Blog
Weatherman Shows How to be Ready for the Eye of the P.R. Storm
By Dennis Culloton, CEO, presidentIt’s just getting started but it has already been a brutal hurricane season. In the wake of Hurricane Harvey walloping South Texas, many unexpected heroes emerged but one Harris County meteorologist stepped into the spotlight with a great lesson for all business, civic and political leaders who find themselves in the
Leaving the Press and your Spokesman in the Dark is No Strategy
By Dennis Culloton, CEO and President, Culloton Strategies and University of Illinois Visiting LecturerAs I recently wrapped up another mini-semester teaching Crisis Communications at the University of Illinois, it struck me that this year more than ever, students had the unprecedented experience of learning by watching a startling array of major crises befalling brands and
So, Who Wants to Fly United?
Steve Hamilton and Andrew TouhyIn what was the airline video shown around the world that generated a grave PR disaster for United Airlines, their response to the crisis only made it worse. Even as this story continues to unfold, PR and crisis management professionals can refer to this case as a blueprint of what not
McDonalds Goes Rogue
Steve Hamilton – Digital Media DirectorAndrew Touhy – Senior Account Executive Within seconds of this being posted to the McDonald’s corporate Twitter account, it was retweeted over 1,000 times and spread across the internet. Knowing that the tweet would be short lived, many Twitter users made sure to archive it.McDonald’s has since released a statement reading
Dangerous Divisiveness
Andrew Touhy, Account ExecutiveCrisis is often self-inflicted. There are countless examples of companies bringing a media storm upon themselves, and a recent casting call issued by Cadillac was no different.Per an image posted by Reuters news service, the luxury car company issued a casting call notice that said their filming agency was looking for “any and
Social Media and Picking Fights in 2016
Katherine Krall, CS InternMark Twain once advised to “never pick a fight with people who buy ink by the barrel.” His recommendation to avoid becoming engrossed in heated conflicts with journalists is based on the limited reach and influence that the general public had in the 19th century. During Twain’s lifetime, reporters purchased barrels of ink
Hello Games…Hello?
Steve Hamilton, Digital Media DirectorNo industry is exempt from the possibility of a bad PR move in the digital age. Consumers are using the internet now more than ever for their interactions and purchases. In an era where every meal , movie, teacher, and video games is reviewed, you need to be able to stand
New Balance Loses Balance
Steve Hamilton and Andrew TouhyAfter the tempestuous election, New Balance’s vice president of public affairs, Matthew LeBretton, offered an endorsement to Donald Trump saying, “The Obama administration turned a deaf ear to us and frankly, with President-elect Trump, we feel things are going to move in the right direction.” Though the answer was in response to
Stick to the Statement
Andrew Touhy, Assistant Account ExecutiveWhen certain situations arise, a crisis is inevitable. The New York Times reported Oct. 25 that Canadian authorities alleged Elizabeth Tracey Mae Wettlaufer killed eight elderly patients from 2007-2014. A horrific and shocking story indeed, but one that offers lessons to crisis professionals.In a case like this in which revealing certain
October-style Crisis Communications
Dennis CullotonAfter Donald Trump's twitter rants and video leaks and Samsung's exploding phones, people tell me, "Hey (that company in trouble) needs you for crisis communications," or they ask "How would you like to be Trump's PR guy?" (no thanks).It makes for fun talk at the tailgate or cocktail party. But to make a real
SAMSUNG: The Tactical Retreat, Too Late?
Steve Hamilton, Digital Media DirectorThe Samsung NOTE 7 has finally been pulled from shelves. Dozens of reports from Note 7 owners claiming that the phones are catching fire have become too much to bear for Samsung. Even after an initial recall of the device, the replacements seem to be having the same problem. They have
NFL vs Consumer Social Media
Andrew Touhy, Assistant Account ExecutiveThe NFL announced a new policy effective October 12 that will ban teams from streaming and sharing all video-based social media during the games. Additionally, teams cannot shoot video and post it to their own accounts, or make highlight GIFs. In talks with teams, ESPN reports that “league executives want to
Priorities, Man
Andrew Touhy, Assistant Account ExecutiveAs Hurricane Matthew ripped towards the Florida coast, Disney World closed its doors for only the fourth time in 45 years. Park communications executives delivered clear, concise messages across all platforms that prioritized safety above Disney’s bottom line. Though the staff had to scramble to help cancel travel plans, the decision to
Dear Yankees: Thank you for the Legacy
Andrew Touhy Assistant Account Executive and Katie Krall CS InternHe is the baseball player that Red Sox Nation deifies and the one Yankees fans love to hate. But on September 27th, in a letter published in the Players Tribune titled “Thanks for the Memories, New York,” David Ortiz wrote to Yankees fans to show his
Honest, Transparent, and Composed: What We Can Learn From How Scott Van Pelt Handles Criticism.
