This week’s PR Roundup appears on the difficulties journalists are going through after the devastation of Hurricane Helene and the way PR people can assist, what enterprise communicators can be taught from the port strike and Memo’s newest examine on messaging whereas your group’s management turns over.
Journalists and Hurricane Helene
What occurred: Poynter had a number of fascinating items this week about how journalists are precisely overlaying Hurricane Helene and its aftermath. Many of those journalists are additionally residents of the areas affected, and along with making an attempt to file tales and get vital info to native readers, they’re additionally coping with their very own points—lack of energy and wifi, cellular phone outages, flooding of their houses, lack of meals, childcare, and so on.
Within the article one reporter, who lives an hour from Asheville, North Carolina—one of many hardest hit areas—says she is utilizing wifi at her buddies homes or at companies to ship tales. Others don’t have water, or need to stroll all over the place to preserve gas which isn’t available. Some workforce members are nonetheless lacking.
Communication takeaways: Journalism is a annoying occupation on a traditional day. Including in a life-altering crises could make it one million occasions worse. At these occasions it’s vital for PR professionals to do their analysis and keep in mind to method reporters with empathy.
Kati Murphy, VP, PR and Communications at Meow Wolf, which produces immersive artwork experiences throughout the nation, has skilled first hand what a local weather emergency can do to either side of the editorial fence. She says communicators want to remain versatile and aware of what’s taking place round them to assist make journalists’ lives simpler throughout these occasions.
“When Hurricane Beryl hit Houston proper earlier than a Meow Wolf press second, it was clear most journalists within the space had their consideration elsewhere,” Murphy explains. “Reasonably than pushing forward, we acknowledged the necessity to pause. We held off on the press launch and rescheduled media visits, understanding it wasn’t the fitting time.”
Murphy additionally says she checked in with journalists she knew have been instantly affected and acknowledged the state of affairs, letting them know there was no added stress.
“Being conscious of what they’re coping with, placing their well-being forward of the story, and adjusting as wanted shouldn’t be solely the fitting factor to do—it protects each your relationships and your model throughout robust moments.”
Companies Have to Pay Consideration to the Port Strike
[Update: As of Thursday evening (Oct. 3), the strike has been suspended.]
What occurred: 50,000 members of the Worldwide Longshoremen’s Affiliation, located on the East and Gulf Coasts, walked off the job Tuesday (Oct.1). The strike has the potential to disrupt the circulation of products all through the nation, coming into on the nation’s many ports.
Talks between the employees and the US Maritime Alliance, or USMX, which represents terminal operators, main delivery traces and port authorities stalled within the newest contract negotiations. The union is combating towards using automation at ports and for a rise in wages.
In line with a report in Quartz, Walmart, Ikea and House Depot are just a few of the main firms that could possibly be affected. Because of this information, many grocery shops and retailers are saying prospects are flooding the shops with panic shopping for. In fact, the primary merchandise promoting appears to be bathroom paper.
Authorities entities appear to be setting the tone to halt shopper panic. The Division of Commerce instructed CNBC that the “work stoppage at East Coast and Gulf Coast ports won’t have a significant influence on bathroom paper provides. Almost 90 % of bathroom paper utilized in the US is domestically produced, with nearly all of imported provides coming from Canada and Mexico over street or rail.”
Communications takeaways: Entities equivalent to The Nationwide Grocers Affiliation, and The Nationwide Retail Federation have already issued statements for members and shoppers. Many leaders of firms appear to be forthcoming within the media as effectively, with updates for customers, getting forward of the story.
Nicole Paleologus, Managing Director and provide chain skilled at Subsequent PR, says not simply the port strikes however destruction following Hurricane Helene are contributing to a brand new regular for provide chain disruption, which may break a model’s repute if not dealt with accurately.
“The minute a buyer has to ask for an replace, it’s too late,” Paleologus says. “As a result of there’s a lot that occurs behind the scenes within the provide chain, it’s crucial for firms to proactively talk what they’re doing to deal with challenges affecting manufacturing and supply, and doing so within the methods their prospects favor to obtain updates. The additional consideration to speak by way of electronic mail, alerts inside your platform, and/or textual content messaging, ensures your key stakeholders know their wants are a precedence and questions are answered.”
She additionally notes that one replace or proactive message shouldn’t be sufficient throughout some of these crises.
“Corporations want to find out when and the way usually they’ll be speaking updates to their prospects and being clear about that,” Paleologus says. “In line with project44, [a digital platform powering high-velocity supply chains] there are over 100 container vessels scheduled to achieve these ports on strike within the subsequent week. Prospects want constant updates as shipments are reroutes. Don’t go away key stakeholders with out the data they should make the very best choices.”
Memo Examine offers Knowledge Evaluation Round CEO Turnover Comms
What occurred: Memo, a PR measurement platform, launched new information surrounding reader consideration and company management turnover. The corporate studied main CEO departures in 2024 (together with the likes of Starbucks, Boeing, Nike and others) to see how totally different communications methods linked to the modifications impacted public consideration, criticism and the corporate revenue margins.
Key takeaways embrace:
- Sharing the information in phases left room for extra criticism and extended the damaging information cycle.
- Narratives round incoming CEO credentials and imaginative and prescient for the corporate captured reader consideration.
- Comms methods and bulletins can have share worth and market impacts.
Communication takeaways: Generally in PR it’s not simply the data you share however the tone and media setting it’s shared in. Katrina Dene, VP of Communications at Memo says for instance, that everyone knows damaging information drives headlines and a spotlight.
“The largest lesson realized from CEO turnover at Boeing, Starbucks and Nike is that for those who share damaging information alone, that is what individuals will learn and cling onto,” Dene says. “Nevertheless, merely sharing damaging information [coupled] with a plan for the longer term can change the tide on the subject of large management modifications.”
Bonus: Depart Mariah alone! (For now.)
What occurred: Mariah Carey shared on social media that it’s not the vacation season till she says so. The “All I Need for Christmas” queen certain is aware of methods to attain her viewers.
To these asking…. Not but!!! pic.twitter.com/CCejJcDjDs
— Mariah Carey (@MariahCarey) October 2, 2024
Nicole Schuman is Managing Editor of PRNEWS.