Could Your Overseas Executives be Kidnapping Targets? In anticipation of conducting crisis training for a client, we recently requested a copy of their crisis communications plan. Much to the chagrin of the company's communications leader, he provided a document that had been in the works for literally years, but remained unfinished. My suggestion: circulate the unfinished draft and get it approved. A crisis communication plan is never finished. It is a living, breathing thing. I've seen a quote attributed alternately to Confucius and Voltaire that sums up my feelings about crisis communications planning: "Don't let perfect be the enemy of good." By striving for a perfect plan, and in the process delaying the completion of a good enough plan, you are endangering your entire organization. It can actually be empowering to realize that the crisis communications plan can never be …
Remembering JFK's Masterful Dealings with the Media On this 50th anniversary of the assassination of President Kennedy, there will inevitably be a lot of reflection as well as a fair amount of curiosity. I suspect that those under 35 years old were more influenced by the Oliver Stone movie than by family stories and recollections, as I was. Having grown up in the late 60s and 70s in a politically active house full of democrats in western Connecticut, I remember stories about my mom having a chance to shake JFK's hand as well as discussions about JFK's uncanny ability to manage the media and his public image. We had the Vaughn Meader album, "The First Family," which lampooned JFK's press dealings and my older brother had it memorized. Of course, at the time, President Kennedy's uncanny ability was seen in stark contrast …
Social Technologies Will Not Change What PR Can Accomplish or How It Can Be Measured We recently marked our 10th year as an agency and, personally, this is my 20th year in the public relations trenches. Over that time this profession has radically changed, but the basics -- what we can accomplish and how it can be measured have not changed. When I started at Ketchum, we had a single computer that had access to the Internet. Until Netscape software began circulating, the only way to connect to the Net was via AOL or Prodigy. I had a Prodigy account from my days as a journalist and we sometimes logged on using that -- and the office had a single AOL account to share as well. There were about 50 people in the office. Aside from that one connected computer, …
We always devote a portion of our Media Interview Skills Training sessions to a discussion about going “off-the-record” with journalists. Our recommendation is the same today as it was 20 years ago: there is no such thing as “off-the-record.” Think of it as a cliff for your career. You can dance at the edge of that cliff and think you are in control. But there are many forces at play that can send you right over the edge no matter how confident you are. Splat. There goes your career. If you say something, you should be prepared to see it attributed to you in print. Even if you have a relationship with a journalist, that journalist’s job is to get a good story and tell that story. If you expect them to do otherwise, you are suggesting that what you …
Lessons from Our First Decade Training America's Spokespersons During our first 10 years, DPK Public Relations has been honored to train more than 1,000 spokespersons for organizations throughout Texas and across the United States. We have conducted training in top secret military installations and highly volatile chemical facilities. We have conducted one-on-one training for individuals shortly before major media opportunities and for large groups that were unlikely to ever be interviewed -- but who rightly embraced the training 'just in case.' Through it all, one thing has remained true: how you deliver information is just as important as what you say -- and research suggests how information is delivered can easily amplify the power of the information, or it can suck all the power out of it. The goal is to project confidence and positivity to reinforce that you are …
As I watched Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke’s news conference this afternoon, I was reminded of a story that I often use as an anecdote in media training sessions. Since Mr. Bernanke is winding down his time with the Fed, I wanted to revisit the subject that I originally discussed in the article, "Media Training Fundamental: Reporters Are Always Working." The key point of the upcoming story is that journalists never turn off their nose for news. There is no 'drink in hand' rule that states a journalist who is relaxing isn't also subtly gathering information. A journalist is never idle. They are always curious. Sniffing out interesting information is what they do and who they are. They don’t punch a clock and turn it off. Ever. So when an executive encounters a journalist, that executive should similarly always be in …
DPK Public Relations is proud to work closely with Lockheed Martin in support of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program in recent years and we enjoy spreading the word about the jaw dropping capabilities of the plane, which is being built in Fort Worth, Texas. We have helped people throughout the organization -- including test pilots, business development executives and manufacturing leaders -- prepare for all types of interactions. While the program has faced some scrutiny, the feedback from the most important community -- the pilots -- has been universally enthusiastic. This terrific first-person account from British Squadron Leader Frankie Buckler is a great example of why it benefits organizations to have people who can communicate complex information in ways that are easy to understand ready at all times to speak. Con Coughlin, The Telegraph's defense editor, accompanied a …
The summer 2012 launch of client Saint Arnold Brewing Company's Divine Reserve No. 12 took on a life of its own, with news organizations competing for the inside scoop and tracking down brewers on their way to the grocery store and at the brewery late at night. Here is the story from Houston's KHOU Channel 11: The Saint Arnold example provides a few lessons for any organization seeking positive media coverage: 1. Think long-term. DPK Public Relations has been working with Saint Arnold for eight years and keeps information flowing regularly to the newsrooms. 2. Don't get discouraged. We have had plenty of instances where we felt we had a great story only to be disappointed that nobody jumped on it. Instead of getting discouraged, we trusted that our good ideas weren't being ignored and they would eventually generate coverage. …
This week's launch of Divine Reserve No. 12, the latest small batch beer from our client, Saint Arnold Brewing, offers some important PR lessons. The biggest lesson is to keep doing what you do and people will notice. Saint Arnold Divine Reserve was originally imagined as a very high quality limited supply beer. It was among the first beers that was a one-off recipe. Once it is gone, the recipe is retired (although two have been un-retired to join the brewery's regular line-up of year-round and seasonal offerings). By sticking with the limited supply concept, Saint Arnold has been the beneficiary of considerable excitement as craft beer fans -- in growing numbers -- turn out to get their's. Considerable excitement tends to be pretty visible and noisey (especially online), which gets the attention of the media. Anticipating the story was going …
With roots and many friends in Colorado, DPK Public Relations' President Dan Keeney was deeply effected by this month's tragic shooting that killed or injured dozens of men, women and children. As a graduate of the University of Colorado, Keeney has kept a close eye on developments to understand what role, if any, the University may have played in triggering the gunman. Our thoughts and best wishes go out to the victims and their families. As experts in crisis communication that help organizations plan for and respond to problems and crisis events, DPK Public Relations regularly is called upon by journalists to offer expert advice and guidance. As FOX News reported: Warner Bros. to contribute to Aurora relief fund; PR pros say studio handling crisis with care and compassion Daniel Keeney, President of DPK Public Relations and PR crisis …