Probably best known as a founder of leading PR firm Bragman Nyman Cafarelli Public Relations and Marketing (BNC), celebrity publicist Howard Bragman is one of Hollywood’s top celebrity publicists. Now the chairman of Fifteen Minutes Public Relations, Bragman has detailed his rules for creating a positive public image in his new book, Where’s My Fifteen Minutes?: Get Your Company, Your Cause, or Yourself the Recognition You Deserve. Here are a few of his go-to tips.


Your new book, Where’s My Fifteen Minutes?: Get Your Company, Your Cause, or Yourself the Recognition You Deserve, discusses the dos and don’ts of creating a public image. Can you give us an example of a do and an example of a don’t?
The most important “Do” is to have a vision. Action without vision is worthless. Don’t try and build a career overnight. The best careers are made in a Crockpot, not a microwave.

How does one create a positive public image that isn’t boring?
While your image has to be authentic, it can’t be dull. It’s about looking at your achievements and goals and putting a timely spin on them. How do they relate to the news, to the economy? What do you have to offer that’s unique and special? There’s an old saying, “Be outrageous. It’s the only place that isn’t crowded.”

How did you come up with your “Ten Commandments of Public Relations ?” Is there one particular commandment that is perhaps most important to keep in mind?
It’s something that I developed and changed over the past decade. It’s a simple way to take many of the concepts I discuss in the book and position them in an accessible and understandable format. The most important is number one: All press isn’t good press. That’s the biggest myth of my profession.

When it comes to creating a positive image and brand, who is a celebrity that has gotten it right?
I think Angelina Jolie gets it. She is equal parts sex symbol; humanitarian, mother, wife and movie star. And she seems to do it all effortlessly. That’s a tough balancing act.


As college students get ready to enter the job market, what are some good tips for them to consider when creating a positive image in the professional world?
They need to know that they already have an image. Smart employers are going to check their Facebook pages, references and other sources. Don’t take it for granted.

What is your standard recovery plan if one is hit with negative press or makes a bad impression in the public eye?
There is no standard recovery plan. How badly is the client damaged? How long will this take to get through? Is it a momentary lapse that will be over in hours or is it a serious court case that could last years? You need to take the pulse before you prescribe a cure.

What should new graduates interested in working in PR know about the industry?
That they will be working harder than ever. That they need all the technological savvy they can muster. That if they don’t love the media, pop culture and the flow of information, they should look for another career.