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How to Deal With a PR Crisis
Anyone who has been involved in controversy or been hit with negative publicity could learn a thing or two about PR crisis management from KCPW Radio and its handling of a Nov. 13 Tribune story about the eyebrow-raising compensation of KCPW General Manager Blair Feulner and his wife, Susan. Rather than hunker down, keep quiet and wait for the story to blow over, Feulner and KCPW’s Board of Directors did just the opposite, opting for full disclosure, transparency and an aggressive plan to get everything out in the open.
Feulner started even before the story hit, calling friends and supporters of KCPW to tell them the story was going to be published. KCPW followed the Tribune story with a no-holds-barred, on-air interview with Feulner and Board member Dave Simmons about the compensation and related issues. Feulner and Simmons took questions from reporter Lara Jones and from listeners.
The interview is posted on-line at www.KCPW.org (with links at the top of the home page) for anyone to listen to. The broadcast was also covered by the Tribune last Wednesday as a follow-up story. The Tribune called it an “unprecedented discussion.” Board President Tom Calder also sent out a letter explaining the situation to KCPW listeners and supporters. The letter is also posted on-line, along with a lot more details, audited financial statements, and the operation’s IRS Form 990.
All-in-all, it was a pretty impressive reaction to an incident that could be very costly to the station. Public radio stations depend on the generosity of listeners for a chunk of their operating capital, so it made sense to respond aggressively to negative publicity. Whether the station will be hurt in the long run remains to be seen, but it’s a good case study in crisis management.
Holiday Fundraiser
House Majority Leader Jeff Alexander is holding a “Naughty or Nice” luncheon fundraiser on Dec. 6, noon, at his business, Alexander’s Print Advantage, 245 South 1060 West, Lindon. The invitation says, “’Tis the season for giving . . . and now you can really give it to Santa’s shortest elf!” Expected contributions range from $250 to $2,500. For more info/RSVP, contact Kat Dayton, 580-4743 or katdayton@gmail.com.
Blog Watch
Carrie Ulrich at Democracy for Utah posts the first of eight forthcoming action items from a handout titled, "Ways to Become Involved with the Utah Democratic Party"... Charley Foster notes that the porn industry has declared war on Utah's anti-spam "child protection registry" law... Paul Rolly predicts "Democratic fireworks" involving a potential Greg Skordas political candidacy. What are the national bloggers saying? Check out The Beltway Blogroll.
Washington Watch
Save the Internet
Rep. Chris Cannon urges his House colleagues to protect the Internet from the U.N. by supporting H.Con.Res 268, which calls for the U.S. to retain overall control of the Internet’s domain name system, root servers, and the oversight of the California-based Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. (See press release)
Casual Friday
James Taranto’s Best of the Web
(From the Wall Street Journal’s OpinionJournal.com)
What Would We Do Without Experts?
"Experts Say Fresh Foods Still Available in Winter"--KOCO-TV Web site (Oklahoma City), Nov. 16
Say What?--I
"Storm Said Wiped Out Big Easy Job Growth"--Associated Press, Nov. 16
Say What?--II
"Beep Is Headed for Big Easy"-- New York Post, Nov. 16
When Tapeworms Need Counseling
"A Troubled Outlook for Parasites"--New York Times, Nov. 15
The Average Bear
"Grizzlies Near Yellowstone May Lose Status"--Associated Press, Nov. 16
This Just In
"Quitting Smoking Saves Lives"--Reporter-Herald (Loveland, Colo.), Nov. 17
No Wonder They're So Proud of Their Culture
"Car Torching a Tradition in France"--Associated Press, Nov. 16
Does Halliburton Do Masonry?
"Senate Presses for Concrete Steps Toward Drawdown of Troops in Iraq"-- Washington Post, Nov. 16
We Told You She Was a Turkey
"Second Helping of Sheehan for Thanksgiving"--Waco (Texas) Tribune-Herald, Nov. 15
What Would We Do Without Studies?
"Exercise to Get Fit, Live Longer: Study"--Reuters, Nov. 14
What Would We Do Without Wombs?
"Womb Needed for Proper Brain Development"--United Press International, Nov. 14
What Would We Do Without Celebrity Children Bizarre Names Polls?
"Moon Unit Zappa Tops Celebrity Children Bizarre Names Poll"-- Agence France-Presse, Nov. 13
Why Not Let Sweeping Dogs Lie?
"San Francisco Passes Sweeping Dog Laws"--Associated Press, Nov. 15
Why Not Just Stop Burning Their Cars?
"France Takes New Steps to Fight Global Warming"--Reuters, Nov. 15
Good News for Wisconsinites
"Sauerkraut Could Fight Bird Flu, Say Scientists"--Sunday Telegraph (London), Nov. 13
Thanks for the Tip!--I
"Health Tip: Don't Overuse Laxatives"--HealthDayNews, Nov. 15
Thanks for the Tip!--II
"Health Tip: Potpourri May Smell Nice"--HealthDayNews, Nov. 15
Partisan Shots
"If you think that Uncle Sam feeds you while Big Business is trying to milk you dry, you're a Democrat. If you think that God feeds you, with a little help from a job through Big Business, while Uncle Sam is milking you dry, you're a Republican." —Jay Homnick
"Senator Jon Corzine was elected governor of New Jersey. He made hundreds of millions in the stock market, then got elected senator, then dumped his wife, and now he dates around. Let no one say the Democrats don't have an agenda." —Argus Hamilton
(Source: The Federalist Patriot)
Best of Late Night Humor
David Letterman... "Top Signs You've Run A Bad Campaign": Campaigned a month in Ohio before realizing you're running in Iowa; You endorsed your opponent; Campaign coverage always includes phrase "Pantless Candidate"; Bird Flu? Your idea; Encouraged supporters to get out and vote this Thursday; You've pledged to "Tax America back to the Stone Age"; In the debates, you ignored the issues in favor of hilarious "Yo mama so fat" jokes; Your slogan: "I will destroy you"; You brag about having the magnetism of Gore and the intellect of Bush.
Jay Leno... Republican Senator Charles Grassley has asked the oil companies to use some of the billions of dollars of profit they've made recently to help poor people buy home heating oil. That's when you know you're making too much money. When Republicans start noticing. ... The oil companies said they would like to help the poor people but they need all that money to buy more senators. ... Democrat Senator Jon Corzine won the Governor's race in New Jersey, despite the fact that his ex-wife attacked him in TV ads. He was also accused of having a number of affairs. So at least he's a traditional Democrat. ... The CIA is investigating who leaked the story that they have secret prisons in Europe. They are furious and say if they find the person who did it, they will send them to a secret prison Europe. ... French police are claiming they have things under control pointing out that three nights ago 1,500 cars were set on fire and two nights ago 600 cars were torched but last night only 400 cars were destroyed. Does that sound like things are under control? Sounds more like they're running out of cars. ... France said today they are going to deport all those foreigners who rioted. You know what that means? France is finally going to send people to Iraq! ... Bill Clinton and Hillary are in Israel. That's what the Mideast needs—two more people who are fighting over there. |