Andrew Touhy, Assistant Account ExecutiveSportsCenter host Scott Van Pelt’s recent interview with The Washington Post – following claims that ESPN is sinking - highlights an increasingly important lesson in brand management and reputation management: When countering claims discrediting your company, be honest, transparent and composed. Following a barrage of stories citing ESPN’s decreasing popularity, “layoffs
How to Starve the Media – Exhibit, Toronto Blue Jays
Here's Josh Donaldson post-game on dust-up with Manager John Gibbons, and his new Tom Ford cologne #bluejays pic.twitter.com/AQcgpKmixi — Faizal Khamisa (@SNFaizalKhamisa) August 17, 2016 The best way to manage a crisis is to avoid one completely. Josh Donaldson just did that. The present day news cycle is rapid. Deprived of a meaty story, the
Rogue One: A Tenors Story
Steve Hamilton, Digital Media DirectorNow that the dust has finally settled from The Tenor’s Canadian national anthem gaffe, let’s have a look at what happened, how they handled it, and what we can learn from it.For the uninitiated, here’s a brief recap of what went down. During the Canadian national anthem for the hugely popular
Pokemon Go Prepare For A Crisis
Andrew Touhy, Senior Account Executive The debut of Pokémon Go was nothing short of…wild. Nintendo’s first mobile-gaming hit recorded more downloads in a week than Tinder has had in its four years of existence, and saw it’s stock shares raise a ridiculous 55%, the fastest bounce in a decade for the company. There is no doubt about it – this
British Leaving Behind More Than Just the EU
By Hannah Magnuson and Dennis CullotonShouldn’t an economic downturn and widespread turmoil sound suspiciously familiar to the Brits? The “remainers” who wanted the United Kingdom to remain in the European Union, led by Prime Minister David Cameron, had warned of this throughout the campaign leading up to the June 23 “Brexit” referendum.Cameron bowed to pressure
Thoughts on Dallas
Dennis Culloton, President and CEONothing can replace a lifetime of experience and character when it comes to a moment of truth in a crisis situation. Dallas Police Chief David O. Brown and Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings rose to the occasion last night and this morning in addressing the media and the public after the cowardly
Hashtag Hijacking
Steve Hamilton, Digital Media DirectorHashtags: a volatile, user driven component of Twitter. Companies: brands always looking to further their online reach. A match made in heaven? Not always.First of all, what is a hashtag? Why should I as a marketing go-getter care? A hashtag is simply a label with a topic appended to a tweet
No, Your Company Shouldn’t Use Memes to Appeal to the Internet
Steve Hamilton, Digital Media DirectorThe Internet is a pretty crazy place. Filled to the brim with potential customers, stories, and publicity. All you have to do is go out and grab it! So, you’re the public relations team for a company or brand, and you’re tasked with creating some online buzz that appeals to Internet
Advantage, Sharapova: The Reputational Benefits of Crisis Management
Andrew Touhy, Assistant Account Executive.Allegations of cheating by an athlete can quickly and drastically change public perception, marketability and sponsorship revenue. Aside from personal integrity and reputation, for a high performing athlete, tens, if not hundreds, of millions of dollars hang in the balance. Reputations built over a career have been tarnished under the intense
Manage Crisis by Avoiding One Altogether
Andrew Touhy, Account ExecutiveThe wildly popular picture and video messaging application, Snapchat, found itself on the defensive for releasing a marketing stunt that superimposed musician Bob Marley’s face on a user on the unofficial recreational marijuana holiday, April 20. The company’s statement in response to public feedback, however, added fuel to the fire instead of
Headlines + Hashtags
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