Captain's log--star date, 03142014. Due to scarcity of time, this will be my final report on airline activity in recent days.
"Airline's lack of information angers relatives"
By Didi Tang, Gillian Wong and members of the Associated Press
U-T San Diego
March 10th, 2014
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/mar/10/airlines-lack-of-information-angers-relatives/
In a nutshell: Relatives of Chinese passengers who were on board the currently-missing Malaysia Airlines flight have aired their grievances with the airline over their lack of responses to their concerns.
Why this matters: There is no better company philosophy than 'communication is KEY', especially in those occasions where one were to deal with an angry customer base.
"Airlines hurt as Ukraine crisis lifts oil price"
By John Heilprin
U-T San Diego
March 12th, 2014
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/mar/12/airlines-lower-forecast-for-record-2014-profit/
In a nutshell: The crisis in the Ukraine has caused the price of fuel the world over to go up, alarming those within the global airline industry.
Why this matters: This effectively would affect the cost of doing business for a small airline such as ours, as no fuel means no flights.
"Agency suing American Airlines over tax incentives"
By Don Babwin
U-T San Diego
March 12th, 2014
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/mar/12/agency-suing-american-airlines-over-tax-incentives/
In a nutshell: American Airlines is being sued by the Regional Transportation Authority for false claims of buying large amounts of jet fuel from a small office in a rural community to avoid tax payments, ones that number in the tens of millions.
Why this matters: Simply put--we can NEVER lie in the face of government oversight, because no matter how clever we could attempt to be, we can still get caught.
"Bad decade: Malaysia Airlines has catalog of woes"
By Kelvin Chan
U-T San Diego
March 12th, 2014
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/mar/12/bad-decade-malaysia-airlines-has-catalog-of-woes/
In a nutshell: Malaysia Airlines' reputation has been sinking in the public eye ever since the start of the missing flight incident, with its financial pressures and instances of lack of professionalism coming to light.
Why this matters: In times like this, a PR department's going to be working overtime to help clean up messes this massive.
"Friends Fear USC Graduate Student Was Aboard Missing Malaysia Airlines Flight
By Jonathan Lloyd, Nyree Arabian, Steven Covelman and Conan Nolan
NBC-7 San Diego
March 14th, 2014
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/SD-Friends-Fear-USC-Graduate-Student-Was-Aboard-Missing-Malaysia-Airlines-Flight-250369461.html#ixzz2vyE2i400
In a nutshell: "Friends fear a 27-year-old University of Southern California graduate student was among the 239 passengers on board a Malaysia Airlines jet that went missing last weekend."
Why this matters: Crisis communication needs to be not just practiced by us, but it needs to become a force of habit should we ever face similar events.
As the late Walter Cronkite always used to say: "And that's the way it is."
Friday, March 14, 2014
Monday, March 10, 2014
In Case You (or I) Missed It: 'Public Relations: Strategies and Tactics' Recap, Finale?
This might be the final recap I've got up my sleeve, and it covers quite the amount of legal territory.
From Chapter 3
Ethics, described in a single sentence, is the study of how we as a people should behave. Our behavior is derived from values for any situation. Ideally, one can be an honest, open, and fair advocate, since society at large knows that said advocate is functioning in a specific role. For the case of PR specialists, groups such as the PRSA, IABC, and IPRA set the particular standards and ethics for the profession. The main goal is to provide a continuous education of standards to all members, as well as raising those same standards.
Almost every professional organization (including the aforementioned three) have published and documented codes of conduct for how professional behavior is measured. There are also codes published dealing with financial relations; video news release production; working with bloggers; and social media networks.
From Chapter 12
(That is the last time I leave an entry unpublished.)
From Chapter 3
Ethics, described in a single sentence, is the study of how we as a people should behave. Our behavior is derived from values for any situation. Ideally, one can be an honest, open, and fair advocate, since society at large knows that said advocate is functioning in a specific role. For the case of PR specialists, groups such as the PRSA, IABC, and IPRA set the particular standards and ethics for the profession. The main goal is to provide a continuous education of standards to all members, as well as raising those same standards.
