March 31, 2020
Mixed Messages on Coronavirus Return
by Seth Arenstein
Sunday evening, many communicators breathed easier. The federal government aligned its message on coronavirus (see update, March 29). For weeks, White House science officials said the virus was highly dangerous. The president and some of his economic and political advisors, though, wavered. Some days it was a serious issue, other days it would be over as soon as Easter. One of the results of this two-script messaging was public confusion.
Does Amazon Firing Show PR Counsel on Reputation is Moot in the New Normal?
by Seth Arenstein
In normal times, workers speaking out against employers is a risky proposition. Doing so as a non-union worker is even riskier. The same holds when unions call a strike; it's a risky move. There are always people willing to cross picket lines. In this moment of massive unemployment, speaking out against an employer can be tantamount to suicide.
The standard PR advice holds that companies consider their public image and reputation when dealing with employee demands and strikes.
March 30, 2020
UK Prime Minister Kicks It Old School
by Seth Arenstein
A maxim of PR and communications is that it’s usually best to be straightforward. Write simply, in the first person and use plain language, not jargon. In addition, sometimes plain, old letter-writing works best.
That’s the theory behind UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s letter. It was sent starting today to the country's 30 million households.
Self-quarantined in number 10 Downing Street with the virus, Johnson’s message to his countrymen is simple and direct: stay home, please.
Tributes Flood Twitter for #NationalDoctorsDay
by Nicole Schuman
Every day health professionals across the globe take to the front lines in the fight to treat patients and save lives from the deadly coronavirus. Doctors, nurses and staff are taxed beyond their limits, and yet, still keep going.
Celebrities, politicians, athletes, spouses, healthcare staff and even pets took to social media today to share tributes, successes, joys and pleas to stay inside and help stop the spread of the virus. If ever a time were good for a National Doctors' Day, today would be it.
We wanted to share some of the uplifting and positive mentions on Twitter from across the globe, that are sure to brighten your day. Remember to thank your favorite doctor, or any healthcare professional, by utilizing the hashtag #NationalDoctorsDay on any social media platform today.
March 29, 2020
President Aligns Messaging with Scientists
by Seth Arenstein
The communicator in chief's messaging turned the corner tonight. After several weeks of behind-the-scenes debate, the president’s medical team seems to have made an impact. Both the president and his task force presented a united message on the potential severity of the novel coronavirus. In addition, the messaging seems in concert about how to fight the virus.
After weeks of denying and downplaying the virus’s severity, the president, during a 90-minute news conference, delivered a message more in line with one his White House task force on coronavirus had recommended for weeks.
Communicating from the Heart
by Seth Arenstein
Last week PRNEWS published an essay from Gil Bashe of Finn Partners that argued professional communicators and corporate leaders need to emote with their messages. At a time when people the world over are concerned about their health and financial health, humanity in messaging is required.
March 27, 2020
The New Normal: UN's Historic Ask of Communicators, Hoda Emotes, Pitching and Social Hold Tight
by Seth Arenstein
Since part of the new normal finds many of us at home, consuming media almost non-stop, the need for new ads and PSAs is rising. After you’ve seen a PSA or heard a message many times in succession, no matter how good it is, you tend to ignore it.
March 26, 2020
by Nicole Schuman
TV Wrestles with Live Coverage of WH Virus Pressers
Central to the communicator's job is distributing timely and accurate information. This is especially important for TV news networks, where daily viewership continues to rise, with most people at home and many looking for the latest coronavirus information.
Cable news viewing was up exponentially — 73 percent for the week of March 16, compared to the same week a year ago, according to Comscore. In addition, cable news network viewing rose 40 percent from a month ago and 8 percent from the previous week. The national broadcast networks, ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX, rose 20 percent year over year.
In the midst of rising ratings, broadcast news in a quandary. As Washington Post media columnist Margaret Sullivan argued this week, "The media must stop live-broadcasting [President] Trump's dangerous, destructive coronavirus briefings."
Similarly, MSNBC host Rachel Maddow told viewers, "If it were up to me — and it's not — I would stop putting those briefings on live TV. Not out of spite, but because it's misinformation. If the president does end up saying anything true, you can run it as tape. All of us should stop broadcasting it, honestly. It's going to cost lives."
