Stories by Seth Arenstein

Public relations crisis management counsels that brands should own their mistakes promptly, apologize when there are victims and communicate how they are making things right. Red Lobster’s CEO Kim Lopdrup did that yesterday. For many… Continued

The early portion of this morning’s Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pension (HELP) Committee hearing didn’t produce the communication bombshells some had anticipated when a NY Times article late last evening revealed a portion of… Continued

Coronavirus is changing so many things, internal communications included, argues Jesse Hamlin, who runs corporate communications at Avalara, the global tax firm. As the pandemic continues, internal communicators will need to monitor the needs of employees so messaging can adapt to the changing conditions.

If real life were like the movies, then when the President of the United States and the Vice President were exposed to a potentially deadly virus, the script would have the White House press secretary… Continued

The coronavirus has shined a spotlight on heretofore unheralded people and things. Cleaning and transport staff, fast-food and supermarket workers now are essential employees. Finally. Also essential are healthcare workers, some of whom have ascended… Continued

Fake news is not a new phenomenon. Its proliferation during the pandemic, though, when life and death are at stake, has elevated the issue to a new level. As a result, Hill + Knowlton’s (US) new analytics chief John Gillooly believes verifying data will be hot after the pandemic subsides. He also thinks it’s important for people to laugh now. Even for data analysts.

With a homebound audience during the pandemic, it’s tempting for brands and organizations to flood the digital zone with endless rounds of messages. That’s a mistake, Evoke KYNE global digital chief Julie O’Donnell says. Instead, consider first whether your message is adding value or noise.

The coronavirus has prompted PR firms to create practices aimed at helping brands, companies and organizations work during the pandemic and make plans to emerge from it. Given the virus’s decimation of the economy, another… Continued

What to do when you have trouble communicating and there’s an important message to send? Qualification: You’re an ineffective communicator in the eyes of your 25-year-old daughter. And to make things more complex, you happen to be governor of the country’s coronavirus epicenter?

It’s a useful coincidence that the PRSA chief also is a veteran healthcare communicator. After our initial visit with T. Garland Stansell during the very early moments of the coronavirus outbreak, we thought it was time to ask him how he thinks communicators are doing now, two months into the pandemic. The actions taken and message sent will linger in the public’s mind long after the pandemic subsides, he says.