Blog
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
Embrace the Target — The Maddon Guide to Crisis Communications
By Dennis Culloton, President and CEO I own up to being a die-hard Cubs fan--and for Cubs fans, die-hard is the right posture. I watched the '69 Cubs collapse while sitting on my father's lap. As it happens, children have been watching the Cubs collapse for 107 years and seeing their father's first yell at
The Agent of Chaos: The Internet’s Users
Steve Hamilton, Digital Media DirectorThe Internet is a fascinating place, ripe with possibility, opportunity and anonymity. Businesses of every size and scope have harnessed the power of the web, social media and increased connectivity to grow brand loyalty exponentially. On the other hand, these tools, if implemented poorly, can leave you with egg that is
The Ongoing Case Study: Volkswagen’s Faulty Emission Controls
Patrick Skarr, Vice President It has been nearly six months since the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency revealed that Volkswagen had a major problem with the design and functionality of the emissions control on up to 11 million automobiles. Instead of being one of the cleanest diesel vehicles on the road, the cars were emitting up to
Stand Tall in the Face of Adversity
Andrew Touhy, Account Executive If you didn’t happen to catch Cam Newton’s post-game presser, you probably heard about it. And if you’re the type that strayed away from the media frenzy surrounding the Super Bowl, here is a quick summary.After the Panthers’ loss to Denver in last Sunday’s Super Bowl showdown, a sullen and frustrated Cam
Expect the Unexpected and Avoid The Self-Inflicted
Our firm is often brought in to serve as counselors during a crisis, or to help clients prepare for controversial decisions that will be covered, debated and questioned by the community, business competitors and the media. While each project is unique, there are common truths to any crisis management project.No matter your planning or how
While We Slept…The Need For a Vigorous News Media
Dennis Culloton, President and CEOAt the risk of sound like my father, I told you so!I’ve bemoaned in this space before about the decline of newspapers and the media in general. While the media has certainly been a thorn in the side of various clients over the years, the value of journalism at it’s best
Celebrities for President
Steve Hamilton, Digital Media Director Donald Trump’s presidential candidacy mystifies me. His brash, often outrageous statements regularly make headline news, late night comedy sketches and keeps him almost constantly trending on Facebook. Even in Canada people are more interested in what the Donald has been up to than our own politicians and lawmakers. However, the
Headlines + Hashtags
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