Almost every professional organization (including the aforementioned three) have published and documented codes of conduct for how professional behavior is measured. There are also codes published dealing with financial relations; video news release production; working with bloggers; and social media networks.
How an occupation becomes a profession involves an ever-changing process that requires following many steps, with a prime one being accepting of, and following, professional standards--this mainly applies to those with no formal training. How PR is considered a profession is because of the following criteria:
- Possesses a body of knowledge
- Is a widely-accepted discipline at the college and university level
- With that comes academic centers for research.
From Chapter 12
PR practitioners can land themselves in legal hot water in many ways, most of which guarantee a lawsuit or dealing with a government regulator. Among those offenses can be either providing advice to, or otherwise supporting, the client's illegal activities. Other major subjects of offense include:
- Libel and slander, or collectively defamation, where the emphasis is on false and negligent communication with a subject who suffered financial, reputational, or mental loss. There are exceptions, such as the bad reviews of movie critics (which are seen as 'fair comment').
- Invasion of privacy (which really speaks for itself)
- Copyright law, which deals with protecting creative works
- Trademark law, which deals similarly with names, symbols, slogans, etc.
- Government regulations, where one treads carefully to not incur the wrath of agencies such as the FTC, SEC, FCC, FDA, and EEOC.
- Corporate speech, which is a murky area as organizations are allowed to express opinions and views on public issues.
- Employee speech, especially in an age where digital communications makes it possible to almost freely express opinions within a corporate landscape.
- And then there's liability for sponsored events; any safety or security issues during different types of promotional events press the need for companies to possess liability insurance.
In those cases, there must be a good cooperative relationship between PR personnel and legal counsel to handle each one effectively. They both must do the following:
- Report to the same top exec.
- Be represented on key committees.
- Be aware of the legality that comes with almost anything and be up-to-date on certain protocols via briefings.
(That is the last time I leave an entry unpublished.)
Friday, March 7, 2014
Air Pacific Media Monitoring, Take Nine (March 3rd-7th, 2014)
More from the world of air travel comes your way:
"Worst time for air travel since 9/11"
By Linda Loyd
philly.com/inquirer
March 5th, 2014
http://articles.philly.com/2014-03-05/news/47899204_1_united-airlines-american-airlines-masflight
In a nutshell: Loyd recaps the costs that were inflicted upon the air travel industry by this year's winter weather.
Why this matters: This would serve as a means of measuring how much we could prepare for any sort of weather-related emergency both financially and with regards to our customer base.
"Air travel this spring will take off, airline industry predicts"
By Hugo Martin
The Los Angeles Times
March 5th, 2014
http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-air-travel-this-spring-20140305,0,4251891.story#ixzz2vJWxIMHD
In a nutshell: Declining fuel prices, among other factors, may ensure that this spring will bring in a record number of passengers for international flights, for what may be the highest levels for U.S. carriers in six years.
Why this matters: Among the factors that were considered were rising household net worth and an improving economy, so this may feed into our growing customer base if we use this to our advantage.
"Consumer Groups Question U.S. Inaction on Critical Air Travel Rulemaking"
By Susan Young
travelagentcentral.com
March 6th, 2014
http://www.travelagentcentral.com/air-travel/consumer-groups-question-us-inaction-critical-air-travel-rulemaking-44969
In a nutshell: "Multiple U.S. consumer groups made public a letter they've jointly sent to Sylvia Mathews Burwell, director of the White House's Office of Management and Budget about delayed Department of Transportation (DOT) "Enhancing Consumer Protections III" rulemaking."
Why this matters: Despite our relative newness in the airline world, we still will fall under these particular rules and would be wise to pay attention to these developments as they happen.
