How NOT to respond to a negative review of your new book

/
Don't post anything on a blog that you wouldn't want to see printed in the Globe and Mail. Or the National Post. Or the New York Times. Well, you get the idea...

Caleb Crain recently wrote a review of Alain de Botton's new book for the New York Times Book Review. The review was less than flattering. Rather than taking it with a grain of salt, Mr. de Botton posted the following venomous comment on Crain's blog:

"I will hate you till the day I die and wish you nothing but ill will in every career move you make."

The flaming blog post has made headlines around the world (including the publications mentioned above).

Mr. de Botton has said that next time, he would "put this message in an envelope, not on the Internet."

Read the NYT coverage of the story here.
Read More

Three politicians with 'foot in mouth' disease

/

In the latest issue of our 'Manage your Message' e-newsletter (out today), we look at three politicians who screwed up with the media in the month of June. What can other media spokespeople learn from their high-profile foul-ups? Sign up here to receive the June issue (it takes less than 10 seconds to sign up and your e-mail address is safe with us).

Read More

N.L. Premier Danny Williams blows up at reporter on live radio

/

Earlier this week, Danny Williams (Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador) called into a live radio show and got into a testy exchange with host Randy Simms. Williams called in specifically to criticize Simms for being 'too negative', just hours after the announcement of the approval of a multi-billion dollar offshore oil project.

Williams was apparently angered when the host asked what the Premier was going to do for the province's troubled forestry and fishing industries.

"It's irresponsible and reckless," Williams told Simms on air. "We don't need that kind of crap and pessimism coming out of your mouth. I refuse to listen to pessimists like you and we are going to move forward despite you."

The call ended with Williams hanging up on Simms.

This on-air blowup is getting a lot of play in the Canadian media. It also defeats one of the most basic principles of conducting effective media interviews: "Never get into an argument with a reporter." Not only did Williams get into an argument, he made a special phone call specifically to get into an argument with the on air host.




Read More

Top 40 ways to get noticed online (apart from Twitter)

/

This is a great compilation of resources for increasing the profile of a person or organization online. I found this at the Taylor Herring PR blog. If your company is looking to raise awareness and grow its online audience, you'll find at least a few ideas to help you tell your stories. And having them all in one place will save you a lot of time and research.

