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A Speech that Shapes Our Lives Nearly 50 Years Later: "I Have a Dream"

Dan Keeney — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 15:15:00 GMT

No single speech during the 20th Century shaped the lives of 21st Century Americans as did the "I Have a Dream" speech on August 28, 1963. It is great to be able to share it with you -- both the video of the speech and the text below.

In our Presentation Skills Training session, we often examine aspects of this speech and extract lessons for all presenters. Two very simple things that every speaker can do include:

Using repetition. Dr. King repeats key phrases such as “100 years later…” This can help to establish a theme, making clear to the audience those elements of the presentation that are important. Later, repetition is used with the phrases, “I have a dream,” and “Let freedom ring,” both of which are central to the story being told.
Creating pictures with words. By using opposites, as he’s done by contrasting “quicksand” with “solid rock,” he encourages the audience to follow along in their minds.

I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.

Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.

But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. And so we've come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.

In a sense we've come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the "unalienable Rights" of "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds."

But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so, we've come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice.

We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.

It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. And those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. And there will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.

But there is something that I must say to my people, who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice: In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.

The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. And they have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom.

We cannot walk alone.

And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead.

We cannot turn back.

There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro’s basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their self-hood and robbed of their dignity by a sign stating: "For Whites Only." We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until "justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream."¹

I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. And some of you have come from areas where your quest -- quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive. Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed.

Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends.

And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of "interposition" and "nullification" -- one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; "and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together."²

This is our hope, and this is the faith that I go back to the South with.

With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

And this will be the day -- this will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with new meaning:

My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing.

Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrim's pride,

From every mountainside, let freedom ring!

And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true.

And so let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire.

Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York.

Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania.

Let freedom ring from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado.

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California.

But not only that:

Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia.

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee.

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi.

From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

And when this happens, when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual:

Free at last! Free at last!

Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!

18-Jan-10 9:15 AM

Warren Buffett endorses presentation skills training

Dan Keeney — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 16:00:00 GMT

I am a big fan of Warren Buffett (my Aunt Margie -- maiden name Margie Lee Canaday -- was his classmate in Omaha and was even mentioned in his autobiography, Snowball), so I carved out some time this week to watch his town hall event with Bill Gates at Columbia Business School students on CNBC. Now, it is one thing for me to try to explain to executives the value of our Media Interview Skills Training and Presentation Skills Training services, but to have Warren Buffett put it into dollars and cents -- that takes it to another level!

So when Mr. Buffett explained that improving communications skills can increase the future earnings potential of executives by 50 percent -- which conservatively translates into about a half million dollars for the average college graduate -- it was music to my ears!

You could improve on that (he's referring to future earnings), many of you, and I certainly could have when I got out, just in terms of learning communication skills. It's not something that's taught, I actually went to a Dale Carnegie course later on in terms of public speaking. But if you improve your value 50 percent by having better communication skills, it's another 500-thousand dollars in terms of capital value.

What a bargain -- invest less than $2,000 in our Presentation Skills Training services that teach you the tools and techniques to improve your communication skills and Warren Buffett estimates your return on investment will be 250 times that amount. Thanks for the endorsement, Mr. Buffett!

15-Nov-09 10:00 AM

Online Video is a Powerful Brand Building Tool

Dan Keeney — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:00:00 GMT

At DPK Public Relations we have gradually been adding more tools to our arsenal and wanted to share some of the results with you. When I started in public relations with Ketchum Public Relations Worldwide in Pittsburgh in the mid-1990s, we often advised clients of the benefits of a corporate video. It game them something to loop on the video displays in their tradeshow booths and was a nice leave-behind or follow-up for meetings with prospective customers.

But they were complicated and could be pretty expensive. I remember one we did for an energy company cost upwards of $17,000 for shooting, producing and editing -- not even counting the time for the account team to script it, coach the client and supervising the shoot.

Now that same video can be done far more efficiently and quickly -- and the results can be seen by the world -- for a small fraction of the cost of the typical corporate video 15 years ago. The editing suite is simply some software (Sony's Vegas Movie Studio Platinum 9.0) that cost less than $100. The camera is a nice but not fancy JVC HD video camera that has an internal hard drive. We've also purchased a light kit and high-quality microphones to keep the picture and audio quality up to standards.

The bottom line is that I believe this should now be standard equipment in every public relations practitioner's office -- right alongside the laptop and telephone. Every PR person should be competent with video to deliver maximum value to clients. Writing remains critically important for reaching and influencing publics, but video can be far more powerful than the written word.

Below are a few examples of videos we've done recently for clients. I don't present these as perfect examples -- but instead simply as examples of how video can help your organization articulate its messages and reach an audience through Youtube and/or Vimeo, both of which are free.

How I Built a Beloved Craft Beer Brand Part 1 from Dan Keeney on Vimeo.

5-Nov-09 9:00 AM

A Changed PR Landscape

Dan Keeney — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:30:00 GMT

The practice of public relations has dramatically changed in recent years. It is imperative that organizations change the way they communicate and resist the forces that encourage you to continue the way you have always done things because it is the way you have always done things.

