Last week, I posted a StratComm360.org “Strategic Snapshot” video essay about the United Airlines PR disaster, a reputational meltdown involving complicated and timely industry dynamics. But here, in the form of another Strategic Snapshot, is a simple and timeless mistake that even top communicators make…anytime […]
3 Reasons Behind the United Airlines PR Debacle
Last week proved to be a devastating one for United Airlines: The dragging of a paying passenger off a plane also helped drag down the company’s reputation. Take a look at this brief StratComm360.org video essay to understand the top 3 reasons why it was such […]
A Much-Needed Conference on Character and Reputation Politics
I was honored to help organize a conference this past week on “Character Assassination in Theory and Practice.” Sponsored by George Mason University’s Department of Communication — where I serve as a senior research fellow — and the Department’s Character Assassination and Reputation Politics research lab, […]
How and When to Use the Word “Safe”
Authorities in Flint, Michigan say the water will soon be “safe enough” to drink after lead contamination. Meanwhile, “maybe safe” is how DC’s Metro Chief Jack Evans described his 117 mile rail network after electrical problems arose in the country’s second busiest subway system. In […]
Three “Ecosystem” Priorities for Building Communication Strategy
Thanks to the National Public Health Information Coalition this week for publishing an article I co-authored with my George Mason University colleague Dr. Gary Kreps on leveraging and “ecosystem” approach for strategic communication planning. Dr. Kreps directs George Mason University’s Center for Health and Risk Communication, where I serve as a […]
You and the Media, Part 1: How to Stay Both Natural AND On-Message
As communicators, we all know message discipline is important. But look no further than Marco Rubio’s recent debate performance as Exhibit A for how too much message discipline can get robotic. (Another great example from the archives is Vice President Al Gore’s 1997 “no controlling legal authority” […]
Defined: Evidence-Based Practice for Communicators
What exactly do we mean by evidence-based practice, and how can we apply it to the field of communications? I had about 30 minutes to discuss this last month during a teleconference on crisis management with California Department of Public Health Director Dr. Karen Smith and local […]
The Largest Stakeholder Group of All
I was privileged last week to lead a crisis and risk communications training for the City of New York. Health Commissioner Dr. Mary Bassett and other city leaders joined the Manhattan session for a broad agenda that ranged from message development and media interview skills, to building […]
Putting the “Communications Ecosystem” to the Test
Earlier this month, I ran a series of on-site trainings for a longtime client that advocates energy policy in Washington, DC. Over the course of three days, I taught a range of professionals – policy wonks, emergency preparedness teams, spokespeople and engineer types who study our […]