"Delta spells out miles needed to earn free flights"
By David Koenig
U-T San Diego
March 6th, 2014
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/mar/06/delta-spells-out-miles-needed-to-earn-free-flights/
In a nutshell: "Delta is leaving the minimum number of miles needed for a U.S. trip at 25,000 miles and lowering requirements on some flights, especially international ones in business and first class."
Why this matters: This might give us pause on how we decide to structure our own miles plan, since we are a relatively new airline and customers have yet to actually accumulate miles with us.
"Woman Fights to Make Air Travel Safer for Food Allergy Sufferers"
By Erin Billups
Time Warner Cable News NY1
March 7th, 2014
http://brooklyn.ny1.com/content/lifestyles/health/204704/woman-fights-to-make-air-travel-safer-for-food-allergy-sufferers
In an nutshell: Lianne Mandelbaum, whose son has a serious food allergy, has launched a website called NoNutTraveler.com, which provides resources for allergy-riddled air passengers.
Why this matters: That right there gives us a great way to broaden our customer base--calling ourselves (and actually making ourselves) the first 'hypo-allergenic' airline.
"Worst time for air travel since 9/11"
By Linda Loyd
philly.com/inquirer
March 5th, 2014
http://articles.philly.com/2014-03-05/news/47899204_1_united-airlines-american-airlines-masflight
In a nutshell: Loyd recaps the costs that were inflicted upon the air travel industry by this year's winter weather.
Why this matters: This would serve as a means of measuring how much we could prepare for any sort of weather-related emergency both financially and with regards to our customer base.
"Air travel this spring will take off, airline industry predicts"
By Hugo Martin
The Los Angeles Times
March 5th, 2014
http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-air-travel-this-spring-20140305,0,4251891.story#ixzz2vJWxIMHD
In a nutshell: Declining fuel prices, among other factors, may ensure that this spring will bring in a record number of passengers for international flights, for what may be the highest levels for U.S. carriers in six years.
Why this matters: Among the factors that were considered were rising household net worth and an improving economy, so this may feed into our growing customer base if we use this to our advantage.
"Consumer Groups Question U.S. Inaction on Critical Air Travel Rulemaking"
By Susan Young
travelagentcentral.com
March 6th, 2014
http://www.travelagentcentral.com/air-travel/consumer-groups-question-us-inaction-critical-air-travel-rulemaking-44969
In a nutshell: "Multiple U.S. consumer groups made public a letter they've jointly sent to Sylvia Mathews Burwell, director of the White House's Office of Management and Budget about delayed Department of Transportation (DOT) "Enhancing Consumer Protections III" rulemaking."
Why this matters: Despite our relative newness in the airline world, we still will fall under these particular rules and would be wise to pay attention to these developments as they happen.
"Delta spells out miles needed to earn free flights"
By David Koenig
U-T San Diego
March 6th, 2014
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/mar/06/delta-spells-out-miles-needed-to-earn-free-flights/
In a nutshell: "Delta is leaving the minimum number of miles needed for a U.S. trip at 25,000 miles and lowering requirements on some flights, especially international ones in business and first class."
Why this matters: This might give us pause on how we decide to structure our own miles plan, since we are a relatively new airline and customers have yet to actually accumulate miles with us.
"Woman Fights to Make Air Travel Safer for Food Allergy Sufferers"
By Erin Billups
Time Warner Cable News NY1
March 7th, 2014
http://brooklyn.ny1.com/content/lifestyles/health/204704/woman-fights-to-make-air-travel-safer-for-food-allergy-sufferers
In an nutshell: Lianne Mandelbaum, whose son has a serious food allergy, has launched a website called NoNutTraveler.com, which provides resources for allergy-riddled air passengers.
Why this matters: That right there gives us a great way to broaden our customer base--calling ourselves (and actually making ourselves) the first 'hypo-allergenic' airline.