The Most Difficult Communications
by Seth Arenstein
Several years ago, some medical schools began to require students take courses in communications. These schools understood that medicine, at its core, is about people. Communicating effectively with patients and families is a core competency for doctors. Without a physician-to-patient connection, good medical care falls between the cracks.
If you’ve been following this site recently you’ve read about emerging best practices in these difficult times, tactics for remote work, maintaining morale and, as Gil Bashe, managing partner and health lead at Finn Partners, wrote, communicating to people's heads and their hearts.
We’d be remiss, though, if we failed in these difficult times to mention the important role medical communications is playing. Working around the clock, doctors and other medical personnel in New York City-area hospitals will be communicating the news that despite all heroic effort, some people will not survive COVID-19.
March 25, 2020
COVID-19 Social Conversations Offer Action Items for Communicators
by Sophie Maerowitz
During the last several weeks, COVID-19 has dominated social media, all but wiping out other topics and news items. COVID-19 has amassed upward of 197 million Twitter mentions worldwide during the last two weeks, Sprout Social told PRNEWS.
Communications pros face a conundrum. Brands that don't provide health care, food and related services to the public are wondering whether or not they should bother monitoring social media conversations around the disease.
Savvy communicators know they should. Monitoring social conversations around COVID-19 can help communicators formulate action plans during this uncertain period, Sprout Social senior manager of content and communications Alicia Johnston argues. Social listening helps PR pros “develop effective response strategies, make deeper connections with their community and build lasting trust that will see them through this global crisis,” she adds.
Cultural Institutions Share Flowers, Digital Collections With Isolated Public
by Sophie Maerowitz
With museums and cultural institutions shuttered during the pandemic, communications teams have banded together to show support for each other’s collections and brighten art lovers’ days via the #MuseumBouquet hashtag.
Dear @americanart, we wanted to brighten your day with these apple blossoms by American painter Martin Johnson Heade.
🌷We hope this #MuseumBouquet makes you smile today! 😊 pic.twitter.com/d63vSZKWT5
— New-York Historical Society (@NYHistory) March 24, 2020
March 24, 2020
Adult Site Donates 50K Masks to NY, Europe
by Seth Arenstein
Add the largest, ad-supported adult video streaming website (120 million visitors/day) to the list of brands helping during this difficult time. Pornhub said today it is donating 50,000 surgical masks to NY-area medical personnel.
Specifically, 15,000 masks will go to Local 2507, which represents emergency medical technicians, paramedics and fire inspectors at the NY Fire Department (FDNY). The Uniformed Firefighters Association (UFA) Local 94 also will receive 15,000 masks. A total of 20,000 masks will be sent to Mount Sinai South Nassau hospital.
Restaurants, Delis Feed Their Own
by Seth Arenstein
There’s little doubt about the ferocity of the coronavirus pandemic. On the other hand, seeing how several brands in some of the worst-hit sectors are attempting to care for their own is heartwarming.
Case in point is the restaurant and bar industry. Through a donation from Maker’s Mark, restaurant owners and chefs are turning establishments into staging areas for free meals and supplies. The food and other items are distributed daily to waiters, bartenders and industry personnel that coronavirus has left unemployed.
How the IOC Could Improve Its Crisis Response
by Nicole Schuman
Today (March 24, 2020) after much speculation, the International Olympic Committee announced a postponement of the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. The IOC released a joint statement with the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee recapping a conference call held between the president of the IOC, Thomas Bach and the prime minister of Japan, Abe Shinzo.
According to the statement, both parties acknowledged the “worldwide concern regarding the COVID-19 pandemic” and the impact it would have for everyone preparing for the games. They agreed that the games would be rescheduled to a “date beyond 2020, but not later than summer 2021 to safeguard the health of the athletes, everybody involved in the Olympic Games and the international community.”
