A Search About Stereotypes

Social media is the wild frontier, however, being involved in it doesn’t mean that the rules of libel and slander do not apply.  They do and my biggest fear lies with Mr. Joe Public for he is not a trained journalist. As such he is unaware that he can be sued for things he says about others on his Facebook page. This point leads me to today’s PR Tip – Be careful what you post about others.

Here’s today’s takeaway - Libel is injury to reputation. So that funny post or comment about how so and so is fat, ugly, looks like a dork or is affiliated with some type of political party can get you in trouble if not today then tomorrow.

What led me to write this post is that I’m seeing more labels and stereotypical messaging than ever before which leads me to think it is becoming a trend.  In fact, I fell prey to it.  Last week, a Facebook friend was stating his opinion about Supreme Court Nominee Elena Kagan on his wall.  I made a positive comment about her and then I was received a comment from someone I didn’t know at all who labeled me as a feminist liberal who’s probably never been married.  I did not like how this person labeled me – he didn’t know me, but already he came up with these assumptions.  Yes, I am single, but I am not bitter and I am not a feminist.  I believe in equal pay for equal work and I would love to be married someday.  Labeling is just too easy and most forget that they can get in trouble for it.

Besides calling people “names,” stereotyping someone without presenting facts can also get you in trouble.  Well, to go one step further…any assumptions can get you into trouble.  I remember being involved in an Ad campaign once where images of homely, odd ball, overweight and old people were photographed (all in jest of course) to represent the viewers not watching the network.  I tell you the day after these Ads appeared they came down from public outrage.  So be very careful what general comments you make about someone.

Another recent example of this is the photo (and I’m not going to show it) of Jesse James wearing a Nazi hat.  Allegedly, he was at a party and someone took that photo, again all in jest.  But, this so-called friend posted it somewhere and now it lives on the Internet forever and Mr. James has to defend that he is not a racist probably forever.

In summary, watch your words, especially in the heat of battle.  Be sure to take a couple of breaths before you post a comment after one that you find so imbecilic.  Make sure your comments do not injury anyone’s reputation, especially your own. For you never know if one day you might run for a government office and all those slanderous things you said in jest may appear front and center again and not in good way.

Always Looking Out for Your Reputation,

Cindy

Are secrets ever harmless?

I’ll going to let you in on a little secret. Secrets are a dangerous tool in your public relations tool chest any way that you look at them. When your client is keeping a secret from you – that’s deadly and when you use them in your strategy – that’s never a good thing. So my advice to all you budding publicists and those more advanced is to never go that route ever if you have the choice. For secrets, always have a way of rearing their ugly head.

And there are several examples to point toward regarding this “bad” practice. The primary example….Former President Richard M. Nixon. Did he or his cabinet ever think that they would be implicated in the Watergate break-in? And for more modern examples…how about Tiger Woods and Jesse James. Do you think that their “playing” the field with other women besides their wives would ever get them into trouble? Tiger even had a team surrounding him to keep things quiet – or for that matter secret.

This secret caused an impeachment. Heck, even the secret of "Deep Throat" was exposed.

Or corporately….Toyota. Did they think that they could forever sit on not warning some of their customers about the acceleration problem?

And on more personal grounds, how many people do you know that have had a secret in their family and it get uncovered. These secrets may have been not exposed during that person’s lifetime…but sooner or later they eventually did-a secret love child, a secret way of life, etc.

Here’s my best advice regarding secrets in communication matters.

• 1) When something is exposed, whether its true or not about your client – ask your client point blank if there is anything that they should tell you about the situation. Get all the truth you can out of the person in the strictest confidence.
• 2) After that, talk to the lawyers involved on your side and ask them if there is a secret that you need to know about…get all the facts you can.
• 3) If there is a secret and you know it – work to position your client in the best way in the comments that you will craft surrounding the situation. But, you will have to start to expose the truth.
• 4) When exposing the truth, make sure that you address only facts and keep it short. Say the least that you can. Have you noticed how short all of Tiger Woods’ press conferences are?
• 5) And be sure to get in front of the story.
• 6) And always work in conjunction with the lawyers on the case.

