After a Black employee quit over its dress code, supermarket chain Publix stated it will not allow workers to wear clothing featuring Black Lives Matter messaging. In response to what could be an emerging communications crisis for the brand, Publix spokesperson Maria Brous pointed to company policy. TheoryComms’ CEO Andrea Hamiton argues PR cannot stay on the sidelines in a moment of national turmoil and transformation.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
A Guide to Culturally Conscious Identifiers and Emojis
June 17th, 2020 by Toni HarrisonThe essential role PR plays in ensuring a brand’s business success is critical in this moment. This guide offers tips about the correct use of cultural terms so you can craft respectful messages as part of your inclusive business practices.
Wendy’s Twitter Silence on Brooks Speaks Volumes
June 15th, 2020 by Nicole SchumanWhen a brand gets caught in the middle of a crisis, what IS the proper response? Is it better to be a punching bag for the public and stay silent, or is it the responsibility of the middleman to explain or absolve themselves from the situation? So what is Wendy’s role?
Pride Month and Black Lives Matter Provide Intersectional Messaging
June 12th, 2020 by Nicole SchumanIn non-COVID times Pride supporters filled their calendars with parades and events across the globe, celebrating the beauty and importance of LGBTQ+ rights and representation. It seems only fitting during this time of another equality movement, Black Lives Matter, that messaging reflect a nod to the history of Pride—an uprising against police brutality by the queer community.
How The Michael J. Fox Foundation Navigates This Uncertain Time
June 12th, 2020 by Kathy BloomgardenKathy Bloomgarden, CEO of Ruder Finn, spoke with Holly Teichholtz, SVP communications and content strategies at The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. The two discussed pandemic-related disruptions to the workplace, the future of work, and how the nonprofit sector can best respond to the Black Lives Matter movement.
Face, Off: IBM, Amazon and Microsoft Limit Police Use of Surveillance AI
June 11th, 2020 by Sophie MaerowitzEarlier this week, IBM and Amazon said they will pull back from facial recognition technology contracts with law enforcement. The use of machine learning technology that detects faces has come under renewed scrutiny for racial bias. In addition, the technology is known to be flawed, particularly when applied to non-white faces. Until today, Microsoft was notably quiet on the issue, given it too has provided facial recognition software to police.
The Complexity of Brands Taking a Stand at This Time
June 10th, 2020 by Seth ArensteinCommunicators and the companies they represent are wrestling with what to communicate, if anything, about diversity and inclusion. In the end, the best response seems to be the authentic one, interviews with PR pros indicate.
CrossFit Responds to Gyms, Enthusiasts Following CEO Resignation
June 10th, 2020 by Nicole SchumanThe CrossFit debacle is not a crisis to be envied by communicators, however, the transparency it provided the public with its poor choices and timing prove that it is trying to regain the community’s trust and respect.
PRSA Chief: Always Communicate Compassion and Civility
June 9th, 2020 by Seth ArensteinIn a wide-ranging interview, PRSA chair T. Garland Stansell argues that diversity and inclusion should be year-round concerns for communicators. In addition, he believes PR pros have a vital role to play in combatting the scourge of misinformation about coronavirus treatments. “People are looking for direction and leadership, and it is our job to be truthful, transparent, and trustworthy,” he says.
Media Resignations Provide Opportunities for More Diverse Leadership
June 8th, 2020 by Nicole SchumanAs companies look at addressing their D&I issues, one place to start may be who should fill the shoes of those replaced. Particularly in media, no one can leave a prestigious editorial leadership position gaping for long, as news never stops. However, who and how you choose to replace can have a long-term impact on any organization.