  1. Reddit: Upload stories and articles on reddit to drive traffic to your site or blog. Submit items often so that you’ll gain a more loyal following and increase your presence on the site.
  2. Digg: Digg has a huge following online because of its optimum usability. Visitors can submit and browse articles in categories like technology, business, entertainment, sports and more.
  3. Del.icio.us: Social bookmark your way to better business with sites like del.icio.us, which invite users to organize and publicize interesting items through tagging and networking.
  4. StumbleUpon: You’ll open your online presence up to a whole new audience just by adding the StumbleUpon toolbar to your browser and “channel surf[ing] the Web. You’ll “connect with friends and share your discoveries,” as well as “meet people that have similar interests.”
  5. Technorati: If you want to increase your blog’s readership, consider registering it with Technorati, a network of blogs and writers that lists top stories in categories like Business, Entertainment and Technology.
  6. Ning: After hanging around the same social networks for a while, you may feel inspired to create your own, where you can bring together clients, vendors, customers and co-workers in a confidential, secure corner of the Web. Ning lets users design free social networks that they can share with anyone.
  7. Squidoo: According to Squidoo, “everyone’s an expert on something. Share your knowledge!” Share your industry’s secrets by answering questions and designing a profile page to help other members.
  8. Furl: Make Furl “your personal Web file” by bookmarking great sites and sharing them with other users by recommending links, commenting on articles and utilizing other fantastic features.
  9. Tubearoo: This video network works like other social-bookmarking sites, except that it focuses on uploaded videos. Businesses can create and upload tutorials, commentaries and interviews with industry insiders to promote their own services.
  10. WikiHow: Create a how-to guide or tutorial on wikiHow to share your company’s services with the public for free.
  11. YouTube: From the fashion industry to Capitol Hill, everyone has a video floating around on YouTube. Shoot a behind-the-scenes video from your company’s latest commercial or event to give customers and clients an idea of what you do each day.
  12. Ma.gnolia: Share your favorite sites with friends, colleagues and clients by organizing your bookmarks with Ma.gnolia. Clients will appreciate both your Internet-savviness and your ability to stay current and organized.
  13. LinkedIn: LinkedIn is a popular networking site where alumni, business associates, recent graduates and other professionals connect online.
  14. Ecademy: Ecademy prides itself on “connecting business people” through its online network, blog and message-board chats, as well as its premier BlackStar membership program, which awards exclusive benefits.
  15. Ryze: Ryze lets members organize contacts and friends; upcoming events; and even job, real-estate and roommate classifieds.
  16. YorZ: This networking site doubles as a job site. Members can post openings for free to attract quality candidates.
  17. Xing: An account with networking site Xing can “open doors to thousands of companies.” Use the professional contact manager to organize your new friends and colleagues, and take advantage of the Business Accelerator application to “find experts at the click of a button, market yourself in a professional context [and] open up new sales channels.”
  18. Facebook: Facebook is no longer just for college kids who want to post their party pics. Businesses vie for advertising opportunities, event promotion and more on this social-networking site.
  19. Care2: Care2 isn’t just a networking community for professionals: It’s touted as “the global network for organizations and people who Care2 make a difference.” If your business is making efforts to go green, let others know by becoming a presence on this site.
  20. Gather: This networking community is made up of members who think. Browse categories concerning books, health, money, news and more to ignite discussions on politics, business and entertainment. This will help your company tap into its target audience and find out what they want.
  21. MEETin.org: Once you’ve acquired a group of contacts in your city by networking on MEETin.org, organize an event so that you can meet face-to-face.
  22. Tribe: Cities like Philadelphia, Boston, San Francisco, New York and Chicago have unique online communities on tribe. Users can search for favorite restaurants, events, clubs and more.
  23. Ziggs: Ziggs is “organizing and connecting people in a professional way.” Join groups and make contacts through your Ziggs account to increase your company’s presence online and further your own personal career.
  24. Plaxo: Join Plaxo to organize your contacts and stay updated with feeds from Digg, Amazon.com, del.icio.us and more.
  25. NetParty: If you want to attract young professionals in cities like Boston, Dallas, Phoenix, Las Vegas and Orlando Fla., create an account with the networking site NetParty. You’ll be able to connect with qualified, up-and-coming professionals online, then meet them at a real-life happy-hour event where you can pass out business cards, pitch new job openings and more.
  26. Networking For Professionals: Networking For Professionals is another online community that combines the Internet with special events in the real world. Post photos, videos, résumés and clips on your online profile while you meet new business contacts.
  27. Groovy: Web workers will love Pixel Groovy, an open-source site that lets members submit and rate tutorials for Web 2.0, email and online-marketing issues.
  28. Mixx: Mixx prides itself on being “your link to the Web content that really matters.” Submit and rate stories, photos and news to drive traffic to your own site. You’ll also meet others with similar interests.
  29. Tweako: Gadget-minded computer geeks can network with each other on Tweako, a site that promotes information sharing for the technologically savvy.
  30. Small Business Brief: When members post entrepreneur-related articles, a photo and a link to their profile appear, gaining you valuable exposure and legitimacy online.
  31. Sphinn: Sphinn is an online forum and networking site for the Internet marketing crowd. Upload articles and guides from your blog to create interest in your own company or connect with other professionals for form new contacts.
  32. BuzzFlash.net: This one-stop news resource is great for businesses that want to contribute articles on a variety of subjects, from the environment to politics to health.
  33. HubSpot: HubSpot is another news site aimed at connecting business professionals.
  34. SEO TAGG: Stay on top of news from the Web marketing and SEO (search-engine optimization) industries by becoming an active member of this online community.
  35. Wikipedia: Besides creating your own business reference page on Wikipedia, you can connect with other users on Wikipedia’s Community Portal and at the village pump, where you’ll find conscientious professionals enthusiastic about news, business, research and more.
  36. Newsvine: Feature top employees by uploading their articles, studies or other news-related items to this site. A free account will also get you your own column and access to the Newsvine community.
  37. 43 Things: This site bills itself as “the world’s most popular online goal setting community.” By publicizing your company’s goals and ambitions, you’ll gain a following of customers, investors and promoters who cheer you on as you achieve success.
  38. Wetpaint: If you’re tired of blogs and generic Web sites, create your own wiki with Wetpaint to reach your audience and increase your company’s presence online. You can easily organize articles, contact information, photos and other information to promote your business.
  39. Frappr: Embed a Frappr map and guestbook into your company’s Web page so that you can pinpoint exactly how users find your site, discover in real-time what they have to say about your company profile and services, and create an “interactive, fun and engaging” spot for visitors.
  40. Yahoo! Answers: Start fielding Yahoo! users’ questions with this social-media Q&A service. Search for questions in your particular areas of expertise by clicking categories like Business & Finance, Health, News & Events and more. If you continue to dole out useful advice and link your answer to your company’s Web page, you’ll quickly gain a new following of curious customers.

