Adding to the calamity, Komen’s top health official, Mollie Williams, resigned in protest following the foundation’s decision, stating:  ”I have dedicated my career to fighting for the rights of the marginalised and underserved. And I believe it would be a mistake for any organisation to bow to political pressure and compromise its mission.”

However, Komen claims that it made the cut because of a newly adopted rule that prevents the foundation from funding any group under congressional investigation – Planned Parenthood is currently being investigated by anti-abortion Republican Congressman Cliff Stearns to determine whether or not the organization used public money on abortions.  So why is this a PR crisis?  The once squeaky clean Komen foundation is now in the crossfire of a long-standing social argument and the backlash is growing.  The foundation is losing supporters and is being labeled as “anti-women” and its decision “politically motivated.”  This is particularly damaging for a foundation that has become symbolic with women’s health, support and sisterhood.

So where does Mayor Michael Bloomberg come in?  In wake of this disaster, Bloomberg has stepped in and pledged $250,000 of his own money to Planned Parenthood to make up for some of the funding lost.  ”Politics have no place in health care,” Bloomberg said in a statement. “Breast cancer screening saves lives and hundreds of thousands of women rely on Planned Parenthood for access to care. We should be helping women access that care, not placing barriers in their way.”

So let’s run through the winners and losers of this crisis:

Susan G. Komen Foundation – LOSER –  Cutting off funds to Planned Parenthood could cause irreversible damage for Komen.  Instead of staying neutral as a means of helping all women, the foundation took a side on a heated social issue, alienating a great deal of its supporters.  It will be difficult for Komen to recover these supporters and position itself as an impartial charity once again.  The first step would be for the foundation to honestly reflect on its mission and how it aims to achieve its goals.  This may involve some restructuring and, of course, everything that the organization does must be transparent and properly communicated to the public.

Planned Parenthood – WINNER – While the organization may be losing $650,000 from the Komen Foundation, the publicity it’s receiving is priceless.  In the long run, the Komen cuts will not cripple Planned Parenthood.  This incident has depicted the organization as the underdog, so the donations will be pouring in.  Plus, it brings to light the types of services the organization provides and how it helps the community.

Michael Bloomberg – WINNER – The mayor interjected himself into a situation where he wasn’t remotely involved and came out looking like the white knight.  While his intentions may have been purely altruistic, this was a genius PR move.  Not only is he the hero of the day, he’s bolstering support among females and underprivileged voters.

UPDATE:  Susan G. Komen for the Cure has reversed its decision to pull funds from Planned Parenthood and has apologized to the American public. Do you feel this is enough or has the damage been done?

First of all, had a real story like this broke, the Kardashians simply wouldn’t respond.  As a PR person myself, that’s exactly what I would have advised them to do:  not act.  People often forget about this tactic and want to tackle every rumor and issue head-on.  However, by addressing an issue, you’re often giving merit to the rumor and fueling the media fire.

This is exactly what’s happening at the moment with the Kardashian klan constantly releasing comments and disputing the claim; it’s making the issues bigger than it has to be.  In reality, if they would have just swept the topic under the rug and never responded, it would have been forgotten in a New-York minute.  However, that would only be the case if this wasn’t a publicity stunt.

Secondly, they have a major motive for focusing attention on Khloe right now:  it distracts from Kim’s soiled image.  Kim Kardashian is facing major criticism following her 72-day marriage, which is significantly tarnishing her brand.  The negativity has elevated to the point that there is now a website encouraging people to boycott the reality star.  By focusing the media’s attention on Khloe and her paternity scandal, the Kardashians are sneakily adverting your attention away from Kim and all the money that she made off of her sham marriage.

Finally, scandal makes for great reality television.  The Kardashians are no fools; this paternity issue is more than likely fodder for the next season of “Khloe & Lamar” or “Khloe & Kim Take Dallas.”  We all know that this reality family doesn’t brush their teeth without cameras around and this is just another wonderfully scripted plot that will continue raking in the kash for the Kardashians.

As we travel deeper into the digital age, the newspaper industry is getting left in the dust.  The New York Times just announced a 57% decline in its first quarter.  The publication reported a revenue of $5.4 million, down from $12.8 million in the first quarter of 2010. 

On the bright side, online ads have increased by about 4.5%, which illustrates how more people are turning to their computers and cell phones for news.  The New York Times has implemented a subscription plan that it believes will increase profits in the second quarter.

If your promotion efforts revolve mostly around print media, this should be a wakeup call.  It’s critical to have an online and social media presence.

So far, BUMP has been downloaded 30 million times!  Here’s what co-founder Jake Mintz had to say:

“We expected Bump to be used in formal situations, like replacing business cards, but when we looked at how people were actually using it, it was for fun, after five. It became a nights and weekends app, people using it in social situations. So once we saw that, we shifted to trying to emphasize fun over serious, like sharing music and photos.”

 As of now, the app is available for free.  The question is, how are you going to use BUMP to promote YOUR business?

