Month: December 2010

The Year in Review: 2010 Public Relations Disasters

~ Jeremy Story ~ 3 Comments

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.

Continue reading “The Year in Review: 2010 Public Relations Disasters” →

CHC Announces 2011 Board of Directors

~ Jeremy Story ~ 1 Comment

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

Vladimir Jones Hires One, Promotes One

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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.

Vote Early and Often for the ‘Women’s Saving Club’

~ Jeremy Story ~ 2 Comments

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.

Denver PR Jobs

~ Jeremy Story ~ 1 Comment

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).

Cohn Celebrates 10th Anniversary with Pro Bono Offer

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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.