I read the newspaper every morning. The majority of people who are younger than me (and there are a lot more of them every day) did not acquire this habit. Not only do they not consume their information through these traditional media, they don’t particularly trust or respect traditional media resources. In fact, studies have found that most people apply higher credibility to information that comes from other people than from news media.

Quips on Facebook now carry more weight than an implied endorsement from the local TV anchor. And like face-to-face and other grassroots communications, social media offers the ability not only to deliver information but to truly connect and interact. It is an amplified version of one-on-one communication that enables and encourages the community to create and report the information with or without PR serving as a catalyst.

None of this is news in the PR community. We have been scrambling to keep up for much of the past decade. But the pace of change has accelerated with the increased influence of social media channels such as Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

For instance, this weekend, our client, Saint Arnold Brewing Company, will compete at the Great American Beer Festival. It is THE big brewing event of the year from craft brewers and winning a medal is a source of enormous pride can increase visibility and accelerate sales. I hope I don’t jinx them by writing about this.

In the past, when the brewery has won, we have gathered the pertinent information and issued an announcement on the Monday or Tuesday following the Saturday evening awards ceremony. The weekend is not when you want to be pitching journalists. The Sunday paper is typically completed on Friday night and the weekend TV crew isn’t interested in feature stories. They are all about the latest drive-by shootings. Besides, it’s not like the Texas-based writers would have a clue about the outcomes of the awards in Denver. We controlled the information and could dictate the timing.

This year is the dawning of a different era. During the past year, Saint Arnold has attracted a large following on Twitter and has more than 3,000 Facebook fans. There are about a dozen very passionate and active beer bloggers in Texas – including some mainstream media journalists -- who frequently write about the brewery and the social media denizens of Houston have embraced the brewery as one of their own. And there are social networking communities such as Beer Advocate and Rate Beer devoted to craft beer where people regularly share information and ideas.

Moreover, the awards ceremony is streaming live for the first time on The Brewing Netork. In short, there is a communications infrastructure in place that will disseminate the information as it happens and deliver it to just about anyone who cares about it. If there is a positive result, it will be Tweeted and commented on Saturday. On Sunday, people will offer their congratulations and enterprising retailers will recognize the win with a small sign or a ribbon on the products.

So what is PR’s role in this changed landscape? Overall, we view social media as just another batch of potential avenues through which we can target and reach our publics. We never just look at any single discreet media vehicle to deliver our message – we use whatever combination of vehicles we believe will cost effectively deliver the greatest impact for the client. Recognizing that social media tools can be extremely cost effective, they are being integrated into more PR initiatives and for some, such as Saint Arnold, social media provides the foundation for marketing and branding.

But as stated earlier, social media provides the opportunity to do more than just reach someone. It enables true engagement. I view it similar to what invariably happens after an executive delivers a presentation. Everything is beautifully choreographed and performed and then afterward a swarm of people surrounds the executive with comments and questions. Social media is the same as that swarm. You want the executive to make a powerful and positive impression in those personal interactions – whether in person or virtually.

This is why we on a number of occasions have helped clients – especially those experiencing difficulties – create platforms that enable their customers and communities to publicly express their concerns and ask questions. It can help the organization quickly learn what is wrong and start the process of fixing it, all the while positioning the company as a caring and compassionate member of the community interested in problem solving.

Public relations counselors also work to make sure there is a strategic underpinning to all the activities – both social media and more traditional efforts. Engaging via social media channels such as Twitter can be time consuming low-impact if not specifically tied to a desired end result. Therefore, it is important to make sure that the efforts support whatever the organization’s objectives are and the efforts are focused and consistent.

These are just a few thoughts, many of which are fundamental. We know enough to know that we don’t know everything, but we are being aggressive about integrating these techniques into our client communication activities and have been pleased with the outcomes. We are creating and cultivating customer communities. We are shooting, editing and producing online videos. We are encouraging client blogs, tweets and Facebook pages. And we are tracking what the communities are saying and doing in order to assess our progress and adjust course if necessary.

We are also interested in what you have to say, so fire away.

24-Sep-09 10:30 AM

The Truth about "Digital Crisis Communications"

Dan Keeney — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 03:00:00 GMT

Recent high profile online calamities experienced by notable brands are prompting discussion about the emergence of a new discipline: digital crisis communications. I understand that some people may believe the fundamental rules have shifted, thus necessitating a new approach to crisis planning and response. However, this is not the case. The fundamentals of crisis communications remain as relevant in an era of rapidly evolving media power structures as they have always been.

That said, I am realistic enough to expect that digital crisis communications will probably catch fire because it captures the current zeitgeist. Social media has reached the tipping point, so more problems will be reported and discussed through online tools such as Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and whatever emerges in the next year to dethrone them.

There will undoubtedly be all sorts of people who portray themselves as digital crisis communications experts because they have a blog, a Twitter account and believe they know more than everyone else about how the social media environment works. Just as every doofus with a Facebook page seems to think he's a social media expert, I fully expect a crowd of self-appointed digital crisis communications experts will clutter the speaking circuit during the coming year.

Heck, I might as well add "digital crisis communications expert" to my bio right now and get a jump on them.

