Crisis Management

Chris Brown's Cleanup Crew

by Sheldon Rampton — February 18, 2009 - 12:09am

R&B singer Chris Brown has reportedly hired two PR agents specializing in crisis management to help rehabilitate his image following reports that he beat up his girlfriend, pop star Rihanna.

No Credit for Bankers

by Bob Burton — February 17, 2009 - 3:52am

The former chairman of the banking and insurance group HBOS, Lord Stevenson, and chief executive Andy Hornby, along with the Royal Bank of Scotland's Sir Tom McKillop and Sir Fred Goodwin, appeared before a British parliamentary committee and profusely apologized for their role in the financial meltdown of the banks they had directed. If the four thought their apologies would garner sympathy, they misread the public mood.

Main Source: 
PR Week (UK), February 11, 2009

The Mercenaries Previously Known as Blackwater

by Diane Farsetta — February 16, 2009 - 2:08pm

First it was Blackwater USA. Then it was Blackwater Worldwide. Now, it's "Xe" (pronounced "Zee").

Main Source: 
Washington Post, February 14, 2009

Cessna Urges Executives to Fly with Pride

by Diane Farsetta — February 11, 2009 - 5:36pm

"Pity the poor executive who blinks. ... True visionaries will continue to fly," a new ad campaign by Cessna Aircraft defiantly states. The company saw a "sudden drop in demand for private airplanes of all sizes," which it believes is due not only to the recession, but also to the "unexpected public backlash that erupted after the chief executives of Ford Motor Co., Chrysler LLC and General Motors Corp.

Main Source: 
Wall Street Journal (sub req'd), February 11, 2009

Why Blago Blitzed

by Sheldon Rampton — January 30, 2009 - 2:59am

There was a method behind now-former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich's decision to skip most of his impeachment trial and go on the talk show circuit, writes PR Week. "PR pros know," the magazine wrote, "that Blagojevich's goal likely wasn't to retain his seat as governor, but to defend his reputation and prepare for his next objective.

Main Source: 
PR Week, February 2, 2009

Finally, Blagojevich's Side of the Story

by Diane Farsetta — January 26, 2009 - 12:17pm

Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich, who was impeached and faces a federal investigation into charges he tried to sell the former Senate seat of President Barack Obama, has hired a public relations firm.

Main Source: 
Associated Press, January 24, 2009

How Big Tobacco Deals with Adverse Research -- and Researchers

by Anne Landman — January 13, 2009 - 2:38pm

A case study in the January issue of the American Journal of Public Health shows the extent to which the tobacco industry works to derail research -- and researchers -- that could adversely affect it.

Main Source: 
American Journal of Public Health (sub req'd), January 2009

AIG's Got the Public's Money to Burn

by Diane Farsetta — October 9, 2008 - 1:36pm

The insurance company American International Group (AIG), which "vowed to temper spending after hosting a conferen

Main Source: 
Bloomberg News, October 9, 2008

A Veneer of Health

by Judith Siers-Poisson — September 24, 2008 - 3:15pm

The Burson-Marsteller PR firm did pro bono communications and media relations support for America's Health Care at Risk: Finding a Cure, which is billed as "a bi-partisan conference bringing together major stakeholders in the health care debate for a high-level dialogue aimed at generating real and lasting solutions." While organizers of the conference were thrilled to have the free help, they may have been wise to check on B-M's health credentials.

Main Source: 
Bulldog Reporter Daily 'Dog, September 17, 2008

Depends Who You Work For: Half Empty or Half Full?

by Judith Siers-Poisson — July 25, 2008 - 3:59pm

While the closing of 600 Starbucks stores is bad news for the 12,000 baristas who will lose their jobs, it's an economic plus for others. The coffee giant is ramping up PR efforts to shape its message about its contraction.

Main Source: 
O'Dwyer's PR Daily (sub req'd), July 23, 2008
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