“No They Didn’t!”“No They Didn’t!”“No They Didn’t!”“No They Didn’t!”Learning from PR Horror Stories
WNY COLLEGE M EDIA CONFERENCE ● F EBRUARY 2012 ● SUNY BROCKPORT
Mike McDougall, APRManaging Partner, McDougall Travers Collins
2
more about you
2@McDougallTC
3
@McDougallTC
linkedin.com/in/mcdougall
direct: +1.585.789.1623
#WNYCMC12
facebook.com/McDougallTC
4
dramatic ways to
@McDougallTC
in PR
5
ignore the obvious
@McDougallTC
6
ignore the obvious
7
ignore the obvious
“Schutt CEO Robert Erb said Vengeance referred to the company's competition with rival manufacturer Riddell, which was awarded $29 million in a patent infringement suit against Schutt in 2010. Schutt then filed for bankruptcy but, after being sold in December 2010, has since recovered.
Erb added that the helmets are not marketed directly to consumers and the word Vengeance does not appear on the product. "I don't think that it matters," he said.
8
forget your brand promise
@McDougallTC
9
forget your brand promise
10
spray and pray
@McDougallTC
Begin forwarded message:Date: June 3, 2009 9:45:42 AM CDTSubject: The "Pull Out" Method Rivals Condoms? Interview Opp
Hi [Editor in Chief’s Name],
A recent study published in the June issue of Contraception Magazine presents findings that the “Pull Out” method of birth control rivals the use of condoms. http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/journals/reprints/Contraception79-407-410.pdf
Published by sex researcher Rachel K. Jones and based on several studies and data from the Guttmacher Institute, the study indicates that “pulling out” before ejaculation is nearly effective as condoms in preventing pregnancy – calling the method “only slightly less effective” than condoms. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/05/28/health/main5045514.shtml
This study has clearly raised concerns amongst healthcare experts, with lively opinions and debate being expressed across the media. To speak with 20 year veteran on contraception, CLIENT, please contact me. CLIENT is an industry expert and can provide commentary and insight on the study, as well as answer relevant questions.
11
From the Editor in Chief and Publisher of Gay List Daily:
I got this totally misdirected pitch this morning -- keep in
mind Gay List Daily is a GAY publication (we're like
DailyCandy for the gays). When we gays get it on, we don't
worry about pregnancy and whether pulling out is more or
less effective at stopping babies from showing up in our
bellies than condoms.
spray and pray
Source: badpitch.blogspot.com
12
use bait-and-switch
13
use bait-and-switch
14
use bait-and-switch
15
be insensitive
@McDougallTC
16
“We acknowledged in the call that delivering this news on a teleconference wasn’t ideal, but given the scope and scale of the reductions, there was no other way to share this news quickly and consistently,” said a company spokesman.
be insensitive
17
let anyone represent you
18
let anyone represent you
19
let anyone represent you
20
ride the coattails of disaster
@McDougallTC
21
mask your true identity
@McDougallTC
source: jessicagottlieb.com
22
mask your true identity
@McDougallTC
23
tempt fate
@McDougallTC
24
underestimate your customer
@McDougallTC
25
underestimate your customer
26
underestimate your customer
@McDougallTC
27
debate &discuss
Mike McDougall, APRManaging Partner, McDougall Travers Collins
linkedin.com/in/mcdougall
facebook.com/McDougallTC
direct: +1.585.789.1623
@McDougallTC
@McDougallTC
28© 2012 Michael L. McDougall@McDougallTC