Monday, March 3, 2014
In Case You (or I) Missed It: 'Public Relations: Strategies and Tactics' Recap, Part IX
Today's recap reminds me of a party planner I once knew....Anyway, on with the show:
From Chapter 16
For public relations specialists, events and other types of meetings are great ways to reach people, and they are also good ways to involve those same people and their five senses (touch, taste, hearing, smell, and sight). These events need to be deliberately planned right down to every detail.
In the group or club meeting, these particular details that require the most attention are time and location, facilities and their seating capacity, invitations, name tags, a menu if refreshments are possible, who will be the speakers, how one registers, and of course the costs of it all.
Banquets tend to be more formal affairs, and need to be planned greatly in advance--sometimes months, sometimes weeks. Besides the aforementioned details found in a group meeting, banquets also require additions such as decorations, the choice of entertainment, A/V equipment, fees for the speakers, and charts detailing seating arrangements.
Cocktail parties and receptions have the greatest care taken into account, mainly because of possible liability that stems from alcohol consumption and the amount of food and soft beverages available.
With the cases of open houses or plant tours, the planning that goes into each requires carefully handling visitors and meticulous training of personnel in contact with said visitors.
Conventions are a greater challenge as the professionals in charge need to oversee multiple events and meetings over a select number of days. These conventions may even consist of the previously mentioned events all grouped together as part of the schedule.
Trade shows attract millions of people, and exhibit space costs can vary from the figures of $50,000 to $1 million. A relative of these shows, promotional events, also has costly fees, but with good reason--the occasional celebrity appearance. Such promotional events can be grand openings, product announcements or unveilings, or even charity races like a 10-K. The only things that need to be taken into great consideration are city permits in order to actually hold the event; security to make sure nothing disrupts it; and liability insurance in the event that something does indeed go wrong.
From Chapter 16
For public relations specialists, events and other types of meetings are great ways to reach people, and they are also good ways to involve those same people and their five senses (touch, taste, hearing, smell, and sight). These events need to be deliberately planned right down to every detail.
In the group or club meeting, these particular details that require the most attention are time and location, facilities and their seating capacity, invitations, name tags, a menu if refreshments are possible, who will be the speakers, how one registers, and of course the costs of it all.
Banquets tend to be more formal affairs, and need to be planned greatly in advance--sometimes months, sometimes weeks. Besides the aforementioned details found in a group meeting, banquets also require additions such as decorations, the choice of entertainment, A/V equipment, fees for the speakers, and charts detailing seating arrangements.
Cocktail parties and receptions have the greatest care taken into account, mainly because of possible liability that stems from alcohol consumption and the amount of food and soft beverages available.
With the cases of open houses or plant tours, the planning that goes into each requires carefully handling visitors and meticulous training of personnel in contact with said visitors.
Conventions are a greater challenge as the professionals in charge need to oversee multiple events and meetings over a select number of days. These conventions may even consist of the previously mentioned events all grouped together as part of the schedule.
Trade shows attract millions of people, and exhibit space costs can vary from the figures of $50,000 to $1 million. A relative of these shows, promotional events, also has costly fees, but with good reason--the occasional celebrity appearance. Such promotional events can be grand openings, product announcements or unveilings, or even charity races like a 10-K. The only things that need to be taken into great consideration are city permits in order to actually hold the event; security to make sure nothing disrupts it; and liability insurance in the event that something does indeed go wrong.
Friday, February 28, 2014
Air Pacific Media Monitoring, Take Eight (February 24th-28th, 2014)
Do not attempt to adjust your monitor. This transmission has been taken over for the purposes of...media monitoring.
"Federal Air Marshal Service to close six field offices"
By Pia Malbran
CBS News
February 24th, 2014
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/federal-air-marshals-to-close-six-field-offices/
In an nutshell: Six offices of the Federal Air Marshal Service will be closing, raising concerns over air travel vulnerability.
Why this matters: We need to determine if we can guarantee in-flight safety for our potential passengers, so it might be wise to keep ourselves apprised of this development. The San Diego office is set to close, as is the Seattle one.
