Dec
21
Claims say PR firm mismanaging Toshiba account
Filed Under Business, Internet Public Relations, Public Relations practice, Technology | 2 Comments
The mathaba.net news-site reports that Toshiba is facing a tech-related PR disaster for its G900 mobile office. It even claims that Toshiba’s PR company - Bite PR - is mismanaging PR while being paid by a Toshiba competitor: serious allegations, which would reflect v badly on Bite if true. Bad, and costly, on mathaba if not. And Bite’s alleged crime? Being open and transparent by asking users and a major network news editor to blog on widely reported technical issues experienced while using the new device. Oh, and failing to manage stakeholder feedback, says mathaba.net.
Re PR transparency and dialogue - is this a PR case of damned if you do, damned if you don’t?
Dec
20
Rude Auckland emails (pt 2)
Filed Under Public Relations | Leave a Comment
More timely reminders (read below full email from bottom up) about the need to remain vigilant when using email, which we all need to understand is by no means a private electronic communication.
From a PR viewpoint, how easily this storm in a gourmet teacup could have been ended: McHugh could simply have expressed regret to the press that this was an unseemly situ, apologised to Hayley for her part in the debacle, and made an even modest gesture of reparation to bridge-build. Refusing to front up to media interest only created the impression of guilt and re-emphasised her apparently incomplete communication skills, evidenced in the email trail. And now others are providing examples of McHugh’s PR shortcomings(see below).
—–Original Message—–
From: Gourmet Food Store [mailto:outcatering@gourmetfoodstore.co.nz]
Sent: 13 September 2007 1:57 p.m.
To: Lai Tong
Subject: Re: Trust Investments - Breakfast catering Read more
Dec
19
Rude Auckland emails create viral PR disaster
Filed Under Business, Internet Public Relations, Online, PR Disasters, Technology | 3 Comments
Auckland’s somewhat snippy Gourmet Food Store owner/operator Margaret McHugh doesn’t have anything to say to the press. Which is strange, given that she’s not short of opinions or expressive capabilities when communicating with clients. She told one client to “get into the real world” and said she was probably “bottle fed till late teens“. Ouch!!
McHugh’s press and web-publicised emails reveal much about her customer service, and PR, skills.
Thanks to my NZ PR pal Kelle for the heads-up on this story. Another source has sent another email trail, which purportedly sees Mags McHugh in similarly disastrous PR form. If I get proof of its authenticity, I will try posting asap.
Dec
17
McCusker on Shel Holtz’s social media contradiction
Filed Under Blogs, Online, Public Relations, Public Relations practice, Technology | Leave a Comment
Are Australian execs and communicators really so far behind the times?
Shel Holtz (via Rob Cottingham) recently highlighted “a Canadian study that suggests business and marketing leaders believe the importance of social media is eclipsing that of traditional media. The study determined that 46% of respondents say that social media is more important than TV, radio, newspapers and magazines; 85% believe social media have become vital elements of the communication mix. The study of 444 business and marketing leaders was conducted by Pollara Strategic Insights for Veritas Communications’ new com.motion unit. Plus, according to the study, 43% of business and marketing leaders have profiles on MySpace or Facebook. Interesting news from Shel/Rob, when Edelman’s recent trust survey suggested blogs had a measly 3% cred rating among Aussie biz/political influencers, eh?
Dec
12
PR Disasters scales the Power PR Index
Filed Under Blogs, Firms, Online, Public Relations, Technology | Leave a Comment
Friendly Ghost (aka Brendan Cooper) has published his latest PowerPR Index, a league table of the world’s top PR blogs. PR Disasters has risen a mighty 7 points, esconcing itself snugly within the top 50.
Dec
10
PR Disasters Best Blog nomination
Filed Under Public Relations | 2 Comments
Dec
4
2007 PR DISASTERS - NOMINATIONS OPEN
Filed Under Botched PR jobs, Campaigns, Celebrity, Corporates, Firms, Government, Naughty Public Relations agencies, PR Disasters, Public Relations, Public Relations practice | 26 Comments
SUBMIT YOUR NOMINATIONS TODAY!!
It’s coming to another year’s end, so we’re now accepting media, blogger and public nominations for our annual Top 10 PR Disaster Awards. The scheme highlights the worst examples of bad PR jobs as well as corporate scandals and celebrity gaffes. ‘PR Disasters’ will collate entries right up until midnight on 31 December 2007, and announce the winner early in 2008. Nominations can be submitted by blogging in or emailing your suggestions.
As suggested in my PR disasters book (a great Xmas stocking filler) to qualify as a PR disaster, any incident must have catalysed sustained, negative media coverage.
And as any PR-disaster watcher will tell you, 2007 has been another sterling year for botched PR jobs on the corporate and celebrity fronts. Please send in your favourites, and to jog your memory, you might recall…
The Cartoon Network’s bomb scare marketing stunt;
British Airways’ fuel surcharge fiasco;
Johnson & Johnson’s decision to sue the Red Cross;
Movie pin-up Ralph Fiennes’ Qantas toilet tryst;
US radio broadcaster Don Imus and the ‘nappy-headed ho’s’ slur
Aussie AFL footballer Ben Cousins’ sorry drug-related escapades
Heather Mills McCartney’s sometimes bizarre conduct under stress
There was also:
Fleishman Hillard – the PR specialists saw two of its ex-execs jailed for overbilling
Dr Pepper – a product promotion almost caused the exhumation of an historic graveyard
Ribena – had its vitamin C product claims debunked by two teenage science students
Whole Foods – their blogging CEO praised himself using a fake online identity
BBC – revelations that the UK broadcaster faked results of viewer phone-in competitions
FEMA – had its staff pretend to be news reporters at a badly attended press conference
Dec
1
Monsanto’s Aussie astroturfing claim
Filed Under Business, Campaigns, Corporates, Public Relations | 3 Comments
Serial newspaper letter writer and Queenslander Jason Leske has penned a letter for today’s The Age newspaper. He reckons GM modifier Monsanto is funding astroturf activity to further the acceptance for GM crops downunder, writing:
“Monsanto is a multinational corporation that licences GM corp technologies. It also funds the Institute of Public Affairs, which created the Australian Environment Foundation. Max Rheese, executive director of AEF writes letters talking up GM crop technologies. I wonder why?” If Jason’s right, then AEF’s alleged independence deserves scrutiny. Monsanto is certainly down on AEF’s web as a recent sponsor of the AEF’s conference. Maybe Max Rheese will clarify the situation?
Who is AEF (from their web)?
The Australian Environment Foundation (AEF) is a not-for-profit, membership-based environment organisation having no political affiliation. The AEF is a different kind of environment group, caring for both Australia & Australians. Many of our members are practical environmentalists – people who actively use and also care for the environment. We accept that environmental protection and sustainable resource use are generally compatible. For more information about the AEF visit www.aefweb.info