Mattel Tries to Get Out Ahead of Whistleblower
When major toy company Mattel received a letter from an anonymous whistleblower, the decision was made to get out ahead of the story. The company announced it had received a letter with the explanation that the company was canceling a debt sale in order to “investigate the matters set forth in the letter…” That announcement caused the company shares to drop more than 15%. Part of this downturn may have been the lack of specificity in the letter, leading to uncertainty. Mattel did not describe the allegations or disclose what potential wrongdoing may have been included in the letter. This is unwelcome news considering how well Mattel stock had been doing so far in 2019. After a few years of…
Read MoreVirgin Galactic Raises the Bar
From the earth to the moon! What was once science fiction is fast becoming a big business opportunity, and some of the most visionary billionaires on the planet are racing to see who can corner the market on commercial space flight. As SpaceX manages to invent entirely unprecedented technology, rival Virgin Galactic is taking an entirely different approach. Virgin Galactic’s ships and plans are as distinct as their signature CEO, Richard Branson. The company is focusing on luxury, rather than cool science. In a widely-reported unveiling, Branson’s space tourism outfit revealed a series of high-end amenities awaiting deep-pocketed clients at Spaceport America, the company’s New Mexico facilities. According to current plans, guests secured seats on the 90-minute supersonic flights for…
Read MoreChrisley Defiant in the Face of Tax Charges
The world is about to find out if TV celebrity Todd Chrisley “knows best” about crisis communication. The reality TV star, patriarch of the family portrayed on “Chrisley Knows Best,” has been indicted on tax evasion charges along with his real-life and TV wife, Julie. Among the charges are allegations that the spouses attempted to hide income from the IRS, including income generated by their TV program. The specific charges include ‘conspiracy, bank fraud, and wire fraud,” according to multiple media accounts. Also indicted was the Chrisleys’ accountant, Peter Tarantino, who was charged with ‘conspiracy to defraud the United States’ and ‘aiding the filing of a false tax return.’ The media company owns the network that airs the program, NBCUniversal,…
Read MoreDomingo Responds to Allegations
If there is anyone who can lay claim to the title “ultimate male opera singer” apart from Luciano Pavarotti, that may well be Placido Domingo. One of the most powerful brands in international opera for decades, Domingo has been a household name across the world, even among people who don’t care for opera. Now, though, that name is being barraged with accusations dating back though much of his celebrated professional career. Women are claiming that Domingo “pressured them into sexual relationships” by offering jobs and promotions in exchange for these acts. Some of these accusers claim that, when they refused, Domingo punished them by damaging their careers.
Read MoreCathay Pacific Reverses Position on Hong Kong Protests
One of the hottest and most divisive news stories coming out of the far east this past week was the ongoing “pro-democracy demonstrations” in Hong Kong. Waves and waves of people, mostly students, are out in the streets letting the Chinese government know what they think of the current state of things. Initially, renowned airline, Cathay Pacific, put out an internal message that the company would not stop its employees from taking part in the demonstration. That has changed, and the company was quick to let the world know it. Employees were told that, if they participated in the protests, their employment would be terminated.
Read MoreThe Politics of Preseason Communication
The NFL preseason is one of the most grueling stretches in all of athletics. Teams bring nearly twice as many players to camp as they will keep on the active roster, so competition is fierce and emotions are high. That means there are also a ton of compelling stories, so reporters and broadcasters are on high alert for any nugget of breaking news. Combine that intensity with a bunch of keyed-up players and coaches, many of whom have limited experience with the press, and you have a recipe for communication chaos. To avoid this, teams need to have clearly articulated plans about who talks to the press (and when), as well as what is or is not said to the…
Read MoreDuck! Now, What?
The sad and recent tragic mass shootings in two U.S. cities may have caused many folks to not only re-examine their position on firearms and gun control but also how they might react if a similar incident happened to them and their family. What goes through a person’s mind when a crisis involving them suddenly and unexpectedly occurs? Public relations professionals should also be asking themselves some questions if an incident occurred involving numerous deaths and their company directly or indirectly. Here are three possibilities we hope will never occur but for which PR people need to be prepared. They should be considered so you’re not caught totally off-guard and left behind in the media frenzy of what some are…
Read MoreWhat’s New, Pussy Cat?
Remember this 1965 movie? It received mixed reviews when it debuted, in part because it focused on male sex addiction and was considered tasteless by some critics. Yet, the movie received an Academy Award nomination for best song and still another nomination for best-written screen comedy from the Writers Guild of America. Business and marketing have been accused by some critics as being unethical in exaggerating claims to encourage people to buy products they don’t need. Instances like this are what led to the formation of organizations like the Ethical Corporation, a group formed to promote discussion about purpose-driven business. What Does All This Have To Do With My Company? Today’s businesses and marketing environment are going through tremendous changes…
Read MorePull vs. Push: How Consumer Marketing Communications Make a Difference
We often refer to the concepts of pull and push marketing. For those unfamiliar, these concepts deal with the overall strategy of a marketing professional and how they approach and engage with customers. On one hand, the pull approach encourages consumers to come to the brand. Examples of this approach include promoting sales or deals to consumers, capitalizing on loyalty by offering rewards, and using influencers to create more of a demand and following for the product or service being promoted.
Read MoreThe Growing Pay Gap Between Journalism and Public Relations
Most people aren’t aware that journalists and public relations professionals share a number of mutual goals like communicating with the public, building trust, and sharing stories. Yet in spite of the similarities, there’s a growing gap in pay between these two professions. Why is that so? For one, there’s been a steady decline in the number of newspapers in the United States. In 1970, there were 1,748 daily newspapers. By 2016, the number had dropped to 1,286. The number of public relations professionals working in PR agencies alone at the end of 2016 was 58,489. And that didn’t include those working for corporations, associations and other organizations.
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