Mack Communications
  • Home
  • TEAM
  • Clients
  • Mack Report
  • Contact Us

The Power of Brevity

1/10/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Never underestimate the power of brevity. Keeping your message short and sweet increases the odds your audience will stick around to hear everything you have to say. As demonstrated in this article and others, many readers don’t make it past the headline of an online article-- let alone if they have to scroll down the page.

Offline, too, brevity can grant you an air of confidence and competence-- whether in a presentation, press conference, or interview. The trick is knowing when you do need to go into detail: some complex issues or crisis events may require more than 140 characters on Twitter.

Find the sweet spot between rambling and a paucity of information, and your message will come across loud and clear.
0 Comments

2016 Bloopers and Blunders

12/27/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
Although it makes us cringe to see publicity go bad, we find that sticky situations can lead to lessons learned. After mulling it over, here’s what we think were a few of the top public relations/communications bloopers and blunders of 2016. Let's hope for fewer in 2017!

Ryan Lochte gets rowdy in Rio:
Olympic medalist and swimmer Ryan Lochte made headlines during this summer’s Rio Olympics after sharing a dramatic account of being robbed at gunpoint after a night out partying. However, once the press realized a few of his details didn’t quite add up, the Brazilian police conducted an investigation and revealed a different story: Surveillance footage had Lochte and posse drunkenly vandalizing a gas station. National embarrassment, a public apology, and a 10-month suspension from swimming ensued.

Mack assessment: As we’ve said before, honesty is the best policy. Lochte might have been able to prevent the situation spiraling into an international spectacle if he had copped to his mistake right away, and done damage control from there.

Flint, Michigan's water woes:
After switching water sources in 2014, residents of Flint, Michigan began to complain about dirty, discolored water, rashes and bad aromas. By 2015, water testing done by Virginia Tech revealed elevated lead levels, and the Michigan EPA began sounding the alarm over water quality. Yet even as evidence of the toxicity of Flint’s water continued to mount, officials at the Michigan statehouse downplayed the concerns of residents. By 2016, Obama declared a state of emergency in the city. The state government was pilloried over their handling of the situation, which put tens of thousands of people--including children--at risk.

Mack assessment: This is a classic case of a mismanaged crisis. When things go south, the first step is to acknowledge the crisis and speak to the concerns of the people affected. Too often companies and governments bury their collective heads in the sand, hoping the problem will go away. Ignoring the problem only exacerbates the crisis.


Brain cramp takes down Gary Johnson:
During an interview with MSNBC in September, a commentator asked Libertarian presidential nominee Gary Johnson how he would address the refugee crisis in Aleppo, Syria. Johnson’s response-- “What is Aleppo?”-- was like the shot heard around the (Twitter) world. In what would later turn out to be an accurate prediction, the New York Times speculated that “the stumble could be a serious blow to Mr. Johnson’s campaign.”

​Mack assessment: For TV interviews, it’s crucial to prepare beforehand to avoid being caught off guard. Sometimes, though, journalists may throw you a curve ball. Johnson would have benefited from learning how to block a question in order to respond only on topics you’re ready for.

[Photos via CNN]
0 Comments

Handling Big Announcements

12/12/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
The internet and social media make it easier than ever to spread information (factual or not) like wildfire. If your company or organization has big news to share, choosing to make a big announcement gives you more control over the message and tone of your news (rather than waiting for the media to find out on its own).
Here are three things to consider before making big announcements:
  • Timing: would you deem your announcement good news or bad news? If the latter, consider making your announcement Friday afternoon, when people are starting to check out from work and into the weekend. Conversely, if you’re looking to make a big splash, aim for earlier in the week.
  • Platform: certain politicians lately have a tendency to make big announcements on Twitter. While Twitter certainly allows for a certain amount of control, consider whether 140 characters can convey enough context and detail for your situation. Other platforms have their advantages as well: A TV interview puts a human face on an issue, while a press conference or press release allows reporters time to analyze quotes and information to produce perhaps more thoughtful articles.
  • Prepare! By making an announcement, you are taking control-- don’t forget it! Write down your talking points, rehearse, and stick to them.
0 Comments

    tags

    All
    Audience
    Clients
    Communications
    Content
    Crisis Communications
    Facebook
    Holidays
    Instagram
    Interview
    Interviews
    LinkedIn
    Media
    Media Relations
    Media Training
    News Conferences
    Newspapers
    Op-Ed
    Pinterest
    Pr
    Press Conference
    Press Release
    Press Releases
    Public Relations
    Reporter
    Reporters
    Social Media
    Technology
    Timeliness
    Twitter
    Video
    You Tube

    Archives

    April 2018
    March 2018
    December 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    October 2013
    September 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010

MACK COMMUNICATIONS
540 W 35th St, Ste 201 
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 940-3638 

info@mackcommunications.com
Photos used under Creative Commons from Meet the Media Guru, Joseph.Morris, BoldContent, MDGovpics, Grzegorz Łobiński, Mr Moss, North Charleston, ITU Pictures, wistechcolleges, .v1ctor Casale., www.audio-luci-store.it, katielips, editor64, NeighborLink Fort Wayne, AMagill, timsackton, MyFWCmedia, Matt J Newman, Mr.TinDC, Skley, mikecogh, othompsonski, wayne's eye view, Elvert Barnes, woodleywonderworks, North Charleston, MoBikeFed, flossyflotsam, North Charleston, NYCDOT, US Mission Geneva, jjandames, aalborgstift, BurnAway, A. Germain, North Charleston, NCDOTcommunications, IAEA Imagebank, The Chapman Cultural Center, hitsnooze, Wiertz Sébastien, charliekwalker, cliff1066™, TheeErin, woodleywonderworks, dane brian, Aramil Liadon, 2010 World Wheelchair Basketball Championships, Ty Nigh, freddthompson, Nadia Szopinska, west.m, stormwarning., Bright Meadow, Giorgio Montersino, Chris Erwin, Aplomb, jfingas, joce01_y, Massachusetts Dept. of Environmental Protection, Kevin Walter, Andrew Feinberg, Yan Arief, kellypretzer, Korean Resource Center 민족학교, veDro - l'Italia al futuro, crdotx, US Mission Geneva, Joe Shlabotnik, esocialmediashop, Stephen Cummings, CarbonNYC, sidewalk flying, MoBikeFed, marksdk, Marco Raaphorst, Saleel Velankar, adactio, edkohler, World Economic Forum, USACE Europe District, stereogab, Florin Rosoga, MikeSchinkel
  • Home
  • TEAM
  • Clients
  • Mack Report
  • Contact Us
✕