The “green” trend is here to stay and most companies have adapted their products, services or operations in some way to accommodate this.  Earth Day is April 22 and it’s a great time to make some green by getting yourself out there, whether you’re an eco-friendly business or not.  Here are a few tips:

• A day of discounts – Offer a discount that’s only valid for Earth Day.  This is a great way for non-eco-friendly companies to get in on the action.  But, remember to alert the press and your clients.  They won’t know unless you tell them.
• Grassroots – Be active on social media.  If your company has an activity, promotion or discount surrounding Earth Day, then engage your social network.  For example, if you’re having a video contest or conservation pledge, don’t be afraid to provide reporters and clients with a pre-written tweet or post that they can use on Twitter or Facebook to lend their support.  This helps you control the message, including hash tags and links.
• Once upon a time – Public relations is all about storytelling.  Share anecdotes, facts, figures and case studies illustrating your company’s commitment to the environment.  This will increase your pickup rate.
• Green machine – Offer an exclusive green-colored product or discount on an existing green-colored product.  For example, if you’re a makeup company, offer a 20% discount on green eye shadow.  Or if you have a juice bar, offer an Earth Day all-green smoothie. 
• Leverage a cause – Even if your product is in no way related to Earth Day, you can still draw attention to other causes.  For example, a music organization may tell the media to save the earth and save the music, reminding the public of other important issues.
• Identify trends – So many celebrities are going green these days, which may help you spotlight your business.  If you’re a reusable grocery bag company, send some pictures of celebrities with their reusable grocery bags to your media contacts, adding information about your product, price and where consumers can buy it. 
• Follow up – If you planned an Earth Day event, don’t forget to send a recap and photos/videos.  If you had a contest or giveaway, you’ll want to announce the winners and send any visual possible. 

Follow these tips and you’ll be making more green by going “green” this Earth Day!

While it may have been a sour weekend for the actor and his wife Alice Kim, Chapman took Cage’s lemons and turned them into his own lemonade by strategically inserting himself into the situation.  Not only did he get publicity that otherwise would not have befallen upon him, he emerged favorably as a “good guy” and “true friend” in the eyes of the public.

Like Chapman, you can also capitalize on Cage’s arrest and similar incidents.  America loves bad boys (e.g. Charlie Sheen) and when their bad behavior makes headline news, it creates numerous media opportunities.  For example, if you specialize in psychology, alcoholism or domestic abuse, pitch yourself to the media as an expert available for interview.  This is an easy way to get exposure for your organization and position yourself as a thought leader within the industry.  Furthermore, you’ll build relationships with the media and will likely be called for commentary the next time a public figure loses composure. 

Even without a specialist available for interview, there are other opportunities for organizations to call attention to their causes on a local and national level.  For example, it’s a great excuse for a women’s shelter to reach out to the press, reminding them of effects of domestic violence and where women can seek help.   If you can provide any supporting statistics surrounding the issue, like the number of domestic violence victims each year, it’ll increase your pickup rate. 

Finally, the key to leveraging these types of media topics is timeliness.  You have to respond immediately to the breaking news or the reporters will find their sources elsewhere.  The quicker you respond to an issue, the more likely you’ll be quoted or sourced by the press.  Just remember…the media won’t know you’re there unless you make yourself know.

I personally know the Dodger’s Vice President of Communications, Josh Rawitch, and believe that he’s handling the situation to the best of his jurisdiction.  However, as with many organizations, there can quickly become a lot of gatekeepers and hands in the cookie jar by people who are too close to the issue.  In this instance, I believe that is the case. 

Poor Advice
Rightfully so, the community is feeling a lack of sincerity from the Dodgers, particularly the owner Frank McCourt.  McCourt donated $25,000 to Stow, but this just doesn’t seem like enough given the severity of the victim’s condition and the overall worth of McCourt and the Dodger’s franchise.   While it’s easy to vilify McCourt for his measly donation, it’s likely that the organization’s lawyers are behind the lack of generosity in an attempt at preventing an omission of guilt on the Dodger’s behalf.

That’s not to say that the Dodger’s lawyers are bad people either; they’re simply doing their job of mitigating legal damages to the organization.  But, just because something is handled properly legally, doesn’t mean that it’s handled properly in the eyes of the public.  Hiding behind the law is a common mistake that many companies make during a crisis.

Legal advice cannot be disregarded completely, but organizations must be as transparent as possible, especially in such critical times.  It’s best for the communications department and/or crisis management team to work alongside the legal department to best achieve their goals. 

Poor Messages
McCourt recently said that the Dodgers are “focused on moving forward.”  However, the public was not ready to hear this message; they’re really looking for messages that address the reason behind the tragedy, when justice will be served and how this disaster will be prevented in the future.   While this statement seems positive, it comes across as though the Dodgers are sweeping the incident under the rug.  Instead of doing this, the organization should be reflecting on the event and evaluating their strategy and future operations. 

Poor Voice
Additionally, the Dodger’s messages are coming from the wrong source.  McCourt may be the head of the organization, but he is not viewed favorably by the media or public, coming off a highly publicized divorce.  The person who has come out on top of this whole Dodger’s misfortune is former manager Tommy Lasorda.  Lasorda has not only donated and help raise money for Stow; he has given the community what they desire most:  compassion and sincerity.  In this case, Lasorda should be the Dodger’s spokesperson rather than Rawitch or McCourt. 

