No Comment

No Comment

The fast track to looking guilty in PR

Having public relations (or even journalism) as a major, we all learn that the phrase “no comment” is seen as a big no-no when it comes to responding to a crisis or incident. In journalism we learn that anyone who says “no comment” usually means they have something to hide, or we learn that this response makes the public think you are guilty. But when is it okay to say this phrase or one similar to it in this profession? Sometimes there are ways around saying those words by basically saying nothing. There are other times when you can make it obvious that you really have nothing to say at the moment.

According to PR Fuel, these are some reasons this saying is taken the wrong way:

1.     People think this means you have been uninformed and caught off guard in the moment.

2.     You’re afraid to admit you made a mistake

3.     You are defensive of your wrongdoing

4.     You have no explanation or justification for the situation

5.     You feel as if you aren’t in the wrong- or are being stubborn

Some suggestions when in a predicament where you can’t report what you know I got from John Greer’s article on CBS Moneywatch. He suggests to:

1.     Not use the phrase itself.

2.     Find some different phrases that generally mean the same thing, but are more informative and don’t seem as suspicious. – phrases such as “I’m sorry but I am not able to respond at this time because of (insert vague excuse).”

3.     Stand your ground after you have answered.

 

Although it is your right to remain silent, a lot of people see it as a means of suspicion when there is news or a scandal breaking. Aside from saying the phrase, giving informative answers is a much better response. For example, you work for a company that sells all natural granola bars and have just been informed they are getting sued. You only know that much. What would you say? A good response at this point would to be honest and respond with something along the lines of “we have just been informed of the lawsuit and are still finding out all of the details as to the situation at hand.” Or “We are still in the process of retrieving all information regarding to the case and plan to make a statement as soon as we know as much as we can”. Responses like these can save you from looking like you are hiding something and can keep you from revealing information without having to say “no comment.”

            These responses also make your company look professional in the media because it shows that you are not ignoring the questions that are arising from the situation. Your company is taking initiative to find out everything to better inform the public, which is an admirable action.

Now, you have found out that your company is being accused of not providing the appropriate listed ingredients on your packaging for granola bars. Now that you know the situation, some answers you might be able to provide would be “we are currently handling these accusations by allowing an investigation to take place” or any answer similar to this. This shows that you now know the situation at hand and your company is cooperating with the lawsuit, showing you have nothing to hide and that you are taking action to clear up the mess.

Throughout the investigation your company should continually report and update regarding the findings. Continue to be honest and show action and responsibility to solving the problem. If you don’t report it the media is going to anyway, and you might as well beat them to it.

            In the end, it turns out the packaging was misleading and ingredients were wrong. At this time a statement should be made that shows you are taking responsibility and working to fix the problem. If it is a minor detail problem, share it with the public so that they can know it wasn’t a huge mislabels and that the granola bars produced are and always have been ‘natural’ ingredients for a healthy diet. Honesty is usually honored as well as taking responsibility for any mistakes, even if it is just minor details.

So, when your company is caught in the middle of a misunderstanding or scandal it is always ideal to steer clear of “no comment” in order to keep an honorable and respectable reputation throughout the process and within the eyes of the public.

Sources: http://www.ereleases.com/prfuel/why-you-shouldnt-say-no-comment-to-the-media/

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-not-to-say-no-comment/

Blogs Suck: at least we think they do

Blogs Suck: at least we think they do

The mistaken stereotype of blogs and their uselessness

by Alexandra Smith

Okay, time to confess. I hate blogs with a fiery, burning passion. I read them when I want to know this or that and one pops up with advice but that’s about it. So I have to blog for my class and I’m not going to lie I have been avoiding it because I get so mad that I am shaking when I sit and try to figure out what to write about. I honestly feel like blogs are for people to sit there and either praise or complain. THEN I was looking up “why do blogs exist” out of anger, and what do you know someone had blogged about this topic… (eyes rolling).

Anyways, I have come to learn that blogs are actually useful in our current world of technology and social media. So tonight my blog is going to be about why they exist and hopefully if you’re like me you can get a better understanding of them.

First of all: Who are you thinking you have a place to be telling me anything on the internet? Are you a doctor or specialist? Are you a professional? Then what do you honestly think you are doing on the web giving advice? Here was my first mistake. I thought this at first and sometimes I still do. The truth is blogs might be more trustworthy than websites at times. Instead of getting information from someone who is trying to sell you a service or product, you are getting firsthand information from someone who really is just sharing their knowledge.

Want to get a wine stain out of carpet? If you looked it up there might be comments on different websites of what brand of cleaner to use. If you find it on a blog, someone may have a cheap and easy way to get the stain out who has shared their stain-removing concoction and instructions of how to make it. The same thing can apply for any kind of information you might be looking for online.

