Congratulations to the Metro Denver Economic Development Corp. CEO Tom Clark, who was named The Denver Post’s 2012 Business Person of the Year.
“Colorado’s biggest economic development deals of the year carry a common, if not glaringly noticeable, element. They benefited from the Tom Clark touch. … He has been a key player in virtually every major business relocation and expansion along the Front Range since landing a job with the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce in 1985.”
Here is the list of the year’s biggest PR disasters that I shared during an interview on 850 KOA this morning:
PENN STATE
Penn State represents one of the greatest PR disasters of all time, certainly of the last decade. In fact, it has been such a debacle that the university managed to make the list both last year and this year. Last year, the university went from one of the nation’s most revered institutions to one of the most reviled in a matter of weeks due to its lack of a response to a horrible child sex abuse scandal that saw two administrators indicted, a former assistant coach arrested and football coaching legend Joe Paterno fired. This year, additional details emerged about an institutional culture that valued football success over protecting innocent children that were disturbing enough that the NCAA nearly gave the school’s football program the so-called “Death Penalty.” The result was another year of brutal headlines that will have almost everyone older than 10 associating Penn State with child rape for the rest of their lives.
SUSAN G. KOMEN FOR THE CURE
There are few things tougher for a brand than allowing yourself to become a political football. But one of them is when you are the one to turn yourself into the political football. Susan G. Komen for the Cure learned that lesson the hard way when it tried to eliminate $680,000 in grants to Planned Parenthood for breast cancer screenings and education programs. Suddenly, Komen was at the heart of the abortion culture wars, and it saw its reputation and support reflect that. Four days after announcing the grant cuts, the Komen board reversed the decision, but the damage was already done. Donor support dropped significantly, and ultimately several high-level executives resigned, including Komen’s CEO.
PINK SLIME
How important is marketing? For more than a decade, the meat processing industry served Americans “lean finely textured beef,” the industry term for meat recovered from beef trimmings using a process that involves a centrifuge and ammonia gas to kill bacteria. But when critics, including celebrity chef Jamie Oliver, embraced the alternative term “pink slime,” it drew national media attention and outraged consumers. Restaurants and grocery stores refused to offer the product, and it took just a few more months before layoffs and bankruptcies left the industry in tatters.
CHICK-FIL-A
Chick-fil-A is a Southern-based company with a reputation for supporting conservative causes. But as franchisees spread north and west, the company tried to downplay its political leanings. That all changed when the chain’s president and COO (who is also the son of Chick-fil-A’s founder) went on a conservative radio show and railed against gay marriage. Chick-fil-A quickly tried to back-track, but the damage was done. Activists targeted the company, and politicians in major markets like Chicago and Boston threatened to try to block new franchises in their cities. And polling done after the dust settled showed that nearly 40 percent of respondents had an unfavorable view of the company and 15 percent said they were boycotting the chain.
Continue reading “The Year in Review: 2012 Public Relations Disasters”
Traction Communications’ Kirsten Hamling has been sentenced to 90 days of jail/work release and 10 years of probation, and she also is required to pay $250,000 in restitution. Hamling was the founder of what turned out to be the fraudulent firefighter calendar charity Fired Up For Kids, and earlier this year she pleaded guilty to a felony charge of theft for stealing money raised for the burn unit at The Children’s Hospital.
Ogilvy Public Relations has promoted Tara May to General Manager of its Denver office. May is the first Denver-based employee to run the Denver office, and she replaces Dushka Zapata, who oversaw the Denver office from San Francisco. Ogilvy has 14 employees in Denver.
Congratulations to Linhart PR, which has been named a national finalist for 2013 Boutique Agency of the Year from industry publication PR Week. This is the fifth time that Linhart has been a finalist in this category, including winning the 2012 award as the country’s top firm of its size.
Lisa Harris has been named communications manager at Rose Community Foundation. Harris will help implement the Foundation’s communications and marketing programs including web and electronic communications, print publications, media relations, and the management and creative development of special projects. Harris was previously director of communications responsible for web and new media at the Colorado Health Foundation.
Congratulations to GroundFloor Media, which was named a finalist in the PR Week awards. GroundFloor was recognized in the PR Product/Service of the Year category for its “Online War Room,” and the winner will be named in March 2013. The finalists are:
The Denver office of Ogilvy will supervise a public relations case competition for U.S. and Chinese students enrolled in the University of Colorado Denver’s International College Beijing program. In 2013, teams of U.S. and Chinese undergraduates will develop plans and proposals for the City of Chengdu‘s campaign to attract foreign direct investment, international and domestic tourism, and international publicity. Ogilvy’s participation will include support from both the Ogilvy Denver and Ogilvy Beijing offices which supports the University’s focus on global education.
Conversation Starters Public Relations has been chosen for public relations and production support for “AAA Presents EnCompass with Dan Davis.” Sponsored by AAA Colorado, the travel-oriented show is produced by Studio D Productions and debuts Saturday January 5, at 9:30pm on Denver’s Channel 20.
Jay Clark and Wendy Aiello are championing this year’s Care 4 Colorado toy drive, and they are asking members of Denver’s PR community to help ensure that every child in Colorado receives a gift during this holiday season:
Helping is simple: When you are out shopping for family or friends, just pickup a new toy that is $20 or less. Games, dolls, stuffed animals, building toys (Legos, blocks), sports balls, remote control cars, art supplies, action figures, etc. Drop the toys off at your local King Soopers in the Boys & Girls Clubs bins.
Additional locations where toys can be dropped off are:
- CBS4 lobby located at 1044 Lincoln St. – Denver, 80203
- Boys & Girls Clubs Program Support Center located at 2017 W. 9th Ave – Denver, 80204
- In-store collection day December 13 – CBS4 and Boys & Girls Clubs will be on site at the King Soopers located at Colorado & Yale from 5 a.m. – 7 p.m. to collect toys
Please consider applying your PR prowess for the benefit of Denver kids and forward this message to your contacts. A new toy for a child who would otherwise not receive one is more than just something to play with; it is hope that better days are ahead because their community cares about them.
If you would like more info about the work Boys & Girls Club does with Denver kids, here is the link. We all know the power of PR. Pass it on!
Thank you for your consideration and cheers for a fantastic holiday season!
Blue Creek Productions and the nationally acclaimed Beaver Creek Children’s Theatre has named Key Link PR as its agency of record. Since 1987, Blue Creek Productions has provided a group of highly creative folks to entertain and produce events primarily directed towards the family market across the nation.
The City of Littleton has named Philosophy Communication as its agency of record for branding, identity and messaging work.
“For more than six years Philosophy has honed its destination experience with the Town of Frisco, and now with the addition of the City of Littleton, the company is pleased to flex its community branding experience even more,” said Philosophy co-founder Jen Lester.
Congratulations to Jen Holliman, who has accepted a morning news producer position at 9News. Holliman most recently was an account manager at Webb PR, but her background also includes producing morning shows for KWGN in Denver and KKTV in Colorado Springs.
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