Of course, I don't believe the conventional wisdom that the emergence of social media has changed the rules of public relations either. The rise of social media and the diminishing power of mainstream media are instead returning PR to its roots. Instead of being publicity seeking flacks, PR pros are increasingly encouraging their organizations to emphasize relationships. But that's always been at the core of what we do. In Effective Public Relations, Cutlip, Center and Broom state that PR "establishes and maintains mutually beneficial relationships between an organization and publics on whom its success or failure depends."

This isn't new, folks. The only thing that is changing is the way we connect and the speed that is necessary.

Now back to digital crisis communications. The fact is that it makes little difference how information about a crisis is disseminated and discussed -- the fundamentals still apply. Planning beforehand will often dictate whether you succeed. Effectively responding in a timely manner is essential. And learning from the experience to become better is critically important. Planning, response and recovery are the three fundamentals of crisis communications -- whether the crisis lives online or offline.

Many point to this month's Domino's issue as an example of a social media crisis. Actually, that would be a pretty good way to tell if your so-called digital crisis expert is legitimate or full of it. Domino's had a few bad days, but it was not a crisis by any stretch. Sure, they were embarrassed when employees posted disgusting videos online that showed them violating basic rules of food safety. It may have damaged the brand's reputation, but I suspect that long-term harm is doubtful. There was never any suggestion that patrons were sickened. There was never any suggestion that these dangerous employee behaviors were widespread. There was no evidence that anyone associated with the company tried to cover it up or lie about what happened.

Now, did Domino's effectively respond? They could have taken more visible action, but they chose not to. It wasn't that they didn't think about it. They did. In written correspondence with bloggers the day the videos were discovered, Domino's spokesman Tim McIntyre that they didn't want to make the matter worse than it was by calling attention to it. He was quoted by Advertising Age as saying disseminating a statement would be like, "putting out a candle with a fire hose."

In other words, they were aware of what was happening and, based on their assessment, had determined that the best course of action was to respond to queries individually.

It was naive and exhibited a lack of understanding of how quickly and broadly information spreads via social media. It showed that they were unaware that social media has an enormous influence on mainstream media coverage. Nonetheless, it was a legitimate strategy given what they knew at the time. Moreover, when Domino's saw that its strategy was failing, they changed course. And that killed the controversy virtually overnight.

Monday morning quarterbacks and digital crisis communications experts might look at it (in fact they do) as a crisis communications failure, but it was not. I wish every company that found itself in trouble had the insight to quickly see that the chosen strategy is not working and the guts to change course. The fact is that few do. Most companies adopt a bunker mentality and rely on their lawyers to respond. Others pick the wrong strategy and stick with it regardless of its effectiveness. Only a tiny percentage of companies do everything right from the start. They are the ones you probably never hear about.

The brutal truth of issues management and crisis communications is that those making decisions can see that there are no choices that are clearly right versus wrong. Instead, you quickly find yourself operating in a sea of gray in which every choice has possible upside and downside. Every choice is painful because it forces change, adds costs, creates new complexities or diminishes your organization's competitive position. There are no easy choices in a crisis. Somebody screwed up and everybody is going to have to shoulder part of the blame.

Responding to a crisis isn't fun. It isn't easy. It isn't for people who like to say, "I told you so." It is humbling. You quickly see what can go wrong even when great ideas are implemented. And you wake up the next morning with a greater appreciation for the struggles that those facing THAT day's crisis are having to endure.

So beware of these flavor-of-the-day digital crisis experts. The fundamentals of old-school crisis planning, response and recovery still apply. Those who claim otherwise are selling snake oil.

Photo credit: are you my rik? on Flickr.

28-Apr-09 10:00 PM

Crisis Communications Expert Offers Valuable Tips for All Businesses

Dan Keeney — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 16:00:00 GMT

DPK Public Relations President and Founder Dan Keeney, APR was featured in the article, "Crisis Communications: How to Recover from a Black Eye," in the March/April issue of Perspectives, a publication for the insurance brokerage industry. The article was written by Paula L. Weis, who does a great job of gathering a lot of solid information and delivering it in a way that is interesting and easy to read.

Of course, these are challenging times for the entire financial services industry and insurance brokers are dealing with customers every day who are afraid that their carriers will not be able to survive. But the tips provided regarding crisis planning, response and recovery should be in the pocket of every communicator these days. You never know when you might need it.

Download the article by clicking on the image below.

17-Mar-09 11:00 AM

Our Readers Point You to the Must-Read PR Advice

Dan Keeney — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 19:00:00 GMT

Below are the most viewed articles from the DPK Public Relations knowledge library during February 2009:

1	Johnson & Johnson Redefines Crisis Response Again
2	Two Very Different Examples of PR Issues Management
3	Top 10 Tips for Preparing for a TV Interview
4	Lance Armstrong illustrates how to handle difficult journalists
5	In the eye of the storm: Ten PR lessons learned from Hurricane Ike
6	Case Study: Issues Management Keeps Potential Crisis Quiet
7	Fundamentals of Crisis Planning: Establish Media Relationship Before Crisis Occurs
8	Should Your Organization Embargo News?
9	Harnessing the Power of Facial Expression and Eye Contact
10	The News Release: Not Dead Yet

4-Mar-09 1:00 PM

Lance Armstrong illustrates how to handle difficult journalists

Dan Keeney — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 20:00:00 GMT

In DPK Public Relations' Media Interview Skills Training sessions, we encourage spokespersons to steer away from participating in news conferences if possible. Why? News conferences are high risk affairs. Any time you get a pack of reporters together -- a bunch of massive egos in the room -- it is inevitable that each will attempt to out-do the other.

