Reset for nuclear PR
The worst case "media-generated scenario" for Fukushima goes on getting worse every day, nevertheless, we ought to be bold. Indeed, dammit, I'll risk being cocky by suggesting some robust messages and talking points in support of nuclear energy.
HP, Hurd, soft porn & the morality game
The Board that once backed Carly Fiorina decides to ditch her, but the news leaks. Yet only fellow Board members were in the know. So she orders private detectives to spy on the Board to uncover the traitor. Before they can report, Carly's fired.
How PRs advise firms to grovel and deceive
Making apologies and promises to reform and move on just because the media (or campaigners) demand it, risks undermining the trust people place in genuine apologies.
Risk free energy? Boycott BP? No way!
BP and the makers of the Titanic both at some point understated the potential risk involved in their respective challenges. That's all the more reason, I believe, for BP to use the Gulf of Mexico oil spill to set the record straight with the public about the realities of its business.
Taking the terror out of nuclear power
Every form of energy is bottled force. The chemical, biological, defence, aviation, oil, gas, hydropower industries all - like nuclear - suffer from occasional accidents. All can theoretically produce or be turned into weapons of mass destruction. So what?
Chernobyl and the media: case studies
Three examples of misinformation or fake news about the consequences of the Chernobyl accident promulgated by mainstream media.
Chernobyl's death toll interrogated
The Guardian newspaper reported 500,000 were killed by Chernobyl in Ukraine. While Ukraine health ministry reported in 1995 that 125,000 people had died from all causes in the Chernobyl-affected parts of Ukraine in the nine years following the accident. It doesn't add up.
In defence of the Catholic Church's reputation
The HolySee has apologised, rightly, for the Catholic's Church's cover up of the abuse of children in their care. But there are aspects of this case which should make us hesitate to single out the Catholic Church's reputation for special attention.
Buffetted by crisis? Don't be quick, be right
When firms or other institutions respond to a crisis situation, "Get it right" should always be what matters most. The urge to "Get it fast" at the expense of getting it right should be resisted.
Let's not turn media dramas into real crises
Contrary to popular crisis management mythology, most dramas and disasters aren't really crises at all. Chin up: things aren't often really all that bad.
In defence of Gordon's silence over Libya
Gordon Brown did well this time around. It is a noble art - responsibility even - of a leader not to reveal all that she or he knows or thinks when under pressure. Staying silent also played well to his taciturn image.
Three Mile Island to G20: lessons in crisis PR
The PR travails of the British police over the death of bystander Ian Tomlinson at the G20 summit in London reminded me of the lessons in crisis management learned from the shooting of Charles de Mendez and the crisis at Three Mile Island in 1979. The reason is simple: first impressions count.
