“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,…
Tag: media relations (page 7)
No Mercy (from the Media)
The best solution is when everybody goes home happy. “Give us a break.” Even the first time I heard it, I couldn’t believe it. I was still a journalist — the head…
Fashion & Style
Fashion is seasonal. Style is forever. The same is true for high-stakes Crisis PR. There’s a saying in the high-end rag trade: “Fashion is seasonal. Style is forever.” The same applies…
The Joy of Crises
Solving PR puzzles is gratifying, but solving crises is an adrenaline rush! For those who have embraced Crisis & Reputation Management as their ambition and career, everything else pales. Probably because…
Trains, Planes & Media Mistakes
Rumors and media mistakes now speed around the world in mere seconds. In 1873, Jules Verne captivated readers with “Around the World in 80 Days,” a saga of steamships and trains. In…
Measure Twice. Cut Once.
With PR, making an error doesn’t mean you simply toss the lumber away and get a new piece. Time is a luxury. Room for error is nonexistent. “Measure twice. Cut once.”…
Election Edition: Wishful Thinking & Talking Heads
The best way to disappoint a client is to over-promise and under-deliver. The two most influential newspapers in the country — the New York Times and Wall Street Journal — couldn’t…
Proving a Negative
Calculating success can mean avoiding negative attention. “What’s the value of a negative story that’s never published?” We’ve touched on this before. But it’s worth revisiting because it’s the essence of Crisis…
To Be Effective, Simplify the Message
You need to tailor your message to your audience. After 2 1/2 weeks in Seoul, I’m over the Pacific again, flying the opposite direction. It’s been a refreshing reminder of the relativism…
Lies, Damned Lies & Reputation Management
Lying can be worse than the original sin. A colleague was fond of using a one-liner with senior management at his corporation, “I need to know what the facts are, so I…