"Santee college, airline strike deal for students"
By Karen Pearlman
U-T San Diego
February 24th, 2014
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/Feb/24/santee-college-airline-students-pilots/
In a nutshell: American Eagle airlines has struck a deal with San Diego Christian College's four-year flight school program to help students transition more easily into aviation careers.
Why this matters: This might prove to be a tactic we could use to increase our employee pool and better ingratiate ourselves with college communities.
"Airline pilot shortage? Report says it's not clear"
The CW-6 San Diego
February 27th, 2014
http://www.sandiego6.com/story/airline-pilot-shortage-report-says-it-s-not-clear-20140227
In a nutshell: The Government Accountability Office, in studying the issue, has estimated that 1900-4500 new airline pilots will need to be hired annually over a span of 10 years.
Why this matters: We can use this opportunity to put our hat into the ring and try and attract new pilots to help our airline get up off the ground.
"Latest airline perk: Safe distance from the masses"
CBS-8 San Diego
February 27th, 2014
http://www.cbs8.com/story/24840784/latest-airline-perk-safe-distance-from-the-masses
In an nutshell: A new kind of 'luxury' is being offered to wealthy passengers from San Francisco to Hong Kong--physical distance in the cabin of the plan from those passengers in coach or first class.
Why this matters: We might want to consider pushing ourselves as an 'airline of the people' in light of this development.
"American Airlines ends bereavement fares"
By Katia Hetter
CNN Travel
February 27th, 2014
http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/27/travel/american-airlines-bereavement-fares/
In a nutshell: American Airlines will no longer be charging bereavement fares due to its merger with US Airways, easing a burden off of customers in times of need.
Why this matters: This opens the door to what other possible add-ons can be phased out, and we could be the first airline to not have any of these impact ticket prices.
"Federal Air Marshal Service to close six field offices"
By Pia Malbran
CBS News
February 24th, 2014
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/federal-air-marshals-to-close-six-field-offices/
In an nutshell: Six offices of the Federal Air Marshal Service will be closing, raising concerns over air travel vulnerability.
Why this matters: We need to determine if we can guarantee in-flight safety for our potential passengers, so it might be wise to keep ourselves apprised of this development. The San Diego office is set to close, as is the Seattle one.
"Santee college, airline strike deal for students"
By Karen Pearlman
U-T San Diego
February 24th, 2014
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/Feb/24/santee-college-airline-students-pilots/
In a nutshell: American Eagle airlines has struck a deal with San Diego Christian College's four-year flight school program to help students transition more easily into aviation careers.
Why this matters: This might prove to be a tactic we could use to increase our employee pool and better ingratiate ourselves with college communities.
"Airline pilot shortage? Report says it's not clear"
The CW-6 San Diego
February 27th, 2014
http://www.sandiego6.com/story/airline-pilot-shortage-report-says-it-s-not-clear-20140227
In a nutshell: The Government Accountability Office, in studying the issue, has estimated that 1900-4500 new airline pilots will need to be hired annually over a span of 10 years.
Why this matters: We can use this opportunity to put our hat into the ring and try and attract new pilots to help our airline get up off the ground.
"Latest airline perk: Safe distance from the masses"
CBS-8 San Diego
February 27th, 2014
http://www.cbs8.com/story/24840784/latest-airline-perk-safe-distance-from-the-masses
In an nutshell: A new kind of 'luxury' is being offered to wealthy passengers from San Francisco to Hong Kong--physical distance in the cabin of the plan from those passengers in coach or first class.
Why this matters: We might want to consider pushing ourselves as an 'airline of the people' in light of this development.
"American Airlines ends bereavement fares"
By Katia Hetter
CNN Travel
February 27th, 2014
http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/27/travel/american-airlines-bereavement-fares/
In a nutshell: American Airlines will no longer be charging bereavement fares due to its merger with US Airways, easing a burden off of customers in times of need.
Why this matters: This opens the door to what other possible add-ons can be phased out, and we could be the first airline to not have any of these impact ticket prices.
