LA Clippers Community Unites Against Owner Donald Sterling

Over the weekend, an audio recording leaked that revealed some disturbing attitudes within the LA Clippers franchise. Owner Donald Sterling was recorded having a conversation with his girlfriend, scolding her for posting a picture on Instagram with a black person. Ironically, his girlfriend is black and Mexican and the "black person" she took a photo with was basketball legend Magic Johnson. Somehow, Sterling still found the entire situation highly upsetting. 

Although the recording is still under investigation, there is strong evidence to suggest the voice does, in fact, belong to Sterling. Most notably he says, "It bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you’re associating with black people. Do you have to?" He goes on to claim, "You can sleep with [black people]. You can bring them in, you can do whatever you want. The little I ask you is not to promote it on [Instagram] ... and not to bring them to my games." 

I suppose Sterling's wish has been granted. Magic Johnson tweeted, ".@cjbycookie [his wife] and I will never go to a Clippers game again as long as Donald Sterling is the owner." He also goes on to tweet, "I feel sorry for my friends Coach Doc Rivers and Chris Paul that they have to work for a man that feels that way about African Americans." Rivers, Paul, and a majority of the Clippers starting lineup are African American.

During yesterday's playoff game against the Golden State Warriors, the team chose to wear their warm up shirts inside out as a silent protest against the comments made by Sterling. They also maintained a united front during post-game press conferences. When asked about the purported comments, both Chris Paul and Blake Griffin chose to turn the attention back to their performances during the game. Eventually, the reporters got the hint and stuck to questions related to the playoffs.

Courtesy of Mashable

As if this story didn't have enough ironic twists and turns already, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was planning to honor Sterling with a lifetime achievement award in May. They have since retracted it in a statement from interim president and CEO, Lorraine C. Miller, saying, "Let me make it clear, the NAACP will not be honoring Mr. Sterling at the upcoming Los Angeles branch event and we have strongly urged our Los Angeles unit to take the necessary steps to rescind the previous award they bestowed on him." 

Typically, the work of one prominent member of an organization can tarnish the entire franchise's name. However, it seems the LA Clippers have come together, and its fans have rallied behind the team in support. As President Obama stated when asked about his reaction to the recordings, "When ignorant folks want to advertise their ignorance, you don’t have to do anything, you just let them talk....The United States continues to wrestle with legacy of race and slavery and segregation. That’s still there. We’ve made enormous strides, but you’re going to continue to see this percolate up ... We have to continue denouncing it and teach our children differently."

Lipstick Backlash

Recently, Sephora had to do a bit of crisis management. About a week ago, the cosmetics chain had to pull a lipstick off of its shelves after receiving backlash from customers. The lipstick shade, titled "Celebutard," was a part of the Painted Love Lipstick line by Kat Von D. While the nude hue flatters most consumers, ironically, it didn't set well with many. 

The majority of the negative response came from mothers of children with developmental issues who were not a fan of the use of the derogatory word. Kim Stagliano, managing editor of Age of Autism, wrote in a Huffington Post blog, "People with disabilities are the last to benefit from what some might call 'political correctness,' and what I would call basic human decency. 'Retard' is still bandied about - even by people I like a lot, like Howard Stern and his crew, who still have wack packers with the R word in their name."

Once realizing the mistake, Sephora issued this statement saying, "It has come to our attention that the name of one shade of a lipstick we carry has caused offense to some of our clients and others. We are deeply sorry for that, and we have ceased sale of that shade both in our stores and online."

Lipstick creator, Kat Von D, did not share the same sentiment. Although it has since been deleted, she reportedly tweeted, "At the end of the day, it's just a f**king lipstick." 

Do you believe it's "just a lipstick" or is it an offensive and insensitive term to a large group of the population? Do you think Sephora handled this crisis effectively? We would love for you to share your thoughts below!

For more information: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/07/celebutard-lipstick-sephora_n_4233966.html#slide=more240278

http://www.prdaily.com/crisiscommunications/Articles/15577.aspx

Social Media Scolding over Boston Marathon

It seems that false reporting over social media sites is becoming a reoccurring trend. Like my professors continually preach, "Always check your facts." It seems that the media need to be refreshed on this simple rule.

According to Mashable, the Federal Bureau of Investigation scolded several media outlets in a statement Wednesday afternoon in response to the false reports being circulated that an arrest had been made in the investigation of Monday's Boston Marathon bombings. 

