NBC News Gaffe

For those who don't know, Chris Christie is the current governor of New Jersey. While technically a Republican, Christie crosses party lines enough to be the governor of a historically democrat voting state, and to have the support of most of it's residents. However, last year we first heard about what's now known as the 'Bridgegate' scandal, wherein Christie surrogates purportedly orchestrated the closing of 2 lanes on the George Washington bridge because the mayor of that county didn't support Christie's reelection bid. I believe that Christie is innocent in this scandal, but there are always some who'll take any opportunity to slander those in power. Christie is also considered a serious contender for the Republican Presidential nomination in 2016, so anything newsworthy about him, especially this scandal, is very controversial to report on. With all controversial issues, it's absolutely critical to get all the facts right, which NBC news failed to do last Thursday, the 18th of September.

In their nightly newscast, anchor Brian Williams said that "federal charges are now ruled out for Chris Christie in the affair that came to be known as 'Bridgegate.'" Federal prosecutors say that the investigation is still ongoing, and that while there is currently no incriminating evidence linking Christie with the scandal, charges have not yet been ruled out. A serious gaffe, to be sure, but NBC chose the right response and quickly admitted the mistake. Had NBC ignored or denied their mistake in reporting, the consequences could have been serious, such as a decline in viewer's trust of the network. By owning up to their mistake and sticking to the truth, NBC has shown that they are a network that can be trusted; that even when they make mistakes, which is a trait of all humans, they can be trusted to fix them. The way NBC handled the situation should be a lesson in honesty; that the truth always works.

Here's a link to the full article about it: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/09/19/christie-george-washington-bridge-closure-report/15885679/

What do you think about NBC's mistake and how they handled it? We'd love to hear from you in the comments.

ABC’s Scandal: Based off the Ultimate PR Star

Turns out, although ABC’s Scandal has some pretty outrageous characters and plots, the show is actually based off a real woman! The main character of Scandal, Olivia Pope, a crisis management expert or “fixer” is actually based directly off Judy Smith.

Judy Smith graduated with a public relations degree from Boston University and founded her own strategic and crisis communication firm called Smith & Company where, like Olivia Pope, Smith represents many high-profile political, athletic and entertainment figures including Kobe Bryant and Paula Deen.

Smith has even been the public relations expert behind the scenes of many real-life scandals that have made national news. For example, one of Smith’s biggest cases was representing Monica Lewinsky after news broke of her relationship with President Clinton.

She was also the PR expert behind the scenes of a scandal that erupted in 2007 after professional football player Michael Vick was accused of operating a dog-fighting ring in Virginia.

As if that wasn’t enough, Smith even worked in the White House! During her time as Special Assistant and Deputy Press Secretary for the Bush Administration, she provided the president with communication advice regarding the Gulf War and US-Kuwaiti relations.

Obviously, Judy Smith has a very impressive resume that definitely warrants a hit-television show but a lot can also be learned from her successful career. For example, never talk about your clients: Obviously, the scandals Smith has been involved in were splashed across all media outlets. However, until recently most had never heard of Judy Smith. This is because she has a reputation of never speaking of her past clients, which is definitely a necessity in crisis PR.

Many have asked Smith the key to her success and her response is a lesson to be remembered for all aspiring PR professionals: “Constant work and focus,” she explains. In most careers in PR, professionals will be handling many different accounts and clients; therefore, it is necessary to work hard and stay focused to keep up with their demanding needs.

Do you think Judy Smith’s wide range of clients and success makes her the ultimate PR star? 

This guest blog post was written by PRowl Staff Member Emily Charles.

The Scandalous Side of PR

Okay, I’ll admit it. I am slightly obsessed ABC’s hit drama, Scandal. Maybe it’s the insane plot twists and crazy back stabbing scenarios that keep me hooked. Perhaps it’s the never-ending love saga between Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington) and the President. Whatever it is, there is one thing I am sure of: when it comes to dealing with a major crisis, there is no scandal too big for Olivia Pope to fix. Olivia and her team of “fixers” work to manage the public images of D.C. power players. Although Pope and Associates are not necessarily the ideal PR role models, there are a few things any PR person can learn from them.

1. Confidence- Whether its addressing a room swarmed with media or doing damage control on the President’s affair with a White House intern, Olivia enters every situation with her head held high. No matter how stressful the situation may be, she handles it with confidence. It is a lesson to all PR people that when you are confident in yourself, your clients will be confident in you as well. Although Olivia may be unsure how a situation will turn out, she does not let it show. Instead, she throws on her best pair of heels and walks into the situation like she owns the room.  

2. Get the facts right- Just like any good PR person should know, Olivia knows credibility is a very delicate thing. Although she listens to her gut instincts, Olivia also knows that before acting on anything, she and her team must do their homework. All of the right facts must be gathered before addressing the public. One wrong move could destroy a client’s reputation. She also knows once you lose credibility, you lose everything.

3. Accept only the best- That is why Pope and Associates work tirelessly to provide their clients only the best help. They work hours on end to see that the job is done, and that it is done right. Pope and her team will travel anywhere at any time to help their clients. They don’t call themselves “gladiators in suits” for nothing! But when it’s all said and done, Olivia knows how to reward herself after a long day with a big glass of red wine.

So, are you hooked on Scandal too? I know I’ll be counting down the days until the crazy two part season finale airs!

This guest blog post was written by PRowl Staff Member Lauren Bentley.