The New York Times Magazine recently published a story about Humane Society President Wayne Pacelle that any corporate communications professional facing pressure from interest groups should read. The piece opens at the abandoned grounds of the Westland/Hallmark Meat Company in Chino California and recounts how a Humane Society undercover investigator surreptitiously taped so-called “downer” cattle wobbling and flopping on their way to the slaughterhouse. The ghoulish video was quickly posted on YouTube and Internet blogs around ... Read More

Last month, market research firm StudyLogic released a report – commissioned by Sheraton Hotels and Resorts – that found 35% of the 6,500 respondents said they choose to spend time with their mobile device over spending time with their spouse. The report also found that 87% of professionals bring their mobile device into the bedroom. This study certainly suggests a few things about modern relationships, but it also offers two very important insights into marketing and ... Read More

While John McCain may think that Andrew Cuomo would be a fine choice for the next SEC Chairman, the fiery and politically-astute Democratic Attorney General of New York State has no intention of waiting on election returns to get involved in one of the most significant financial crises of our lifetime. Last week, the Wall Street Journal reported that Mr. Cuomo has begun a “wide ranging investigation into short selling in the financial market.” In the ... Read More

Yesterday, the September issue of Levick’s monthly e-newsletter, High Stakes, was published and I’d like to invite all the readers of Bulletproof to check it out. This month’s focus is on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and the communications strategies that can diminish the impact of an investigation or keep an international company out of hot water all together. With the number of FCPA prosecutions carried out by the U.S. government doubling between 2006 and 2007 – ... Read More

This week, The New York Times editorial board called on Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) to give up a Committee Chairmanship, while allegations of unpaid taxes are investigated by the House ethics committee. Adding to the embarrassment, the panel Rangel oversees is the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, which writes the nation’s tax laws. Clearly, Rangel is now faced with some taxing problems. Initially, the Congressman’s response to the crisis was as unusual as it was brilliant. ... Read More

Yesterday, the Yale School of Medicine released a study that once again raises questions about the safety of a chemical commonly found in everyday plastics.   The potential dangers associated with Bisphenol A, or BPA, have long been the subject of debate among regulators, scientists, consumer groups, and the manufacturers that produce nearly 7 billion pounds of BPA each year. But with the revelation that exposure to EPA-accepted levels of the chemical has caused brain function and ... Read More