Feb
21
Protection required for UNICEF brand
Filed Under Business, Celebrity, PR Disasters | Leave a Comment
While my return Qantas flight from Sydney today wasn’t as eventful as Ralph Fiennes/Lisa Robertson’s, their stoush is worthy of comment from a PR disaster viewpoint. Most of the coverage downunder has generally neglected to document the reputational damage to UNICEF. Fiennes, as a brand ambassador, was apparently travelling ‘en route’ (no pun intended) to India to promote HIV/STD awareness. If it transpires that he didn’t ‘glove-up’ for the toilet tryst, then his cred as a (UNICEF) brand figurehead is somewhat shot. And while Qantas has moved to sack the hostess, there’s no apparent word from UNICEF on the revelations that cast its representative in an inappropriate light. Given that sponsors sack celebs whose behaviour turns repute into disrepute, I’d think a statement would be in order given the risky business under question. Or are UNICEF too ‘nice’ to be grilled over this affair?
Ralph’s metaphorically evoking the fifth, tho his publicist has issues a statement portraying him as a victim of a predatory ’stargroupie’. Hmmmm… Irrespective of this, every not-for-profit needs to be v circumspect about protecting their ‘brand halos’ as a reputation protected (again no pun) is as the adage says, easier to manage than one lost.
Feb
19
PRIA breakfast seminar
Filed Under Business, PR Disasters, Public Speaking | 2 Comments
Tomorrow morning I’m speaking on PR disasters at a PRIA NSW practitioners breakfast event at the American Club (contact PRIA NSW for bookings). On the menu; some freshly squeezed egos, a smorgasbord of fully-cooked (if not over cooked) reputations followed by a sweet tidbit of status-saving tips and advice. Presentation plus Q&A if you’re free - look fwd to seeing you there.
Feb
9
PR & the sound of silence
Filed Under Public Relations | 1 Comment
Unbe-bloody-lievable! As PR hits the headines - again for all the wrong reasons - after two execs from one of the world’s ‘global’ PR names receive federal prison terms (see my earlier post) the industry goes quiet. Despite assurances and bluster from the main PR associations to ‘call out’ when the profession’s name is dragged thru the mud, not one of them carries (as far as I can see) any news of Dowie and Stodder’s respective 42 and 15 months, federal jail sentences. Would love to be informed and corrected if otherwise. PRSA; nothing. CIPR UK; zip. Global Alliance; nada. Even downunder with PRIA and PRINZ; zero. Guys, this is news. Bad news. But news that the profession has to be prepared to talk about. Dialogue, openness, transparency, condemnation of malpractice all help support the good PR’s out there. Instead you’ve lifted the rug and, while whistling, gently toed the dirt under the corner. From the Basil Fawlty school of PR it is; don’t mention the war! I think we got away with it.
Feb
8
In About Advertising (via Mark Borkowski) I read that Turner Broadcasting and Interference are paying $2mill to cover the costs of the Boston police and state agencies after their bombscare marketing stunt. The reparations will likely be split between Boston and surrounding counties, with the other half towards homeland security. Some may claim that the $2.5mill total spend was worth the national coverage; content analysis of said col centimetres and reputational damage may paint a different story.
Feb
7
Kenneth Nguyen, legal affairs reporter at The Age echoes my take on decision by retailer David Jones to sue over ‘corporate pedophilia’ allegations. As a postscript to Kenneth’s piece, maybe he could read ‘Public Relations Disasters’ for the Abercrombie & Fitch case study from the USA; huge shareholder and customer fallout following sustained media coverage (and accompanying opinions, speculation and editorialising) of issue.
Feb
7
On the topic of personal PR disasters that’re also bad for business and the entire PR industry…For those PR’s not deterred by the prospect of appearing in ‘Public Relations Disasters’ (Vol 2), the thought of jail (albeit low security) should be a stronger deterrent. In a final wash-up from the LADWP overbilling scandal, ex-newspaper editor and marine, Doug Dowie was sentenced to 42 months for conspiracy and wire fraud charges. Judge Feess condemned Dowie’s cynicism, while co-accused John Stodder Jnr accepted wrongdoing and copped 15months. Another FH exec Steve Sugerman had already ‘got’ 3 years probation. The firm’s email trail seemed especially damning with questions over how much they could ‘pad’ client bills. Thanks to Tim Otis for his linked post.
Feb
6
News from the auld country - Glasgow Herald - suggests that Mars has volunteered to stop marketing directly to pre-high school kids; a proactive PR step given widespread concerns over childhood obeisity.
Feb
5
The Saturday edition carried an article about Chrissie’s attack on ‘mulesing’ - the, doubtlessly painful, process of cutting the back-end off of sheep to stop mite infestation and disease. I was asked whether her comments - she suggested washing the sheep daily - was a PR disaster, given that some farmers have 15000 head of sheep per flock. This was my take: Seems like causes are the flavour of the month for celebs but Chrissie’s not trying to look cool with a conscience (yep, I did say she wasnt trying to pull the wool over anyone’s eyes; couldnt resist it!) I think, given her history of animal activism, she has some PR-cred on this one (comments notwithstanding). Also commented that the crossroads of social activism and celebrity endorsement was a hotspot for PR disasters (remember Sting and the rainforest funds snafu?), and that Bono, Pink and even Paris H have copped flack for their stance(s). Big PR prob, tho, is for the not-for-profits who can either be eclipsed by the stars, or have their cred ruined if said ’star’ says something dumb by not being briefed properly; that kinda coverage can trivialise the issue and make all concerned look like, well, dumb animals.