Ono the OstrichCRISIS MANAGER
The Internet Newsletter about Crisis Management 
 Editor: Erik Bernstein 
 Publisher: Jonathan Bernstein

"For Those Who Are Crisis Managers,
Whether They Want to be or Not"


ISSN:1528-3836
© 2013 Jonathan Bernstein

Recipe for a Reputation Wreck, Paula Deen Style    


Volume XIV, Number 12

June 28, 2013    


Just a Thought    

   
You are not only responsible for what you say, but also for what you do not say.

  

                                  -- Martin Luther             

                                


From the Editor  

 


2 cups unapologetic racism
1 rotten Bubba 
a healthy dollop of false ignorance
1/2 cup finger pointing
2 tbsp fine-ground weak excuses
crocodile tears to taste

Combine ingredients and allow media to stir until public outrage is well-developed. If reputation not yet as devastated as desired, appear on national TV shouting for people to throw rocks at your head.

I think we can all agree, Deen nailed the recipe on this one. As a result of both her own actions and the clear support she's shown for her less-than-savory brother, she's already gotten the axe from Food Network, and more brands are distancing themselves from her by the day, including heavy hitters Walmart and Home Depot.

What really interests me about this case is that, while her offenses were grave, had Deen handled this matter differently she may have been able to mitigate a great deal of the damage she's taken. Instead, she went in (at least apparently) uncoached and unprepared, placing the entire empire she's created in danger.

If you like what you see in this ezine, please pass it on to others by using the "Forward Email" link at the bottom of the ezine and tell them to subscribe! 

(Note: If you just "Forward" using your own email program's "Forward" function and your recipient thinks they're being spammed, they can click on the Opt Out link and opt YOU off the list. So use the "Forward Email" link, please.) 

Thank you, and read on.

 

          - Ed.
 
Special Blog Announcement
In a special blog post, published today, BCM president Jonathan Bernstein shares a tale from his US Army days that puts a very personal twist on most people's views of whistle-blowers.

"My Intelligence Cover Was Blown by a Well-Intentioned Whistle-Blower" tells of how an individual, who meant no ill-will, mind you, placed not only Jonathan's life, but also that of his wife and infant son, in grave danger by blowing the whistle on what he assumed was an inappropriate Army Intelligence operation.

Have an opinion to share? We'd love to hear your comments on the blog, or you reach out directly to Jonathan on Twitter at @bernsteincrisis.
Blogs!
By Erik Bernstein
Whether you want case studies, crisis management advice, or maybe a few examples of why you need to be prepared to show certain resistant C-Suiters, we have you covered with the Bernstein Crisis Management blog and our Management Library Crisis Management blog.

Durex Didn't Practice Safe Facebook when it launched a campaign on the social network without any firm boundaries. The result? A takeover by pranksters that led to the entire project being scrapped!

Another entry in this popular series, Crisis Management Tactics: Online Reputation Management, covers a hot topic today - how to proactively protect your reputation using the 'net.

It's incredible what prominent figures will tweet when they should know fans, reporters, and yes, their employers, are watching. Cubs Player's Twitter Complaints Cost Him takes a look at what infielder Ian Stewart said, and why his comments might have him out of a job.

The Baltimore Sun's Candy Thomson sat down for an interview with our president recently, and the result was "5 Crisis Management Questions for Jonathan Bernstein." We hope you'll enjoy!

HGTV's Floundering Crisis Response for Flag Folly explains the major social media crisis management mistake made by this TV network when responding to anger over its suggestion that the US flag be used as a table runner.

Burger chain Red Robin drew the ire of vegetarians after its latest commercial made light of their dietary choices, and the company really isn't doing anything about it. Do special circumstances mean it doesn't matter if Red Robin Blows Off Social Media Crisis Management, or is the organization inviting disaster?

Unless you've been living in a hole somewhere, you've heard about Paula Deen's Racist Reputation Wreck. The question is, what can we learn from it, and how can you avoid a similar situation throwing you or your organization into crisis?

Erik Bernstein is a freelance writer, editor of Crisis Manager, Social Media Manager for Bernstein Crisis Management, and self-pronounced one-man-band at Bernstein Social Media.
Apropos of Nothing

Social Media Training

 

Want to get your feet wet with social media but don't know where to start? Maybe you have accounts, but aren't sure what to post, or how to reply?

 

Being active on social media is a must these days, but you have to do it right. Erik Bernstein, Bernstein Crisis Management's Social Media Manager, now offers social media training sessions in person or via Skype for groups and individuals.  

 

For questions or pricing info, please email erik@bernsteincrisismanagement.com 

 

Bernsteins Available to Deliver Free Guest Lectures, Q&A Sessions

 

Jonathan alone, or the team of Jonathan and Erik Bernstein, are available at no charge to deliver guest lectures and host Q&A sessions with college classes via Skype or Google Hangout.  

 

Most recently we spoke at Toronto's Humber College, where we had some excellent conversation on a wide range of crisis-related subjects. 

