ImPRessions

Crenshaw Communications, crisis management, ImPRessions, public relations, reputation • February 7, 2018

The Death Of A PR Firm, Due To Bad PR

Can you imagine being the guy running a public relations agency that “perished in a public relations fiasco”? That’s the unhappy fate of James Henderson, the former CEO of now-defunct PR and crisis management powerhouse Bell Pottinger. The London-based firm imploded last year after its role in running a “dirty campaign” for South African client […]

Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations, reputation • January 28, 2018

Who Were The PR Winners And Losers of 2017?

Yes, 2017 feels like a lifetime ago, given our breakneck news cycle, but there were plenty of public relations lessons over the year for big brands and business categories. Here’s a look at those who came out on top, and others who took a reputation beating last year. The Winners Amazon 2017 was like a […]

ImPRessions • January 24, 2018

7 Reasons Why PR Matters More Than Ever

Public relations has many fans, from legendary figures like Steve Jobs, to the current occupant of the White House. Yet PR doesn’t always command the same respect as other disciplines, like advertising or direct-mail. It’s even still a bit mysterious to some. As Greg Galant of MuckRack once observed, the advertising business is linked with […]

Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, reputation • January 17, 2018

Are CEOs Ready To Embrace Social Activism?

For years, public relations and reputation experts have promoted CEO activism and corporate social responsibility, preaching its benefits and warning of limits and pitfalls. But for many corporate communicators, the position was lonely. For some companies, the embrace of social change programming was little more than lip service — maybe a dignified corporate social responsibility […]

Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations • December 29, 2017

Trends That Will Shape PR in 2018

What can PR professionals expect in 2018? Despite the acceleration of change, new directions don’t always announce themselves. Yet in 2017 we’ve seen specific trends that might reasonably be expected to continue through next year. Here are some we’ve noticed. Brand advocacy will grow Shortly before the inauguration of the new president, some brands went […]

Crenshaw Communications, crisis management, ImPRessions, public relations • December 19, 2017

2017 Crisis Management That (Mostly) Worked

Armchair PR experts get lots of mileage from critiquing crisis management by major brands and businesses this time of year. But what about the crisis situations that are handled well? Those instances are less clear, presumably because we don’t hear about the bad news that never hit the press. But in the spirit of fair […]

Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations • December 5, 2017

7 Ways PR People Can Support Journalism

There are now five PR people for every working journalist. This may seem like a good thing for the PR business as companies increasingly tell their stories through social media and branded content. But as stark evidence that sources of objective news are shrinking, it’s not a healthy sign for either industry. What may be […]

Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations • November 20, 2017

How To Engage Millennials In Corporate Social Responsiblity

When it comes to philanthropy, Americans are a generous bunch. A natural disaster tends to create its own PR appeals, and in 2017, millions responded. We opened our wallets to help victims of floods, fires, and other catastrophes, and the giving season has only just begun. The sixth annual #givingTuesday on November 28 will probably […]

Crenshaw Communications, ImPRessions, public relations, reputation • November 15, 2017

Brands, Bad PR And Ad Boycotts: Who Wins?

Today’s divided political climate has affected PR strategy for many companies and brands, including those who like to stay far away from partisan matters. Though it may be an opportune time for some brands to take a stand on relevant issues, many choose to remain neutral on hot-button topics, and understandably so. So, how did […]