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In this month’s Buzz Box, we explain the Tinkerbell Effect and Green Hydrogen and their impact for crisis communicators.

A tweet, statement or leaked email from the likes of Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and former CEOs John Schnatter (Papa John’s) John Schnatter and Travis Kalanick (Uber) could make or break a company’s reputation. Regardless of your organization’s size, preparing for leadership gaffes is an essential part of any PR pro’s job.

If you don’t have a crisis communication plan with designated strategies, roles, actions and follow-up, you will be hopelessly behind before the trouble starts. What follows are tips to serve as guides to best practices, and, depending on your level of acquaintance with crisis management, I hope they are helpful as new ideas, refreshers, jumping-off points, a checklist or a combination.

New findings from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) indicate that among those resistant to get a vaccine six months ago, one in five previously vaccine-averse individuals now say that have received a vaccine, in part due to family pressure. KFF’s latest report follows up with 878 respondents, including those who said they would not be getting the vaccine in January.

Months ago, it seemed clear much of the COVID-19 story, at least in the United States, revolved around communication. It still does. The word ‘communication’ wasn’t used often when discussing battling COVID-19, but it remains… Continued

This month’s Crisis Insider dialogue considers why two entities can react similarly to PR crises and obtain vastly different results: One company exits the crisis promptly, the other continues to experience issues. Our dialoguers are Maureen Cahill, partner, Bellmont Partners, and Dan Jasper, VP, communications, Mall of America. Interestingly, Cahill was Jasper’s predecessor at Mall of America.

We’re living in a time of company callouts. Companies are speaking more frequently on social and political issues because some customers want to purchase from, and partner with, businesses that take stands. Yet one wrong move and social media will blast a company for statements perceived as clueless or hypocritical.

It’s time that social media managers admit our dirty little secret. You know. It’s the thing nagging at you that you’re not sure how to fix. It’s often overlooked, but it may be slowing your… Continued

The remarks not only allow the public to drag Smith through the mud, but take ESPN right along with it by showing that it will continue to allow these short-sighted, inflammatory takes and attitudes. 

Although the headlines in the last year have been been laser-focused on COVID and racial equity workforce violations, the #MeToo era is far from over. Recent responses to harassment, sexual violence and misogyny at a Michigan boutique and Virginia Military Institute indicate a lack of accountability and action following instances of harassment.