 

The lectures are fun for both us and students, and we're more than happy to allow recording for your future use. All you need at your end is a single computer with webcam and a strong broadband connection and we can appear in your classroom in real-time.   

 

Contact us for more info!

 

Attention Corporate Boards of Directors (and those who serve them). 

 

If you're connected with a corporate board of directors in some way and think that board would benefit from having a veteran crisis management pro amongst its membership, please contact me. -- Jonathan

 


Business Announcements
(aka blatant self-promotion) 

 

Expanded Crisis Manager Bookstore 

 

We've recently expanded the Crisis Manager Bookstore to include offerings from esteemed colleagues like Melissa Agnes, Gerald Baron, Chris Syme and Jim Lukaszewski that cover topics from crisis communication and traditional PR to social media and cutting-edge crisis management.  We'll be adding other authors we admire in the weeks ahead. 


Visit the new Crisis Manager Bookstore to see all of the  material available now!

 

  

Keeping the Wolves at Bay: Media Training 

 

Book Cover JPG

Learn how to deal with traditional or social media during a crisis in this educational and entertaining guide from Crisis Manager publisher Jonathan Bernstein. $25 for the hard copy and $10 for the PDF.

 

Head to the Crisis Manager Bookstore for more information and/or to purchase.

 

 

  

 

Manager's Guide to Crisis Management

MgrsGuideCover

 

Whether you're a seasoned manager, aspiring up-and-comer, or student of crisis management, Jonathan Bernstein's textbook, Manager's Guide to Crisis Management (McGraw-Hill, 2011) will put you in control of any situation. 

 

 

 

 

 

Want Someone to Set Up and Turn-Key Your Social Media Activity for You?

 

Missing out on all the promotional, SEO and reputation management advantages of being active on social media platforms? Hire someone to be your voice...like Erik Bernstein, editor of Crisis Manager.  He's the one largely responsible for keeping the Bernstein Crisis Management website and social media accounts highly ranked and popular. 

 

 

More info:erik@bernsteincrisismanagement.com.

 


Guest Authors

Guest authors are very welcome to submit material for "Crisis Manager." There is no fee paid, but most guest authors have reported receiving business inquiries as a result of appearing in this publication. Case histories, experience-based lessons, commentary on current news events and editorial opinion are all eligible for consideration. Submission is not a guarantee of acceptance.

 


About Us


JB NewErik Bernstein

Jonathan Bernstein is both publisher of Crisis Manager and president of Bernstein Crisis Management, Inc., a national crisis management public relations agency providing 24/7 access to crisis response professionals. The agency engages in the full spectrum of crisis management services: crisis prevention, response, planning & training. He has been in the public relations field since 1982, following five-year stints in both military intelligence and investigative reporting.

Write to Jonathan at: jonathan@bernsteincrisismanagement.com.

Erik Bernstein is editor of Crisis Manager and is also Social Media Manager for Bernstein Crisis Management, Inc.

Write to Erik at: erik@bernsteincrisismanagement.com.

 


Legal Disclaimer (aka the small print)

All information contained herein is obtained by Jonathan Bernstein from sources believed by Jonathan Bernstein to be accurate and reliable.

 

Because of the possibility of human and mechanical error as well as other factors, neither Jonathan Bernstein nor Bernstein Crisis Management is responsible for any errors or omissions. All information is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind. Bernstein Crisis Management and Jonathan Bernstein make no representations and disclaim all express, implied, and statutory warranties of any kind to the user and/or any third party including, without limitation, warranties as to accuracy, timeliness, completeness, merchantability, or fitness for any particular purpose.  

 

Unless due to willful tortuous misconduct or gross negligence, Jonathan Bernstein and Bernstein Crisis Management shall have no liability in tort, contract, or otherwise (and as permitted by law, product liability), to the user and/or any third party.  

 

Under no circumstance shall Bernstein Crisis Management or Jonathan Bernstein be liable to the user and/or any third party for any lost profits or lost opportunity, indirect, special, consequential, incidental, or punitive damages whatsoever, even if Bernstein Crisis Management or Jonathan Bernstein has been advised of the possibility of such damages.  

 

A service of this newsletter is to provide news summaries and/or snippets to readers. In such instances articles and/or snippets will be reprinted as they are received from the originating party or as they are displayed on the originating website or in the original article. As we do not write the news, we merely point readers to it, under no circumstance shall Bernstein Crisis Management or Jonathan Bernstein be liable to the user and/or any third party for any lost profits or lost opportunity, indirect, special, consequential, incidental, or punitive damages whatsoever due to the distribution of said news articles or snippets that lead readers to a full article on a news service's website, even if Bernstein Crisis Management or Jonathan Bernstein has been advised of the possibility of such damages. Authors of the original news story and their publications shall be exclusively held liable. Any corrections to news stories are not mandatory and shall be printed at the discretion of the list moderator after evaluation on a case-by-case basis.

 

In This Issue
Just A Thought
Blogs!
Apropos of Nothing
Quick Links
Contact

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