Issue 58 - May 2007The M Powerer comes to you each month from M Power. Its 'fast four' format makes The M Powerer a purposefully quick read with a mix of quotes, tips, reviews, news and views on areas we work in, including - communication
- public relations
- empowerment
- individual effectiveness
- organisational productivity
- life balance
- customer service.
Karen Morath
Managing Director
M Power
karen@mpowercct.com
The ‘fast four’ for May are
1. How not to handle the media
2. A quote we like
3. Gratuitous plug
4. This month's book review
1. How not to handle the media
There were two high profile examples recently of circumstances forcing organisations to explain themselves to the media. One was a private nursing home; the other a private boys’ school. Both, probably for different reasons (unpreparedness, defensiveness, inexperience, over confidence?), handled the media spotlight poorly.
Both failed to open up their organisations to media scrutiny. In both cases the media interest reflected that of the broader community and it is only with that approval that private organisations like these can continue to exist and to grow. That is the premise that underpins the practice of public relations. Both organisations needed to make as a priority openly and honestly communicating the facts of the circumstances, warts and all, to the community via the media.
They needed to appoint one spokesperson to be the voice of the organisation, and they needed to be prepared to take whatever short term pain their actions warranted. This required both organisations to acknowledge the problems – to themselves and to the broader community – to enable them to move beyond them. In both cases the media interest lasted many more days than it would have if satisfactory answers had been given to the media’s initial enquiries. Both organisations will recover but the dark clouds over them will take some time to lift.
Communication empowers. 2. A quote we like
“A memorandum is written not to inform the reader, but to protect the writer.” Source - Dean Acheson, US politician, 1893 – 1971 A quote we like inspired some (more) tips on the use of email. This 20th century quote should underpin our 21st
century email communication. - most emails have the potential to not do justice to the writer
- some things are best left unsaid and all things negative or disparaging are best not put in email communication. You may be sorry you did when you read it back later or you are advised that you have innocently or carelessly offended someone, or because the lack of protocols around email find your email to one person has been forwarded on to another
- US
success guru Zig Ziglar says you should never tell a story that you can’t finish when someone else walks into the room. It’s even worse when you’re telling the story in writing and there’s an email trail
- miscommunication in email is rife, use email to send documents and the phone to send messages.
3. Gratuitous plug
Karen Morath speaks on ‘how communication can empower you and your organisation/business/department’. Learn - tips and techniques to brand yourself and your organisation
- strategies to help people inside and outside your organisation to understand what you do and how it can assist them
- how to identify key messages and stakeholders
-
a 20 minute technique for writing a 12 month communication plan
Keynotes 30 to 60 minutes. Workshops three hours or all day. To book Karen Morath to speak at your next function or training day call 03 9817 4111 or email us.
4. This month's book review
Media relations – issues and strategies by Jane Johnston, Allen & Unwin, Sydney 2007
This brand new Australian book is written by a long time journalist and now PR professor at Griffith University,who is incredibly well qualified to deliver this contemporary and practical overview of the media relations function of public relations. You can read it from cover to cover (it’s surprisingly ‘readable’) or dip into chapters on working with the news media, media releases, kits, conferences and the like. Great for anyone at any level who is or would like to be involved in this sort of work. There are also three case studies that demonstrate how PR and the media can work together collaboratively.
Last month M Power - developed a revenue raising promotion for a subscription-based email newsletter
wrote a product development and national marketing plan for a new fashion product wrote and published a variety of electronic newsletters developed a concept for a retail catalogue we will produce
How could we work to empower you or your organisation?
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