crisis management

Crenshaw Communications, crisis management, public relations, reputation • October 5, 2009

Is David Letterman A PR Genius?

PR agency and crisis management pundits are saying that Letterman’s handling of last week’s bizarre extortion plot against him was a public relations masterstroke. As the world knows, Letterman chose to recount his experience last Thursday in a ten-minute monologue – but not his usual kind. Somewhere in those ten minutes, the late-night host admitted […]

advertising, creativity, Crenshaw Communications, crisis management, reputation • September 7, 2009

Why Agencies Shouldn’t “Chase the Lion”

Once, as I was beating my brains out all weekend to come up with fresh program ideas to try to win a new business pitch, my husband offered to look at my draft presentation. (He’s not a PR guy but has learned enough through osmosis that I value his judgment…and, frankly, there’s a point when […]

Crenshaw Communications, crisis management, leadership, public relations, reputation • August 21, 2009

Whole Foods, Healthcare, And The “S-Word”

Partly because it’s in my building, but also because I like and admire the company, I feel bad when Whole Foods is attacked. I’m referring to CEO John Mackey’s Wall Street Journal editorial that has many customers threatening to hang up their reusable shopping bags for good. The piece, which essentially argued for fiscal restraint and individual empowerment, has […]

Crenshaw Communications, crisis management, public relations, reputation, social media • July 17, 2009

Can United Fix Its Broken Reputation?

After musician Dave Carroll’s pricey guitar was damaged following a United Airlines trip to Nebraska back in 2008, the guitar wasn’t the only thing that that took a beating. Now, United is grappling with a battered reputation, and Carroll has become a poster child for frustrated consumers. If you somehow missed the story, here’s the […]

communications, Crenshaw Communications, crisis management, public relations • July 15, 2009

The Art Of Saying Nothing

Since Samuel Alito’s famous confirmation hearings where he hedged even the question of whether he liked Bruce Springsteen, the art of saying nothing has gained favor in high-stakes Washington proceedings. The latest case is Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor. Her carefully scripted answers, calm demeanor and physical composure throughout two days of hearings have been remarkable. Michael Wolff implied […]

communications, Crenshaw Communications, crisis management, leadership, public relations, reputation • June 29, 2009

PR Means Having To Say You’re Sorry

The sad and sudden demise of pop superstar Michael Jackson may have knocked Governor Mark Sanford off the front pages for a weekend, but it didn’t let him off the hook. Governor Sanford’s may have been the most ill-conceived and badly delivered apology of the decade. And, that’s saying something. I was one of several PR […]

Crenshaw Communications, crisis management, public relations, reputation, social media • June 26, 2009

Why Are They Saying Those Things About You?

A while back, I was shocked to see some harsh criticism of me on an IT Internet forum. Strangers were calling Dorothy Crenshaw incompetent and even demanding that I be fired…which I thought was pretty unfair considering I didn’t have a clue what they were talking about. I quickly realized it wasn’t about me. It […]

Crenshaw Communications, crisis management • May 12, 2009

Facebook And Holocaust Deniers: Reaching A Boil

Over the past several days the blogosphere’s been on fire with news of Facebook’s refusal to take down pages by groups who deny that the Holocaust occurred. In defending its policy, Facebook spokesperson Barry Schnitt said, “We want (the site) to be a place where people can discuss all kinds of ideas, including controversial ones.” To those pressing Facebook to […]

communications, Crenshaw Communications, crisis management, public relations, social media • April 30, 2009

Branding A Pandemic Or “Aporkalypse Now”

The media buzz surrounding the influenza virus formerly known as swine flu has resulted in an epidemic of both controversy and criticism. Is it overkill? Many think so. But over the past 24 hours, the PR offensive around the flu hasn’t been about prevention or panic…it’s about the virus’s brand. As of yesterday, the World […]