Finally, Dodger’s fans are saying that they don’t feel safe at the stadium, so the organization has heightened security.  While this will likely prevent further incidents, fans and the media feel as though this was a contrived move and wonder how long it will last.  Instead of reacting, the Dodgers must be proactive instead.  That means taking further measures to discourage violence and promote safety at the ballgame, keeping the media and public informed of all activities.  Crisis management is always difficult, but as long as you put the public’s interest first, then you’ll always come out on top.

Here’s a list of dos and don’ts that will help you get the most coverage this Mother’s Day:

DOs

• DO your homework!  Research articles from the year prior to get an idea of the type of stories that were covered by your targeted publications.  This will also allow you to begin compiling your list of reporters who cover the topic.
• DO put a new twist on it.  Creativity really pays off when pitching to the media.   If you can breathe new life into an old story or think of something that has never been covered, it’ll certainly increase your pickup rate.
• DO think beyond your business.  If you can give reporters the “whole story,” you’re more likely to get media coverage.   Consider umbrella ideas under which your product or service sits.  For example, if your product is an all-natural massage oil, pitch story ideas like “eco-friendly gifts for mom” or “relaxation gifts for mom.”  Better yet, if you can partner with someone else and pitch both products under an umbrella topic, you’re even more likely to get covered.
• DO give yourself time.  You need to pitch your story far enough ahead for reporters to plan their articles.   Send your pitch or press release at least two weeks prior to the event.
• DO consider new mommies.  Just because the baby hasn’t been born yet doesn’t mean that new parents aren’t celebrating the holiday.  In fact, May is Pregnancy Awareness Month (PAM), so leverage this event when pitching the media.
• DO be heartfelt.  Tell a heartwarming story to illustrate the use of your product/service or look for ways that your business recognizes mom’s hard work or helps mother and child spend time together, bond or connect.   

DON’Ts

• DON’T bite off more than you can chew.   You don’t want to pitch a publication that has a greater readership than your capacity to take and fill orders.
• DON’T be afraid to giveaway.  Bloggers love swag and it’s great to send them samples to get them talking about your business, but don’t forget the readers.  Consider partnering with a blog to offer its readers a freebie, which most are more than happy to do.  This will get your product in the hands of the consumer and it’s a tactic that’s looked upon positively by bloggers because it drive traffic to their websites.
• DON’T limit yourself.  It’s easy to place Mother’s Day stories in women’s publications, but it’s important to think beyond this.  Consider the consumers that will be buying for mom – husbands, sons, daughters, etc. – and reach out to media outlets that cater to these audiences as well. 
• DON’T use hype.  When describing your business, stick to the facts and try not to sound like an advertisement.  Even if your business is the best, fastest, greatest or easiest, be prepared to back up your claims.  It’s better to use a testimonial or third-party accolade than simply stating it yourself.
• DON’T forget what the holiday is all about.  Mother’s Day is a day of recognition and pampering in honor of a mother’s hard work and sacrifices throughout the year.  This should be at the heart of anything you release to the media.

Follow these tips and you’ll give yourself the gift of media coverage this Mother’s Day!

According to a Forbes Insight whitepaper, Strategic Initiatives Study, one of the main reasons why a strategy fails is due to a lack of understanding and support from key stakeholders.  To succeed, companies must get their constituencies to buy-in on the strategies that they’re responsible for executing.

More than 90% of CEOs and communicators surveyed agreed that communications was a critical component to the success of their strategic initiatives.  On the other hand, a lack of understanding, commitment and follow-through by key constituencies can cause a strategic initiative to fail, which is why 41% of the survey’s respondents said they increase emphasis on communications to improve such outcomes.

To gain more traction with the strategic initiatives process, Forbes recommends the following steps to enhance the effectiveness of communications and drive ultimate success:

1. Articulate a well-defined business case and vision – Ensure that the rationale for and expected benefits from strategic initiatives are clearly communicated to all stakeholders inside and out of the organization.
2. Initiate formal communication and engagement programs early – Earn internal buy-in and support for strategic initiatives to establish and maintain momentum, with extra effort made to engage management and employees responsible for implementing strategic initiatives.
3. Leverage the CEO – Develop a thought leadership platform and visibility program for the CEO that complements the organization’s growth plan and reaches the entire spectrum of stakeholders inside and outside the organization.
4. Foster an environment of involvement and collaboration – Break down organizational silos to improve success.
5. Employ two-way communications – Allow for feedback from all stakeholders to confirm understanding of the strategy, address issues and opportunities and ensure follow-through.
6. Commit to more clarity and transparency – Clearly articulate assignments and responsibilities, deadlines, timing of initiatives and phases of completion, as well as associated costs of development and implementation of strategic initiatives.
7. Increase the overall volume of communications – Err on the side of over-communication to both internal and external stakeholders about rationale, benefits, approach and milestones toward success.

Will you be incorporating more communications into your business operations?