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Threat Level is Murky
By DH on July 14, 2009  |  Comments 0

Threat Level is Murky

The color-code threat level at America’s airports has been “Orange” for so long, it’s become rusty. Don’t believe me? Drive into Houston’s Intercontinental Airport and a permanent sign, now rusting and faded, informs you of the orange threat level.

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David Meerman Scott: Creating Authoritative Voice
By DH on July 08, 2009  |  Comments 0

David Meerman Scott: Creating Authoritative Voice

Author, consultant and communications thought-leader David Meerman Scott has come out squarely in support of my project with the Imperial Sugar Company, saying “brand journalism creates an authoritative voice” for the company’s new online newsroom.

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Washington Post Apologizes for Exclusive Access
By DH on July 06, 2009  |  Comments 7

Washington Post Apologizes for Exclusive Access

I held off at first writing something about this story when it first broke last week, primarily to see how it would unfold. There was something about the story that seemed to ring so true about the Post today even though what the paper did was so bone-headed.

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The Ideal Online Newsroom
By DH on June 26, 2009  |  Comments 2

The Ideal Online Newsroom

These days, it seems pretty obvious that any smart company has to prominently position its expertise/experience to:

Be clearly heard and stand out in all of the right ways.
Best “manage the conversation” around its image and reputation.
Be timely and relevant.

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The Passing of Icons
By DH on June 26, 2009  |  Comments 3

The Passing of Icons

All at once, the ranks of baby boomers are thinner. And the ranks of boomer icons: Farrah Fawcett, a leading-edge boomer, and Michael Jackson, on the other end of our generation. My friend Mike Petrie writes this tribute about the passing of icons.

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The Image of Neda

The Image of Neda

Nothing has been more profound, in my opinion, than watching video of a young woman named Neda die on the streets of Tehran yesterday. According to reports, she was shot by a police sniper while standing with her father, watching protesters.

What They Mean When They Say …

What They Mean When They Say …

Do you ever wonder about all the jargon and cliches you hear on TV news, especially the 24-hour cable news channels? They all say the same thing. So, here’s a crib sheet to what they really mean.

Don’t Make Up Stuff

Don’t Make Up Stuff

When coaching people to be interviewed, especially live on television, I always counsel them to listen closely to questions they are asked and to answer those questions. I also advise not to make up stuff if you don’t know. Unfortunately, for many people, that’s not always how they behave before the cameras.

Witnessing the Media’s Seismic Change

Witnessing the Media’s Seismic Change

Just to get an idea of how important Twitter has become as a news source during the current election crisis in Iran, the United States State Department today asked executives of Twitter to postpone maintenance that was scheduled today for the site.

Doing “A Heck of A Job”

Doing “A Heck of A Job”

As we enter another summertime storm-tornado-wildfire-hurricane-disaster cycle, one would think that the communications people at FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, would be ready, especially online, with the latest communications techniques. But, that’s not the case.

Twitter: News Media of Choice

Twitter: News Media of Choice

If you watched most cable TV news channels (and completely dismiss local news) the last couple of days, you would see only shallow coverage or mention of the explosive situation in Iran following the questionable “re-election” of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Crisis Communications: It’s Online

Crisis Communications: It’s Online

I had a terrific time last evening speaking before members of IABC’s Washington, DC, chapter to share some idea about crisis communications in the Internet era. The whole landscape has changed for how to handle a crisis.