Monday, February 24, 2014
In Case You (or I) Missed It: 'Public Relations: Strategies and Tactics' Recap, Part VIII
Today's recap brings things into crisis mode, especially on the corporate level.
From Chapter 10
Public relations, among its many functions, also acts as a way of practicing the management of both conflict and competition in multiple settings. In playing this role, it falls under what is called the contingency theory, which calls for a dynamic, multifaceted method with settling a conflict. Within this, managing a conflict can fall into four phases of a cycle: the proactive, the strategic, the reactive, and finally the recovery phase. Each phase has its own variety of methods and means for carrying it out, ensuring a continuous cycle.
Another way to describe crisis management would also be 'issues management', a proactive, systemic means of anticipating and preventing any potential problems on the rise. In doing so, five steps need to be taken: identification, analysis, strategizing options, coming up with an action plan, and evaluating the results.
An approach to issue management on a public scale can be through risk communication, where a risk to public health, safety, or the environment is attempted to be addressed via dissemination of accurate information. Communicators have to preemptively figure out the concern at hand, ferret out hostility that may arise, respond to the media's needs, and all while maintaining a sense of honesty.
The very idea of crisis management is usually tested when an actual crisis is occurring, no matter which kind it is. Any lack of proper planning for this turns the ordeal into a "smoldering" crisis. On an organizational level, when it occurs within the corporate structure, this sort of planning takes the form of 'reputation management'. This shows how an organization deals with conflict both without and within. By relying on research to gauge reputation during and following a crisis, they minimize the damage to their reputation, and when this is verified, they can return to a proactive approach of preventing further 'catastrophes' (and improve their performance in the process).
From Chapter 17
If there are entities that are at the forefront of crisis management via PR, they are today's giant, globally-reaching corporations. The fact that they are of such a vast size causes mistrust to brew within the public, and the recent financial scandals didn't help their image either. To get back on the public's good side, they need to tell their side of the story, which is where corporate social responsibility comes into play. It is here that PR comes into great play, in three different facets.
In media relations, the corporations need to deal with the public perception of business (which originate from mass media--see films such as Network or Wall Street, for example). To get over this hurdle, corporations build relationships with business editors and reporters by trying to be more open and accessible about their policies, operations, and dealings.
In customer relations, customer service divisions are the most prominent example of corporate PR. By ensuring customer satisfaction, you ensure customer loyalty AND create an 'agent' that spreads word about the service or product to others. PR experts in a corporate setting work to make this happen as much as possible, to the point where they've been given rein to start up communication programs to serve customer bases much better--especially with the case of the increasingly diverse United States population. Keeping corporations in check also falls into the hands of special interest groups, activist groups, and the occasional consumer boycotts.
In employee relations, corporations seek to ensure that their company 'ambassadors' are high in morale, communicate effectively, and are good sources of information on the company. Layoffs and offshoring can often be detrimental to employee morale, though in the case of the former, companies do offer severance packages to ease the pain.
In investor relations, PR experts need to be knowledgeable in the fields of both communication and finance to deal with the other big constituency of corporations: the investors, both corporate and public. They also need to be aware and downright knowledgeable about government regulations, as government is one of a corporation's biggest investors.
To make all the above easier, PR, advertising, and marketing staffs work together to set up proper marketing communication between a company and the public, via product publicity, placement, partnerships with non-profits, and corporate sponsorships.
These days, environmental relations has become greatly important, as corporations have more dialogues with activist groups to deal with both environmental and human rights issues. As part of these efforts, corporate philanthropy often comes into play--every year, corporations give about $15 million dollars to different causes, mostly to those that complement their business and consumer profiles.
(I've got to do something about leaving drafts in the lurch...)
From Chapter 10
Public relations, among its many functions, also acts as a way of practicing the management of both conflict and competition in multiple settings. In playing this role, it falls under what is called the contingency theory, which calls for a dynamic, multifaceted method with settling a conflict. Within this, managing a conflict can fall into four phases of a cycle: the proactive, the strategic, the reactive, and finally the recovery phase. Each phase has its own variety of methods and means for carrying it out, ensuring a continuous cycle.
