By Shannon on February 26th, 2010 in General Thoughts | No Comments
Crisis Communications are one of the most important duties of any public relations department or agency. Handling a crisis correctly and swiftly can mean all the difference in terms of your business succeeding or suffering a major setback. This week SeaWorld is facing a PR crisis over how to handle the death of an animal trainer by one of the park’s killer whales. They have the added disadvantage that the trainer was killed in front of the park’s patrons.
Now SeaWorld has to find a way to reassure visitors that their park is safe for spectators.
The LA Times offers an interesting look and analysis on how SeaWorld is handling the crisis.
Personally I think SeaWorld will come out of this fairly unscathed. They’ve handled the media well and have a strong reputation as a family friendly destination that should keep visitors coming into the park.
By Courtney on February 24th, 2010 in General Thoughts | No Comments
For someone who has never skied before (seriously), I’ve somehow become a HUGE fan of the Winter Olympics. Perhaps because the weather in D.C. of late can be likened to Antarctica and I’ve been spending more time indoors. Or maybe the hype has been that good this year. Regardless, I never thought I’d be sitting on the edge of my seat watching cross country skiing and yet, here I am. Ok fine, I’m still not sold on curling, but if you can make a good case, by all means …
But the drama (oh the drama) and the PR aftermath is what really gets me. Lysacek vs. Plushenko in men’s figure skating (um, have you seen Plushenko’s website? Platinum? Really?). Canada’s hockey team. Tape delay vs. live coverage. Dutch speed skater Sven “too bad there are no do-overs in the Olympics” Kramer and his coach’s miscue.
Business Insider has identified the 10 worst PR disasters of all Winter Olympics. Topping the list, and no surprise here, Tonya Harding’s gangsta-style sabotage on ice. Number three is Bode Miller admitting to skiing drunk in a 60 Minutes interview that aired right before the start of the 2006 games. The bad boy on skis has turned into a bit of an Olympics darling with this year’s medal wins. The list continues with judging scandals, controversial lifts, and cheating, oh my.
Rounding out the list is this year’s tragic accident where Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili was killed during a training run. Olympic officials denied that the course was unsafe, placed the blame elsewhere and yet still moved the starting point down the track. Time will tell if this incident will move up in the rankings of the overall PR disasters for the games, but it is likely controversy will remain.
Valentine’s Day (The Movie, Not the Holiday)
By Julia on February 12th, 2010 in General Thoughts | No Comments
Warner Brothers new would-be blockbuster “Valentines Day” debuts this weekend. The story follows an ensemble cast on Valentine’s Day as they navigate their way through romance and heartbreak. An extraordinarily impressive all-star cast includes: Jessica Alba, Kathy Bates, Jessica Biel, Bradley Cooper, Eric Dane, Patrick Dempsey, Hector Elizondo, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner, Topher Grace, Anne Hathaway, Ashton Kutcher, Queen Latifah, Taylor Lautner, George Lopez, Shirley MacLaine, Emma Roberts, Taylor Swift, and Julia Roberts.
Have there ever been so many A-List celebrities in one movie? It’s possible that this sets a new record.
Sadly, though the trailer makes the film seem fun and entertaining, reviews across the board are dismal. Metacritic gives it a score of 33 placing it below movies like “Tooth Fairy” and “Ninja Assasin.” OUCH.
Entertainment Weekly reviewed with a score of “0,” saying: “How you feel about Valentine’s Day may depend on how you feel when someone really, really cute — and someone you’re really, really fond of — gives you a nasty box of cheap chocolate on Valentine’s Day, picked up at the corner Rite Aid and delivered with the price tag still attached.”
I think I’ll wait for the DVD on this one. To me, even though it’s likely a lame movie, it is worth seeing for the celebs involved.