What often results for the person fielding questions is a public disemboweling. Each successive inquiry getting more acute.

But we typically will include a news conference scenario so the trainees get a taste of what it can be like to be peppered with challenging questions from a group of people. It's particularly challenging because there is no consistent line on thought in a news conference. Each questioner comes with their own ideas of what is important. Each is pursuing their own angle of the story.

We train spokespersons to take it all in stride and remember their purpose for doing the news conference in the first place is to deliver their messages -- not to be in a responsive/defensive posture but to be in an assertive/proactive posture.

So I really enjoyed watching the following clip of Lance Armstrong fielding questions at a news conference in advance of the Tour of California. Just to set up the clip, let me explain that the reporter asking the question has been a critic of Armstrong's. For various reasons, not the least of which being Lance's dominance of the sport of cycling smack in the middle of the doping era (HGH, EPO, steroids, etc.), Lance is not highly regarded by many in the U.K. and Europe.

The actual content of the question isn't all that important, though. I want you to pay attention to what Lance does:

Did you see that? He used a difficult question from a reporter who has attacked him personally as a platform to deliver his message. And he did it with a SMILE on his face! Wow. Terrific. But he did more than that -- he responded to the question. He was not the least bit evasive.

You may run into journalists who are crusaders and want to prove something at your expense. Don't take it personally. Remember that this is business and you have a job to do. Dealing with difficult people may be a part of the job. Rise above them and stay focused on what you are there to do.

Thanks to KCRA TV in Sacramento for the clip!

13-Feb-09 2:00 PM

Should Your Organization Embargo News?

Dan Keeney — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 18:00:00 GMT

DPK Public Relations founder Dan Keeney, APR, posted a good discussion about the current state of news embargoes to his blog, The PR Counselor Is In and we wanted to share the link with you and offer a brief synopsis. The title is "New Rules to Guide Use of News Embargoes."

He recounts his years as a journalist in the 1980s and early 1990s, saying he regularly honored embargoes.

"We knew that if we didn't comply, we would have a moment of glory as we broke the news, but forever after the rest of the media that did comply would continue to get the information early and we would not. We would have to play catch up for the rest of eternity."

It was a risk that journalists simply could not take. Of course those were different times. News was gathered in person or over the phone. There was no Internet. Newspapers still had just one deadline each day and TV stations still had four deadlines each day. The only around the clock news organization was CNN and until the first Gulf War, they were struggling to find a niche and barely surviving.

So the media complied with embargoes. Those that didn't could not compete. They were black listed.

Keeney also points to PR counselor Kellye Crane who writes on her Solo PR Pro blog that the days of actually providing context are probably behind us. In her post, "Modern PR Pros and the Breaking News Dilemma," Kellye writes that anyone who releases information under embargo should anticipate that the embargo will be violated.

Keeney says he understand that times have changed:

"I understand the arguments of those who suggest that embargoes are meant to be broken. Why in the world would you expect a journalist to keep a secret? It doesn't make sense. Their job is to report news, not keep it secret until the appointed time. So I get that. But the end of embargoes can diminish the public's understanding of complex and sometimes conflicting data. If the intent of communication is to create a mutual understanding and not simply inform, then embargoes can play a positive role in encouraging that mutual understanding."

But before completely discontinuing the use of embargoes, Keeney endorses the recommendations made by Kellye -- guidelines for the use of embargoes in this new age:

1. Question whether the news is worthy of an embargo.

2. Reach out to your key relationships in advance and ask if they honor embargoes (and do not include information about the nature of the announcement). Only those who respond in the affirmative should receive your information in advance.

3. When using embargoes, never offer an exclusive to a subset of outlets.

4. If someone violates the embargo and breaks the story, have your “Plan B” in place just in case.

28-Jan-09 12:00 PM

Two Very Different Examples of PR Issues Management Response

Dan Keeney — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 17:00:00 GMT

Every so often, we are contacted by people or organizations that believe they have been unfairly treated by colleagues, government regulators, the media or bloggers. They want to know what can be done to set the record straight and protect their good name.

The answer does not always satisfy them. We usually counsel them to move forward and forget about the past. Learn from the negatives and have them inform substantive changes -- while at the same time working to drown them out with positive actions and information.

Two cases in the news today point to the spectrum of possible approaches to responding to unpleasant accusations.

In Philadelphia, City Councilor Chuck Turner is in the midst of an aggressive and highly visible campaign to get his story out. He was recently charged with accepting a $1,000 bribe from a Roxbury nightclub owner who was working in cooperation with the FBI and then lying to federal investigators about it. Reporter John C. Drake wrote this account for The Boston Globe.

Drake writes:

Turner and liberal activists who support him are creating a campaign-like apparatus, with a phone bank set for this weekend to encourage supporters to attend a rally - it will be his third - on Tuesday and to show up for his expected court appearance Wednesday. The councilor and his backers are issuing almost daily "Stand with Chuck" press releases, updating a special website, and considering raising money to help defray his legal bills.