Another misconception of blogs is the idea that they are like a journal for the person who is the author of a blog. It isn’t a place for people to complain about their personal lives- unless it’s the blog of someone famous and people actually want to listen to it. Blogs are used most often these days for companies, products, organizations, or by people who are considered experts on topics in which people read their blogs to listen to their advice or opinion. Companies these days can send sample products to someone in charge of a blog for them to write a review of their product. Some organizations blog just to keep people updated on their latest developments or events. There is often ethical questions from having people blog about products they have received from companies and why it may be considered bribery for a good review, but it still happens.

The next wrong idea I had about blogs was that it was meant for either praise or complaints. This can be true because people can blog about whatever they want. People can even blog about how much they truly hated your product or service. When this happens, you can comment or contact the blogger to see if there is a way to fix the situation. The fact is, it can seem to be about complaining or praising but a lot of blogs are simply informational or helpful. My personal favorite for blogs is the Mockingjay.net blog which posts about any recent news regarding The Hunger Games trilogy books and movies. This is just one example of a topic that an entire blog can be about.

Last, when I was writing my blogs for my class I felt like if people saw it they would think I was just another weirdo blogger thinking they knew it all. I also thought that no one would even see my blog posts because no one would care. When I was contacted about an internship recently and the man told me he “liked the work from my blog”. I asked “really?” and then I realized people really do see the things you post on a blog. The importance of this mistake was realizing that my blog was actually another way of promoting myself and networking. Both of which are really important for an undergraduate student as well as for anyone who may be in the career world.

I’m not going to lie, I really despised blogs. But now I see that they are actually a useful tool in the public relations world. While I’m no professional on public relations or on blogs, I’m glad I got to share the common stereotype that people may have of blogs. I’ve found several other blogs similar to this one that might be more helpful to anyone still wondering “Why blogging?” make sure to visit them!
Very Official Blog- why blogs matter
Why blogs matter to small businesses

Images of Shameful Journalism

Recently, Hollywood lost a beloved star, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, known for films such as Moneyball and The Big Lebowski. On February 2, 2014 the world was informed of the actor’s death caused by an overdose of heroin. News stands and stations have been feeding the country the tragic details of his death all throughout this week. What I don’t understand is when is it enough information for the public to be happy and just move on from it? Do we have to label him an “addict” and a drug abuser while his family is not even a week in to mourning their loss of a loved one?

            Above is a post that was recently shared and showed up on Facebook. I’m posting it because I think the world could use a little more of the humility shown by the young woman that wrote it. Nothing angers me more than how bad journalism can make itself out to be. When you hold so much power and persuasion how can a company such as New York Daily News create a cover such as this:

            This was released Thursday, February 4 as an invite for readers to look at the details of Philip Seymour Hoffman’s death. Does anyone up at NYDaily care about the image of its magazine? Is anyone else offended by the lack of sensitivity shown by this publisher? Perhaps some tips in common decency would be in order for the ‘professionals’ that approved of such a headline.

            If I were on the public relations team for NYDaily I would obviously have a pretty big mess to clean up. When something like this happens is when PR professionals should jump in and say “hey let’s not make ourselves look bad” instead of trying to sell magazines in such a manner. I would recommend an immediate apology along with a new front page advertised in a more decent way. The whole black background and red bold letters make it seem like the cover to a dramatic and dark film, which works for the story as long as more humility is shown with the facts. And the title "Drug Den" needs to go. This example is obviously just one of the more recent incidents in which journalism has made itself look like reporters and newspapers are heartless. Not saying they are, but a majority of people think this. And who can blame them?

            Let’s not forget the many times that front-page spreads have been regarding the messy details of a failed marriage. I get it. It’s news. I guess this is how public relations professionals and journalists are different. We’re trying to keep it clean and classy while reporters apparently don’t care.

            The story is completely different when a public figure does the damage all themselves. I’m wondering what the agents for Texas country singer, Josh Abbott, are currently thinking after he openly admitted to cheating on his wife as well as addictions on his own Twitter account.

                       

            Yikes. I’m not sure whether to applaud the man for his honesty or feel bad for his manager and those who have worked so hard for the image they have helped him create. If I were in charge of his public image, I would recommend him lay low for a while until it all blows over. Maybe somehow make the public sympathize for him, since I’m sure there is explanation for his behavior. I’m sure his fans will remain loyal since this isn’t breaking through the news and is coming from his own mouth. In public relations, I think forgiveness and empathy is something that not many people can give, but it’s what a lot of us in the industry might someday have to work toward for our client’s sake.