Dog the Bounty Hunter Speaks out - Via Attorney

It seems that Dog the Bounty Hunter understands he is in a major public relations crisis. He is speaking via his attorney, Brooke Hart, to the Associated Press. The best thing to do when dealing with a personal crisis is to get personal. Take charge of your own crisis communications and be forthcoming about the issue at hand. Dog Chapman's next move should be to give an interview and explain his actions. Attorney statements should be avoided if possible.

Remember,a lawyer speaking on your behalf does not make your issues go away. In the event of a crisis, speak out quickly yourself.

Dog the Bounty Hunter: PR Nightmares Can Come From Within

Dog the Bounty Hunter made a career damaging mistake this week. He trusted someone with one of his most private of secrets. That someone he trusted was his son and what he told him has shed new light on “Dog”.

Duane “Dog” Chapman uses the n-word. We now know this because his son secretly recorded a telephone conversation when Dog exhibited his most canine side by explaining to his son that he could not bring his Black girlfriend around his staff because they often use the n-word. He told his son that he didn’t want to risk his Black girlfriend hearing the n-word because it could destroy everything he worked hard for. It is nice Dog could see how that would be a public relations problem, but it looks like his son values respect for humans over the family fortune.

Dog’s son recorded his enlightening conversation with his father and released it to the media, n-word and all. Now according to A&E, “Dog the Bounty Hunter” reality show has been shelved by A&E indefinitely - all because Dog trusted his son with his secret bone.

As the Dog, Britney Spears and Michael Vick realize, pretty much no one can be trusted. Even if you are a successful business owner or local celebrity in your own right, the people you think care about you may resent you. In the case of Dog, his son must have been outraged by his father’s display of pure disrespect and bigotry. He must have been hurt by his father and returned the favor by damaging Dog’s reputation.

You ever hear the saying “it’s lonely at the top”? Well it is true. In order to stay on top, you need to keep your distance from those who desire to destroy you. Question – when was the last time you heard about Bill Gates and his best friend? Or maybe Warren Buffet’s long time golf buddy. Donald Trump’s closest confidant? I can’t name anyone in particular. These guys are either with their wives or with business colleagues. You never hear about the best friends – because they probably don’t have someone they want that close to them for fear they might expose something about them.

Dog’s mistake was not talking on the phone with his son and using the n-word. It is his arrogance that he can control his son’s life and be free to say what ever he wants. If he doesn’t use the n-word when the camera is rolling for his A&E program, why couldn’t he use that same restraint when his son’s girlfriend was around? And why couldn’t he demand that his staff be respectful (as respectful as bigots could be) if she happened to come around with his son?


The lesson learned? Don’t say anything you don’t want repeated. Period. Don’t say anything improper to anyone. Use restraint when ever possible. And never have a conversation that you want to be confidential on the phone or via email.

Dog was right – it would be stupid to lose everything if his son’s girlfriend were to hear him use the n-word. Unfortunately, she didn’t need to come around his office or staff to hear it. His son took care of that and now the whole world knows. His worst fear may have come true and he may have done himself in – for now.



Sponsored Links

↑ Grab this Headline Animator

Survey: Marketers Shy on Implementing Web 2.0 Budget - But Understand its Significance

According to Coremetrics, marketers surveyed say Web 2.0 or social media marketing— them a competitive edge. Coremetrics, the leading provider of digital marketing optimization solutions announced from the results of its second annual ‘Face of the New Marketer’ survey.

"Marketers are aware of the impact that social media marketing can have on their overall program but view it as uncharted territory, not worthy of their budget," said John Squire, senior vice president of product strategy at Coremetrics, in a statement.

The findings included the following:

A clear disconnect between the desirability of social marketing and the budget allocated to it:

78% of respondents see social media marketing as a way to gain competitive edge, but only 7.75% of total online marketing spend is devoted to it

This compares with an average of 33% of spend going to online advertising and 28% to online promotion design and implementation

However, progress is being made in the field:

58% of respondents have implemented user-generated content or reviews in the past year
31% of respondents have implemented a blog in the past year
25% of respondents have implemented an RSS feed in the past year
The findings showed that most marketers have concrete plans to implement a social media marketing program at some point, even if not within the next twelve months. Of those marketers, the majority recognize the need to implement or improve their social marketing programs, but cite a lack of tools and expertise as their biggest challenges.

