Here is the list of the year’s biggest PR disasters that I shared during an interview with 850 KOA this morning:
CORPORATE
BP
Last year, the Tiger Woods sex scandal was the gold standard for PR debacles. This year, that honor belongs to BP. The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was enough to put them on anyone’s list, but it was the company’s response that catapulted them to the top. Doctored photos, attempts to strong-arm locals into signing liability waivers, and one gaffe after another from CEO Tony Hayward – “It wasn’t our accident … I just want my life back …” Remember, 11 people died when the rig exploded and thousands of lives were devastated in the aftermath. No one wanted to hear him complain about how unfair he felt he was being treated.
Toyota
The overwhelming safety and reliability issues were bad enough, but the countless recalls and the appearance of a company trying to hide safety problems rather than fix them really shook a lot of people’s faith in Toyota. The good news for Toyota is that it has decades’ worth of goodwill built up with the American public. If it can fix the safety issues, the brand should be fine over the long run.
Filed under: Pete Webb
Pete Webb Public Relations has promoted Jen Holliman to account manager and Sarah Gianti to account assistant.
Filed under: Wins
Duo Marketing & PR has added “Your Lucky Deals” to its client roster. “Your Lucky Deals” is a locally owned daily deal and city guide website that is dedicated to helping charities within the Denver community. The website will offer Denver subscribers 40 to 90 percent discounts to, among other things, restaurants, spas, special activities and events.
Filed under: Denver Magazine
Denver Magazine continues to mock my prediction that it would only last six issues, this time by announcing its largest ever press run of 50,000 copies for its January 2011 issue.
Filed under: Public Relations
The threat:
The response:
(Hat tip: Deadspin)
Filed under: Wins
Perini & Associates has added JPE Inc., The National World War II Museum of Aviation and Paradise Spas as clients.
Filed under: Public Relations
Fineman PR is out with its annual list of the year’s “Top PR Blunders:”
- BP
- Toyota
- NPR
- Craigslist
- Amazon
- Nestle
- Johnson & Johnson
- LeBron James
- Glenn Beck
- Alaska Airlines
Among those hiring this week are Coenergy, the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce (intern), Dish Network, Andria Mitsakos PR (intern), TransAmerica Corp., Turner PR (intern), USA Cycling and the Wildlife Experience (intern).
Filed under: Denver Post
Congratulations to University of Colorado Hospital CEO (and Dovetail Solutions client) Bruce Schroffel, who was named the Denver Post’s 2010 Business Person of the Year.
Filed under: Dovetail
Dovetail Solutions named Whitner Belk as marketing coordinator. She is responsible for supporting the firm’s client service managers and director, as well as for producing collateral materials and implementing social media initiatives for both clients and the firm. Belk previously was design coordinator for Ralph Lauren’s Black Label women’s clothing line team in New York.
Filed under: Cactus
Charter Media, the advertising sales division of Charter Communications, named Cactus agency of record for branding, marketing and advertising.
Filed under: Colorado Healthcare Communicators
The Colorado Healthcare Communicators announced its 2011 Board of Directors:
- President: Jennifer Wills, GroundFloor Media
- Vice President: Jacy Conradt, Mental Health America of Colorado
- Treasurer: Elizabeth Whitehead, The Children’s Hospital
- Programs: Paige Leonard, Centura Health at Home, and Kindle Fahlenkamp-Morell, Colorado Health Institute
- Gold Leaf Awards: Heather Hutchinson, Weise Communications, and Carie Sherman, COPIC
- Membership: Jessica Warren, Bonfils Blood Center, and Melissa Ford, First Choice Services
- Marketing: Micki Sievwright, Armada Medical Marketing, and Katie Cicerchi, Communications Consultant
Filed under: Johnston Wells
JohnstonWells has added Dan Peterson as a senior associate to its team. Peterson brings expertise in media and community relations, crisis communications, social media, business to business, and business development. Prior to joining JohnstonWells, Dan served as the Director of Communications for The Alexander Company, a Madison, Wisc.-based real estate developer.