Again, props to Taylor Herring PR in the UK.

Read More

MySpace CEO calls staff 'bloated' in media statement

/

MySpace today announced plans to cut its staff by nearly 30%. Job cuts like these are always unfortunate for those affected, but it's important for the company's leaders to handle the situation properly from a communications standpoint in order to serve the company's best interests in the long-term.

In a prepared statement, Owen Van Natta, the company's CEO, said, "Simply put, our staffing levels were bloated and hindered our ability to be an efficient and nimble team-oriented company."

"Bloated?"

How do you think this word makes the departing employees feel? Valued? Appreciated?

And of equal importance, how do you think it makes the surviving employees feel?

I suspect that the word 'bloated' was specifically chosen to characterize MySpace's growing staff complement as something that happened by accident. Like eating too much at a buffet, for example. The right approach would have been for management to take accountability for the situation and outline their plan for continued growth and profitability. These people didn't hire themselves. Someone made these hires. And now, faced with a recession, and with Facebook and Twitter eating away at MySpace's audience, revenues are down.

The word 'bloated' is also getting extensive pick-up in the media as part of this story, including the New York Times.

The far superior quote was from Jonathan Miller, News Corporation's chief executive of Digital Media, who said, "MySpace grew too big considering the realities of today’s marketplace. I believe this restructuring will help MySpace operate much more effectively both structurally and financially moving forward. I am confident in MySpace’s next phase under the leadership of Owen and his team."


Read More

Baird inserts foot in mouth at FCM convention

/

Federal Transport Minister John Baird is in damage control mode today after saying the City of Toronto should 'f___ off' at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities convention in British Columbia. Baird made the comments in a private conversation. What he didn't realize (until it was too late) was that he had inadvertently walked into the media room, making his controversial comments fair game for the reporters in the room.

Read More

Maple Leaf recall handled well: survey

/

Saw this story in the Edmonton Sun today. It refers to a recent survey that found 70% of consumers think Maple Leaf Foods did a good job of managing the listeriosis crisis crisis that killed 21 Canadians last summer. And while a quarter of people who had Maple Leaf products in their homes prior to the recall say they have not eaten the company's products since, I think the really important point is that three quarters have. I also believe we'll see those numbers improve in the months/years to come.

The fact that 70% of those surveyed thought the company did a good job managing the crisis and ensuing recalls serves to underscore the importance of a sound PR approach that's based on doing the right thing for your customers.

Read More

Really, AIG?

/

$165 million in bonuses to your employees? Really?

In the wake of the $170 billion government bailout the company has received, this move defies reason and only serves to underscore the prevailing greed that has created this global financial disaster.

The best quote I've seen so far was from New York attorney general Andrew Cuomo, who said, "A.I.G. made more than 73 millionaires in the unit which lost so much money that it brought the firm to its knees, forcing a taxpayer bailout. Something is deeply wrong with this outcome."

The company says these bonuses are needed to persuade employees to stay on with the company. Where else are they going to go and work? The companies that haven't imploded are significantly impaired. These folks are lucky they still have jobs at all.

It is shocking to think that no one at A.I.G. saw the awarding of these bonuses as an impending PR or business disaster. But apparently sound judgment is not something the company is flush with.

