Our Insights

communications, Crenshaw Communications, crisis management, public relations, reputation • December 28, 2010

The Best PR Moves Of 2010

This year brought well-publicized disasters, misbehaving celebrities, and corporate goofs. But, which individuals and companies communicated most skillfully during 2010? Here are our nominees. Wikileaks. Whether Julian Assange is a hero or a “high-tech terrorist” depends on your point of view. But in 2010 Wikileaks perfected a media relations strategy for maximum impact for the […]

communications, Crenshaw Communications, crisis management, public relations, reputation • December 21, 2010

Ten Trends That Will Affect Public Relations Pros In 2011

PR is reaching a golden age, triggered by the growth of social media and new, more relevant metrics. PR is dead, a bridesmaid in the hot pursuit of larger budgets and sexy social programs. The predictions are all over the map, but, as usual, the truth lies somewhere in the middle. Here’s our list for […]

communications, Crenshaw Communications, social media • December 14, 2010

Does Social Media Cause Groupthink?

I used to consider “groupthink” mostly as the enemy of new ideas. You know, where members of the team are more motivated to agree with one another and get along than to question the status quo or break new ground. Then there’s the too-homogeneous mindset that can result from an entrenched corporate culture. Tech blogger Steve Tobak wrote […]

communications, Crenshaw Communications, public relations, social media • December 7, 2010

When Social Media Goes Too Far

The social web can be a wonderful thing. But what happens when social content goes too far as a substitute for actual journalism? In an age when “everyone is the media,” the credibility bar drops fairly low, revealing biases, errors, and rumors that pass as fact. I’m grateful for the traditional press, battered, but unbowed, when […]

communications, Crenshaw Communications, public relations, reputation • November 29, 2010

The "Deadly Spin" On PR: Where Potter Gets It Right

Wendell Potter’s “Deadly Spin” is a fascinating book. It’s a broadside against the health insurance industry, an insider’s account of the battle over healthcare reform, and an exposé of PR’s ugly underbelly. In our business, it has drawn criticism for portraying what we do as the most subversive of dark arts. Personally, I found it […]

Crenshaw Communications, public relations, reputation • November 23, 2010

Things We’re Thankful For As PR Professionals

It’s that time again. The season of lists. So, we made one. Once again, it doesn’t include the big, obvious stuff, like good health, friends and family, and very fact of having a job and/or business, so consider those implied. The items below are ordinary things that we may have overlooked or taken for granted all […]

Crenshaw Communications, public relations • November 19, 2010

Ten Lessons Of A PR Entrepreneur

Last weekend I had the honor of being part of an entrepreneurship panel at the annual Student Career Conference hosted by the New York Women in Communications Foundation. Some 300 students of media, PR, and communications gathered to network, learn, and be inspired by women who’ve made careers in the field. My panel featured an amazing lineup […]

branding, communications, Crenshaw Communications, public relations, reputation • November 11, 2010

Can You Turn Bad Publicity Into Good PR?

When Gap unveiled a new logo last month, the negative buzz forced it to backpedal and eventually restore the original, iconic identity. It was a miss for Gap…or was it? Logo-gate may have awakened brand fans and made it more relevant than it’s been in years. Accident? Probably. But there are ways to turn a PR failure into […]

branding, communications, Crenshaw Communications, marketing, leadership, public relations • November 3, 2010

PR Lessons From The 2010 Election

No matter how you feel about the results of the 2010 midterms, it’s been an interesting election season. Start with a stagnant economy, add a soured electorate, pour on the tea party activists, and it’s a bitter brew, at least for incumbents. The election also offers lessons for communicators. Here’s what marketing and PR pros […]