This is not the first time the Olympics have been entangled in a crisis (Rio 2016 dealt with Zika, poor environmental conditions and bad behavior of athletes, and the Olympics as a whole have battled the criticism of extended periods of silence regarding doping scandals and sexual abuse allegations). However, this is the first time the modern Olympic Games will be postponed and not cancelled, as they were during the World Wars, and its a decision many have been waiting for since the coronavirus pandemic started to spread.
March 23, 2020
Oldest, Youngest are Least Worried About Virus
by Seth Arenstein
Knowing your audience is a building block of PR. Survey data can help gauge attitudes, inform messages and spotlight potential leads. During the pandemic PRNEWS is looking at data points from surveys and elsewhere to see how the American public and businesses are reacting to the current climate.
March 22, 2020
State, Business Executives Demonstrate Authentic Leadership in Communications
by Erika Bradbury
A number of states have issued stay-at-home orders to residents, but without a federal mandate, communications about what this means is up to the individual state leader.
Governors from New Jersey, Delaware, Illinois and Ohio issued stay-at-home orders over the weekend, though each have their own directives and timing associated with them.
Though New York issued its orders earlier last week, it has become the state to watch in terms of its communication strategy. Gov. Andrew Cuomo has emerged as a competent and forthright leader, with clear, fact-forward press conferences including an organized presentation deck, and a relatable, yet no-nonsense delivery, instilling a sense of confidence in his constituency.
March 20, 2020
The New Normal: Chinese Brand Holds Conference in VR, Complete with Awkward Keynote
by Seth Arenstein
Extended Reality (XR) and Virtual Reality (VR) used to be ‘nice-to-haves.’ The augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) market amounted to a forecast of $19 billion in 2020. It is expected to expand significantly in the coming years. Consumer spending made up the single largest portion of the AR/VR market worldwide.
Then the pandemic hit. The new normal that emerges may require communicators be fluent in arranging events in XR and VR. That time may be coming sooner than we think. Case in point is HTC of Taiwan.
The tech company's fifth annual conference earlier this week was a VR spectacle. It “marks the first major physical industry event that has been replaced fully by an interactive VR digital twin,” HTC said in a statement.
HTC said 2,000 participants from more than 55 countries were registered for the conference. Media accounts of the 4-hour virtual experience noted there were few people, er, avatars, in the audience, however.
NYC Uses Texting as a Major Communications Source
by Nicole Schuman
Government press conferences and email updates are popular ways of communicating during coronavirus. But with information flooding in about defining a dry cough to how long it takes to wash your hands, the public is overwhelmed, confused and prone to following false information.
One of the epicenters of the crisis, New York City, is home to 8.7 million people. Getting messages to every resident in the country's largest city is of utmost importance, particularly with so many people living in close proximity. Any change in normalcy has the opportunity to impact thousands.
To streamline messaging and quickly disburse important updates, the NYC Emergency Management unit is texting. New Jersey has followed suit. The Pew Research Center says 96 percent of Americans own a mobile phone.
PRNEWS talked with a spokesperson from NYC Emergency Management about the text-message communication strategy, including how it came to be and what other governments can learn from it.
March 19, 2020
'Don't Wait, Create,' Media Relations Guru Urges PR Pros to Keep Pitching
by Seth Arenstein
There are two basic ways PR and media relations pros, and the organizations they represent, can react to the current situation: retreat and hide, or reach out and create, says media pitching guru Michael Smart of MichaelSmart PR. During a webinar, "Thoughts on Overcoming this Crisis – in PR, in the Economy, in Life," today (March 19, 2020), he advocated for the latter.
Univision Recognizes Importance of Multi-lingual Communications in a Crisis
by Nicole Schuman
Almost 39 million Americans speak Spanish at home, according to a 2018 U.S. Census survey. While 26 million say they speak English "very well," or "well," more than 9 million do not feel confident in the language, and some do not speak it at all.
While this may seem like a smaller number vs the U.S. population (327 million), it creates a significant language barrier in select regions of the country. And Hispanics make up one of the fastest-growing groups. The Census Bureau projects that in 2060 Hispanic people will make up 30 percent, or 119 million, of the country's population.
This poses a challenge for communicators, particularly during a crisis, who need to share messages with citizens and consumers. It's important to consider multi-lingual messaging, particularly regarding updates during the COVID-19 outbreak, so every constituent knows the latest facts.
