Obsidian Public Relations

What Obsidian Public Relations does

Obsidian Public Relations is a Memphis, Tennessee-based public relations and communications firm founded in 2006 by Courtney Ellett. The firm provides a comprehensive suite of 14 core PR services spanning media relations, crisis preparation and management, strategic communications planning, content marketing, writing, research, social media management, internal communications, ambassador training, event planning, community relations, issue management, daily news monitoring and media reporting, and media training. It also produces a weekly thought-leadership podcast, 'PRactically, a Podcast,' distributed on SoundCloud and Apple Podcasts.

The firm serves more than 60 active clients across the United States and has worked with over 400 organizations since inception, spanning nonprofit organizations, Fortune 500 corporations, educational institutions, healthcare providers, and small businesses. Its business model is fee-based professional services, with engagements structured as retainers or project-based work; pricing is quote-based and customized per client with no publicly disclosed rate cards. The firm operates from a single Memphis headquarters at 1049 Cresthaven Road, moved into in September 2025, with a team of approximately 15 professionals including the founder/president, two vice presidents of client services, account directors, account managers, and support staff.

Name

Obsidian Public Relations

Legal name

Obsidian Public Relations

Website

https://obsidianpr.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Obsidian Public Relations is a Memphis-based, founder-owned PR firm founded in 2006 serving 60+ active clients across the United States with comprehensive communications services spanning media relations, crisis management, content marketing, and strategic planning for nonprofits, Fortune 500 firms, and educational institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Relations Services

NAICS

Public Relations Agencies (54182), Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418)

SIC

Services-Advertising (7310)

akta.pro primary industry

Media Relations & Press Office Services (BPAFADAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Media Relations & Press Office Services (MPAAADAI), Event PR & Communications Support (BPAFADAO)

Keywords

• Public relations services
• Strategic communications planning
• Crisis communications management
• Media relations
• Content marketing services

Headquarters

HQ city

Memphis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Professional PR Services: Fee-based professional public relations services including strategic planning, media relations, crisis management, content marketing, social media management, research, event planning, and internal communications. Revenue is generated through client engagements which may include retainer arrangements and project-based work.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Obsidian Public Relations is a Memphis-based public relations firm offering 14 core service capabilities spanning strategic communications planning, media relations, crisis preparation and management, content marketing, social media management, internal communications, media training, ambassador training, event planning, issue management, community relations, research, writing services, and daily news monitoring and media reporting. The firm tailors engagements to each client's specific needs and delivers services under retainer and project-based arrangements to organizations across the United States.

Product overview

Obsidian Public Relations is a Memphis-based public relations firm offering a comprehensive suite of PR and communications services. The firm provides 14 core service offerings including Media Training, Writing, Research, Content Marketing, Internal Communications, Ambassador Training, Event Planning, Issue Management, Media Relations, Community Relations, Social Media Management, Daily News Monitoring & Media Reporting, Strategic Communications Planning, and Crisis Preparation & Management. Additionally, the firm produces a content media offering called 'PRactically, a Podcast' (formerly 'Off the Rock, On the Record'), which provides weekly PR insights and industry commentary. The firm's approach is tailored and relationship-centric, adapting services to each client's specific needs rather than offering a one-size-fits-all platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PRactically, a Podcast: Company podcast formerly known as 'Off the Rock, On the Record' - a communications and public relations podcast featuring PR insights, industry trends, and current events analysis.
• Off the Rock, On the Record

