Ryan McCormick awarded Bulldog Award for Nick Hillary Campaign

Ryan-McCormick-Goldman-McCormick-PRAlumnus Ryan McCormick (B.S. ’00) is the co-founder of Goldman McCormick Public Relations and host & executive producer of “Outer Limits of Inner Truth” a nationally syndicated radio program. McCormick is also the recipient of a 2016 Bulldog Reporter Corporate Social Responsibility PR Gold Award.

McCormick’s award-winning work was centered around Nick Hillary, a Jamaican native falsely accused of murder. The campaign, Truth for Nick Hillary, fought to bring attention to Hillary’s case and eventually helped lead to his exoneration in September 2016.

Bulldog Awards celebrate excellence in public relations and communication. Previous winners have included major firms, such as Havas PR and Ketchum.
“The work we did for Mr. Hillary has been our most fulfilling PR endeavor thus far. We thought it was a great cause and we’re so happy Mr. Hillary got the justice he deserved.” shared McCormick.

 

“A year and a half ago, the whole world through he was guilty. It’s been incredible.”

 

McCormick’s start in public relations started at Florida State. As an aspiring producer, he created a film and set out to publicize the film’s release, bringing in local radio, TV and newspaper outlets. He premiered an unfinished film and realized the production path wasn’t as fun as the public relations path.

McCormick’s start in public relations began at Florida State. As an aspiring producer, he created a comedy film called “Jack Often” and premiered it to a packed house at Moore Auditorium. McCormick was able to secure local television, radio, and newspaper coverage of the movie. Fellow Friend & fellow FSU student Dave Foy told McCormick that he was much better at publicizing films than actually making them – and that’s when the light bulb went off.

During his time at Florida State, McCormick said it was former dean John Mayo who propelled him forward. “As a mentor, he was very encouraging, patient and full of wisdom. I learned a lot from him.”

Looking back, McCormick encourages public relations students to intern with the media. “In the PR industry you communicate with the press everyday. The better you can understand how the media works, the better you’ll be able to serve them and the more effective you’ll ultimately be as a publicist.”

Today at Goldman McCormick Public Relations, McCormick continues to work with attorneys, business professionals, animal rights organizations, authors, entertertainers, and folks like Nick Hillary. The Bulldog Reporter Award is a culmination of hard work and a harbinger of what’s to come.

“I don’t define success as one particular moment or one award,” shared McCormick. “I define success as a consistency of excellence in service to others over time coupled with continued learning & growth.”