Read More

Obama makes rare Oval Office call to reporter

/

15obama_spanLast week, President Obama took the unusual step of calling a New York Times reporter from the Oval Office to clarify a point from an interview that took place earlier in the day. Obama was concerned that he had appeared to dismiss a question from the reporter about whether he was a socialist. The President phoned the reporter personally and said the following:

"It was hard for me to believe that you were entirely serious about that socialist question." He then went on to say that there was "just one thing I was thinking about as I was getting on the copter. I did think it might be useful to point out that it wasn't under me that we started buying a bunch of shares in banks. It wasn't on my watch. And it wasn't on my watch that we passed a massive new entitlement -- the prescription drug plan -- without a source of funding. And so I think it's important just to note when you start hearing folks throw these words around that we've actually been operating in a way that has been entirely consistent with free-market principles and that some of the same folks who are throwing the word 'socialist' around can't say the same."

I like this proactive call by the President. While reflecting about the interview earlier in the day, he pinpointed something that he thought might become a larger issue in the paper the following day. Instead of waiting to do damage control after the fact, he called the journalist personally to eliminate any confusion about his response and pre-empt a negative story characterizing him as a socialist.

This unorthodox call also serves another purpose. It puts the media on notice that the President is paying attention and that he will vigorously defend himself and his administration in the press if he feels they're crossing the line. I would bet that as a result of this call, more than a few White House reporters will be thinking of that phone call while they're putting the finishing touches on their daily stories.

If you want to check out the original coverage of this story, it's here.

 

Read More

Captain 'Sully' Sullenberger - A great TV interview

/
It's refreshing to see a great media interview every now and then.

Too often, these pages are filled with the foibles and screw ups of spokespeople. The idea behind posting these cautionary tales is so that the rest of us might avoid making these same mistakes in our dealings with the media. And while it's helpful (and sometimes fun) to learn from the mistakes of others, there's much more to learn from watching someone really knock an interview out of the park. The problem is that such examples are few and far between.

80% of media interviews fall into the category of 'average' performance. 10% is made of of people who have no business being in front of a camera (see some of our older posts). And somewhere in that final 10% are spokespeople like Captain Sullenberger, the pilot who landed his jet safely in the Hudson River last month. His interview with 60 Minutes this past Sunday was fantastic.



The interview was completely compelling. And Sullenberger's messages and delivery were sincere, succinct, evocative and human. Sure, part of what made this interview great was the subject matter. But the hero pilot instinctively employs so many of the techniques of expert media spokespeople that it's really quite impressive. His answers are concise. He paints extremely descriptive images with his words, making you feel as though you were on the plane that day. And throughout the entire interview, he's cool as a cucumber and totally in control.

If you're called upon to do TV interviews as part of your job, I would encourage you to bookmark this interview and revisit the next time you're getting ready to speak with a TV reporter.

 < Read More

The cost of the listeriosis crisis

/
Maple Leaf Foods Inc. has reached a $27 million nationwide settlement with plaintiffs in a class action lawsuit resulting from last summer's listeriosis outbreak, which was responsible for at least 20 deaths. The company (and in particular CEO Michael McCain) was applauded for its frank, open communications approach throughout the crisis. At the time, McCain was quoted as saying, "Lesson number one is focus on doing what's right for your customers and don't focus so much on the accountants and the lawyers." The company's PR approach, ably handled by Toronto's Fleishman-Hillard, was a modern take on Tylenol's handling of its product tampering scare back in 1982. Threatened with the potential demise of its company, Tylenol pulled all of its product from every shelf in the United States, putting the public's best interests before the bottom line. That crisis changed the way over-the-counter drugs were packaged, leading to the introduction of the tamper-proof plastic wrap on the caps of such bottles. Maple Leaf's response was bang on, both from an operational and PR standpoint. The $27 million dollar settlement sounds significant, but bear in mind this is a company with 2007 sales of $5.2 billion. And because it responded decisively, the company has solidified its future, having regained the trust of many Canadians who might have had temporary doubt about the safety of the company's products. Read more about the settlement on the CBC's website.