Superbowl Showdown (in the Kitchen)
By Jessica on February 5th, 2010 in General Thoughts | No Comments
Anyone that knows me, knows I’m not much of a football fan, but the Superbowl still holds a special place in my heart. Not because of the commercials or the halftime show, but more importantly the FOOD. Superbowl Sunday is something I look forward to right after I chow down on my last holiday treat! Who can resist the delicious wings, loaded nachos and cheese balls that have become synonymous with Superbowl parties. This morning on the TODAY Show, Katie Brown featured a number of delicious treats that made my mouth water. If you’re planning to entertain a number of hungry football fanatics this weekend, I recommend trying one of these.
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/35240536/ns/today-today_food_and_wine//
My favorite is the “Spicy blue corn tortillas with cheesy corn dip” - Yummy!!!
By Erinh on February 3rd, 2010 in General Thoughts | No Comments
It snowed here in DC last night. Not a ton, but enough to cover the ground and give the city a nice, fresh coat of white. I’m a big fan of snow - in my book, if it’s cold, it might as well snow. Clearly that is the minority opinion in this city.
For those that haven’t spent time been here, DC FLIPS out whenever mother nature decides to sprinkle a little bit of snow on us (and let’s be honest, it’s rare we get a storm that leaves more than a few inches in its wake). As a DC native, I can remember runs on our local Safeway that would bring shortages on bread and TP whenever the weather turned icy. Even President Obama chided the city for our wimpy reaction to snow!!
Now I understand when this behavior is exhibited by those who have recently transplanted here from other, warmer areas (like our own Courtney Gidner), and who have rarely seen snow or freezing temperatures. But what I don’t understand is why the local media buys into this hype. Whenever there is a snowstorm our local anchors talk endlessly about closures and shortages - feeding into the idea that we will all be snowed into our homes for the next three weeks. And its not like we have a shortage of news stories to cover - we live in the capitol of the free world for crying out loud, is there nothing better to talk about than snow??
Once the media gets all hyper about snow, its only a matter of time until my Whole Foods in Clarendon is packed with anxious moms trying to buy enough organic milk to feed a small village. And don’t even get me started on how everyone suddenly forgets how to drive the second the roads get a bit wet.
So in the spirit of what the Brits would all keeping calm and carrying on, I’d love to see the media not overreact when covering this weekend’s forecasted snowstorm. Just talk about the weather, and then move on to something more interesting - like a congressional scandal or the latest drama with Tiger Woods!
By Courtney on February 1st, 2010 in General Thoughts | No Comments
With the Super Bowl less than a week away, I can’t help but get excited for the commercials. As a devoted Chargers fan, sadly, this is usually where my excitement lies come February. I digress.
Commercials. The time honored tradition where we ooh and ahh in anticipation of some of the most talked about (ahem, and expensive) ads out there.
There is one that is already causing quite a stir around my household. And no, I’m not talking about THAT one. I’m a little smarter than dive into that cluster. After all, I don’t come here lookin’ for trouble. I just came to do the… Super Bowl Shuffle.
That’s right – the Bears teammates who first lit up our screens in 1985 will do so again this year — complete with cheesy lyrics, bad dance moves and all.
So, will it have the same magic as 25 years ago? Let’s be honest … Probably not. The first problem, its not actually a revival, but a parody of the famed video playing off the joke that ‘da Bears have never actually remade the song for various reasons. A lot of the faces will be the same, but instead of selling egos and this year’s group will be selling wireless plans for Boost Mobile. A little less locker room and a lot more boardroom. But the teaser commercials got this girl interested, so maybe it doesn’t matter.
Regardless of whether it invokes the same spirit and buzz as the original, I’m looking forward to seeing it.
It will either be entertaining or will answer the question of should they ever remake it. Besides, this San Diego girl needs something to look forward to this Sunday.
(Go Saints!)
Getting Serious About Social Media
By Shannon on January 29th, 2010 in General Thoughts | No Comments
One of my favorite things about PR is how quickly and often it changes. Technology and new tools mean that the strategies we use in PR have to constantly evolve to incorporate everything that’s out there.
Over the past year, there has been a huge increase in the number of companies, businesses and organizations using social media as part of, or as a centerpiece to, their public relations efforts. The rise of Facebook and Twitter has given us extra channels to reach out to our audiences and publics but many still struggle with how to leverage social media and how to develop a strategy that includes it.