"Over the past day and a half, there have been a number of press reports based on information from unofficial sources that has been inaccurate," reads the FBI's unusual report. "Since these stories often have unintended consequences, we ask the media, particularly at this early stage of the investigation, to exercise caution and attempt to verify information through appropriate official channels before reporting."

The race to be first is hurting news organizations' accuracy and trust levels. A crisis can come at any moment. As an aspiring PR professional, I know that I need to be ready for the worst at any given time. However hectic the crisis may become, it is never okay to post public information without checking your facts. Credibility is essential in the media and communication industry. 

Ben Dimiero @bendimiero
The last hour of CNN: Suspect ID'd. Arrest imminent. Arrest made. Confirmed arrest made. Wait, maybe no arrest. Confirmed arrest not made.

2:36 PM - 17 Apr 2013

72 RETWEETS 13 FAVORITES

What news organizations do you still hold credible? Let us know! 

Coaches Gone Wild

The video of former Rutgers men basketball coach, Mike Rice, physically abusing and berating the players in a torrent of obscenities and homophobic slurs, has left us horrified and Rutgers in the midst of a huge media firestorm.  After the hidden footage was aired on ESPN it didn’t take long for it to go viral.  Soon enough, it had flooded the waves of social media and with that alone, Rutgers had already found itself neck-deep in a PR crisis. 

The video, showing footage from 2012, had been brought to the attention of Rutgers Athletic Director, Tim Pernetti, last November. Rice’s punishment was anything but harsh: a three-game suspension and a stint in anger management classes.  Within the past few months, Rutgers made the huge mistake by biding their time and praying this would all blow-over.  

Flash forward to April where Rutgers promptly fired Rice as the scandal rippled through the campus and beyond.  A suitable course of action, but one that critics are calling a “Public Relations Band-Aid:” a temporary solution after the damage has been done.  

So what could have Rutgers done differently?  Some PR pros are commending Rutgers for being so prompt to fire Rice after coverage of the incident exploded.  However, most agree that it’s a case of too little, too late.  There is an ethical standard of giving the worthy punishment when it punishment is due that Rutgers failed to reach.  Had they taken the appropriate course of action and fired Rice when the footage was first brought to the Rutgers Athletic Director’s attention, they might be one head coach poorer but they could have avoided the even greater negative impact on its reputation. 

What’s your opinion on the Rutgers Basketball scandal? Let us know!

This guest blog post was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Cara Graeff.

A Food Crisis Worse Than Your Ramen Diet

The Holidays are here, and they are without a doubt the cause of the ‘eat and regret it later’ movement. This is the time when you gain all of the pounds you promise yourself you’ll lose before summer. From Thanksgiving turkey to apple pies, food is a MUST for the Holidays. So in honor of the season of giving, (your mother the nod to pass the salt, that is), here’s a public relations food crisis that has taught us all a valuable lesson in PR crisis management. 

Case study: Wrigleys and the Trayvon Martin tragedy 

The February 2012 death of 16-year-old African American Trayvon Martin who was shot and killed by neighborhood watch captain and former security officer George Zimmerman caused a national outcry that sparked debates on issues of race, discrimination, gun laws, and even police practices.

One of the last things he would ever hold in his hand is a pack of Skittles, which became a national symbol of the tragedy that had occurred. Protestors across the country began to buy Skittles to advocate for equality and justice causing Skittles sales to skyrocket. Many Americans felt Wrigleys, the parent company, had an obligation to donate to Martin’s family and other related charities. 

Wrigley’s did the best thing which was to stay neutral and away from the spotlight saying, “We are deeply saddened by the news of Trayvon Martin’s death and express our sincere condolences to his family and friends. We also respect their privacy and feel it inappropriate to get involved or comment further as we would never wish for our actions to be perceived as an attempt of commercial gain following this tragedy.” 

This is a prime example of how some of the best PR crises are those we never hear of.  Wrigley’s was quick, respectful, and most importantly, unbiased. We can all (including the folks at Chick-Fil-A) definitely learn a lesson or two from the PR folks at Wrigleys. 

This guest blog post was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Antinnea Skipwith.

Social Media Frenzy: Should Companies Keep Quiet in the Wake of Crises?

Crisis communication has always been a tricky thing to tackle in the PR world. When a tragedy strikes, companies must be careful about what they post on social media. If they don’t acknowledge the crisis, many people will perceive them as being insensitive. However, if they do post about the crisis it could be misconstrued as if they are jockeying for engagement during the crisis. 

