Everyday PR

During an economic downturn, organizations often cut communications budgets because it’s easier than cutting people. But companies who stay on their PR plan will be the best remembered brand when the economy heals. Read more.

At last count, octuplet mom Nadya Suleman had gone through two publicists in a month.  Not a good record by any standards.

How many PR professionals does it take to represent octuplets?

When your paycheck is signed by someone other than you, you’re expected to represent whatever you’re assigned.  On both the profit and non-profit side, I learned that some clients/bosses don’t actually want to know what you think – you’re just there to either make them look good or enhance their job security.  Not all situations mirror this, but enough to make me go out on my own.

As a solo practitioner, I have the luxury of being able to pick my projects, which begins with much research, referrals and due diligence.  Although this doesn’t necessarily equate to luxurious revenues, it does mean that I have a say-so in whom and what I represent, and I’ve yet to experience any death threats.

So why didn’t Suleman’s no-charge handlers conduct the appropriate due diligence before taking on such an enormous task?  I’m unclear as to how working for free on such a global, time-intensive project could be beneficial to a small business owner.  I’m interested to know the number and type of discovery sessions were held prior to any agreement for representation.  And I’m curious about whether the staff resources even existed to handle the scope of work.  As small business owners, we typically work on many projects every day, and we must give deliberate thought to our choices.

This country’s economy is in a mess.  Businesses of all types and sizes are hurting. And to top it off, some businesses are doing things they wouldn’t even consider doing in a stable financial climate.  Take poaching, for example.  Not the cooking method, but the wooing, courting, stealing, purloining, robbing, pilfering, swiping and/or the attempt to do so from your competition.

Like a wolf in sheep's clothing, businesses can be disingenuous.

Sadly, poaching may be a sign of the times, says Vice President and General Manager of Phoenix-based HMA Public Relations Abbie Fink. “I think going after a competitor’s client is ethically wrong and unprofessional.  The word will get around about the firm’s strategy, and I suspect it will come back to haunt them,” she says. “As long as you have a strong relationship with your client, and are meeting, if not exceeding expectations, you should be fine, regardless of the economy.”

Bad times can bring out the worst in people.  As public relations counselors, we’re expected to set high business and ethical standards every day for our clients, our competitors, our employees, our colleagues.

To some, bad publicity is better than no publicity at all.  To others, no news is good news.  And many are just happy to have their name spelled correctly.

Letterman Interviews Blagojevich

In the case of former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, correct name spelling should be the least of his concerns.  Things like a political career, personal character and future employment should be foremost on his mind.  Hard to tell, though, with all the media blitz. A barrage of interviews aired about what he did or didn’t say; what he said the tapes said vs. what the FBI said the tapes said; and what he was or wasn’t thinking.  Like a star celebrity on a press junket promoting his latest film, Blagojevich went from mainstream news shows to late night television for interviews that ultimately starred the interviewer, not the interviewee.  Sarah Palin – make a note.

As with most headlines, the producers, editors, reporters, news anchors and talk show hosts will quickly move on to other stories.  But their work will forever remain in their electronic files from which to retrieve the next time Blagojevich is in the news so we can all look forward to reliving that.

While the media move on, what about the decision makers who count?  Audiences like future employers, universities, think tanks, history writers and the general public.  These are the people who will likely affect his future. Of course the FBI may be the best determinant of that. It’s not every day that a former elected official gets thrown into the pokey, but then again, many federal institutions do allow for media interviews.  Producers – make a note.

Doing the right thing demonstrates an organization’s character and credibility. Paying attention to the fundamentals of communication serves an organization well. Doing both in managing a crisis just works. Read more.

Animal cruelty, especially to a species most often associated with family pets, is particularly repugnant. When Michael Vick was charged with illegal dogfighting, the cost to his reputation far outweighed his legal bills. Read more.