
Isn’t It Ironic? Lowe’s Apology Triggers PR Damage
The backlash came in a flood, like a burst pipe. The move by Lowe’s to drop its ad support for the TLC show “All-American Muslim” after pressure from a conservative Christian group may leave its reputation in serious need of repair. But, to me, it reads like an O. Henry story where good intentions go awry, and […]
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o.b.’s Apology PR Campaign Is Pitch-Perfect
Maybe it should have known better than to tangle with women at, well, a certain time of the month. After J&J began to discontinue its o.b. Ultra line of tampons, its loyal users felt betrayed. The brand was smacked with infuriated customer comments, “girlcott” threats, an online petition and general user crankiness. But instead of defensiveness, […]
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The Governor, The Teenager And Twitter: A PR Lesson
The awesome power of social media may be matched only by the withering force of teenage scorn. I was startled by the social blowback resulting from Kansas Governor Sam Brownback’s public feud with a local high school student. It started last week when Emma Sullivan and her class attended a youth event in Topeka where […]
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Redefining Public Relations: Does It Matter?
Years ago, a colleague who’d spent 20+ years at PR agencies joined a large marketing services firm. He told me he’d cracked the code to winning new business, significantly increasing his batting average in selling programs to existing ad and marketing clients. The secret? Never calling it “public relations.” Instead, he would say “promotion,” or refer to “adding […]
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PR Lessons From Occupy Wall Street
Today is the National Day of Action, and the media noise around the Occupy Wall Street movement is louder than it’s been since the start. The mood around here is mostly business as usual, flavored with a little anxiety and mild distraction. But, is OWS a PR success? Many have criticized its lack of coherent message, […]
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