Written by Adam Goldberg, Co-Founder One scenario we commonly face is when a client learns a reporter is investigating it before the reporter calls the client. The clues can emerge in various ways. Perhaps a reporter messaged employees on LinkedIn or through social media. Typically, the client instinct in these instances – and that of […]
“Blending Out” Brand Image: Tarte Cosmetics
Written by Emma Novak, Account Manager Read the room: conspiracy theories aren’t limited to politics. Unfounded conspiracy theories fused with social criticism can create an unexpected tsunami of negative coverage against a brand and its well-intentioned actions. Tarte Cosmetics recently experienced this, and there are lessons for us all. Tarte Controversy Founded in 1999 and […]
The Rise of Pickleball: What Companies Can Learn About Becoming the Next Big Dill
Written by Katie Owens, Account Manager “Stay out of the kitchen!,” “let’s just dink,” and “zero-zero-two,” are some phrases you might hear if you pass a pickleball court. Pickleball’s explosion, with over 14% of Americans playing the sport in 2023, was no accident. Behind the scenes, a flexible, adept team was hard at work embracing […]
How to Successfully Use Influencers in Your Next PR Campaign
Written by Claire Rosenwinkel, Trident Intern Today, one cannot go on the internet without seeing influencers at the center of countless campaigns. Influencers are valuable for public relations campaigns and advertising, and they deliver results. Sixty percent of marketers shared that influencer-generated content performs better and drives more engagement compared to branded posts.Unfortunately, as the […]
Southwest Airlines: Cancel or #Canceled?
Written by Emma Novak, Account Manager Southwest Airlines prides itself on three values – efficiency, discipline, and excellence – to fulfill its purpose: connecting people to what’s important in their lives through friendly, reliable, and affordable air travel. During the 2022 holiday season, Southwest compromised its values and purpose of reliability, tarnishing the brand after […]
How to Tell Customers Bad News
When managing a crisis, communication skills are often contradicted by the human instinct to put the best light on bad news. Specifically, there are three natural, human reactions that frequently guide how companies and organizations deliver bad news to customers. The first is that, instead of speaking in plain language, they will try to sugarcoat […]
Trader Joe’s Calm Rebuttal
In July, Trader Joe’s found itself in a position familiar to corporate America in recent months – a viral social media campaign leveled serious accusations against the brand and demanded immediate action. In Trader Joe’s case, a viral petition called for the grocery chain to “remove racist branding and packaging from its stores,” referencing Trader […]
What Companies Can Learn From Nike
In the wake of the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and many others at the hands of police, many companies that previously shied away from incorporating social issues like the Black Lives Matter movement into their branding and marketing have embraced them to make their positions on these seismic matters clear to consumers. However, […]
Biden’s Non-Apology
Earlier this year, Joe Biden reached out to Anita Hill, the young law professor who famously testified that then-Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas had sexually harassed her. Biden presided over Thomas’s confirmation hearings, during which Hill was mocked, degraded, and humiliated. During the phone call, Biden expressed “regret for what she endured” and “admiration for everything she has done to change the culture around sexual harassment in this country.” Biden, however, failed to directly apologize for his role in how she was treated, leaving Hill “deeply unsatisfied.”
Just How Important Are CSR Activities for Companies in Crisis?
One things clients experiencing negative media attention often ask us is, what kind of CSR should we be doing to mitigate this bad publicity? Before answering that question, it is worthwhile to explore whether or not CSR actually does help limit public blowback. Corporate social responsibility, also known as CSR, while difficult to define, can be described as a form of private business self-regulation that allows a company to take responsibility for the social and/or environmental impacts of its business.
Looking for a Public Relations Firm? Hire an Advocate, Not a Publicist
One valuable asset public relations consultants can bring is their own credibility with reporters. Credibility with journalists is not easily gained, and it’s earned through honesty and transparency with reporters over sustained periods of time. But, credibility doesn’t necessarily equate to the media reporting what you want. That’s why you always want to make sure […]
Public Relations Basics: Working With Reporters
For the uninitiated, the prospect of talking with a reporter can be daunting. Even trade reporters in esoteric industries can materially influence a company’s brand or reputation. With a few basic, public relations guidelines, however, you can greatly increase the odds that your work with a reporter will be a positive contribution to your cause. Indeed, these are important to follow no matter your public relations experience.