Cynical. Skeptical. Quick to condemn. With no one to respect, the public is adrift. There was perhaps a time when certain groups commanded respect and trust. But that’s changing. So many…
Author: Gillott Communications (page 30)
The Very High Cost of Being Unprepared
A crisis is no time for wondering what to do. Every organization is vulnerable to PR crises at any moment. Government investigation. Nasty litigation. Financial turmoil. Sudden management change. Data breach. Product…
Speed & Accuracy
The world isn’t going to get slower. So Crisis PR needs to get even faster. There are few, if any, better training grounds for journalists and Crisis PR people than The Associated…
Just a Little Bit Pregnant
Hubris has a very high cost. The higher people are in business or social circles, the more they believe they can get away with it. It’s hubris, writ large. When Scott London,…
“Go in a Pope. Come Out a Cardinal.”
Wishful thinking lets matters fester. When 115 Roman Catholic cardinals walked into the Sistine Chapel recently, any of them could have become the next Pope. Some believed they would. When they walked…
Cleaning House
Cleaning house is better than covering up. Penn State got it right. Rutgers didn’t. Amid a sex-with-boys scandal involving assistant coach Jerry Sandusky, Penn State’s Board of Trustees took no prisoners. They…
News Industry Isn’t Dying. It’s Evolving.
As media rush out news, errors are inevitable. You must act faster to protect your reputation. Daily Variety, the Hollywood trade paper, was the latest to succumb, ceasing daily publication and becoming…
Don’t Mistake Inaction for Inactivity
If you’re good, don’t flail. Exude calm. Some people thrive on action, whether they’re doing it or watching it. If you’re not in motion, you’re deemed to be doing nothing. Long ago,…
Belief & Proof, The Sequel
In an earlier blog, we explored the nexus between cynicism and the uphill battle you face convincing the public you’re not guilty. Today let’s look at how to fight back effectively. …
Belief & Proof
“For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don’t believe, no proof is possible.” –Stuart Chase, 20th-century American economist and social commentator When your reputation is on the line,…