As noted by Drake, Turner's strategy is a classic one in the public relations field. Get the positive message out and work hard to define the story on your terms.

From a public relations counselor's standpoint, it is exciting to see someone take this approach because it is relatively rare. Attorneys typically blanch at the idea of a client going public with their argument, so this high-risk/high-reward approach usually ends up being dismissed.

By coincidence, Maria Perotin at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram covered the story of a pair of doctors who are also taking action to defend their reputation. In contrast to Councilor Turner, who is out there getting his positive message out, Drs. George Cravens and Greg Ward are following the advice of their attorney, Jonathan Nelson, and are suing. As a result, they have made the terrible PR blunder of repeating and amplifying the original allegations, which has compounded the reputational damage.

The lawsuit accuses Dr. Roland Chalifoux of libeling them in his blog, Texas Shammed License. We won't get into all the specifics because Perotin does a good job of laying out the facts (and we don't want to get sued!) but suffice it say that Drs. Cravens and Ward argue that Dr. Chalifoux malicously lied in his blog about their relationships, complaints by patients and a past DUI.

It is just too bad they went to lawyer Nelson and not a PR counselor. First of all, this blog has not been updated since August 2005. It is dormant. Sure, it has unpleasant things in it, but it is almost a certainty that nobody would have known about them. All the lawsuit has done is dredge the allegations up and called attention to them. Based on Perotin's brief investigation, it would seem that this lawsuit is doomed. I hope the attorney explained how extremely difficult it is to prove libel. You have to prove that the writer KNEW what he was writing was not accurate. The courts give a great deal of latitude to first amendment protections. It can also be very tough to prove malice -- the intent to harm. Unless there is a paper trail, you almost need to be inside the writer's head.

Good luck with that.

In the meantime, Perotin's report shined the light on the fact that Dr. Ward WAS reprimanded and fined for a patient care complaint and he WAS arrested and charged with DUI. This is information that I suspect Dr. Ward would prefer not have the community know about -- but it was HIS lawsuit -- not the blog -- that caused this information to appear in today's newspaper.

I can't think of two better examples to illustrate the range of possible approaches to defending one's reputation. Both are aggressive and invite further scrutiny, but one is focused on communicating a positive message and the other is focused on attacking the message that has already been communicated. One is forward-looking and positive. The other is backward-looking and negative.

Always strive to advance and move forward and resist the temptation to re-fight past battles.

Photo credit: George Rizer, Boston Globe Staff

8-Dec-08 11:00 AM

Schipul The Web Marketing Company Receives AMA Houston 2009 Tech Sector Marketer of the Year Award

noemail@dpkpr.com — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 13:00:00 GMT

Schipul promotes Web marketing, social media for companies, nonprofits and government through comprehensive marketing initiative HOUSTON, March 16, 2010 – Schipul – The Web Marketing Company (www.schipul.com), a leading provider of Web marketing and social media consulting services, was recognized last night as the top Houston Tech Sector Marketer for 2009 by the American Marketing Association’s Houston Chapter. Schipul was an early adopter of social media tools that have dramatically changed the communication landscape and has been an outspoken advocate for strategically and ethically integrating social media into marketing strategies. Approximately 200 Houston-based companies, organizations and institutions were nominated by their industry peers, marketing leaders and chapter members for their innovative and effective marketing programs. As the winner in its Tech Sector Marketer category, Schipul was among the 40 Best of Category winners announced last night...

ERHC Energy Inc. to Hold Annual Shareholder Meeting on April 27, 2010

noemail@dpkpr.com — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 21:00:00 GMT

HOUSTON, March 11, 2010 – ERHC Energy Inc. (OTCBB:ERHE), a publicly traded American company with oil and gas assets in the highly prospective Gulf of Guinea off the coast of West Africa, today announced that its Annual Shareholders Meeting will be held at 3:00 p.m. Central Time on April 27, 2010. The meeting will be held at The Renaissance Houston Hotel, 6 Greenway Plaza East in Houston, Texas. The Board of Directors fixed the close of business on March 10, 2010, as the record date for the determination of the stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the meeting. ERHC has issued its proxy materials (Proxy Statement, Annual Report in the form of the Company’s 10-K filing and voting materials) online at www.erhc.com/secfilings. The Proxy Statement and voting materials will be mailed to shareholders of record as of March 10, 2010. “In recent months we have made significant strides toward achieving major milestones in our business strategy and we look...

Schipul The Web Marketing Company's Culture Queen to Examine How Company Culture Can Beat the Recession

noemail@dpkpr.com — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 16:00:00 GMT

Katie Laird to lead panel discussion at 2010 the SXSW® Interactive Festival HOUSTON, March 3, 2010 – Schipul – The Web Marketing Company (www.schipul.com), a leading provider of Web marketing and social media consulting services, today announced that Communications Manager Katie Laird will lead a panel discussion about company culture at the SXSW Interactive Festival. In the session, “Kicking Recession Ass with a Killer Company Culture,” Laird and business consultant Kelsey Ruger will examine the importance of finding and keeping the right people and creating an environment that breeds success. The SXSW Interactive Festival brings together approximately 11,000 Web developers, designers, bloggers, wireless innovators, content producers, programmers and social media experts. Laird’s session is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Sunday, March 14th. “Company culture is often dismissed as wasteful during difficult times,” said Laird....