Labels: , ,

Read More

Michael Phelps's image takes a (bong) hit

/

Over the weekend, a photo emerged showing Olympic gold medalist and media darling Michael Phelps taking a haul from a bong. The picture could prove costly to the man with the most Olympic gold medals in history. Corporate sponsors have been lining up to associate themselves with Phelps since the summer Olympics. Many of those companies are likely to reconsider their association with Phelps in the wake of his 'bong photo'. Phelps is still just a kid (23 years old), but if he wants to swim in the big kids' pool where the multi-million dollar endorsement deals await, such lapses in judgment are going to be unacceptable. While it's nearly impossible to put a precise dollar figure on the financial damage his reputation has suffered, a conservative estimate would have to be in the millions. The obligatory 'apology quote' prepared for Phelps by his agency, Octagon, was actually fairly decent: "I'm 23 years old, and despite the successes I have had in the pool, I acted in a youthful and inappropriate way, not in the manner that people have come to expect from me. For this, I am sorry. I promise my fans and the public it will not happen again." The quote had the right balance of sincerity and contrition. Unfortunately, no amount of eloquence or spin is going to put this toothpaste back in the tube. This is one picture that's worth at least a few millions words.

Read More

How a well-chosen analogy can elevate your media quote

/

In our media training sessions, one of the topics we touch on his how to increase the odds of getting a particular message into the reporter's finished story. If you participate in an interview that's 10, 15 or 20 minutes long, that's a lot of material for the reporter to choose from. How can you help narrow that choice down to the points you want them to include? There are several techniques to make an important message stand out. You can: - include metrics that provide context and meaning (percentages, dollar amounts, etc.) - keep it brief (most quotes used in the media take less than 12 seconds to say) - use an anecdote or analogy that helps you tell your story Finding the right analogy can be tougher than it sounds. You have to choose something that won't offend your audience, first of all. And it needs to be something common enough that people can identify with. The odds of coming up with something obscure or inappropriate are high. But with a bit of thought before the interview, finding the right analogy can lead to a short, powerful quote that helps underscore your point of view. I found just such an analogy in a recent New York Times story, "Hope for a brighter future on a darker broadway". A number of productions are closing due to the grim economic times. Marc Shaiman, the composer of Hairspray, summed up the situation as follows:

"For me, it feels like putting a pet to sleep, but not because it's sick -- because you can't afford dog food."

This quote does a nice job of capturing the passion these professionals have for their craft. And likewise, how painful it is to watch these shows close. And all in 21 words. Well said.

Read More

Honesty - Still the best policy

/
In our media training sessions, we always spend a few minutes talking about why it's a bad idea to lie to a reporter. I know, it sounds like one of those statements that doesn't really require additional explanation. Yet spokespeople continue to bend the truth in interviews with the media. The results are never pretty.

Case in point - this story from today's Toronto Star. The story states that Vaughan mayor Linda Jackson told a reporter earlier this week that there was no alcohol consumed as part of her many thousands of dollars of meals that she expensed in upscale restaurants.

"There is nothing at all wrong with me having business meals with my assistant. There is nothing wrong with it and if you were to go and pull those bills there is absolutely no alcohol,” Jackson is heard saying on a tape of Grech's interview.
Apparently that statement wasn't quite true. In its story, the Star indicated that it had seen receipts that showed alcohol was frequently involved in business lunches and dinners with councillors, senior bureaucrats and others. And we're not talking about the occasional Coor's Light. In one instance, a $100 bottle of Amarone Corte was included in a $345.50 meal ($415.50 after tip).

When confronted with the receipts by the Star, Jackson, "changed her tune, saying she was misquoted and that, in fact, expensing alcohol to the taxpayer is common practice in her municipality."

Untruths in media interviews can come back to bite the spokesperson in an embarrassing way. Rather than making the story go away, Linda Jackson's comments poured gasoline (or some type of flammable alcohol, perhaps) on the fire. She was relying on the fact that the journalist wouldn't have access to her receipts. From a PR perspective, it was a costly error in judgment. We'll have to wait and see if the taxpayers remember this incident when voting season comes around in 2010.