March 18, 2020
How PR Pros Can Trick Their Senses into Thinking a Home Office is The Office
by Seth Arenstein
By now you’ve seen articles suggesting how PR pros can adjust to working from home. In short, the suggestions attempt to make your home office feel relatively close to your company's office. For example, it's recommended that PR pros:
- set up regular work hours
- have a pre-work routine (wash, make the bed, drink coffee, put on shoes and socks etc)
- designate a workspace in at home that's separate from your living space
- carve out a regular lunch period
- take periodic breaks
- avoid doing personal, non-related work tasks during work hours
Those suggestions deal with the conscious self. What about the unconscious? How can you 'convince' your body that it's working in the office, despite never leaving home?
Ad Council PSA Series Seeks to Offer Timely, Clear Information on COVID-19
by Sophie Maerowitz
The Ad Council's partnership with media and government organizations for a series of coronavirus PSAs aims to quickly reduce public confusion and offer authoritative information, the Ad Council's president/CEO tells PRNEWS.
“There’s a lot of misinformation out there...[and] many people are confused about what they can and should be doing," Ad Council chief Lisa Sherman says. "Our goal is to quickly communicate verified, trusted information from the CDC directly to audiences...through various media channels and platforms.”
The PSAs will target particularly “high-risk populations,” as well as the general public. Users will be directed to coronavirus.gov for updated information and directives.
March 17, 2020
Most People Getting Virus Info from Mass Media but Want Employers to Communicate Too
by Seth Arenstein
How often have you heard a variation of the phrase “Everything’s changed” over the past few days? Since a basic rule of communications is to know your audience, a good rule of thumb is to look at survey data to help gauge attitudes, inform message creation and highlight opportunities. We took a look at several to see how the American public and businesses are handling the current crisis climate.
March 16, 2020
CEOs Pledge to Donate Salaries to Preserve Jobs
by Nicole Schuman
Many communicators are working overtime to deliver messaging to consumers and citizens during these turbulent times. Still, many businesses may take a financial hit as the stock market plunges and the public is urged to stay home. As companies slice budgets, marketing and communications usually are some of the first to downsize.
To counter job cuts, Matt Rizzetta of North 6th Agency urges fellow CEOs to take a 50 percent pay cut through at least the end of QII 2020. The COVID CEO Pledge urges agencies to keep funds in reserve to preserve staff jobs.
Employees Demand Clear Communication on Paid Leave
by Nicole Schuman
Over the weekend, brands sent a wave of communications to customers—via email, social media, and the mainstream media—around closing up brick-and-mortar shops as government leaders attempt to halt the spread of COVID-19.
March 13, 2020
Brands Do Good in Face of Economic Morass
by Seth Arenstein
It’s a new normal for the country. You can consider the health precautions—such as periodic hand washing and social distancing—and the cancellations as burdens. On the other hand (no pun intended), consider the upside: The U.S. is fortunate in that it can benefit from other countries’ experiences, possibly helping to lessen the virus’s impact here.
For brands, a new baseline is also forming. What eventually becomes standard practice in CSR is uncertain, yet trends are coalescing. Some brands are stepping up, others are standing pat, at least for the moment.
Preferring to look at COVID-19 as a great opportunity for CSR, we’ve noticed a bevy of large brands doing good. These kind acts likely earn double reputation points. Doing good is welcome always. Foregoing some revenue in the face of economic uncertainty, now that should really benefit reputation.
March 12, 2020
Pulling the Plug on Programmatic During Crisis
by Nicole Schuman
One of the most important tactics in crisis communication strategy is reading your audience. And right now, in light of coronavirus, that audience is looking for facts and up-to-date information.
Hopping on Facebook or Instagram and being served an ad for a cruise or an airline does not offer users the information they may be seeking. As of this morning, brands like Qatar Airways and Amtrak still were posting travel ads on social, even though the travel industry landscape has changed drastically in the past week.
March 11, 2020
APCO: Americans United, Divided on Virus
by Seth Arenstein
When the coronavirus odyssey began taking hold in the U.S., guidance to PR pros was relatively simple: show concern for employees and external stakeholders, communicate facts only, do so often and accurately, be consistent with messaging, rely on experts for medical information and don’t panic.