EdgeRoot Selects Mezeo Cloud Storage Platform to Enable New Cloud Storage Solution

noemail@dpkpr.com — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Data proliferation drives demand among businesses and individuals for scalable, secure and cost effective cloud storage solution HOUSTON, TX, March 1, 2010 – EdgeRoot (www.edgeroot.com), a leading Web hosting and IT solutions company located in Florida, today announced the launch of the EdgeRoot Cloud Storage solution, powered by the Mezeo Cloud Storage Platform. Developed by Mezeo Software™ (www.mezeo.com), the Mezeo Cloud Storage Platform is the leading Web Services API-based cloud storage platform. “We selected the Mezeo Cloud Storage Platform following a thorough evaluation of numerous cloud storage options, said EdgeRoot Chief Executive Officer Shoonold Jadis. “Mezeo has a proven track record in the market, and a complete solution that includes REST APIs that allow us to customize our offering to be more competitive. Cloud storage reduces complexity for our customers, providing an affordable, easy way to store and share their files. They can securely...

ERHC Energy Inc. Announces Block Awards in So Tom & Prncipe Exclusive Economic Zone

noemail@dpkpr.com — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 14:00:00 GMT

HOUSTON, February 11, 2010 – ERHC Energy Inc. (OTCBB:ERHE), a publicly traded American company with oil and gas assets in the highly prospective Gulf of Guinea off the coast of West Africa, today announced that the National Petroleum Agency of São Tomé & Príncipe (ANP-STP) on behalf of the Government of São Tomé and Principe has confirmed the award to ERHC of 100 percent working interests in Blocks 4 and 11 of the São Tomé & Príncipe Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The confirmation follows ERHC’s exercise of rights arising from prior agreements between ERHC and São Tomé & Príncipe. The ANP-STP has indicated that it expects to invite ERHC to negotiate Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs) on the two Blocks in due course. The São Tomé & Príncipe EEZ encompasses an area of approximately 160,000 square kilometers south and east of the Nigeria/São Tomé & Príncipe Joint Development Zone and...

Yellowstone Academy Uses New Tendenci-Powered Web Site to Strengthen Donor Relationships

noemail@dpkpr.com — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 15:30:00 GMT

Web Marketing Strategies Help Provide Resources Students Need to Reach Their Full Potential HOUSTON, February 10, 2010 - Yellowstone Academy, Houston's only private faith-based elementary school serving children living in extreme poverty has launched www.yellowstoneacademy.org, a new Web site powered by Tendenci (www.tendenci.com) online management software. The Web plays a critical fundraising role for the school, which relies solely on donations from individuals, corporations, congregations, organizations and foundations to meet its operating budget. Yellowstone serves 288 students in pre-K through 6th grade from families whose median annual income is approximately $8,000. Designed by Schipul - The Web Marketing Company (www.schipul.com), Yellowstone Academy's Web site immerses visitors in the feel of walking down the halls of Yellowstone. It uses words, pictures, and video to show how Yellowstone is using education and intensive intervention to help children living in poverty...

ERHC Energy Inc. Reports First Quarter 2010 Financial Results

noemail@dpkpr.com — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 14:00:00 GMT

HOUSTON, February 10, 2010 - ERHC Energy Inc. (OTCBB: ERHE), a publicly traded American company with oil and gas assets in the highly prospective Gulf of Guinea off the coast of West Africa, today announced its results for the first quarter ended December 31, 2009. As of December 31, 2009, ERHC reported cash assets totaling $21,457,893. During the first quarter, ERHC's general and administrative expenses were $809,533. For ERHC, the quarter was a momentous one in which five exploratory wells were drilled in three Blocks in which the Company has interests in the Nigeria-Sao Tome and Principe Joint Development Zone, said ERHC Chief Operating Officer Peter Ntephe. As the lengthy process of analyzing drilling results continues, we are aggressively executing the Company's business strategy. In recent weeks, ERHC disclosed it is pursuing potential acquisitions in the West African oil and gas industry and firming up plans for listing a subsidiary on the AIM Market of the London Stock...

Saint Arnold Brewing Company to Celebrate Homebrewing's Cellar Dwellers

noemail@dpkpr.com — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:00:00 GMT

American Homebrewers Association Membership Rally to bring together homebrewers, beer enthusiasts and professional brewers HOUSTON, February 8, 2010 Beer making equipment in Texas often has to compete with the family car for space in the garage. On Sunday, February 28th, Saint Arnold Brewing Company, the oldest craft brewery in Texas, will coax homebrewers from their cramped garages for a membership rally for the American Homebrewers Association (AHA). The celebration of brewing’s grassroots will connect homebrewers with other beer enthusiasts and professional brewers. Saint Arnold Brewing Company was the first to hold an AHA Rally, a concept that has since been adopted across the country. The event allows brewers and beer enthusiasts with varying levels of experience and knowledge about the brewing process to meet others in the local brewing community, share ideas and sample beer. Today, the AHA estimates that nearly 750,000 Americans brew beer at home at least once per...