Then there are some companies who go too far and turn crisis situations into marketing opportunities. For example, in the middle of Hurricane Sandy, American Apparel sent an email to customers that offered “20 percent off everything for the next 36 hours.” They also added to this email, “in case you’re bored during the storm.” They titled this sale the "Hurricane Sandy Sale" and have gotten a lot of heat on social media sites. 

Obviously, companies are in a tricky situation. They must find the correct balance of social media interaction. There is a fine line between being acknowledging a crisis and exploitation. In this type of situation, companies must be aware of their social media presence and the affect that it has on their customers. Everyone is a consumer, not just of products, but of information as well. In a society where social media seems to be taking over, companies must try to be a bit more sensitive with what they are posting. Eventually, the crisis will be averted and life will go on, but until then, we must all exercise sensitivity during crisis situations and remember the effect it has on everyone.

This guest blog post was written by PRowl Public Relations staff member Virginia Laskowski

LinkedIn, Locked Out

On Wednesday LinkedIn users everywhere got the news that over 6.5 million user passwords leaked online. A russian forum user announced that he had hacked LinkedIn, and subsequently uploaded the millions of passwords online. The encryption LinkedIn used to safeguard its passwords was thought to be pretty secure, but it was the manner in which they stored it that caused the infiltration. LinkedIn stored the passwords as unsalted hashes, basically meaning that it made it easier and faster for hackers to crack the passwords.

Following confirmation of the hack, LinkedIn advised users to change their passwords as an extra security measure. If you have not yet changed yours, you can get instructions on how to do so here. Users who were affected by the security breach, however, have already been notified via email.

In the wake of the security breach, LinkedIn has been making changes to its security system, now transition into one with both hashed and salted passwords. During the ordeal, LinkedIn was wise to keep its users informed, in proper crisis communications fashion. The professional social media outlet utilized Twitter with up-to-date news and was quick to respond following reports of the hacking.

Does the password hack affect your feelings toward LinkedIn? Why or why not? Let us know!

Kony 2012 Director Bends Under Pressure

Last week I blogged about the Kony 2012 viral sensation, which you can access here. I mentioned that the filmmaker and co-founder of Invisible Children, Jason Russell, had been instrumental in the effort to spread the word about Joseph Kony to young people.

Russell was detained on Thursday morning, after police received several calls of a man who was undressed, and running hysterically through traffic. A spokeswoman for the police told reporters, "During the evaluation we learned we probably needed to take him to a medical facility because of statements he was saying."

The Kony director's wife addressed the incident in a statement, blaming extreme

exhaustion and dehydration, coupled with the pressure of the video's critics, as the reason for Russell's meltdown. Described by Invisible Children as, "our grand storyteller and dreamer," Russell has received a significant amount of flack for his Kony 2012 video. Critics say that he oversimplified the situation in Uganda, or that he had ulterior motives for instigating the movement.

Upon searching Kony 2012 on Google, the first thing that now comes up is Jason Russell's incident, significantly taking away from Invisible Children's efforts. Do you think that the organization can bounce back after this setback? Or will people keep reminding themselves of what happened behind the scenes? Let us know!

Don't be a Quitter on Twitter

You've probably heard about Ashton Kutcher's faux pas regarding the Penn State and Joe Paterno scandal. To recap, the "That 70's Show" actor tweeted his disdain at the coach's firing, without having known the scandal behind it. Almost immediately, he rescinded his tweet and apologized. However, the damage was done and Kutcher was embarrassed, so he announced his decision to allow his team to manage his Twitter for him. Unfortunately, his followers were not pleased; instead, they felt that it was better that he tweet himself and make the occasional misstep, then to allow a third-party to puppeteer his actions.

So, is it better to just all together quit Twitter, hire someone to manage your account, or to just stick with it, when a crisis arises? According to Ryan May of Minnesota Public Relations Blog, several celebrities who have quit Twitter due to privacy reasons, came back a short time later. With celebrities threatening to quit left and right, it is important to think strategically about social media. Celebrities are magnets for negativity and criticism, so how can your turn that negativity into positivity? Last year, for instance, Kim Kardashian, Justin Timberlake, and Lady Gaga vowed to close their Twitter accounts until they raised one million dollars for Keep a Child Alive. By doing so, they played the game and turned attention away from themselves to a greater cause.

Ashton was faced with the decision whether to stay or go, so was it better to stay and risk digging himself into a deeper hole? Or leave and accept that people were going to post negative statements about him without being able to defend himself'? In the long run, Ashton decided to stay with Twitter and keep his opinions on the DL.

Do you think quitting Twitter is an effective crisis management decision? Why or why not? Let us know!