Global PR firm Edelman today publishes its annual Trust Barometer. For over a decade, this research into global attitudes has triggered conversations around trust in business and government. And this year, with a US presidential election around the corner and the EU still trying to plot a way to economic security, trust remains at a premium for businesses and brands.

Having scoured the Barometer findings, one message shines through in this year’s report: trust will depend on far more than platitudes emanating from the corporate press office. People don’t want more Facebook, they want keener responsiveness, more openness, better dialogue, and more frequent communication from companies and brands. Read More »

The 70,000-strong army of volunteers who will be helping the London 2012 Olympic Games to run smoothly have been told that they mustn’t mention details of their location, their role or any backstage information about athletes, celebrities or “dignitaries” on social media.

Considering the nature of social media on sites like Twitter and Facebook is to share precisely that information the London Olympics organisers appear to be issuing rather optimistic social media guidelines for volunteers. Read More »

I used to have a boss with an amazing knack for sidling up to the desk of a junior researcher late on a Friday afternoon to ask, “How are you fixed?”.

This meant one thing: a flash poll or fast-turnaround survey put into the field that day and reported back to the client as soon as it was done. A flash poll in those days, for me, was the first sign that a client was in trouble. Some crisis had hit and we needed to dive in to understand how much people knew, how much they were affected by that knowledge and how to fix any damage to the brand or bottom line. We joked that we needed a big red button to push to set off a siren so that everyone would know that it was going to be a long night or two. Read More »

It’s ironic that Bell Pottinger – the guardian of many reputations – is currently dealing with its own reputation issue.

Reports suggesting Bell Pottinger could manipulate Google results to drown out negative coverage of Uzbek human rights violations and child labour have damaged the reputation of reputation management. Although the PR industry has a power to influence, this influence is limited. If the truth is dark and nasty, the truth will out eventually. Read More »

A few weeks ago, I asked this question, effectively launching the first stage of The CRAPPs (Communicative Relations Awards from PR Professionals), a light-hearted PR awards scheme launched in 2010 to celebrate the often-fractious relationship between journalists and the public relations industry.

Well, I just wanted to quickly blog to tell you that the ten most nominated names in each category have been announced, in categories such as ‘The ‘most likely to tell you to sling your hook’ award and ‘Least twattish Twitterer – the must follow journo’ (with a separate category for ‘must-follow PR’). Read More »

Last year, we launched a different sort of journalist/PR award scheme. We wanted to celebrate the famously love/hate relationship between both camps in a unique, memorable way. How did we choose to celebrate this, I hear you ask?

Well, by poking fun at it, now you mention it.

The CRAPPs (The Communicative Relations Awards from PR Professionals – the acronym unsurprisingly came first) was born in 2010 and was always intended to be a light-hearted affair, in an industry awards calendar more tightly packed than Vanessa Feltz’s fridge. Let the CIPRs of this world battle it out for serious, industry-respected awards, we thought. We’re just happy bringing a bit of premature Christmas cheer to the professional world we inhabit. Read More »

In true overdramatic-parent style, I must confess to occasionally pulling out the ‘I’m not angry, I’m just disappointed’ reprimand when my five year old plays up. It’s a tried and tested disciplining method that not only tells her when she’s done wrong, but in a clipped, scathing way. No wasted words. No pulled punches.

Now, on to the reason for this blog.

Many of you will have seen the very, very funny and brilliantly caustic Twitter profile for Shippam’s Paste earlier this week – a brand I literally knew nothing about. Read More »

Hi everybody.

I’m Rich. I work at 10 Yetis PR Agency. (‘Hiiii Rich’, you say in a soothingly choral sort of way).

And I’m an addict. (You clap empathetically, looking at me with a knowing approval and compassionately tearful gleam in your eye).

It all started out as a pastime. A bit of fun to while away the time with friends. I don’t need to use it, I’d tell myself. I do it because I want to. I was in control. And then, over time, things changed. I started using it at all hours of the day. I’d wake up and use it. I’d use while at work. I’d do it instead of spending time with my family. I’d do it as my family continued to live their lives around me, disapproving of my developing dependence. Then, as I found out about more and more different types – as other addicts eulogised – I’d have to try them. I needed to.

My addiction developed. Read More »

PR agency Brandlink Communications found itself in a PR disaster over the weekend when one of its vice presidents called influential blogger Jenny Lawson (aka The Bloggess), a “f***ing bitch” in a reply-all kerfuffle.

According to Lawson, the saga began when she received an email pitch from Brandlink about a Kardashian sister who had been spotted wearing pantyhose. Read More »

More insight from Advertising Week in New York. This time from MaryLee Sachs, author of The Changing MO of the CMO (How the Convergence of Brand and Reputation is Affecting Marketers ).

Read More »