Furniture Nation Intends to Live Up to Its Name through E-tailing Strategy

noemail@dpkpr.com — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:00:00 GMT

NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TEXAS, February 5, 2010 – Furniture Nation, a leading independent home furniture retailer, today announced the launch of its new online furniture store, www.furniturenation.com. The new Web site went live just in time for the peak furniture buying season, which coincides with the arrival of income tax refunds. With plans to introduce nationwide shipping this spring, Furniture Nation will serve home furniture customers throughout North America. Established at 7245 Boulevard 26 in North Richland Hills in April 2008, Furniture Nation caters to the value shopper who is hunting for a great deal on quality furniture. The new emphasis on attracting furniture buyers who are searching online puts Furniture Nation on the leading edge of an industry in transition. “Customers are using brick and mortar furniture stores to choose what they want, but instead of buying immediately, they go online to search for the best price,” Zed Pirbhai, founder and...

Saint Arnold Brewing Company Goes Bock to Basics with Saint Arnold Spring Bock

noemail@dpkpr.com — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 14:00:00 GMT

Only in Texas would a spring seasonal be released in January HOUSTON, January 29, 2010 – In Texas, if you blink you might miss the little bit of winter that Mother Nature brews up. The same can be said about Saint Arnold Winter Stout, which is already being replaced by Saint Arnold Spring Bock after a few short weeks. Saint Arnold Brewing Company (www.saintarnold.com), the oldest craft brewery in Texas, reports brisk sales of Winter Stout exhausted supplies, prompting the brewery to accelerate the schedule for releasing Spring Bock. The bock style, which originated in Germany, was historically brewed in the fall, in part because that was when barley and hops were at their peak. Before refrigeration, the beer was kept in cool caves all winter and then tapped in the spring. Saint Arnold Spring Bock is brewed in the German style, with a full two-month aging period. At 7% alcohol by volume, it is a big, deeply flavored lager. The aging creates a smooth, malty taste with a hint of...

Current and Past Client Experience

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 22:57:42 GMT

AEG (now Bombadier Transportation) AT&T Aesthetic Center for Plastic Surgery American Esoteric Laboratories American Red Cross American Iron and Steel Institute ApothéCure, Inc. Association for the Eradication of Heart Attack Associated General Contractors - Oregon Columbia Chapter Associated Oregon Industries Atos Origin Babst Calland Clements & Zomnir Bastiat Capital Brazos Electric Cooperative Breuners Home Furnishings Corporation Bumbo International Cabinet Innovations Cadet Manufacturing Carbo Ceramics CHOICE! Energy Citysearch Community Coffee Company The Connections Center CoservDirect EnergyeCardio Diagnostics EMS Pipeline Services ERHC Energy East Downtown Management District Electric Lite Electro Scientific Industries Environmental Defense FundEnergy Advocates LLPExco Resources Fair Contracting Foundation Fair Funding for Better Roads Family Services of Greater Houston Fujitsu Microelectronics, Inc. Fujitsu Network Communications, Inc. The Gambrinus Company Pete's...

Media Relations Case Study: Saint Arnold Brewing Company

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 18:07:25 GMT

When visitors open the refrigerator at DPK Public Relations, they always have their choice of one of Saint Arnold Brewing Company’s 10 year-round or seasonal brews. DPK Public Relations has been working with Saint Arnold Brewing Company since 2004. While we hesitate to directly correlate public relations activities to sales (their award-winning products and their excellent business instincts have something to do with their success, after all!) we are proud to be playing an ongoing role in Saint Arnold’s success. DPK Public Relations’s media relations experts work closely with Saint Arnold Brewing to gather story ideas and package the information to capture the attention of journalists. The resulting media coverage – throughout Texas and across the country – has helped to strengthen Saint Arnold’s position as the leading craft brewery in Lone Star State. We promote new product launches, brewery expansions, events, business results and trends. The...

DPK Public Relations Founder Daniel Keeney

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:45:23 GMT

Dan Keeney, APR is the president of DPK Public Relations, a Texas-based public relations firm specializing in crisis communications planning, crisis communications response and crisis recovery as well as media relations, marketing communications and spokesperson training. He has led numerous high-profile communications initiatives, from corporate restructurings to product introductions and from international crisis communications response to grassroots engagement efforts. Dan is accredited in public relations, which signifies a high professional level of experience and competence and indicates that he has demonstrated broad knowledge, experience and professional judgment in the field. Hiring a PR counselor who is accredited gives you access to a dedicated professional with a unique level of knowledge, ethics and experience in public relations. You gain the expertise of a counselor who is committed to excellence, both personally and professionally. Learn More about Dan...

Don't Waste Precious PR Dollars...Train Your Spokesperson!

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 18:17:39 GMT

If you are sending your spokerson out without media training, you might as well put a match to your PR budget. Your organization devotes too much time, energy and resources building and protecting its reputation to take a chance on an untrained and under-prepared spokesperson. You should do everything you can to ensure your message is delivered powerfully, confidently and consistently. Contact DPK Public Relations to arrange Media Interview Skills Training today. We provide customized training sessions to ensure your spokespersons fully capitalize on every opportunity to deliver your message powerfully -- whether speaking to journalists or talking with your customers. DPK Public Relations specializes in providing clients with easy to grasp and remember tips and techniques. We offer clients the perspective of a veteran journalist who is intimately familiar with today's news industry. We stress realism...

