After watching Southwest Airlines emerge largely unscathed from its first fatal plane accident, DPK Public Relations asks the question: do you think your organization has established the reservoir of goodwill necessary to weather this type of intense public scrutiny?
The International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Research Foundation''s report, "Best Practices in Employee Communication: A Study of Global Challenges and Approaches," points to severe gaps in employee communications. But you can make a difference.
Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita have provided a rare opportunity for all organizations to learn from the experiences of others as they responded to extraordinary circumstances. These 10 principals can serve as a checklist for crisis response or as guiding principles for your organization''s crisis communications philosophy.
DPK Public Relations client Energy Maintenance Services Group I, LLC (EMS Group) was featured in the recent Houston Business Journal article "Power Play," published on March 18, 2005 (under Strategies - Information for Emerging Companies). Click here to read the article. If DPK Public Relations can help your organization increase its visibility and get its story out, contact Dan Keeney, APR at dan@keeneypr.com or dial 214-432-7556.
Have a news release to write? Dan Keeney has some helpful tips to consider that may make you think twice about whether a news release is really the appropriate method of communicating with your target audience.
Is it appropriate to apply a frequently cited study out of UCLA regarding the relative importance of a person''s message to presentation skills and media interview skills? This article examines why it may not be.
To enhance the quality of coverage you earn, you can make efforts to build credibility and trust with journalists. A good reputation among journalists is earned through consistently offering an interesting point of view, having a great deal of energy and enthusiasm and being accessible. These attributes can help you establish yourself as an expert source, resulting in increasing numbers of phone calls asking your opinion about breaking news. Here are tips to improve your dealings with journalists. Leave your prejudices about reporters behind. Reporters -- like everyone else -- bring their life experiences and perspectives to their jobs. Good reporters make every effort to see all participants'' points of view and to be aware of their own biases. Even if you''ve had negative experiences with the media in the past, you should avoid questioning a reporter''s motivations. Asking a journalist, "What is your point of view?" …
When Salvador Tapia, a disgruntled former employee walked into the Chicago wharehouse where he worked until six months before and killed six former co-workers, we all were reminded how a crisis can hit any organization at any time. As is frequently the case, this tragedy may prompt some organizations to evaluate their own policies and procedures. Unfortunately, the review usually focuses on security rather than on the human elements that contribute to workplace outbursts. If your organization is considering what it can do to prevent workplace violence, I hope you, as the public relations advocate in the room, speak up. Public relations pros have plenty to offer for an organization tyring to assess its vulnerabilities, identify areas for improvement and act on those findings. This is the essence of issues management. Besides, if your organization determines that changes are necessary, the communication initiatives that …
The anniversary of September 11 will trigger a range of emotions among workers and public relations practitioners should carefully consider how their companies acknowledge the lasting impact of the terrorist attacks. The National Mental Health Association suggests taking the following actions: Mark the day in some way and make sure all employees are invited to participate. Work in the weeks leading up to the anniversary to educate supervisors and managers about the signs of emotional distress and available mental health resources. Be sensitive to religious and cultural diversity in all communications and encourage corporate leadership to state clearly the company''s position on dealing swiftly with allegations of intolerance. Encourage communication among employees by providing a comfortable environment for them to gather. Host a community event such as collecting clothing for a shelter in order to do something positive for others, …
During this time of tight budgets, many employers have dramatically reduced their internal communications initiatives. A recent study indicates they may be making a mistake. The Corporate Credibility and Employee Communications Survey, published by the Society for Human Resource Management, is blunt about what is at stake for corporations. “At a time when public distrust of big business is at an all time high, organizations should strive to appreciate and place a high value on their employees.” The survey found that employees generally believe their companies are doing a good job of showing appreciation for their employees. Fifty-nine percent rate their company “very good” or “good.” When HCA-Gulf Coast Division asked Dan and his team to design and implement an internal campaign, they understood the consequences. Hit by a serious nursing shortage, they needed to make sure HCA’s nurses felt …