Products and services

• Strategic Communications Planning Comprehensive communications plan development tailored to specific companies, providing the strategic foundation for all PR tactics and serving as the research-based underpinning for the firm's other service offerings.
• Media Relations Media outreach services to generate positive headlines and mitigate negative consequences, helping companies make their news work for them.
• Crisis Preparation and Management Crisis communication services including proactive preparation and reactive management to protect company reputation during emergencies.
• Content Marketing Strategic content development through blogs and e-newsletters to help brands maintain relevance and engagement with their audiences.
• Social Media Management Full-service social media support including content creation, monitoring, paid advertising, and influencer strategies to build brand presence.
• Internal Communications Strategic communication services addressing employee morale, retention issues, and internal process launches to engage a company's most important stakeholder (their employees).
• Media Training Prepares company spokespeople to conduct effective media interviews while protecting and maintaining company reputation through pre-interview preparation and coaching.
• Ambassador Training Half- or full-day training sessions that teach employees to effectively communicate key company messages as brand ambassadors.
• Event Planning Special event creation and promotion services including grand openings, product launches, community relations events, and expert seminars.
• Issue Management Trend monitoring and stakeholder response management services to help companies proactively address issues before they escalate.
• Community Relations Community involvement alignment services ensuring company community activities align with business interests and are effectively communicated.
• Research Services Communication campaign research including focus groups, surveys, case studies, and literature reviews to ensure PR work is properly targeted and effective.
• Writing Services Comprehensive writing services spanning annual reports to feature-length content pieces, serving as the foundation of PR work delivered to clients.
• Daily News Monitoring and Media Reporting Continuous monitoring and sifting of news relevant to client organizations, keeping teams informed of industry developments and competitive activity.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 400 clients served since 2006 across diverse industries
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• FleishmanHillard: Global public relations and integrated communications agency headquartered in St. Louis with a strong U.S. regional network. Most directly comparable to Obsidian as a full-service PR firm offering media relations, crisis communications, content, and social media across enterprise and nonprofit clients; significantly larger scale but same core service architecture.
• LOVELL Communications: Nashville-based independent public relations and marketing firm of comparable mid-market size to Obsidian, with a strong healthcare and nonprofit practice. Closest true peer by scale, geography, vertical mix, and founder-led independent positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Edelman: World's largest independent PR firm offering media relations, crisis management, public affairs, and brand strategy. Comparable to Obsidian across nearly all service lines (media relations, crisis, content, social, internal communications) but operates globally with thousands of staff versus Obsidian's ~15-person Memphis team.
• Burson: Global public relations and communications firm (formed from the merger of Burson-Marsteller and Cohn & Wolfe, owned by WPP). Offers strategic communications, crisis, issues & policy, and earned media — overlapping Obsidian's core service stack at global scale.
• Weber Shandwick: Global public relations firm owned by Interpublic Group, providing media relations, crisis communications, public affairs, and social engagement. Same broad PR service offering as Obsidian; competes for the same Fortune 500 and nonprofit RFPs at significantly larger scale.
• Ketchum: Global communications consultancy (now part of Omnicom) offering media relations, brand marketing, public affairs, and crisis management. Directly comparable service mix to Obsidian; serves similar enterprise and institutional clients but at multinational scale.
• Hill+Knowlton: Global public relations and public affairs firm owned by WPP, specializing in crisis, issues management, and earned media. Overlaps with Obsidian's crisis preparation, media relations, and strategic communications services at global scale.
• MSL Group: Global public relations and integrated communications network (part of Publicis Groupe) offering media relations, crisis, content, social, and public affairs. Mirrors Obsidian's full-service PR positioning across similar client verticals at much larger scale.
• Ogilvy Public Relations: Global public relations and influence arm of WPP's Ogilvy network, offering brand communications, crisis, public affairs, and social change. Overlaps Obsidian's service mix and competes for similar nonprofit, healthcare, and enterprise clients at global scale.

Regional players

• DPR Group: Mid-Atlantic-based B2B-focused public relations and marketing firm of comparable mid-market size to Obsidian. Similar full-service PR offering (media relations, content, crisis) but anchored to a different U.S. region (DC-area / Mid-Atlantic) and a heavier B2B/tech vertical mix.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubesoundcloud.com/user-396929231
• Xx.com/obsidianpr
• Facebookfacebook.com/ObsidianPR
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/obsidian-public-relations

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Obsidian Public Relations