Apr 2nd, 2012 | Communication, Marketing, Political Communication, Public Relations | 12 Comments
Bad news about Candidate B = Bad Public Relations!
by Neil Kuvin
I am curious, do any of you think the robo or robot calls used during political campaigns serve any purpose that benefits the candidate or do they just irritate potential voters?
I have been receiving four or five of these calls per day. As soon as I Iook at the phone readout or hear the first three words and know it is a recording, I hang up. Usually, the calls are bashing the other candidate without telling me what the sponsoring candidate is going to do, so if you listen to these calls, you go to the polls with a lot of negative junk about all of the candidates and very little about what the candidates will do.
Who do these campaign managers think we are? The marketing geniuses who put the scripts together for these “polmercials” could use some kindness juice or maybe just take a deep breath and try writing something about your candidate’s successes, strengths, capabilities, intellect, and winning! They are wasting their time on me. It’s really not that my mind’s made up. It’s just that nasty, negative campaigning doesn’t fit the “logic” box. You know what I mean. Yeah, I hear the supporters of this stuff say that it has an impact and can and does change voters’ perspectives. But I still am repulsed by it.
We should never define public relations as “spin doctoring” or propaganda, and we shouldn’t let anyone else do so either. Both terms not only imply, but are rightly defined as lying and manipulation of information. Public relations professionals do neither. Anyone who lies, tells half truths or manipulates public opinion is not practicing public relations. The biggest concern is that those writing these scripts are either closing their eyes to what is happening with their words, or they are not, and care not a thing, about the honest, proud professional field of public relations and marketing. But we all get painted by the same brush.
I’ve been asked several times to join a campaign promotional committee or take on the “Public Relations” by myself for a politician. I’ve turned them all down. Not that I’m some noble Public Relations knight in shining armor. Far from it. I just choose to not be associated with a political campaign. It’s not a product or service for which I’ll ever be fully proud and especially satisfied.
Jul 19th, 2011 | Communication, Media, Political Communication, Public Relations | Comments Off
Did you really say what I think I heard?
Isn’t language a wonderful gift handed down from generation to generation? Without spoken and particularly written language, where would human society be? Yet language use resulting in meaning is becoming increasingly difficult. Why is that?
Languages are meant to be a means of communication. Communication is a written or verbal exchange. In order for true and meaningful understanding to take place, the exchange must include recognition of terms, concepts, ideas and beliefs. And not the least of this recognition element should be plenty of room for respect for differing positions, even if that includes ideology.
Of particular question for me is how written and spoken language, whether English or Taiwanese, can lead so far down differing paths and be so misinterpreted.
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Jul 14th, 2011 | Branding, Marketing, Political Communication | Comments Off
A nation is a rich set of symbols and images ranging from flags to shields to logos and dynastic names.
Some flags for example have become iconic. In the past, associating the American flag with clothing items came to be challenged by some critics for vulgarizing a national symbol. For example, the flag came to be used as a patch on jeans and underwear. It is interesting that this development in the 60s was followed by the burning of the flag American flag during political demonstrations both in the United States and of course abroad.
Today in many parts of the world, it is almost a routine in any anti-American demonstration to burn the American flag. Other flags such as the Israeli also seem to preeminent in political demonstrations.
On the other hand, in countries such as Turkey, where the flag is laden with historical and religious symbolism, burning a flag entails severe penalties.
Iconic symbols do evolve in their meaning and function. Today the American flag or the British are found on items ranging from food to underwear to cars and airplanes. Years ago, British Airways in order to be more modern did away with the Union Jack on the tail of its jetliners with some post modern colorful images to connect with a more youthful population. However, this turned out to be a disaster. British Airways has been associated with the British flag, an iconic symbol of British history and tradition. Therefore, the change did not sit well with the target audiences. In time, the company reverted to the original symbol confirming the strength of brand identity.
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Jul 7th, 2011 | Branding, Marketing, Political Communication | 1 Comment
Reprinted from The News and Tribune, Jeffersonville, KY, June 30, 2011
Branding: A brand is a mental blueprint for consumers. Virtually anything can be branded. Branding can be organic. Branding can be deliberate. Branding is malleable to an extent. You can virtually brand anything including products, people and objects.
Nations, too, come branded, sometimes willfully and sometimes by accident. A nation gets a brand identity based on its strength of delivering a quality product consistently over time (Eg: Switzerland for tourism and banking, USA for freedom, Italy for food and fashion, etc.)
However, an interesting question to ask is whether nations can be rebranded? A huge challenge would be to rebrand a negatively perceived national identity. Take the case of some nations that have been branded as “rogue” or “terrorist.” These nations have a long journey to positive identity. So what do these nations have to do to build a positive image?
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Jun 11th, 2011 | Leadership, Political Communication, Public Policy, Public Service | 2 Comments
When Wiener tweeted like no body’s business,he actually was hurting his own. His personal brand has been taking a relentless beating since his tweets to young women surfaced. And today’s story on “Weiner tweeting a 17 yr old girl from Delaware” doesn’t help either.
There are cries from all quarters for Weiner’s resignation. But Mr. Weiner has been unrelenting, he doesn’t want to resign. So regardless of what happens,the big questions is, would the Weiner brand survive? How much credibility and trust would he have in the congress?
We decided to post a few choice quotes from readers on Yahoo this morning (June 11): → continue reading
Jun 10th, 2011 | Crisis Communication, Leadership, Political Communication, Public Relations, Public Service | 3 Comments
Mr. Weiner, sir – what were you thinking?
First rule of positive PR – do positive, uplifting, morally defensible deeds. Oh boy. Sorry Mr. W. — missed on all three. So once again, what you say and what you did took diverse routes. And you’re taken by surprise? So you lie and keep lying. Huh?
Mr. Weiner now says he’s sorry and takes full responsibility to everyone he’s harmed. Mr. Weiner says he’s sorry for lying to the media. How about cheating on your new wife? Yes, you did cheat. Ask Jimmy Carter.
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I am curious, do any of you think the robo or robot calls used during political campaigns serve any purpose that benefits the candidate or do they just irritate potential voters?