Read More

Today's lesson: Burning bridges via the media

/

Getting fired from a high-profile job is never a pleasant experience. But true professionals know how to handle themselves throughout the process, market themselves effectively to other organizations in their industries and get their careers back on track. Lashing out at your previous employer in the media isn't part of the plan. But that's precisely what Barry Melrose did earlier this week. Melrose, who was recently fired after just 16 games as head coach of the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning, got into a very public war of words with his former employer in a radio interview on Toronto's Fan 590. Here are a few of Melrose's gems from the interview: "I had guys in Tampa that wanted to run the team and I wouldn't let them....Every day was a constant battle." "They have guys in charge (now) and they can do what they want. Obviously that's not working out very well either." And when asked if he was happy to see his former team continue to struggle, he said: "I'm not going to lie to you, it does. And any coach who says it doesn't is a liar. I hope Tampa Bay doesn't win a game the rest of the year." It might have been a relief to get that off his chest, but his outburst clearly won't do much to impress prospective employers. If he had taken the high road in the media and put a lid on his controversial comments, Melrose might have had another shot at a coaching position in the future.

Read More

A Cautionary Tale: Sean Avery

/

Anyone who doubts that their ability (or lack thereof) to handle media interviews can have a direct impact on their careers should consider the case of Sean Avery. Earlier this week, Avery made some awful comments to a scrum of reporters about former girlfriend Elisha Cuthbert (who is now dating Dion Phaneuf from the Calgary Flames). I won't repeat his comments here. You've probably heard all about them by now. If not, just Google it. The bottom line is that Avery's now famous lapse in judgment (that took less than 10 seconds to speak) will not only cost him his job with the Dallas Stars, but possibly spell an end to his NHL career altogether. Let's just survey the extensive damage done by one poorly-considered quote to a few sports reporters. Avery has been suspended by the league. His teammates have said openly that they don't want him back. He's sure to take a significant financial hit. The team's ownership and management are in damage control mode. And the Dallas Stars, who are a perenial NHL contender, are having a dismal season. While the team's performance can't be attributed solely to Avery's ongoing behaviour problems, it certainly can't be helping them. And this doesn't even take into account the emotional pain that he's caused his former girlfriend with his mindless comments. The NHL is a business like any other. The players are expected to represent their organizations in certain manner in their dealings with the media. I've always held that the ability to conduct effective media interviews is a career-enhancing skill. Conversely, the inability to manage interviews strategically can be a career time bomb waiting to go off. That's something Sean Avery will have plenty of time to think about in the years ahead, as he contemplates the multi-million dollar career that was destroyed by a few poorly-chosen words.

Read More

Out of the mouths of hockey players

/
There's a great scene in the movie Bull Durham where Crash Davis (Kevin Costner) is teaching Ebby Calvin 'Nuke' LaLoosh (Tim Robbins) how to survive interviews with sports reporters. His advice is basically to restrict himself to banalities. Keep it simple. Crank out the old clichés.
Crash Davis: You're gonna have to learn your clichés. You're gonna have to study them, you're gonna have to know them. They're your friends. Write this down: "We gotta play it one day at a time." Ebby Calvin LaLoosh: Got to play... it's pretty boring. Crash Davis: 'Course it's boring, that's the point. Write it down.
While it's a tongue-in-cheek commentary on the generally poor quality of sports interviews, there is a grain of truth in Davis's advice. As a long-time sports fan, I listen to a lot of these interviews. And in the majority of cases, the players stick to their clichés. It's boring, but it allows them to steer clear of controversy. And controversy is the last thing you want to create in a team environment.

Today, however, a player from the Toronto Maple Leafs went way off script and his comments are at the top of the local sports headlines. Jason Blake, who has been struggling for two seasons to find his offensive groove, is being benched for tonight's game against Calgary as a healthy scratch (for the second time this season). The first time he was scratched, his comments to the media were fairly tame. Today, he couldn't contain his anger and let it show to the reporters:

“I don’t know what’s going on… we’ll try to figure it out sometime today,” Blake said. “It’s just extremely frustrating. To be honest, I was very, very upset in Boston, but I didn’t really know what to say because I was caught off guard. It was the first time in nine years that I was a healthy scratch. I’m even more caught off guard this time, and I don’t know what’s going on, to tell you the truth. I’ll spend the afternoon trying to figure it out.”
I dislike everything about this quote. From saying 'I don't know what's going on' twice, to describing how 'very, very upset' he was and then saying he is 'more caught off guard this time'. This is pretty selfish stuff. This doesn't sound like a player who respects his coach, his teammates or the team's fans. The story of the day should be the team's upcoming game in Calgary. Instead, one player has selfishly hijacked the media spotlight to help soothe his own bruised ego. From an organizational and communications perspective, this is a terrible example of a lone wolf hurting the organization that pays his hefty salary. Even from a hockey standpoint, how can he think that these comments are going to get him back in the starting lineup? And while it might be a bit of a stretch, perhaps the self-serving tone of his comments can help shed some light on the reason behind his lacklustre play of late. Wayne Gretzky was not only the NHL's most prolific player in history, he also gave thousands of great media interviews, always putting his team, coaches and fans before himself. Maybe Jason Blake can spend some of his time in the press box tonight Googling some of Wayne's old media interviews and picking up a few pointers on how an athlete should represent himself to the media.

Labels: , ,

Read More

Unintelligible news release quotes

/
Flipping through the daily news releases at Canada Newswire, I am floored by some of the executive quotes that see the light of day. To be fair, most of the news releases on the site are actually fairly well-written. But every day, there are at least a handful that are simply awful. It makes you wonder who's writing these things (not to mention who's approving them).

Think about it. Each of these documents has probably been in development for weeks. They've been back and forth between communications/marketing and the executive office. They've been through 12 sets of eyes, legal, compliance, etc. And the result? Well, enjoy:

"Localizing the user interface in Japanese for Thomson Innovation means enhanced usability for our customers, enabling them to access our global, award-winning IP research and analysis resource with valued-added DWPI more easily within their local business environment," said Mr. Mark Garlinghouse, vice president and managing director of the Asia Pacific Scientific business of Thomson Reuters. "This investment demonstrates our strong commitment to Japan and plans to expand our market here with corporate solutions."
"This contract is a fantastic first step for Mint's global expansion, and is consistent with the Company's business model targeting the credit underserved population with tailored products by partnering with prominent corporations and consumer brands providing large distribution channels. Migrant workers are a large portion of the population who are underserved, and our prepaid payroll card makes receiving wages and the transfer of money simpler and cheaper than current available alternatives."
"Citadel Solutions' decision to use AC Plus for its fund administration services demonstrates the value of robust data management and its potential to generate revenue. Asset Control helps to take the operational burden out of data management, with Citadel Solutions as an example of a firm that is harnessing AC Plus' capabilities to streamline data capture and standardize its distribution. By using AC Plus to enrich the platform it provides, Citadel Solutions is able to gain a competitive advantage through the application of advanced technologies."
These companies invested time and money in crafting these news releases and sending them out into the world in an effort to build awareness, increase their profile and generate new business. What lost opportunities.
Read More

'Two for one deal' in the Edmonton Sun

/
There's a story in today's Edmonton Sun about an HIV/hepatitis scare, after it was discovered that some hospital workers had been administering medication using reused syringes. Health officials are urging 2,700 patients to be tested for HIV and hepatitis as a result.

The reporter gets quotes from a variety of sources. I found two of those quotes particularly interesting. One of them is effective, while the other leaves you wondering what the spokesperson was thinking.

Judge for yourself and see who tells their story more effectively:

#1. Alberta's health minister, Ron Liepert, refused to lay blame until the Alberta Quality Health Countil is finished its review of the incident. Here's his quote:

"This is a system made up of human beings. There will be mistakes that will happen and we've had other mistakes in the past."

Talk about a lost opportunity. Instead of assuring residents that everything will be done to ensure this never happens again and that the health and safety of Albertans is their top priority, he sums it up with something that sounds like a line from 'Que Sera, Sera'.

#2. The more effective quote is this one, from NDP Leader Brian Mason, who says:

"This government spends more money and makes a greater effort to educate drug addicts about not reusing syringes than they do the health professionals that we depend on to protect us. If they have not put in place the educational practices and procedures to make sure this isn't happening then we should assume it is happening in other places in other forms."

It does what a good key message should do -- it boils down the person's viewpoint into a simple, compelling statement that's easy to remember. The comparison with the education program for drug addicts is pretty effective and makes the government look as if it has its priorities out of whack. It also serves to make the health minister's quote (hey, we're people....things happen) look even sillier.

Read More