It seemed that the Matt Lauer scandal was behind us now that the former star was gone and his replacement, Hoda Kotb, was installed in his anchor chair. In addition, Katie Couric said the ousted Lauer was “not the Matt we knew.” But this morning former Today Show anchor Ann Curry said the Lauer incident was not a surprise to her and that there was a culture of verbal abuse at NBC. Has the network really moved on from this scandal?
Crisis Management
H&M Under Fire, Loses Brand Collaborator The Weeknd
January 8th, 2018 by Samantha WoodH&M’s media relations team told PR News that a controversial marketing image of a young boy wearing a sweatshirt emblazoned with “Coolest Monkey In the Jungle” resulted from internal procedures that had not been followed properly and that the item would no longer be for sale.
A New Year’s Resolution for All Brands, Courtesy of Apple
December 29th, 2017 by Samantha WoodAccusations that Apple slows down the processing power of older iPhones in order to force customers to buy new versions has accompanied almost every new product launch. The rumors never attracted much news cycle traction until this holiday season, and now Apple is paying for it.
How Erie, Pa., Is Communicating After Record Snowfall
December 28th, 2017 by Sophie MaerowitzThe city of Erie received 65 inches of snow from Christmas Eve through Dec. 27—breaking a 59-year-old record for a two-day snowfall in the state. And this PR News reporter just happened to be visiting Erie for the holidays. Here are a few observations on Erie’s communications around the storm.
Three Tips to Bolster Crisis Apologies on Social
December 26th, 2017 by Diana Pisciotta, DenterleinKnowing how to handle a crisis arguably is the most important skill in a PR pro’s toolkit. When it’s a social media crisis, the need to act quickly often can be paramount, requiring PR pros to have items ready to deploy almost immediately. Here are a few tips that will bolster your efforts at apologizing for a crisis on social media.
PR Lessons Pulled From 2017’s Crisis Headlines
December 21st, 2017 by Arthur SolomonVeteran PR pro and former journalist Arthur Solomon continues his series of communications lessons pulled from 2017 news headlines. In this edition, Solomon concentrates on lessons learned from crises that involved Equifax, BP and the White House.
Amtrak’s Crisis Communications in the First 24 Hours After the Derailment
December 19th, 2017 by Sophie MaerowitzAmtrak is facing a crisis after a derailment caused at least three deaths and dozens of injuries in Washington on Dec. 18. And in the early aftermath, the organization has done an exemplary job of crisis communications, providing frequent updates on social media, opening a microsite for more information and offering transparency by holding a conference call soon after the accident.
In an Unprecedented Year, Multiple Mistakes Earn Equifax Top PR Crisis
December 19th, 2017 by Katie PaineOur regular crisis measurement guru Katie Paine considers crises of 2017 and selects the crisis of the year. Can you guess which brand has the dubious distinction? Hint, the brand was handed an awful situation, partly through its own negligence, and then sat on the situation for several weeks before announcing it to the public.
PR News’ Top 7 PR Stories of the Year
December 14th, 2017 by Samantha WoodIn a nutshell, 2017 has been a year of scandals, viral posts and revelations. Several big brands grappled with major crises, fake news continued to dog the major social media platforms and brands braced themselves for the possibility of being tweeted at by President Trump. But it certainly wasn’t all doom and gloom. Here, we’ve rounded up seven of the most memorable PR stories that defined 2017.
A Useful PR Reminder for These Uncertain Times
December 11th, 2017 by Jerry AsciertoWhat’s the proper protocol for brands when an event like today’s attempted terrorist attack in New York City occurs? Should a brand go silent and stop sending out any social media promotions as the dust settles or is it best to send out thoughts and prayers in a show of solidarity?