BulletProofBlog the blog on crisis communications

When consumer product safety scares create reputational crises for companies, a priority goal is to reach the teachable moment - the point at which the public is satisfied that the crisis has been contained and the company can begin to regain consumer confidence by talking abou what it's doing to prevent similar problems in the future. As we see in the chart below - which utilizes Levick's own public opinion research to map consumer anxiety over ... READ MORE

When an Oprah Winfrey tie-in offered an opportunity for viewers to download free coupons Wednesday, KFC was clearly unprepared for an overwhelming response from consumers wanting to try the Colonel's new grilled chicken. Millions of customers downloaded the coupons and lined up at KFC stores nationwide. But thousands were turned away when many stores around the country ran out of chicken. Within hours, KFC had a PR problem on its hands as customers turned to ... READ MORE

Former NFL superstar Michael Vick is poised for a comeback. Recent efforts he's undertaken to redefine himself for a largely skeptical audience may be too little, too late. On the other hand, if he plays his cards right, he could be wearing an NFL uniform within the next season or two. Recent reports that Vick is in talks to become a PETA spokesperson when he's released from jail show that at least he'll be off ... READ MORE

Each Monday, Bulletproof Blog features exclusive interviews with thought leaders on issues of critical importance to companies and countries. This week, with Chrysler's recent announcement that it will file for bankruptcy protection and other companies likely to follow suit as the current economic crisis continues, we interview Cyrus Pardiwala, a leader of the PricewaterhouseCoopers U.S. Restructuring & Recovery Services group. Mr. Pardiwala has been with Pricewaterhouse Coopers for more than 17 years. As an internationally recognized ... READ MORE

After years of playing defense during the Bush Administration, the plaintiffs' bar is back on the attack. Empowered by the election of President Obama and Democratic gains in Congress, trial lawyers are poised to tap populist furor - and the media's passion for it - to pass legislation that will likely reshape civil litigation for years to come. And as if that weren't enough to keep general counsels in the financial, insurance, healthcare, and other industries ... READ MORE

From sports figures to politicians to corporate executives, it seems that everyone is apologizing for something these days. There are no secrets anymore. The speed with which information travels along countless channels in both the traditional and digital media spheres means that, if you're a public figure who's done something wrong, there's little chance that it will remain covered up for long. Thus, the apology has evolved into an art form. In order for a mea ... READ MORE

In this regular feature, Bulletproof interviews top plaintiffs' attorneys for their perspective on the crises likely to affect businesses in the near future. Today we talk to Mark Tanner, name partner at the Philadelphia-based Feldman, Shepherd, Wohlgelernt, Tanner, Weinstock & Dodig, a premier regional plaintiffs' firm that consistently wins multi-million dollar judgments in consumer, automotive, insurance, qui tam, and diverse other areas. What factors do you see affecting your practice in the coming months? Mark Tanner: It ... READ MORE

If a tidal wave hits a beach and there is nobody there to drown, did it really happen? Or does it only become known when the waters wash inland? Far fetched? Yes - but, in essence, that's exactly what happened earlier this week. For those who still don't believe in the power and potency of the blogs and social media after the Domino's Pizza incident of last week, we offer the following. On Monday, the news of ... READ MORE

This week, the largest gathering of risk managers in the world came together for the Risk Insurance Management Society's 2009 Conference and Exhibition. I had the opportunity to join fantastic thought leaders Ray Alletto and Jeff Lattmann for a lively and thought-provoking discussion of reputational risk management in the Digital Age. Having returned from the conference this morning, I thought I might share several of the insights discussed and provide a recap of what reputational risk management ... READ MORE

Each week Bulletproof Blog interviews top plaintiffs' attorneys for their perspective on the crises likely to affect businesses in the near future. In this issue, we talk to Bill Marler of the Seattle-based Marler Clark, LLP PS. He is the legal profession's best-known advocate for plaintiffs in food-related cases and a major force for food safety in the U.S. During his career, Mr. Marler has secured nearly $500 million for his clients. He publishes widely ... READ MORE