A recent Washington Post column highlighted a continuing trend confronting employers that are concerned about the after hours online activities of their employees. The Post article re-printed easily-searchable content found on social networking sites that was posted by teachers from throughout the Washington D.C. area, who no doubt assumed their information was privileged and secure. One such educator offered this tip: “Teaching in DCPS -- Lesson #1: Don't smoke crack while pregnant.” A second elementary school teacher ... Read More

China’s initiation of a three-day national mourning period for victims of last week’s earthquake embodies the grief of a nation in a manner that is both respectful and poignant. Of particular import to communications professionals, the observance also shows that China has grown to understand the political and social value of showing a more human face to the rest of the world. Because China enabled global news coverage of the tragic events surrounding the earthquake, people on ... Read More

In an increasingly global marketplace, cooperation is as important as competition. That’s one big reason why Visa is wisely launching an advertising campaign that focuses on the international feeling of goodwill generated by this summer’s Olympic Games in China. Sharing the tagline, “Go World," the TV, print, and online campaign unveiled earlier this week stresses global harmony over the old paradigm of blind nationalistic competition so prevalent during the latter half of the 20th Century. Some critics of ... Read More

A recent New York Times story indicating that simple apologies are lowering legal costs and disposing of lawsuits in the realm of medical malpractice once again conjures images of the consummate crisis communications battle: PR guys on one side telling you to publicly repent; lawyers on the other side, demanding you stay mum, admit nothing, and say even less. As most professional crisis managers know by now, “no comment” is increasingly translated to mean “I’m guilty.” It ... Read More

2007 has been dubbed the year of the recall. 2008 is shaping up to be the year of the recall response. The news that Wal-Mart will now require its suppliers of children’s products to meet tough new safety standards that go beyond mere compliance with government regulations – which was reported in yesterday’s Wall Street Journal by Joseph Pereira and Steve Stecklow – is just what the doctor ordered after a year in which more than ... Read More

As if we needed further evidence of the communications sea-change taking place before our very eyes, ABC executives announced today that they have created a new viewership measurement tool – demonstrating just how seriously they’re taking marketer concerns over the long-term effectiveness of TV advertising in an age of decreasing broadcast audiences. According to Nielsen, prime time viewers have dropped by six million in just the last year. The move is consistent with recent reports that illustrate the ... Read More