Our Insights

communications, Crenshaw Communications, public relations, reputation • May 1, 2009

Michael Vick And PETA: Like Cats And Dogs?

When it showed up on my Twitter feed, I thought it was a joke. Michael Vick, the onetime NFL star who went to jail, while his public image went to the dogs, after being convicted of particularly disgusting acts of cruelty to animals, is reportedly in talks to become a public spokesperson for People for […]

communications, Crenshaw Communications, crisis management, public relations, social media • April 30, 2009

Branding A Pandemic Or “Aporkalypse Now”

The media buzz surrounding the influenza virus formerly known as swine flu has resulted in an epidemic of both controversy and criticism. Is it overkill? Many think so. But over the past 24 hours, the PR offensive around the flu hasn’t been about prevention or panic…it’s about the virus’s brand. As of yesterday, the World […]

Crenshaw Communications, crisis management, public relations, reputation • April 27, 2009

Can Craigslist Limit The Damage?

We’ve seen all kinds of business crises in the past several weeks, from the #Amazonfail glitch that took over Twitter to the Domino’s Pizza social media storm. But, from a PR perspective, it doesn’t get much worse than having your brand be the descriptor for a horrifying crime. Yes, it’s happened before to Craigslist, and maybe […]

Crenshaw Communications, social media • April 26, 2009

Facebook Tears Down The Wall

At over 200 million monthly users, Facebook is vastly more popular than Twitter, but the micro-blogging service seems to be a growing public and media obsession. Even Twitter-hater Maureen Dowd recently penned an interview with its co-founder, which, while ostensibly satirical, only fanned a Twitstorm of interest. Remember when Facebook drew that kind of love-hate? […]

News • April 23, 2009

Crenshaw Communications Open Chicago’s New River Hotel

International business hotel chain Club Quarters has brought us on to handle media relations for the May 2009 opening of River Hotel, a new boutique hotel in downtown Chicago. We’re excited to help make River Hotel’s mark in the city and beyond by getting the word out to regional markets, as well as hospitality, hotel, […]

Crenshaw Communications, crisis management, reputation • April 22, 2009

Staying Green When You’re In The Red

For the past several years, just before Earth Day, we’ve done a survey on behalf of Call2Recycle, a battery and product collection and recycling program, about “green guilt,” a term we coined that’s pretty self-explanatory. Green guilt is what you feel when you toss your soda can into the regular garbage, or shove that once-trendy-but-now-obsolete cell […]

communications, Crenshaw Communications, public relations, social media • April 20, 2009

Ford Throws A Social Media Fiesta

At last, some good news from Detroit…or at least, an interesting move in which the words “bailout” and “bankruptcy” have no place. Ford recently announced that it will offer Fiesta subcompact cars to 100 Web types – bloggers, Twitter rockstars, and social media influencers – for six months. The lucky 100 will receive car insurance and gas, so they can test-drive the Fiestas […]

Crenshaw Communications, social media • April 17, 2009

Following Oprah

She’s arguably the most influential figure in our culture next to the President…except, wait, she picked our President, right? Seriously, the social media world is atwitter after the announcement that Oprah will make her first Tweet Friday on her show. Only @Oprah, the Queen of Everything, could rack up over 40,000 followers before posting a single update, […]

communications, Crenshaw Communications, crisis management, reputation, social media • April 16, 2009

When Bad Things Happen To Good Brands

Too often, a company’s own failings can put its brand at risk. But, as the world knows, sometimes — well, stuff just happens. Earlier this week, Domino’s Pizza found itself facing a brand reputation crisis when two North Carolina store employees videotaped themselves doing disgusting things to food and placed the video on YouTube Although […]