Another way to describe crisis management would also be 'issues management', a proactive, systemic means of anticipating and preventing any potential problems on the rise. In doing so, five steps need to be taken: identification, analysis, strategizing options, coming up with an action plan, and evaluating the results.
An approach to issue management on a public scale can be through risk communication, where a risk to public health, safety, or the environment is attempted to be addressed via dissemination of accurate information. Communicators have to preemptively figure out the concern at hand, ferret out hostility that may arise, respond to the media's needs, and all while maintaining a sense of honesty.
The very idea of crisis management is usually tested when an actual crisis is occurring, no matter which kind it is. Any lack of proper planning for this turns the ordeal into a "smoldering" crisis. On an organizational level, when it occurs within the corporate structure, this sort of planning takes the form of 'reputation management'. This shows how an organization deals with conflict both without and within. By relying on research to gauge reputation during and following a crisis, they minimize the damage to their reputation, and when this is verified, they can return to a proactive approach of preventing further 'catastrophes' (and improve their performance in the process).
From Chapter 17
If there are entities that are at the forefront of crisis management via PR, they are today's giant, globally-reaching corporations. The fact that they are of such a vast size causes mistrust to brew within the public, and the recent financial scandals didn't help their image either. To get back on the public's good side, they need to tell their side of the story, which is where corporate social responsibility comes into play. It is here that PR comes into great play, in three different facets.
In media relations, the corporations need to deal with the public perception of business (which originate from mass media--see films such as Network or Wall Street, for example). To get over this hurdle, corporations build relationships with business editors and reporters by trying to be more open and accessible about their policies, operations, and dealings.
In customer relations, customer service divisions are the most prominent example of corporate PR. By ensuring customer satisfaction, you ensure customer loyalty AND create an 'agent' that spreads word about the service or product to others. PR experts in a corporate setting work to make this happen as much as possible, to the point where they've been given rein to start up communication programs to serve customer bases much better--especially with the case of the increasingly diverse United States population. Keeping corporations in check also falls into the hands of special interest groups, activist groups, and the occasional consumer boycotts.
In employee relations, corporations seek to ensure that their company 'ambassadors' are high in morale, communicate effectively, and are good sources of information on the company. Layoffs and offshoring can often be detrimental to employee morale, though in the case of the former, companies do offer severance packages to ease the pain.
In investor relations, PR experts need to be knowledgeable in the fields of both communication and finance to deal with the other big constituency of corporations: the investors, both corporate and public. They also need to be aware and downright knowledgeable about government regulations, as government is one of a corporation's biggest investors.
To make all the above easier, PR, advertising, and marketing staffs work together to set up proper marketing communication between a company and the public, via product publicity, placement, partnerships with non-profits, and corporate sponsorships.
These days, environmental relations has become greatly important, as corporations have more dialogues with activist groups to deal with both environmental and human rights issues. As part of these efforts, corporate philanthropy often comes into play--every year, corporations give about $15 million dollars to different causes, mostly to those that complement their business and consumer profiles.
(I've got to do something about leaving drafts in the lurch...)
Friday, February 21, 2014
Air Pacific Media Monitoring, Take Seven (February 17th-21st, 2014)
All right, all right, you know the drill. Only problem is, second slow news week. (Man, I've got to readjust my media alert criteria....)
"Animal activists protest outside SeaWorld San Diego: Group also took message to Lindbergh Field"
ABC-10 San Diego
February 16th, 2014
http://www.10news.com/news/animal-activists-protest-outside-seaworld-san-diego-group-also-took-message-to-lindbergh-field-02162014
In a nutshell: 200 animal rights activists staged large protests at both SeaWorld San Diego and at Lindbergh Field, continuing the fervor over Southwest Airlines' partnership with the theme park amidst the controversy brought about by the documentary Blackfish.