At the time many assumed that medical science would supply a uniform message. Brands would relay it. That’s seems a quaint thought now.
For example, some medical professionals believe it’s fine for patients to continue to go to germ-y places like a health club; to others, they're petri dishes for the virus.
Group Urges 'Fact-Based' Travel with Few Facts
by Seth Arenstein
With postponements and cancellations mounting—the National Association of Broadcasters today said it’s seeking options for its annual Vegas gathering, April 17-22, which pulled $47 million in revenue last year and the NCAA said March Madness will begin sans fans—the impact coronavirus could have on commerce is clear.
Into the fray comes the US Travel Association (USTA). Its 1,100 member-organizations include airlines, hotels, convention centers and other travel-related companies. Should people panic and stop traveling, its members will shrivel.
So, while espousing that “the safety of the traveling public, our guests and our employees is of the utmost importance,” USTA says it wants people to make “calm, rational, and fact-based decisions” about travel.
March 10, 2020
Practice Cyber Hygiene in Your Home Office
by Seth Arenstein
Many PR pros, like those in other sectors, will consider home their office next week as the virus spreads. If that's your plan, the time is now to think about protecting laptops staff use in their home offices, cyber experts say.
One role for communicators is to push messages about the importance of practicing good cyber hygiene.
To Go or Not to Go to Big Events
by Seth Arenstein
You have a business trip. Should you stay or should you go? How about an event? Cancel it or allow it to go ahead?
President Trump said he intends to continue to travel and hold rallies. He flew to Orlando today (March 10) for an event. However, there was no rally on his schedule. For weeks Trump's held events opposite the Democrats' primary events. Perhaps he got word that Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden were likely to cancel events.
IPR Postpones Bridge, Nixes Virtual Conference
by Seth Arenstein
The Institute for Public Relations postponed its annual conference in Washington, D.C., which welcomes a mix of PR pros and academics known as The Bridge. Scheduled for March 26-27, IPR said it now will be held Nov. 5-6, right after the U.S. presidential election. One-hundred attendees were expected.
LinkedIn Group Provides Information for Communicators
by Nicole Schuman
PR has come up with an interesting reaction to the virus. Communicating about Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a LinkedIn group for PR and communications professionals to share tactics and strategies around the virus. The group includes "credentialed communications professionals worldwide" sharing best practices on internal and external communications and COVID-19, a description says.
Pro Sports Close Locker Rooms; Ivy B-ball Gone
by Nicole Schuman
Major League Baseball, the National Hockey League, the National Basketball Association and Major League Soccer released a joint statement Monday (March 9, 2020) about the organizations' preventative strategies surrounding coronavirus. Teams will close locker rooms and clubhouses to media and non-essential personnel.
March 9, 2020
Inside the PR Pro's Mind as Coronavirus Spreads
by Mallika Tiwari and Seth Arenstein
It’s impossible to predict now, but coronavirus could usher in a highly inward-looking society as more of us fear leaving the safety of our homes. With digital technology making work from home far more common and apps that deliver all sorts of items to your door, we already were embarking on a more insular existence. Prior to coronavirus, you could go weeks without leaving the friendly confines of your apartment.
As the virus is making its way across the country, it seems possible that gig-workers may reshape the economy as they populate what may be nearly abandoned workplaces. Internal communicators, wherever they are working, may need to develop tactics to facilitate interaction with these new staffers.
Help for PR Pros to Start Their Coronavirus Plans
by Seth Arenstein
Where does the communicator start? With panicked stories circulating in the media, employee and customer concerns are rising. Is your communications instilling confidence in them? Does your message make it clear that the company is concerned about employees’ and customers' health? Do you have pre-approved plans to communicate issues?
Have you begun conducting exercises to prepare your crisis team for COVID-19 scenarios? Do you have clearly articulated policies for remote work? How about travel? Have you thought about business continuity or using measurement to arrive at decisions? Who will articulate policies and new iterations of them for coronavirus? Which platforms will you use? Do you have an alert system in place?