Below is an interesting article from Ragan.com, written by Amber Naslund, on the top 10 steps for getting serious about social media in 2010 and its definitely worth a read given all of the talk of social media strategy and campaigns we’ve seen over the last year.
Click Here to Read the Article
My personal favorite is No. 9: focus on what you’re good at. I think sometimes companies get too wrapped up in the hype of social media and try to replicate other successes without checking that it meshes with their business and strengths. I’d also add to the list No. 11: use social media as part of your overall strategy, not your entire strategy. Social Media is a great new tool and a tactic but really solid PR is the same as it’s always been, having a strong consistent message and getting it across to the correct audience.
What other ideas do you have for getting engaged with social media?
By Julia on January 26th, 2010 in General Thoughts | No Comments
Tomorrow, Apple will debut its new Tablet at an event here in San Francisco. Not first to the party, but perhaps launching the most perfect version of an e-reader now dominated by the Kindle and the Nook, will the tablet revolutionize users experience? Will it revive Old Media - such as magazines and newspapers - by allowing consumers to purchase articles directly from their mobile reader? Will the Tablet be for reading what the iPod and iTunes were for music? With questions a-flutter already, one thing that is certain is that the Tablet will definitely be a must-have hot-ticket item this year.
To read more about this launch and its impact on the media landscape, check out this article from the New York Times.
HOLLER!
By Erinh on January 15th, 2010 in General Thoughts | No Comments
Along with the rest of the world, I was left heartbroken after seeing the photos and hearing the reports from Haiti following the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that brought the country to its knees. I was left with the desire to want to help out however I can - a feeling that most people have echoed.
Enter in texting. The Red Cross announced on Wednesday that people could text 90999 to donate $10 to relief activities. I’ll admit, I was skeptical at first, wondering if my wireless provider would actually donate all $10 and how much overhead was involved. And I wasn’t the only one. Red Cross spokesperson Roger Lowe was on NPR yesterday, urging leery cell phone users to donate through text, stating that it was actually less expensive for their agency to collect money this way, when compared to the costs to process a check. He also said that donating through text was the fastest way to get money to Haiti.
As of yesterday 400,000 people have donated through the dedicated text line, proving this to be the most successful campaign ever in the mobile/text giving channel (according to mGive CEO Tony Aiello ). In fact, $1.4 million was donated in the first day alone.
The implications of this are huge. Beyond the immediate affect of helping those who need it the most, this campaign proves the reach and potential results of mobile marketing initiatives - a channel many US companies and marketers have been slow to embrace. Imagine what a well-executed mobile campaign could do for your brand. From raising awareness, to a fun contest, I’m sure in the coming months we’ll see more and more companies beginning to embrace the “mobile” space.
Will you be texting your support to Haiti?
By Courtney on December 16th, 2009 in PR+New Media 2.0 | No Comments
In the spirit of releasing the typical end-of-the-year trends and stats (which I personally LOVE), Twitter has come out with the Top Twitter Trends of 2009. Twitter studied data to determine what has “captured global attention” in the following categories: News Events, People, Movies, TV Shows, Sports, Technology and Hash Tags.
Most interesting to both Twitter and myself is that the Iran elections proved to be the most engaging topic of the year, taking 3 of the top 5 slots in the News Events category, including the #1 position. To me, this was the most powerful example of the effect of social media on people worldwide. Another dominant news story in ’09, the H1N1 virus (or swine flu) also made it on two of the top 10 lists - #2 on the News Events list and the 4th most popular Hash Tag. I guess people really are getting their news from Twitter?
Other top honors include, Michael Jackson for People, Harry Potter for Movies (calm down, New Moon came in second), American Idol for TV Shows, Super Bowl for Sports, Google Wave for Technology and #musicmonday for Hash Tags. Check out the full list here.
And for those of you wondering, Tiger Woods showed up as #8 on the list of top People tweeted about. Perhaps this list was created prior to last week? One has to assume …