BulletProofBlog the blog on crisis communications

From day one, lobbyists have been squarely in President Obama’s sights as he set himself to the task of “changing the way business is done in Washington.” His first concrete steps included an Executive Order aimed at closing the “revolving door” and imposing strict rules on “gifts.” He then loudly proclaimed that “no lobbyists need apply” when it came to jobs in his White House. In the latest salvo, the White House quietly announced in September ... READ MORE

On Tuesday, regulators and corporate compliance officers from top companies around the world gathered at the Eighth Annual Corporate Accountability Conference in London to discuss the most pressing issues, trends, and challenges that are evident in today’s complex global regulatory environment. If one thing is clear after listening to many of the leading compliance experts at work today, it’s that the rules that govern the way companies do business are evolving at a feverish pace ... READ MORE

As of yesterday, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will now be watching the online space for signs that advertisers masquerading as independent third parties might be taking advantage of the millions of consumers whose buying decisions are increasingly shaped by social media. The FTC will be monitoring blogs, Facebook, Twitter, and myriad other platforms for violations of new rules aimed at infusing greater corporate transparency online. Among the practices long frowned upon in the social media ... READ MORE

As news broke late last night and early this morning that Stork Craft Manufacturing is recalling 2.1 million cribs due to a suffocation risk that has claimed four lives and injured scores of children, consumer product companies got a good look at what’s to come as regulatory scrutiny of product safety continues to escalate. Government agencies like the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), are working with bigger budgets, enhanced regulatory mechanisms, and a mandate from Congress ... READ MORE

While enforcement of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) isn’t expected to begin in earnest until early 2010, smart companies are readying themselves now for a new era of product safety regulation. Soon, the compliance hurdles will be taller, the penalties for failing to clear them will be harsher, and the brand liabilities that accompany enforcement actions will be greater. This month’s edition of Levick’s High Stakes™ newsletter provides the insight and intelligence necessary to ... READ MORE

Last week, I wrote about how Democrats are controlling the language and images in the healthcare debate, which has contributed to the Party’s success in moving the legislation forward. This week, Democrats continue to show they are making all of the right communications moves on healthcare. Yesterday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) unveiled the cost of the Senate’s proposed bill – a whopping $849 billion over ten years. Republicans were likely salivating before the announcement, ... READ MORE

California, which often serves as a regulatory and legislative bellwether for the rest of the country, is seeking to blaze a new trail in environmental enforcement. “Ground truthing,” as it has come to be known, consists of recruiting community volunteers to recognize and report potential environmental hazards. State regulators have scheduled a discussion next month about formally enacting the idea as a way to create more green jobs and to inexpensively enforce the state’s environmental laws. Environmental ... READ MORE

With social and digital media now having such brand-decisive impact, it seems that just about every company in every sector of the economy has taken to the online space, implementing digital strategies at varying levels of sophistication. Amid all the corporate blogs, Twitter accounts, and Facebook pages, however, one industry remains noticeably absent. Big pharmaceutical companies have been reticent to embrace the online space as a primary marketing and communications tool – and for good reason ... READ MORE

As would be the case with any piece of legislation that potentially impacts 17 percent of the national economy, the media spotlight has been firmly affixed on healthcare reform since early summer. But amid the town hall meetings, Presidential addresses, and heated protests, Congress has been moving forward on another legislative priority that could potentially have a far greater impact on the American economy. “Cap and Trade” legislation – a bill seeking to limit the emissions ... READ MORE

From the day that she was sworn in as Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), there was little doubt that investor protection was Mary Schapiro’s top priority in her program to rebuild confidence in the marketplace. Just last week, Chairman Schapiro announced a top-to-bottom review of shareholder voting that includes a careful examination of the disclosure requirements that govern quarterly and annual reports – which, believe it or not, is actually an opportunity for ... READ MORE