Bluestone Communications

What Bluestone Communications does

Bluestone Communications is a student-run public relations firm operated by top communication students at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. The firm bridges classroom theory with professional practice, functioning as a teaching arm of JMU's communication program while providing PR services to real clients. Its portfolio includes case studies with Phoenix Fitness & Yoga, Shenandoah Valley United Soccer Club, Blauch Brothers, and other local organizations, and the firm currently lists approximately ten SMB and non-profit clients on its website.

The firm's offering is structured as a single unified PR service line rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture, encompassing media relations, social media management, brand storytelling, and crisis communications. It is built on standard digital marketing and communications platforms (its website runs on Wix) with no disclosed proprietary technology, patents, integrations, APIs, or AI/ML components. Distribution is direct, with clients sourced via outreach and referrals within the Harrisonburg region; the firm operates from a collaborative office in the Harrisonburg Ice House and maintains a presence on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook, alongside an editorial blog covering PR industry topics.

The business model is professional services revenue, with pricing not publicly disclosed and likely structured at reduced rates or no cost given the educational nature of the program. Primary customer segments are small businesses, non-profits, and community sports organizations in the Shenandoah Valley. The firm is entirely student-managed under university oversight, with no external investors, parent company, funding rounds, M&A activity, or commercial ownership structure identified in the available data.

Name

Bluestone Communications

Legal name

Bluestone Communications

Website

https://bluestonecommva.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bluestone Communications is a student-run public relations firm at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, providing PR, media relations, and branding services to local small businesses, non-profits, and community organizations as a hands-on educational program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Relations Services

NAICS

Public Relations Agencies (54182), Advertising Agencies (541810)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311), Services-Advertising (7310)

akta.pro primary industry

Media Relations, Monitoring & Rapid Response (MPAAAOAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Crisis Communications & Issues Management (MPAAADAF)

Keywords

• Public relations services
• Student-run PR firm
• Media relations
• Brand storytelling
• Social media management

Headquarters

HQ city

Harrisonburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. PR Consulting Services: Provides public relations services to local and regional clients including small businesses, non-profits, fitness centers, and sports organizations. Operates as an educational program where students gain experience while serving client needs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Bluestone Communications is a student-run public relations firm at James Madison University that provides strategic communication, media relations, brand storytelling, social media management, and crisis communication services to local and regional clients including small businesses, non-profits, fitness centers, and sports organizations. The firm functions as a teaching practice where top JMU communication students deliver real PR work for paying clients.

Product overview

Bluestone Communications is a single-service public relations firm operated by James Madison University communication students. Rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture, the firm operates as one unified service offering focused on PR strategy, social media management, media relations, and branding. The firm's portfolio includes case studies across fitness and wellness (Phoenix Fitness & Yoga), youth sports (Shenandoah Valley United Soccer Club), and general business clients (Blauch Brothers, Reach, Continuum, Local Chop, Open Doors, CGL, Elena, Habitat).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• James Madison UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBluestone Communications is a student-run PR firm affiliated with James Madison University's communication program. The firm operates as a teaching arm of the university, providing JMU communication students with hands-on professional experience while serving real client needs.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Weber Shandwick: Global communications agency delivering PR, public affairs, and social media services to enterprise clients. Comparable as a broad incumbent providing the same media-relations and storytelling services that Bluestone delivers to local clients.
• Ketchum: Major global PR firm (now part of Omnicom PR Group) offering communications strategy, media relations, and brand work. Comparable for offering the same core PR service categories as Bluestone at enterprise scale.
• Edelman: Largest global PR firm offering media relations, crisis communications, and brand storytelling across all major sectors. Comparable as the upper bound of the PR services spectrum that Bluestone operates in, with vastly greater scale and resources.
• FleishmanHillard: Global public relations and communications agency with strengths in media relations, crisis, and integrated communications. Comparable as a broad incumbent delivering the same PR service mix that Bluestone offers locally.

Others

• Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA): National student organization affiliated with PRSA that supports student-run PR firms and communications agencies at universities. Comparable as the institutional ecosystem that legitimizes and connects student-run firms like Bluestone.

Direct peers

• Allen Hall Public Relations: Student-run PR firm housed in the University of Oregon's School of Journalism and Communication. Operates the same educational-plus-client-services model as Bluestone, serving real clients with student account teams under faculty oversight.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/bluestonecommunications
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bluestone-communications
• Instagraminstagram.com/bluestonecommunications

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Bluestone Communications