Our Insights

Crenshaw Communications, social media, technology • July 9, 2009

Michael Jackson Makes Internet History

It’s ironic that Michael Jackson had planned a series of “comeback” concerts scheduled to begin shortly before his death, since no comeback could have matched the media storm surrounding his passing and subsequent memorial service. The service, which was televised, live-streamed, and followed closely by millions on social networking sites in real time, has been called the largest […]

Crenshaw Communications, public relations, social media • July 7, 2009

Is A “Whisper Campaign” Good PR?

This Sunday I was among many PR professionals who read a lengthy New York Times piece titled “Spinning the Web: P.R. in Silicon Valley.” It recounted the launch of a tech start-up by a youngish publicist using her social and business connections to generate positive buzz through “whispering” to influential non-journalists. One point of the piece is that […]

Crenshaw Communications, social media • July 2, 2009

Why Twitter’s Fuzzy Follower Math Doesn’t “Follow”

Since the rise of Facebook and LinkedIn, online connections have become a visible form of social currency. But, given its one-way follow model, where anybody can basically follow anyone else, Twitter has taken the numbers race to another level. In fact, Facebook may be about to change its follow set-up to be more like Twitter. Mashable […]

News • June 30, 2009

Crenshaw Named To New York Women In Communications Board

Crenshaw Communications CEO Dorothy Crenshaw has been named to the Board of New York Women In Communications, Inc., the premier organization for female communications professionals. NYWICI’s mission is to empower women in the communications field and navigate the ever-changing landscape of communications, in fields as diverse as journalism, broadcasting, corporate communications, digital, publishing, advertising, integrated […]

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 […]

advertising, Crenshaw Communications, public relations, reputation • June 24, 2009

Investing In The Recovery: Why PR?

Although the economic recovery is still far from certain, some in our business are preparing for it in plans for new new hiring, deal-making and restructuring, as reported in today’s New York Times. This is smart thinking, and it gives me hope that the outdated “conventional wisdom” of cutting discretionary marketing spending during a recession has […]

communications, creativity, Crenshaw Communications, public relations • June 21, 2009

A Thumbs Up For “Old” Ideas

In any creative business, there’s a funny tendency for people to become attached to favorite concepts and tactics…especially those oh-so-inspired program ideas that no client ever actually bought. Then there’s the reverse of that, which is the “been there, done that” stigma that kills ideas thought to be too obvious, or “not differentiated.” I’ve been […]

communications, Crenshaw Communications, social media, technology • June 17, 2009

The Social Media Revolution That Wasn’t

In the wake of controversial election results in Iran, there’s been much discussion about the role of social media in communicating popular sentiment among the rank and file there. Mashable reports “mindblowing” statistics on Twitter, claiming evidence that social media has been at the nexus of the Iranian unrest. But, does Tiananmen Square + Twitter […]