Filed under: Sponsorships
Right now, gay rights groups are targeting Sepp Blatter, FIFA’s president, for his comments on how gays should behave at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. But it won’t be long until the groups turn their ire toward World Cup sponsors such as Coca-Cola, Budweiser, Visa, McDonald’s, Hyundai and Sony.
Filed under: Dovetail
Dovetail Solutions has been retained by global architectural firm HOK to lead its community outreach efforts in Denver. Dovetail also announced that it has appointed former JohnstonWells CEO GG Johnston and Hogan Lovells lawyer Cole Finegan to its Board of Advisors.
Filed under: InView Communications
InView Communications hired Diane Amdur as senior account executive. Amdur, who formerly was with JohnstonWells, has more than 20 years of public relations experience specializing in strategic planning, brand and corporate positioning, business-to-business outreach and media relations.
Filed under: Marketing
Adrenalin has been retained by DAZBOG Coffee Company and the City of Longmont for projects. DAZBOG hired the agency to develop a line of tin containers for its new series of loose-leaf tea blends, and Adrenalin will help Longmont drive retail sales and economic growth through a “Be Alive in Longmont” advertising and marketing campaign.
Filed under: CLS
Newell Rubbermaid has selected Carmichael Lynch Spong as domestic agency of record for four of its popular Home & Family brands, including its iconic Rubbermaid brand and Décor brands Levolor, Kirsch and Amerock. The agency has worked with Newell Rubbermaid’s leading culinary brand Calphalon since 2009.
Filed under: Vladimir Jones
Vladimir Jones hired Sally Miles as its new Director of Creative Services. Miles has more than 20 years of experience in creative services after working with agencies in both the U.S. and U.K., “as well as insight gained as a contestant on two rounds of England’s ‘Wheel of Fortune’.” The agency also promoted Ryan Johnson to Creative Director, where he will oversee the day-to-day operations of the creative department.
Filed under: Public Relations
Time is running out to vote for The Women’s Saving Club, started by Denver PR pros Tara Tongco Rojas and Kate Wilson Stabrawa. As part of the contest, the site can win up to $65,000 and a portion of the prize will benefit the Denver Women’s Bean Project. If you want to vote for the Women’s Saving Club, visit the “Raise the Rate” website. You can vote once a day every day through Thursday. As of this morning, The Women’s Savings Club was just 38 votes out of first place.
Among those hiring this week are Turner PR, CSG Public Relations, First Data, Denver Water, the Boulder Police Department, Denver Health & Hospital Authority, National Sports Center for the Disabled, RockResorts/Vail Resorts, the State of Colorado, StillSecure, the University of Colorado at Denver and BP (Durango).
Filed under: Wins
Conversation Starters has been retained by Boys Hope Girls Hope of Colorado, Denver Pianist and Composer Lisa Downing and Chemo101 for public relations, video and web development projects.
Michele Ames has rejoined GBSM as a senior associate, following a four-year stint as a special assistant to the Chancellor at University of Colorado Denver. Ames, a former Rocky Mountain News reporter, will support GBSM clients in the areas of strategic communications, crisis communications and media relations.
Filed under: Vladimir Jones
Vladimir Jones has launched RIPOSTE, a full-service post-production house imbedded within the agency. RIPOSTE will give VJ clients access to more accessible and affordable film, video and interactive services.
Cohn Marketing is celebrating its 10-year anniversary by offering pro bono support to three local non-profit organizations. Called ”The Power of 10,” the program will give three local non-profits a package of marketing services to advance their causes and empower their missions.
Visit CohnPowerOf10.com through Dec. 10 to nominate a local non-profit in need of help. You can then vote for nominees between Dec. 11 and Dec. 23, and Cohn Marketing will work with the three organizations receiving the most votes. You can vote as often as you’d like for as many non-profits as you’d like.
The Bawmann Group has been named agency of record for Corinthian Colleges, InDevR and Hands-On Labs.
