Our Insights

communications, Crenshaw Communications, leadership, public relations • May 22, 2009

Partnership Unlimited

Spending time at the international meeting of our sister consultancies (www.proi.org) has given me the chance to catch up with colleagues, commiserate about the economy, and share insights about trends affecting our business. The caliber of the firms in our global partnership is extraordinarily high, and the discussions have been both passionate and eye-opening. It also […]

celebrity, Crenshaw Communications • May 20, 2009

Why American Idol Matters

Okay, it doesn’t. Not really. But, every year as I get suckered into Idol madness just after the group dwindles to eight or less, I look for reasons that justify watching. This year, it’s easier, since it’s become a Tuesday night treat that my daughter and I enjoy together, like a mother-daughter date night. We tune […]

branding, Crenshaw Communications, leadership • May 18, 2009

Can’t Beat ‘Em? Rebrand ‘Em!

Words are important. That’s why it’s not just the swine flu virus that’s gotten a nifty new government-issue name. Washington is in a frenzy of rebranding. The Obama administration has rejected the Bush-era “global war on terror” in favor of the more oblique “overseas contingency operation.” In a particularly awkward phrasing, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano calls acts […]

Crenshaw Communications, public relations, social media • May 14, 2009

Dell Gets Cute, With Backlash

Times are tough for makers of technology products. So tough, in fact, that Dell took a leap with the launch of “Della,” its new shopping site created especially for women. A leap backward, that is. The site, which was unveiled a few days ago to market its line of netbooks to female customers, created an instant […]

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 […]

Crenshaw Communications, technology • May 11, 2009

Are Newspapers Necessary?

In the movie State of Play, the lead character, portrayed nicely by Russell Crowe despite some cliched lines and really bad hair, is meant to represent old-world media …he’s a rumpled, shaggy, veteran newspaper reporter whose high ideals shine through his gruff exterior as he strives to expose an international conspiracy. As if the ink-smudged […]

Crenshaw Communications, social media • May 8, 2009

Mother’s Day Goes Social – And Socially Conscious

Brandweek ran an interesting feature recently about a M2Moms survey in which 73 percent of moms said they feel advertisers don’t really understand them. While it’s true marketers have lagged in recognizing the purchasing power and social clout of mothers, I feel many are listening to and reaching the so-called Power Moms, on their own digital turf. […]

Crenshaw Communications • May 6, 2009

The Prince, The Frog, And The Rainforest

My kindergarten-aged daughter brings home a stream of stories, hand-drawn art, and songs with a “green” theme – all part of the not-so-subtle propaganda that I dearly hope will lead to an entire generation of more environmentally-aware adults. But as she explains, wide-eyed, about how and why we need to protect the Earth, I’m struck by how little […]

Crenshaw Communications, technology • May 4, 2009

The Future of Ink, Part 2

Finally, the newspaper industry is fighting back. At least that’s how it feels, and it feels good. As yet another storied paper teeters on the edge of extinction, and Warren Buffett rubs it in, there are some hopeful developments. As noted in a previous post, Hearst Corp. is backing a Kindle-like e-reader created to handle digital downloads of newspapers, magazines, […]