Our Insights

branding, communications, Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations, reputation • January 20, 2012

Paula Deen’s Diabetes Disclosure: A Recipe for Poor PR?

As the queen of “comfort cuisine,” Paula Deen has been a favorite among many members of my family, all of whom live in Georgia or the Carolinas. I’ve admired Paula for her unapologetic taste for indulgence, and for her Southern fried authenticity and down home charm. I’ve never even watched her show, yet I feel […]

PR Fish Bowl, public relations • January 20, 2012

Time For A Mid-Season PR Plan Replacement?

It’s that time of year again, the cold doldrums of January and a ton of mid-season TV replacements. It’s the television industry’s annual do-over, where TV execs get to press reboot and give it another try. Much like a PR campaign that isn’t working, new strategies occasionally need to be implemented mid-way through the year. […]

communications, Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations • January 18, 2012

PR Rules For Startups

Mark Cuban’s “12 Rules for Start-Ups” has the PR industry in a lather. In addition to offering insights like “never buy branded polo shirts” (#10), and “know how your business will make money” (#4), Cuban has a strong opinion about PR. Rule #11 on his list states, “Never hire a PR firm.” He goes on […]

communications, Crenshaw Communications, crisis management, ImPRessions, public relations, reputation, social media • January 16, 2012

Racist Receipts And Other PR Blunders

Is any industry more challenging than retail? Not only is the business tough, but your employees are your brand. And those employees are notoriously transient and often underpaid, overworked, and just plain bored. And sometimes they do things that are just plain stupid. It takes only one misstep, powered by social media, to create a […]

communications, Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations, technology • January 10, 2012

Is CES On The Way Out?

When Microsoft announced that the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show would be its last, the news unleashed a spate of predictions about the largest technology conference on earth. Is CES in decline? Could the show that attracts 130,000 attendees, including most of the biggest names in tech, actually disappear? (Anyone else remember COMDEX?) Columnists like Troy […]

PR Fish Bowl, public relations • January 6, 2012

Pre-CES PR Musings

CES 2012. Already. We’ve seen it all, haven’t we? What can CES possibly show us? I’ll tell you one thing it will show us: a 55-inch OLED TV from LG. I can’t even get my head around that; I remember seeing a 12-inch OLED several years ago and being knocked out, thinking, oh, it will be YEARS before […]

celebrity, Crenshaw Communications, crisis management, ImPRessions, public relations, reputation, social media • January 5, 2012

Fake Twitter Accounts: The Ultimate Status Symbol?

Wendi, we hardly knew ye. The all-too-brief period in which Mrs. Rupert Murdoch took to Twitter was thrilling for Murdoch-watchers, social media pros, and PR types. It seemed another example of the faux-democratizing power of the social Web. It also showed the cleverness of Ms. Deng, and her uncanny ability to humanize her much-reviled husband. […]

PR Fish Bowl, public relations • January 3, 2012

A PR Trivia Quiz

We kick off the year with National Trivia Day, which is tomorrow. Trivia is an undying trend – from trivial pursuit to Jeopardy and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire to weekday Trivia Nights at your local bar. Public Relations professionals often need to be immersed in everything from pop culture and politics to entertainment, business […]

communications, Crenshaw Communications, crisis management, ImPRessions, public relations, reputation • December 29, 2011

The Top Ten PR Blunders of 2011

When a serious setback or crisis occurs, not even the most talented PR pro can make it go away. Yet, a poor response invites reputation damage, while proper handling can help mitigate or limit it. Here’s my “Top 10” list, from a communications perspective, of the most badly handled public situations of the year. 10. Governor […]