When to Write a Press Release – for Small Businesses

Knowing when to write and distribute a press release is important. Not every event in the life of your business is important enough for a press release. As a small business, exposure to your key audience for branding purposes can be key to the growth of your business. Identifying and timing your news is a good strategy.

Here are some reasons to distribute good news to your local media:

You or your company have been honored (i.e. recognition from local government, “blank” of the year award etc.)

Business Relocation

- Hiring of a senior level employee (new vice president or human resources director.)

New service offering (for example – your home cleaning business is now provide office cleaning services.)

Business expansion (i.e. new location in another city)

Those are just some of the really great reasons to write a press release. Press releases should cover the basics: Who, What, When , Where, Why and How. Press releases begin with a headline, dateline and opening paragraph. Here is an example:


HANOVER DISTRIBUTORS OPENS NEW WAREHOUSE IN KEARNY

For Immediate Release

Somerset, NJ – (November 5, 2007) – TEXT HERE


Next week: Learn how-to format the first paragraph of a press release.

If you need assistance with your public relations and marketing initiatives contact a public relation adviser.

The Music Download Work Around - Ultimate Box Sets

For about seven years, the music industry has been trying to figure out how to work around music file sharing and on demand music in general. Many caved in years ago making deals to offer their music on ad hoc basis through services like iTunes and Rhapsody.

But let's face it folks - marketing music has done a 360 degree maneuver. With virtually no one going to a music store (hey remember those?)they must use very innovate marketing tactics to sell more than just a few songs for artists - especially musicians that have been around for a while. So what is amusic executive to do? Well they reinvent the wheel.

Univeral Music Group is releasing what I am calling an ultimate box set for Dutch Pop Star Marco Borsato. This set will include an mp3 player pre-loaded with Marco Borsato collection of music among other offerings. I would say that the music industry is getting creative with their marketing and branding because they have no choice. Music downloading rules and there is nothing they can do, but work around the issue try to make their money the old fashion way. Reuters tells more about the Marco Borsato box set:

Listen Quietly- Is the Bubble About to Burst?

I am hearing more and more often that the bubble is going to burst. That is the web 2.0 bubble. "Oh no not again."

Steve Rubel, the advocate of all that is web 2.0 and noted PR pro, is now getting that sinking filling that there isn't enough room for everyone in cyberspace. He makes a good case on his blog micropersuasion.

Online advertising - do you think it has peaked or will peak soon?

A GAP In Judgment: Child Laborers Cause PR Nightmare

Gap Inc.,the largest clothing retailer in the U.S. based in San Franciso, had to put out a PR fire this week when the London Sunday Observer published an investigative report on how a vendor of a Gap subtractor uses child laborers in unfair and grueling conditions. Check out this report from the CBS 5 in San Francisco:

Google Phone in Two Weeks - Really???

News stories are popping up everywhere the Google Phone. Computer World is running a story saying it will release in mid-2008. The Wall Street Journal is saying that the Google phone software platform could debut in two weeks.

Google brand can certainly compete with the Apples and Microsofts of the world. But if it gets in to telecommunications - it could be unstoppable.

Google Docs - An Online Application a PR Professional can fall in love with

I have been using google docs for about a year and I find it more and more useful professionally. If I need to work on a document from anywhere, I need only to upload to google docs for worldwide access from any internet connection. Need someone to edit what you have written? Invite them as a collaborator. It is genius! You can ven email it as a MS word document.

But what one of google docs new features is mobile access. Just go to docs.google.com/m and you have acces to all of your saved files from your smart phone. Just the other day, a client called me while I was on the train looking for some company specific verbiage. I logged into the mobile version of google docs found the verbiage I needed - copied it and pasted it into an email. I took care of the request in under 10 minutes. It is a highly efficient online application.

Military PR Coup

Check out this story about $500k of the Stars and Stripes budget used for a questionable PR campaign.