A Public Relations Firm for Your Organization's PR Needs

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 22:39:26 GMT

DPK Public Relations is a PR firm serving clients in the Houston, Dallas and Fort Worth metropolitan areas, as well as throughout the rest of Texas, the nation and around the world. DPK Public Relations is focused on protecting and enhancing the reputation of each client. DPK Public Relations maintains a team of high-impact independent public relations practitioners and engages them on an as-needed basis either to assist with projects or to manage programs under the close supervision of Founder and President Dan Keeney, APR. This structure helps us keep costs to a minimum while affording clients access to the best strategic thinking and hands-on implementation by experienced and highly capable PR professionals. For more about our flexible and client-friendly business model, click here and read the article Technology tears down barriers to create new, 'virtual' PR firms, published in the Houston Business Journal. Clients want a public relations firm that emphasizes...

News & Insights

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 22:36:57 GMT

Perspectives Crisis Communications: How to recover from a black eye (March/April 2009) [download pdf here] Houston Business Journal Shop Talk (summer 2003) [download pdf here] Houston Chronicle Public Relations Firm to Serve Northwest Area http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/thisweek/zone16/news/2043469 Public Relations Tactics A Whale of a Crisis in Oregon (winter 1998) [download pdf here] Profile in HealthCare Marketing Aggressive Marketing Campaign Saves Florida Hospital (spring 1996) [download pdf here] Pittsburgh Business Times What Business Can Learn from the O.J. Simpson Case (fall 1995) [download pdf here] Business Pittsburgh Post- Gazette Information Age has a Dark Side (summer 1995) [download pdf here]

PRSA Houston Presentation

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 22:29:29 GMT

DPK PR's Recent PR Presentations Oregon Coast Martha Stewart Press Conference Subscribe to this sites news feed. In February 2009, DPK Public Relations' president Dan Keeney, APR presented, Risk Communications: Counseling the Top Dog, to a group of senior PR counselors at the PRSA Southwest District Conference. Keeney also recently presented a day-long workshop, Your City in the News, Be Ready for Your Close-Up to a group of emergency services and civic leaders. Review the media relations training presentation. If you are interested in having DPK Public Relations present to your organization, please contact us at 214-432-7556 or e-mail dan@dpkpr.com. Review more crisis communications case studies.

DPK Public Relations - a Houston and Dallas PR firm providing crisis communication, strategic media relations and crisis management planning services.

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 19:57:22 GMT

DPK Houston and Dallas Public Relations (home)

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 19:55:53 GMT

		DPK Public Relations Dallas, Fort Worth and Houston is known for its professional and successful relationships with broadcast, print and online journalists. more

		Click here for Houston and Dallas/Fort Worth public relations case studies

Crisis Managment & Media Relations (home)

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 19:53:29 GMT

		Crisis Management - Response and Recovery

		Media Relations - More visibility through press coverage

Rate the PRSA Houston Presentation

noemail@dpkpr.com — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 01:00:00 GMT

Objectives: We appreciate your feedback and constantly strive to improve our presentations and delivery of our information. Please take a moment to respond to a few quick questions.

Release Date: 6-Feb-08 7:00 PM
Expiration Date: 6-May-08 7:00 PM
Please let us know what you think of the presentation to PRSA Houston.

EXCO Corporate Vulnerabilities

noemail@dpkpr.com — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 21:00:00 GMT

Objectives: The goal of this survey is to prioritize EXCO's corporate crisis vulnerabilities in order to inform plans related to responding to a potential crisis.

Release Date: 21-Jan-08 3:00 PM
Expiration Date: 20-Apr-08 3:00 PM

EXCO Resources has engaged DPK Public Relations to help develop processes and procedures to guide crisis communications response. Interviews with EXCO executives uncovered a number of conceivable events and situations that could prompt unwanted scrutiny of the Company and/or its leadership. Please help us by rating the following potential situations based on their relative likelihood to occur during the next five years...

EXCO Vulnerabilities Survey

noemail@dpkpr.com — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 18:00:00 GMT

Objectives: The goal of this survey is to prioritize the vulnerabilities of EXCO Resources.

Release Date: 21-Jan-08 12:00 PM
Expiration Date: 20-Apr-08 12:00 PM
Nobody likes to think about bad things happening, but the first step in preventing problems and ensuring we are prepared to respond is to assess what could happen. Please rate the following in terms their relative likelihood to occur to EXCO personnel or contractor personnel working in the field on behalf of EXCO during the next five years...

Dan Keeney

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 21:49:49 GMT

Dan Keeney addressing PRSA Houston, February 2008

Dan Keeney

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 21:49:50 GMT

Dan Keeney addressing PRSA Houston, February 2008

Dan Keeney

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 21:49:50 GMT

Dan Keeney addressing PRSA Houston, February 2008

Dan Keeney

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 21:49:50 GMT

Dan Keeney addressing PRSA Houston, February 2008