The Los Angeles Dodgers Owners Frank and Jamie McCourt are telling all their secrets in an ugly divorce.

Did you think that the McCourt’s (LA Dodgers owners) dirty laundry would ever be exposed? Well it is, thanks to an ugly divorce. Did Mark McGwire ever think that he had to expose that he used steroids? He came clean last January.  And now even criminals don’t stand a chance due to the incredible DNA process which identifies them more quickly than before.  So you see — Secrets are never a safe practice.

The saying the truth will set you free is always true. Work toward truth in all that you do, for lies and secrets, will eventually be uncovered. And they are no fun when it happens on your watch.

I’d love to hear your thoughts regarding secrets in the PR practice. Whisper them here in your comments.

Best,

Cindy

CLIENTS: WORLD CLASS GOLFER, FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, GLOBAL CAR MANUFACTURER, TOP CELEBRITY, AFFORDABLE AIRLINE AND OLYMPIC COMMITTEE

Man, every time we turn around – it seems like some public company or public figure is apologizing.   If you are skilled in crafting apologies that can be read well, but don’t have much meaning then you’ve got yourself a highly sought after career.  Just look who’s needed an “apologist” of late.

Tiger Woods, Toyota (they need several actually), John Edwards, Southwest Airlines, The International Olympic Committee (after the death of the luger) and Charlie Sheen.

Apologies are all the rage.

Sorry seems to the a hard word to convey through a public apology

When writing apologies, I think one must keep in mind that no matter what when it is recited in public, the apologetic person will never win over everyone.  I think we need to keep in mind that no matter how well it is written; nor how true the information – the said apology will be scrutinized by a critical public.

The reason for this post is that many people I talked to today felt Tiger just read a few words and was once again fell in line with his skills as a professional spokesperson. He is experienced in dealing with the media.

In case you haven’t seen it…here it is.

He does appear to be going through something and is showing signs that he’s understanding how much hurt he caused his family.  And he did admit that he was a cheater.  I do hope that he gets to the bottom of what is missing in his soul and is able to changes through treatment.  It’s not fun seeing people in pain.

But, apologies are tricky things to write.  And if you are charged with writing one – here’s my tip for the day – try and stay as true and authentic as possible that is as much as the lawyers allow you to do.  Words from the heart and spoken without the perception of a teleprompter being present nor read from a script goes so much further to conveying remorse.

Just think about the apologies you had to personally give and/or receive. They meant more when the person looked you in the eye and said they were sorry. That’s how you should write them for the public too.

I apologize I’ve gone on too long in this post and would love to hear your thoughts on Woods’ apology and other such matters.  Gotta run because live curling in on. Woot!

Cindy

How Very Sad That This Family's Life is Being Played out in the Press

Granted relationships are hard for everyone – and as such, there are times public figures need to comment on arrests, etc. if a heated discussion happens ( a la Charlie Sheen).  The Sheen problems, I believe are being handled well. They are trying to keep as much private as possible and that’s good. They are not using the press to harm the other side at this point.

But, the Edwards situation I simply do not understand.  I don’t know who’s handling their brands and with so much personal info publicly known thanks to Young’s book, I don’t know if they can ever rub the tarnish off the family silver so to speak.  The damage has been done and there’s not one side that is looking good at this point.

I first was going to write that I felt for Elizabeth and I do, but she is just as much a PR heavy-hitter as the others.  She just filed a lawsuit against Young saying he allegedly aided in causing their marriage to end.  Elizabeth should be mad and feel hurt and betrayed.  But, she needs to heal on her own and get the support she needs privately.  She doesn’t need to be in the spotlight now. She needs to let go and realize she’s better than the man she married.

John, on the other hand, why did he have to leak to the press that he is engaged to his mistress and mother of daughter Quinn?  And it happened days after Elizabeth announced their legal separation. What  a creep. Why couldn’t he have waited. Did he do that just to hurt Elizabeth?

I could go on and on about this bad separation.  If you Google this situation you won’t believe what comes up – sex tapes, voice mails, altercations in bathrooms, threats of suicide, lies, special phone numbers – all so very sad.  And this from a man who thought he’d make for a great U.S. President.  He can’t even handle being the head of his house.