Why this matters: Reinforcing a previous entry from a few weeks back, we need to make it clear to potential passengers and customers that we associate our company with partners whose practices are humane and environmentally-conscious.
"Gary Sinise, Hollywood Pals Salute Wounded Warriors with 3-Day Fest"
Breitbart News
February 17th, 2014
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Hollywood/2014/02/17/gary-sinise-wounded-warrior-san-diego
In a nutshell: Actor Gary Sinise, via his foundation and with the support of both American Airlines and the USO (along with some help from some of his fellow actors) to stage a three-day event honoring wounded soldiers.
Why this matters: We should think about finding a way to place ourselves in the position of honoring our troops by giving them a means of returning to their families.
"Fly from LAX or SAN to Mammoth Free with Lodging Purchase"
By Courtney Royce
onthesnow.com
February 19th, 2014
http://www.onthesnow.com/news/a/589308/fly-from-lax-or-san-to-mammoth-free-with-lodging-purchase
In a nutshell: Up to two people are now eligible for free flights from LAX or San Diego International Airport if they make reservations at any Mammoth Lakes resort, between March 23rd and April 4th.
Why this matters: We should start thinking about partnering with resorts or hotels to offer similar premiums to our customers.
"Airlines warned to beware of possible shoe bombs"
By CNN Wire
FOX-5 San Diego
February 20th, 2014
http://fox5sandiego.com/2014/02/19/airlines-warned-to-beware-of-possible-shoe-bombs/#axzz2tziU7tnn
In a nutshell: Airlines have been warned by the US government of possible terrorist threats via hidden explosives in their shoes.
Why this matters: We'll need to figure out how our airline complies with the government in matters such as this.
"Animal activists protest outside SeaWorld San Diego: Group also took message to Lindbergh Field"
ABC-10 San Diego
February 16th, 2014
http://www.10news.com/news/animal-activists-protest-outside-seaworld-san-diego-group-also-took-message-to-lindbergh-field-02162014
In a nutshell: 200 animal rights activists staged large protests at both SeaWorld San Diego and at Lindbergh Field, continuing the fervor over Southwest Airlines' partnership with the theme park amidst the controversy brought about by the documentary Blackfish.
Why this matters: Reinforcing a previous entry from a few weeks back, we need to make it clear to potential passengers and customers that we associate our company with partners whose practices are humane and environmentally-conscious.
"Gary Sinise, Hollywood Pals Salute Wounded Warriors with 3-Day Fest"
Breitbart News
February 17th, 2014
http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Hollywood/2014/02/17/gary-sinise-wounded-warrior-san-diego
In a nutshell: Actor Gary Sinise, via his foundation and with the support of both American Airlines and the USO (along with some help from some of his fellow actors) to stage a three-day event honoring wounded soldiers.
Why this matters: We should think about finding a way to place ourselves in the position of honoring our troops by giving them a means of returning to their families.
"Fly from LAX or SAN to Mammoth Free with Lodging Purchase"
By Courtney Royce
onthesnow.com
February 19th, 2014
http://www.onthesnow.com/news/a/589308/fly-from-lax-or-san-to-mammoth-free-with-lodging-purchase
In a nutshell: Up to two people are now eligible for free flights from LAX or San Diego International Airport if they make reservations at any Mammoth Lakes resort, between March 23rd and April 4th.
Why this matters: We should start thinking about partnering with resorts or hotels to offer similar premiums to our customers.
"Airlines warned to beware of possible shoe bombs"
By CNN Wire
FOX-5 San Diego
February 20th, 2014
http://fox5sandiego.com/2014/02/19/airlines-warned-to-beware-of-possible-shoe-bombs/#axzz2tziU7tnn
In a nutshell: Airlines have been warned by the US government of possible terrorist threats via hidden explosives in their shoes.
Why this matters: We'll need to figure out how our airline complies with the government in matters such as this.
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