Media relations tip of the week

The first inclination for many people under fire is to wait and see what happens. But, as President Carter's press secretary, Jody Powell, liked to say, "Bad news is a lot like fish. It doesn't get better with age." Tell the truth, tell it all and tell it fast!

-Professor Mark Grabowski

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Media relations help in 2008

Happy new year. For help with media relations, crisis communication, social media development or any other public relations need, visit MediaUnspun.net. The Philadelphia PR firm offers an initial free consultation.

Government v. Media

Read a newspaper column on bad media relations by Mark Grabowski:

"As a journalism professor who also runs a media relations firm, I believe that The Mississippi Press was both right and wrong in its editorial blasting Gautier city's media relations memo..."

Media relations tip of the week

A journalist’s job is to write a story. That doesn’t mean she’s obligated to write your story.

For example, say city officials decide to install new parking meters. A journalist could lead her story by discussing how community members voiced their opposition to this, calling it "slimy" and "greedy." On the other hand, a journalist could lead with, "To avoid a budget deficit without raising taxes, city officials will install parking meters..."

The first lead seems negative and the second lead sounds pro-government. But neither is factually inaccurate. Yet, when I was a journalist, I encountered government officials who would go as far as attempting to get a reporter fired for writing a lead like the first one.

Such reaction is absurd and, in the end, the government official only looks bad.

-Professor Mark Grabowski

For more media relations help, visit mediaunspun.net

Media relations tip of the week

Never make enemies with the press. That's a battle you can't win.

-Professor Mark Grabowski

For more media relations help, visit mediaunspun.net

Sports scandals and crisis communication

Read op-ed by Mark Grabowski on how recent sports scandals can teach executives and decisions-makers a lesson in crisis communications:

"...Not commenting or speaking through a lawyer will lead many to conclude that a player is hiding something. Consider that Mark McGwire went from being a Hall of Fame shoo-in to a pariah after taking a no-comment stance on his alleged steroid use..."

Media relations tip of the week

It makes sense for an organization to create some controls over the flow of information. A low-level employee in a huge corporation, for example, doesn't speak for the entire corporation. But that won't necessarily stop a reporter from interviewing him. Even views expressed by a senior vice president might not reflect the corporation's official stance on an issue. By designating a few or even just one media spokesperson, an organization can help ensure that only correct information is given to the public.


-Professor Mark Grabowski

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Barry Bonds is a PR disaster that could've been avoided

So says an op-ed by PR professor Mark Grabowski on Bonds and crisis communications:

"Why? Americans tend to err on the side of forgiving transgressors. But they hate being lied to..."

Crisis prevention through foresight

Read advice by PR professor Mark Grabowski on how to handle Michael Moore and the bad publicity he and other investigative journalists inevitably bring:

"...what should a company do when a Michael Moore, 60 Minutes crew or other type of "investigative journalist" shows up on its doorstep unannounced? Too often, companies and organizations make the mistake of waiting for a public relations crisis to happen and then responding to it. No matter how much damage control a company does, it's hard to overcome an embarrassing clip from a movie or TV show that will be indelibly stamped in the minds of millions of Americans. A better approach is what many of us in the PR industry call 'crisis prevention...'"

Need media relations help?

For help with media relations, crisis communication, social media development or any other public relations need, visit MediaUnspun.net. The Philadelphia PR firm offers an initial free consultation.

Welcome to Media Unspun's blog

For help with media relations, crisis communication, social media development or any other public relations need, visit MediaUnspun.net. The Philadelphia PR firm offers an initial free consultation.