Ask Rudy Giuliani how one major event can change the public’s perception.
Before the tragic events of September 11, 2001, New York’s then-mayor was not exactly a media darling. His personal life was splashed on the pages of New York’s tabloids, the city’s finances were in awful shape, and His Honor was trying to push through funding packages to build, of all things, sports stadiums. By the time the sun set on September 11, 2001, however, Giuliani was considered a hero, and even his harshest critics found themselves cheering the Mayor, and the man. (Read more…)
As you read this, I’m most likely playing poker at the Monte Carlo in Las Vegas, winding down another year that saw me work way too much and play too little. I’m sure you feel the same way, so I hope you’re getting some well-deserved time off. Looking back, 2004 wasn’t an unusual year for PR, but there were some interesting developments. (Read more…)
The September 11th terrorist attacks in New York City made Rudolph Giuliani a hero. The then Mayor of New York City, Giuliani displayed the kind of leadership that enthralls people. He was a mesmerizing force, a steady hand during a time of uncertainty, and a leader willing to get into the trenches with his soldiers. Giuliani’s response to the devastating events also led many people to forget his misgivings. (Read more…)
Scanning the news lately, I’ve been intrigued by quite a number of PR gambles, ploys, actions and foul-ups. Here’s a look at some of the more important instances, from which I think we can learn something. (Read more…)
At least two people have been fired in recent weeks for speaking out in the media. One was fired for saying negative things about fellow co-workers. The other was fired for expressing religious beliefs. In both cases, their respective employers acted appropriately. (Read more…)
A few weeks ago, I was interviewed by a number of media outlets. The stories all involved AT&T’s proposed acquisition of BellSouth, and I was being interviewed in my role as a telecommunications analyst. But before I ever spoke to one reporter about the story, two people spoke to me. (Read more…)
“I know I got a bad reputation/ And it isn’t just talk, talk, talk” — from “Bad Reputation” by Freedy Johnston
Leafing through The Wall Street Journal the other day, I came across a story entitled, “Ranking Corporate Reputations.” The article was related to Harris Interactive’s seventh annual RQ (reputation quotient) report, and I was curious to see what companies topped, and bottomed, the list. (Read more…)
Perhaps the only thing more gruesome and despicable than the images of American soldiers torturing, mistreating and demeaning Iraqi prisoners was the videotaped execution of an American who was abducted by terrorists in Iraq. But behind the images of both disturbing acts lays a simple premise: Public Relations. (Read more…)
