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Crisis Communications

FTC proposal could vastly alter blogger relations

Julia Hood July 02, 2009

In 1998, a California-based consumer activist by the name of Mark Kasky filed a lawsuit against Nike.

Live Nation hits sour note with hidden fee

Tonya Garcia July 01, 2009

Concertgoers hummed a happy tune June 1. On that day, Live Nation announced "No service fee Wednesdays."

CMO Q&A: Anne Finucane, Bank of America

Nicole Zerillo July 01, 2009

Nicole Zerillo speaks with Bank of America's Anne Finucane about the importance of PR in telling a complicated story

David's Bridal spreads love online

Tanya Lewis July 01, 2009

National retailer David's Bridal's (DB) was concerned about online criticism of customer service, and it wanted to create positive online interaction.

Dahn Yoga & Health hires MGP for support around lawsuit

Kimberly Maul June 26, 2009

NEW YORK: Dahn Yoga & Health Centers hired MGP & Associates for PR support, helping the global company handle a federal lawsuit filed by former employees.

Metro's comms team navigates crash crisis with aplomb

Frank Washkuch June 25, 2009

As information trickled into the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority on June 23 about what would become the deadliest train crash in its history, the organization, known to locals as the Metro, coordinated an outreach effort focused on reaching metropolitan-area residents via local media.

Zicam makers using social media to communicate with consumers

Jaimy Lee June 19, 2009

SCOTTSDALE, AZ: Matrixx Initiatives, the makers of Zicam, is using already established Facebook and Twitter pages to communicate with consumers following a June 16 warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) telling the company to stop selling two nasal versions of the cold remedy.

The revolution will be Tweeted

June 19, 2009

As the events in Iran demonstrated this week, social media is playing a defining role in global public affairs.

Indian telecom hires H&K for global brand awareness

Frank Washkuch June 18, 2009

MUMBAI: Tata Communications selected Hill & Knowlton (H&K) to increase brand awareness of its voice and data-service businesses globally, with the exception of the company's native India.

Study: CEOs can restore reputations with internal comms

Frank Washkuch June 16, 2009

NEW YORK: A majority of executives believe that CEOs trying to restore their - or their companies' - reputations do not help themselves by using social media or making themselves more available to the press, according to a study by Weber Shandwick and KRC Research.

Pegasystems names PAN North American AOR

Frank Washkuch June 16, 2009

ANDOVER, MA: Business software creator Pegasystems has named PAN Communications its North American AOR.

Will your business survive a hurricane?

Nicole Gustin June 16, 2009

It's hurricane season, and you might have all the essentials to protect your business if a storm is coming - plywood, tarps, and portable generators. But do you have the tools to protect your company's reputation?

Rebounding financial companies shouldn't neglect employee morale

Erica Iacono June 12, 2009

This week, 10 of the nation's banks were granted permission to repay TARP money back to the government.

Data breach: developing a crisis response plan

Michael Fox June 11, 2009

Data breaches have become common in the retail, healthcare, financial, and e-commerce sectors, with large cases like T.J. Maxx and Pfizer gaining worldwide media attention.

Potomac Strategy Group launches

Jaimy Lee June 09, 2009

WASHINGTON: Potomac Strategy Group, a Republican communications and political consulting firm, opened its doors June 9.

GM revs up 'Reinvention' efforts

Nicole Zerillo June 05, 2009

DETROIT: Filing bankruptcy on June 1, General Motors Corp (GM) announced it would downsize its holdings to four key brands and operations. With a leaner "new GM" expected to launch in the next 60 to 90 days, the communications team is presently seeking to inspire consumer confidence with a variety of different PR initiatives.

Combination of messaging for GM key to regaining consumer confidence

Nicole Zerillo June 04, 2009

General Motors Corp. (GM) entered the second largest bankruptcy filing in industrial history on June 1.

Negative news coverage of business crises up in 2008

Kimberly Maul June 02, 2009

LOUISVILLE, KY: The tumult of last year meant that companies dealt with slightly more crises in 2008 compared to 2007, and negative news coverage was up, according to the annual Crisis Report from the Institute for Crisis Management.

KFC cooks up smart PR after free meal disaster

Tonya Garcia June 01, 2009

Three things are universally true: Everyone loves Oprah; recession or not, everyone loves a free meal; and people love the Colonel's chicken.

Under the microscope: Chevron's video tactics

Tonya Garcia June 01, 2009

Chevron recently produced a video to tell its side of a $27 billion lawsuit it is facing in Ecuador.

Ketchum names three associate directors

Frank Washkuch May 27, 2009

NEW YORK: Ketchum appointed Esty Pujadas, Mike Doyle, and Nick Ragone associate directors, effective immediately.

Industry trailblazer Richard Arnold dies at 85

Frank Washkuch May 26, 2009

REDWOOD CITY, CA: Industry pioneer Richard Arnold died May 17 after a brief illness, according to a report in the San Francisco Chronicle.

IPG hires GM exec to oversee holding company's work with carmaker

Frank Washkuch May 20, 2009

NEW YORK: Martin Walsh, currently a senior executive at General Motors (GM), will join the Interpublic Group (IPG) on June 15 as SVP and president of the holding company's GM relationship.

Firms shouldn't forget to manage their own reputations

May 18, 2009

Crisis communications firms often take on the most controversial, challenging, and even reviled clients. But as these agencies handle the reputations of their clients, it is important that they remember to consider the reputation of the agency, as well.

Chevron plans more videos to dispute Ecuador lawsuit

Tonya Garcia May 14, 2009

SAN RAMON, CA: Chevron plans to continue to make videos showcasing its side of a pending class action lawsuit with Ecuadorians who hold Texaco, which it bought in 2001, responsible for pollution to the Amazon rainforest.

KFC missteps lead to short-term pain

Alexandra Bruell May 11, 2009

LOUISVILLE, KY: Despite KFC's inability to fully deliver on its grilled-chicken consumer launch promotion, a number of PR pros believe the brand's misstep will actually lead to positive long-term brand awareness.

Tips for communicating to employees during a disaster

May 08, 2009

As fears of an imminent global flu pandemic begin to subside, now is the time for corporate communicators to reflect and ask key questions: Were we prepared? Did we communicate effectively with our employees?