“BREAKING NEWS: Unconfirmed reports are coming in of an explosion on the North bank of the Singapore Marina. City Authorities urge the public not to panic, and to not hinder the emergency teams that are converging on the area. UPDATE: Singapore Authorities have officially announced a state of emergency and declared martial law.” US game maker, Activision, published this announcement …
Republicans as Terrorists?
With the ninety-fifth anniversary of women gaining the right to vote, Hillary Clinton addressed the subject of women’s equality, by comparing her Republican opponents to terrorists. Ms. Clinton said, “Now, extreme views about women, we expect that from some of the terrorist groups, we expect that from people who don’t want to live in the modern world, but it’s a …
A Winner in our Hearts
One of the youngest professional golfers at this summer’s British Open, 22-year-old Jordan Spieth, ended his chances of winning all four major titles in a single year by finishing one stroke behind Zach Johnson. However, with a handshake and a hug, Mr. Spieth was the first to walk over and congratulate Mr. Johnson on his win. Fans across the …
Trump Gets Dumped
“You’re fired!” became the rallying cry of Donald Trump’s legendary NBC reality TV show, “The Apprentice.” The billionaire presidential candidate has now been fired himself from many partnerships after a recent speech. “When Mexico sends its people, they aren’t sending their best,” Mr. Trump stated, “They’re bringing drugs, they’re bringing crime, they’re rapists, and some, I assume, are good people. …
A Swift Kick at Apple
“We don’t ask you for free iPhones. Please don’t ask us to provide you with our music for no compensation,” wrote Taylor Swift in an open love letter to Apple. In it, she gave the same reasoning that caused her earlier departure from Spotify, the subscription streaming music service Apple is cloning. The singer decided to keep her 1989 album …
Consistent Messaging Not a Slam Dunk
Consistent messaging is one of READY FOR MEDIA’s 12 C’s of communication, and one of the most important. If you cannot effectively communicate with members of your own team, how can you expect to communicate with the public? In a recent playoff game, the Cleveland Cavaliers undermined their own emphasis against domestic violence with a video broadcast depicting a woman …
Twitter: The 140-Character Soundbite
Social media has become every publicist’s nightmare. Rather than carefully formulating and crafting media responses through interviews, phone calls and media training, it is now possible for a moment of lapsed judgment to spiral into a media faux pas. Actor Alec Baldwin is the most recent example of this growing trend with a tweet from his car in New York …
#Boycott Media Mistake
Remember that, when used correctly, media coverage can be a powerful communications tool for yourself and your brand. So, before making any statement to the media, ask if yours is a message that will help or harm. Fashion designers Domenico Dolce and Stephano Gabbana have recently offered personal opinions that did not reflect well on them or their brand to …
“Token Fluzzies” Unite
Communication and presentation skills combined with appropriate branding can create the message desired, but not always the message received. The right message delivered by the wrong person is damaging and can both offend and distract from the issue or position. The qualities of a media spokesperson must include charisma, relevance, credibility and above all, one who is appropriate and WANTED …
Fact or Fiction
Whether you have decades of media experience or are just starting out, honesty and integrity are key. With the Internet looming overhead, any misstated facts or exaggerated truths may be discovered and broadcast. TV veteran news anchor, Brian Williams learned this lesson after an apparent attempt to be part of the story, rather than simply reporting it. Williams was outed …