An employee of a company that caters to leisure-time activities was accused of inappropriate behavior toward females. A journalist asked the company to comment on the accusation. But the company’s culture preached…
Tag: storyline
Tea Leaves
Reading tea leaves is a national pastime. It infuses all aspects of our lives as we try to interpret the world around us. What’s the back story when a company or non-profit…
Answering the Tough Questions
Emotional boo-boo? Best to rip the Band-Aid. When trouble erupts, it’s natural to want to hunker down. But silence isn’t a viable option. The hardest pill to swallow may be realizing you…
It’s Not About the Facts
“It’s not about the facts. It’s about what the facts can be made to look like.” ~ Eli Gold on The Good Wife Think back to the last time someone told you…
That’s Not Nice!
“That’s not nice!” the young assistant frowned after reviewing a storyline being pitched to the media about a nasty lawsuit. “That’s not the point,” his boss explained calmly. “Our job isn’t to…
Beware Shiny Objects
Assess the situation before it devours you. In the parlance of PR strategists, shiny objects are fleeting distractions. More often manufactured than real. They’re the causes célèbres of today that will be…
Greatest Fear, Fondest Hope
Hoping for the best rarely works. Finding a “fixer” does. Fear and hope are never far apart when facing a threat that could tarnish a reputation, years in the making. So much…
Credibility: The Ultimate Bottom Line
Fairy tales fall apart quickly. Tax lawyers have a one-liner: “What’s the difference between tax avoidance and tax evasion? About 20 years.” Crisis PR folks have theirs, too: “What’s the difference…
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,…
Don’t Over-Think It
Surprises are rarely positive and never desirable. Not overthinking may be a good general-purpose rule for most people. It’s pleasant to sail along blissfully, unaware (or at least unbothered) by all the…