I am going to stop paying attention to this embarrassment and I wish the press could too. Some one has to stop them from using the press to get digs into the other.  We all don’t need to know anymore details.  Can the rest be played out privately?  Where’s the love?

Should Jennifer Take Him Back?

Speaking of love – I was at the grocery store this week and I saw on the gossip rags that Jennifer Aniston wants to take Brad Pitt back.  I do understand having your heartbroken by your one true love. I know what is it like being abandoned from the love of your life.  But, I also know that if that man walks away from you…then he’s not worthy of you.  She shouldn’t take him back.  She did nothing wrong for him to leave her in the first place.  And she needs to remember that.  But, I hope for her sake and Brad’s sake…that they keep things private.

Remember keeping things private is the best PR advice you give your clients for personal matters.  The media will get upset, but, they will always be there for you if you have news to deliver.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

There is no perfect answer, however, our current two party system is broken.  It is wrong in so many ways and it’s not healthy for us.  I could go on and about this matter, but what I really want to talk about is STRIFE.

Yes, STRIFE.

This is how I feel when the Democrats and Republicans can't get along!

I have been experiencing strife in every facet of my life and I want it to go away. I’ve been pondering why it seems to be following me everywhere I go and I think I’ve found the answer.  Our last Election is where it all started. In all of my voting days I have never experienced a more conflicted, antagonistic and down right mean Presidential Election-the country was at each other’s throats. Never have the Republicans and Democrats been more divided and that still stands true today.  Just look at our news. Fox News and MSNBC keep throwing more kindeling on this fire.  How can we stop this back-biting and name calling? It’s not good for us or for anyone. It is causing Strife.

Thus, this STRIFE is now popping up everywhere, because it still exists in our government.  I have a favorite saying...the fish stinks from the head down, meaning our government is causing it to continue.

These two parties can’t be unified on anything.  Heaven forbid that they forget their party’s preferences and remember they are serving as our elected officials.  They represent Americans.

This world would be such a better place if the Dems and Republicans, once they were in office, would throw away these designations and act under one label – Americans.

With our current system, we are going no where fast.  Nothing will get done at this current pace.  We need a miracle.  We need pride to slip away.  We need an united government.  We need to end this strife.

I for one have had it – so please if you have any sympathy for me – stop sending me emails about how the country has died. I only want positive emails that help the country and not hurt it.  Don’t cause me anymore strife than I already have.

That’s my two cents for the day.  What do you think?  Are you strife free? If so, I envy you.  Do tell.

Sarah's continuing to woo voters

Kudos to whoever is managing Sarah Palin’s brand.  Her latest foray into becoming a Fox News analyst was brilliant for a number of reasons, mostly due to the following:

• Her appearance on the #1 conservative news source puts her in front of her voting public.  She will on their minds when she announces she is making a run for President. (I feel sick even thinking about that.)
• Even though she could not complete her role as the Governor of the State of Alaska, her stint at Fox News instills the fact that she is perceived as a thought-leader and influencer. (ugh)
• Although, she got her geography and historical facts wrong during the Race for Vice President, she can clean up her perception in that area by having her comments on a teleprompter.  If she steers off the prompter, then the risk will arise for additional errors.  But, this is an astute way to build up her reputation that she really knows what she’s talking about.  It can build up her credibility.
• Also, she will now have a wardrobe allowance again.  She loved that part of the Race and now it’s back again.

Despite what perceptions Americans have about Mrs. Palin – the Fox News gig is a win-win for her, the GOP and Fox News.  Fox knew Sarah is the brightest star in the Republican franchise and with that, she has the hearts of those red states.  The blue states have a differing opinion and thus, won’t watch her anyway.

But, she is now teed up to be a political expert and will be given experienced writers who will serve as her mentors, educating her along the way of world issues, world geography and just plain common sense.

She’s on her way now and getting well-paid for it too.  She certainly is a lady of luck.  There’s nothing rouge about her branding, it’s all calculated and they are doing an incredible job.  Democrats Beware.