Whoever trained Shell Oil President John Hofmeister on how to do media interviews, particularly on TV, forgot to tell the client that when discussing high gasoline prices, don’t smile and look like you’re having a good time. On “Meet the Press” this morning, Hofmeister had an ear-to-ear grin on his face while he was answering Tim Russert’s questions… Read More
crisis communications
Dole shrivels by not responding to ‘Dateline’ story on bagged lettuce
Dole, the world’s largest producer and marketer of fresh vegetables, is hiding behind its attorneys, while a scathing report on tonight’s “Dateline” most likely will send sales of its bagged lettuce heading south. Attorneys apparently told the company not to allow executives to be interviewed for the story on how at least 26 people in three states have gotten sick after eating Dole bagged lettuce… Read More
Gossip columnists tell what happens when celebrity publicists say ‘no comment’
When the gossip mags are tracking down a rumor about a celebrity, how do they know when they’ve struck gold? When they call the celebrity’s publicist, and the publicist says “no comment.” O’Dwyer’s Public Relations News, which covered a panel of celebrity gossip columnists at Dillon’s Lounge in New York recently, quotes Jo Piazza, a columnist for the Daily News.… Read More
Diamond Pet Food Finally Offers an Update
If you read about the Diamond Pet Foods recall on the front page of the Jan. 2 issue of PR Week magazine, you’d walk away thinking the company did just about everything it could to deal with this crisis. Its crisis plan included: —A consumer alert and recall three days after a veterinarian in upstate… Read More
Donate a second home for the homeless
Publicity Hound Jerice asked me to help spread the word about a campaign under way to help find housing for the homeless in New Orleans, Mississippi and Alabama. Here’s what she’s asking: Please donate the use of your camp, vacation home, empty apartment or second home for this emergency response to Hurricane Katrina. If you… Read More
Wal-Mart PR push is too little, too late
I love Wal-Mart’s convenience, store hours and low prices. Of all the merchants that get a chunk of my money, Wal-Mart probably gets the most. But when it comes to PR, I’d give Wal-Mart the booby prize. A story in the July 25 issue of PR Week says Wal-Mart has begun a media relations and… Read More
Stop calling news conferences
A reader wrote this week and asked: “We are looking for some advice on when to send a media notice to our contacts announcing a press conference. A week prior to the press conference? Two days? Or is it best to hit them a couple of times?” The Publicity Hound says: Why do you think… Read More
Beware your lawyer’s media advice in a crisis
I shake my head in disbelief every time somebody who has just been sued is quoted in the newspaper as saying, “We can’t comment because the case is in litigation.” I saw that quote again this morning. Some people actually think there’s a law somewhere that prohibits them from commenting on lawsuits filed against them.… Read More
The danger of sponsorships
If your company or oranization wants to partner with a big-name celebrity or sports star, understand the potential danger—and that you might get publicity you wish you hadn’t gotten. Aurora Health Care, Wisconsin’s biggest hospital system, has pulled its sponsorship of the 2005 Ahman Green Football Camp because Ahman Green, the popular running back for… Read More
Crisis training for public information officers
Public information officers for government agencies and nonprofits are often the first people the media contact when disaster strikes. Even though many have formal training on how to respond, PIOs representing numerous agencies in the same community sometimes never meet each other. When there’s a major disaster, the PIOs are on their own. Misinformation can… Read More