Let’s Talk Tucson, Arizona That Is

By Edward M. Bury, APR, MA (aka The PRDude)

Where to go, where to go for spring break 2025?

Yes, destinations like Ft. Lauderdale or Cancun were out of the picture for obvious reasons.  Okay, to put it more in perspective, our days of mild debauchery and late-night revelry are in the past.  Actually, well, well in the past.

So, let’s pick a destination that’s warm, reasonably priced, cultured, and not overrun by boisterous college spring breakers. How about Tucson?  Yes, Tucson, Arizona, a “second city” of sorts, one Susan visited decades ago, and one I had never visited.  We found this metropolis of some 500,000 people welcoming, scenic, inviting, and without question, a delightful change from our home in Chicago.

Some other general observations on this jewel of the American Southwest:

• Greater Tucson is surrounded by mountains, giving relatively quick access to national and state parks that offer hiking, scenic vistas, and solitude. 
• Getting around by car is relatively easy thanks to many multiple lane, limited access roadways. There is a modest bus network and a modern streetcar line downtown. One regret: This transportation guy didn’t make the time to take the streetcar; for sure next time. 
• The University of Arizona campus near downtown Tucson is sprawling and modern. It blends seamlessly with the surrounding neighborhoods. 
• The major thoroughfares of the city are lined with small shops and restaurants, from fast food and casual national chains to independent eateries.  We opted for the latter for dinner and enjoyed outstanding, delicious, and authentic Mexican cuisine most nights. 
• And, must note that just about everyone we interacted with — from the baristas at the nearby Starbucks to the volunteers at the national parks to servers and bartenders — were pleasant and genuine. 

What follows is a visual perspective, or as I’ve identified frequently in this space as a “travelogue” following our five days in Tucson. 

Have to start this post with an image of a cactus. A really, really big one from the Saguaro National Park East.

And, for a different perspective: This is a “cactus under development.”

Yes, there are lots of different kinds of cactus (or is it cacti?) around Tucson. These low-slung purple cactus provided a great low-level kind of perspective.

As for iconic views: This one from Saguaro National Park puts the desert Southwest into perspective.

While in the Centro, or the downtown section of Tucson, we met some interesting people during an annual art and street fair. This guy stood out, for obvious reasons.

Framed by some tree-like cactus, Susan stands ready to continue the tour.

At the roundabout from our trolly tour of Sabino Canyon, I took a break before we headed back down to the desert floor. You may wonder why I’m wearing a long sleeved shirt when it was 95 degrees that afternoon.

But Tucson offers more than just magnificent outdoors. The Tucson Desert Art Museum featured a wide range of exhibits, including this fascinating display of native American weavings.

Another exhibit at the Desert Art Museum featured cartoons that misrepresented immigrants from past generations. One can conclude that the perspectives displayed here certainly have relevance today.

And, an appropriate final image to share. We needed a place to relax, unwind and chill by the pool after a day of exploration. The Embassy Suites hotel in the Paloma Village complex provided the ideal venue. Plus, breakfast and a happy hour were included!

A concluding thought: Like many fellow Americans I am quite disturbed by most — if not all — of the brazen, caustic, nonsensical, and sometimes unconstitutional actions undertaken by the current administration in Washington.  Our short trip to Tucson, to another uniquely American community, provided some level of relief, some level of solace. 

Analyzing One Particular PR Trend to Watch in the Year Ahead

Lightbulb image courtesy of the nice folks at Meltwater.

By Edward M. Bury, APR, MA (aka The PRDude)

Let’s start with a full disclosure: I have faced some challenges in the past few months, perhaps years, in identifying and commenting on developments within and the practice of modern public relations.

Why?

Well, for one thing I am employed at an academic institution transportation research unit, a somewhat structured and focused entity that produces technical studies along with others that address subjects that are of interest and relevance to the general population. We don’t engage with influencers or pitch too often to general interest or even trade media.

So, with the March calendar more than halfway completed, I racked my brain for a true “public relations” topic to address. How about “PR trends to watch in 2025?”

Great! But regular readers may recall this January 30 post written following an excellent webinar sponsored by the Public Relations Society of America. (Yes, I am a long-standing PRSA member.) I gained a great deal in terms of insight related to future national and even global developments that will impact strategic communicators.

But, I felt I needed to learn more. I needed to learn more about practical tactics and strategies that I could perhaps apply to my work. A google search led to this excellent report from the folks at media monitoring site Meltwater.

The eight trends cited here certainly are poignant and compelling; some — like incorporating relevant data analytics, personalizing a media pitch, and focusing on authenticity — have for decades driven sound, strategic public relations practices. In the past decade or so, embracing diversity and inclusion, the continued emergence of influencers of all types representing many industries, initiatives that help build awareness for the many challenges we face, and regular and well-executed thought leadership communications continue to factor into strategic campaigns.

That leaves the eighth trend cited here by Meltwater — continued industry consolidation — one I feel compelled to analyze and address further.

Back in my agency days, back before digital resources became the dominate factor across public relations and most professions, there was a “consolidation” of sorts. The small shops I worked for primarily engaged in media relations, then assuredly the dominate tactic, as well as marketing communications and even print advertising in general interest and industry trade publications.

What the trends cited here reveal to me: Public relations continues to be a dynamic, evolving profession, one that reflects the state of the world around us. What’s more, even though I more than likely will not engage an influencer in my current position, it will be to my benefit to fully grasp the role they play in public relations today.