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Long on tactics but short on strategy

June 29, 2022 – One of my biggest pet peeves of the public relations profession is the preoccupation some practitioners have with tactics. When initially discussing a client’s new product, some PR pros will talk endlessly about possible celebrity endorsers, kickoff events or key journalists to pitch. It’s understandable because successfully executing tactics is often […]

It's not about you. Really.

June 28, 2022 — It’s easy to think a crisis is all about you when when your telephone is ringing incessantly with angry calls from reporters. Or when your social media accounts are being bombarded with vitriol. Or when government officials are threatening to investigate your organization. In reality, it’s not about you. At least […]

Big news days can be a big headache for PR pros

June 27, 2022 — One of the biggest challenges public relations practitioners face is the fact they have only minimal control over many of the facets that can impact success. Preparation for the launch of a ground-breaking product can be all for naught when a competitor introduces its product first. A celebrity endorser’s lack of […]

No, you don’t have a PR problem

June 25, 2022 — I wince every time I hear a business leader say her or his company has a PR problem. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a plant fire, product recall or class-action lawsuit. It’s as if everything would be OK if it weren’t for pesky journalists asking tough questions or nit-picky customers and […]

Mickelson's appearance leaves money on the table

Phil Mickelson's bad-boy-of-golf appearance overwhelmed his message and earnings potential.

Context important in PR measurement

June 22, 2022 — Not so long ago, most people thought public relations was all about media relations. In other words, the general public, not to mention a significant number of practitioners, believed PR pros should spend all their days working to place stories with news media outlets. Seeing an employer’s name in ink or […]

How to answer question guaranteed to make you sweat

June 14, 2022 — Witness enough news conferences, especially the televised variety involving high-ranking company and public officials and journalists looking to make a name for themselves, and you’ll likely hear the question that makes spokespersons sweat. The question usually comes in the wake of an unfortunate event, whether it’s a product defect, a municipal […]

Social media is no license for reporters to ditch objectivity

June 3, 2022 -- For some reason, journalists feel free to express themselves on social media in ways they can’t and shouldn’t while on the job.

Not pursuing both sides nothing more than advocacy

May 9, 2022 -- Provide the public with the facts and let them make up their own mind.

Djokovic auditions for role in ‘Dumb and Dumber’

Jan. 19, 2022 -- Issues management clients often overestimate their ability to conceal uncomfortable information or underestimate the news media’s ability and initiative to dig it up. Novak Djokovic took it to a whole new level.

Apology not always right answer in crisis

Oct. 28, 2021 — Just like clockwork, in the hours immediately after a crisis makes headlines, many so-called experts insist an apology is the key to survival for the potentially responsible party, even before some, if not all, the facts are known. The thinking goes something like this: The sooner an organization apologizes, the quicker […]

The cost of not disclosing

April 15, 2020 – All too often leaders fret about the impact if certain uncomfortable information is made public. They should be equally concerned if it isn’t.

Weakness when leadership was required

June 21, 2019 – Don't schedule a news conference unless you're willing to answer reporters' questions.

Did Mueller commit the same mistake as Comey?

Jan. 22, 2019 – There's a good reason to refrain from comment until investigations are complete.

Graceful exit for CEO interviews

Dec. 12, 2018 – CEOs should be interviewed anywhere but their office.

Emotional issues can't be won on facts alone

Sept. 28, 2018 – Facts are good but changes in attitude require personal or emotional appeals.

Transparency: Church gets religion

Aug. 16, 2018 – It took awhile, but the Catholic Church learned transparency plays an important role in crisis communications.

Media training instills confidence

Feb. 21, 2017 – Using a proven method of preparation, time after time, can condition individuals to succeed in media interviews.

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