Tag Archives: planning and prevention

opinion and insights, planning and prevention

Lady Gaga journalism and the reputation economy

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Two very interesting articles crossed my desktop this week.  Reading them within hours of each other left me head-scratching.

The first was from the Fall 2010 Preview issue of American Journalism Review, titled “Traffic Problems.”  The article summarizes how the ability to track the popularity of specific online articles affects a newsroom’s future focus.  Key callouts:

 High-minded headlines and stories about foreign wars, the federal deficit or environmental despoilage might have paid the bills in the age of Murrow and Cronkite, but they only go so far these days.  Shark videos and “naked Lady Gaga” headlines get major play on “serious” news sites for an obvious and no longer terribly shocking reason: They draw traffic….

“Journalism always put a premium on speed and scoops, but up until recently we never had to make the decision that speed trumps vetting or verification,” observes my colleague Roxanne Roberts. “That dynamic is shifting because of the need for hits. It’s a very slippery slope from an ethical standpoint….”

While there are consequences for being slow, there aren’t many consequences for being wrong, Roberts says: “The feeling nowadays is, ‘we don’t make mistakes, we just make updates.'” By trying to grab traffic at all costs, “We’ve placed the premium not on being correct or thoughtful, but on being first. When you do that, everything is Balloon Boy….”

Continue reading Lady Gaga journalism and the reputation economy →

crisis response, planning and prevention

Tips to Mitigate and Respond to Workplace Violence

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E. DeGasero/AP Photo

When workplace violence hits your company or community, statistics do not matter.  The community of Manchester, Connecticut and employees of Hartford Distributors probably know that all too well after yesterday’s tragedy. 

For the rest of us who follow these situations and wonder if lessons are evident, the statistics provide some context.  According to the U.S. Department of Labor, workplace homicides have fallen 52 percent between 1994 – 2008.  Yet, nearly 2 million U.S. workers still fall victim to workplace assaults.  And 70 percent of U.S. workplaces do not have a formal program or policy in place to address the problem.  (See page 14:  http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshwc/osch0033.pdf)   Thus, while most experts concede that workplace violence cannot always be prevented, there is clear room for improvement from the private sector. 

Eventually, the media cycle in Manchester will lead to questions on Hartford Distributors’ values, corporate environment (indeed, early reports suggest some racial intolerance directed at the suspect) and its overall focus on workplace safety.    Time will tell if the company had adequate measures to protect their employees.  Companies that do have best-practices to help minimize these situations typically: Continue reading Tips to Mitigate and Respond to Workplace Violence →

planning and prevention

Where were the paid pessimists?

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About a decade ago, I stopped getting invites to brand marketing and promotions brainstorms.  I suppose there’s concern that I’ll dump a bucket of cold water over any creative idea before it’s fully blossomed when that germ of an idea could lead to reputation damage for a client.  

“There’s no such thing as a bad idea in a branstorm,” the old saw goes.  Okay.  But what of the bad ideas that come out of a brainstorm?  A recent example:  

Source: AFP

Parachuting donkey advertisers face jail 

   Continue reading Where were the paid pessimists? →

planning and prevention

Terrorism: Seven Starter Steps to Prepare Against the Unthinkable

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According to a recent CNN report, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed that attempted terrorist attacks against the United States are at an all-time high.  The department’s May 21 report obtained by CNN also indicates that terrorists are looking for “smaller, more achievable attacks against easily accessible targets.”

Scary.  A word to the wise:  “If You See Something, Say Something.”

Also scary times for U.S. businesses.

Experts who focus on emergencies and disasters have already weighed in with recommended actions.   

It’s a  similar clarion call for corporate communicators to prepare, now, before an attack strikes the heart of a company’s operations.  Here’s a good start of recommended actions:

Continue reading Terrorism: Seven Starter Steps to Prepare Against the Unthinkable →

planning and prevention

Go, Team!

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Property of Fox. See the movie, June 11, 2010!

Exactly one month ago, I hosted a poll at the tail end of a blog post on the importance of building elite crisis management teams and not relying solely on plans. 

Pollsters were faced with a Solomon-like choice*:  if you could choose only one, would you rather have a super crisis plan with no trained team?  Or the opposite?

As of this evening, 95 percent favored team over plan. 

Unfortunately, I would say that ratio is THE MIRROR OPPOSITE of the way organizations focus on crisis preparedness. 

Continue reading Go, Team! →