“The Chinese use two brush strokes to write the word “crisis.” One brush stroke stands for danger; the other for opportunity. In a crisis, be aware of the danger, but recognize the opportunity.” – President John F. Kennedy. Even though toy-manufacturing giant Hasbro hadn’t been forced to issue a single recall related to 2007’s lead-paint scare, the company heeded this sage advice to make the most of what could have been a disastrous situation. Hasbro knew that when a crisis ... Read More

In the same amount of time that it will take you to read this post, Abraham Lincoln delivered what is perhaps the greatest political oration in American history. Last week marked the 150th anniversary of the Gettysburg Address, which is widely considered to be the greatest enunciation of the fundamental ideals enshrined in the American Constitution. Yet on the day that is was delivered, Lincoln’s speech – not to mention his appearance itself – was supposed ... Read More

The story of how a clever new advertising campaign for the Motrin pain reliever turned into a nightmare for Johnson & Johnson is really a case of how something old can suddenly be new again. Despite all the furor they generated in the blogosphere and beyond, the ads themselves are really rather benign. It’s a clever take on the popular practice of mothers carrying infants in a sling on their chest – something that might give ... Read More

It seems that as newspapers continue to shed staff in response to the new media realities they’ve been forced to confront, the reporters they’re casting away are finding a leaner, meaner venue in which to ply their craft. Non-profit websites that employ professional journalists to focus on investigating and breaking local news are popping up all across the country – and causing more than a few headaches for those who sometimes end up in their ... Read More

With the presidential race in the rearview mirror and an aura of reconciliation in the air, three political figures that took major media lashings over the last two election cycles are hitting the road for an image makeover. Last week, Mark Foley, John Edwards, and Sarah Palin all made headlines – and while their chances at redemption vary quite a bit, it’s clear that all three are looking to take advantage of a post-election period ... Read More

In case you were still waiting for concrete evidence that social media buzz really matters to the business world, it’s here. What started as a single weekend Twitter post on Motrin’s latest ad campaign for the over-the-counter pain reliever evolved into a full-blown crisis for Motrin manufacturer Johnson & Johnson. By Monday morning, the campaign was abandoned and J&J was forced to issue an apology. It started on a Friday night, when blogger Jessica Gottlieb got ... Read More