7.5-million-visitor mark - an average of more than half-a-million visitors a year since it opened in 1996. The attraction is located in one of the biggest tourist draws in the world – the Empire State Building. And it takes visitors on the most unusual ride in New York City – up, up, and away, over the Big Apple, while never leaving the ground. It’s a virtual helicopter tour of the city, from the comfort of a seat on the second floor of the world’s most famous building. Visitors feel the sensation of flight, as they lift off and “fly” on an aerial tour of the world’s greatest city. The ride is narrated by actor Kevin Bacon, a New York City resident.

‘Winston Communications has a long and very successful history in the travel/tourism market,” said Steve Winston, President of the company. “For us, helping NY SKYRIDE tell its story is a natural extension of what we do. And it’s a very exciting addition to our client list – because it’s the only attraction of its kind.”

NY SKYRIDE is New York’s only virtual aerial simulator, and it’s one of only a few New York attractions that also serves as a tourist guide to the city. This “aerial” swing over the streets of the Big Apple utilizes digital technology, moving platforms, and an 18-foot-screen.

Winston Communications is an award-winning public relations, marketing, and communications firm that has worked with organizations such as CitiBank, American Airlines, Alamo Rent a Car, The Florida Panthers NHL Hockey Club, and The State of Florida. And it has regularly generated coverage of its clients in media such as CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX-TV, CNN, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, “Business Week,” “Forbes,” “Fortune,” USA Today, and The Associated Press. Steve Winston was named as one of the top twenty public relations executives in America by “PR Week.”

“Attendance figures show that we’re already one of the top ten attractions in New York,” said Matthew Day, Vice President of Business Development for NY SKYRIDE. “And now we’re going to really get our story out, with a partner that specializes in generating new business for its clients. We’re thrilled to hook up with Winston Communications.”

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

IS NEWS DEAD?

IS NEWS DEAD?

I’m convinced it is. Or, at least, after watching the hysterical reaction to a young woman’s recent Facebook posting, I’m convinced it’s on its death-bed.

I’ve spoken often, in this space about our preoccupation with “news” stories about the rich-and-famous…specifically, rich-and-famous athletes and movie stars and born-with-a-silver-spoon-in-their-mouths who get drunk, do drugs, get in brawls (often with their own spouses), and do a host of other really-unimportant things that somehow manage to become “news” stories. But the transformation of this recent Facebook posting into “news,” in my opinion, took the cake.

The Facebook posting to which I’m referring, of course, is the one by the young Israeli former-soldier who posted a photo of herself posing in front of a few blindfolded Palestinian prisoners.

Yes, the photo was a stupid decision by a young woman who obviously had no clue about the sensitivities involved, both human and political. Yes, the photo was offensive. Yes, it was no doubt humiliating to the prisoners. And – for sure – it does show the corrupting influence of an occupation on at least one “occupier” – if not THE “occupier.” (Although, as some have pointed out, she did not then turn around and chop off the heads of her prisoners after taking the photo, as some Islamo-terrorist groups have done.)

But, really…this is news?? This former soldier posted some disturbing photos on Facebook. She wasn’t representing her government. She wasn’t even representing her army – whose officers are justifiably pissed off at her. But have you seen any of the other stuff that young people post on Facebook? And – if you have two daughters on the site, as I do – you realize that all those initials posted by young people are actually curse-words (such as “wtf” – “What the f____k”)? You realize, as well, that the site has plenty of very suggestive photos by young women. And plenty of tasteless, inappropriate photos and comments by young men.

What is real news? Well, let’s see. Thirty million Pakistanis are homeless. The Federal budget is out of control. The war in Afghanistan is still raging (and most likely will continue to rage indefinitely). The recession is still hovering over our lives like a nightmare. Iraq, which has taken seven-and-a-half years and thousands of lives, seems anything but stable. More people lose their jobs every day. Any semblance of reasoned political discussion in our country has turned into screaming and shouting. And our political processes seem sorely corrupt. This is news! Not the social-media posting of an immature, insensitive young woman.

If this is what our “news” is coming to because of the electronic/viral influence, I’m wondering if we should really let the good ole newspaper – and the traditional ways of reporting news - die out.

Steve Winston
President, WINSTON COMMUNICATIONS
www.winstoncommunications.com
steve@winstoncommunications.com