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A Clinical Look at Huawei’s Reputation Management

  Note: A version of this essay appeared in EE Times. Beleaguered. That’s the word that seems tethered to Huawei these days. Yet, “beset with difficulties” doesn’t quite capture what the telecom giant is experiencing. As a student of communications — the type with words, not satellites — I’ve been observing Huawei from afar since …more

Deconstructing a Businessweek Story on a T-shirt Factory for PR Lessons

Talk about a mismatch in supply and demand. Thousands of companies strive for feature stories in business publications like Businessweek, Fortune and The Economist. Supply can probably accommodate 1 percent of demand (at the most). So how do you help your company or client be that one in a hundred? Create a pitch that aligns …more

Painless (I Promise) Primer on “PR in China”

I made my first trip to China in 1998. To say it seemed like another planet doesn’t quite capture the feeling. Try a different universe. I remember attempting to place a classified ad in China that required signoff from multiple government entities. It turned into a Kafka-esque exercise when the third stop found something out …more

Shaping a Blog Design for Thought Leadership

Back in 2012 I posted plans to evolve the blog which included: And I recognize the “look and feel” of the blog desperately needs help, another action on the 2012 to-do list. Didn’t happen. This exchange with Marsha Collier surfaced in 2013: I’ve had friends tell me that once I bulldoze the wretched “look and feel” …more

The Power of Saying "We Blew It"

This headline in BusinessWeek was so good, I decided to borrow it. Writer Patrick Lencioni, head of management consultancy The Table Group, chronicles the Domino’s Pizza ad campaign that takes introspective to a new level. In short, Domino’s falls on its rolling pin, publicly sharing focus group opinions that call out the pizza maker for …more

Revisiting the All-important Anecdote

The latest issue of BusinessWeek ran a piece called “The Leaner Baby Boomer Economy” In short, the story looks at how major brands like Starwood Hotels and Mercedes are responding to baby boomers cutting back on their discretionary spending. Like all compelling storytelling, the writer David Welch makes good use of anecdotes. For example, he …more

Making Sure the Cobbler’s Kids Don’t Go Without Shoes

    PR consultancies are notorious for not applying their craft to building their own brands. I’d like to think we’re an exception to the rule. Equally important, we strive to bring the art of storytelling to our own communications as well as our clients. As a result, we’ve enjoyed attention in publications ranging from …more

Insights into BusinessWeek Philosophy and Storytelling

I have to give credit to BusinessWeek’s Executive Editor John Byrne. He got the engagement religion and has never wavered in prostelyzing the message. While the BusinessWeek pages — both print and the digital variety — serve as the pulpit for most of Byrne’s communications beyond the BW corridors, he penned a op-ed for The Christian Science …more

When Competing News Helps Your Story

Everyone recognizes the benefit of steering clear of major media events when making an announcement. It’s safe to say that January 20 is not the time to roll out a new line of laptop computers. But there are scenarios when news relevant to your story hitting in roughly the same timeframe works to your advantage. Take the well-crafted story …more