Archive for February, 2009
Strategic Planning Puts You in Charge
Funding among associations and not-for-profit organizations is always a challenge, especially so in today’s global economy. Too often I have seen groups, however, relinquish their identity and reputation in order to attract and comply with the expectations of funding from a corporate sponsor. Let me share an example: A few years ago, the National 4-H [...]
Iran Persecutes Citizens; PRs Influencers
While America’s new administration in the White House indicates it wants to establish U.S. relations with Iran after 30 years, Iran continues its practice of denying human rights to millions of its citizens … students, women, journalists, bloggers, and religious minorities. For the largest religious minority in Iran – the Baha’is – the situation in [...]
Peanut Exec Invokes the Fifth
Listening to radio news while driving my car today, I heard the President of Peanut Corporation of America, Stewart Parnell, invoke the Fifth Amendment, and refuse to answer questions from members of Congress about the massive peanut salmonella poisoning at his company … and, I nearly drove off the road! Salmonella contamination of peanuts has [...]
Media Gets Tough on POTUS
One of those pundits on cable TV news somewhat naïvely commented the other day that the media is finally starting to ask tough questions of the president. That’s true. Things are different. Journalists are asking good, solid questions of Mr. Obama, and he is responding … in depth. He is also operating without sarcasm, harshness [...]
Ethics in Blogging
It’s too bad, I believe, that the phrase, “fair and balanced,” has been turned into a form of bad joke by Fox News. Today’s style of media reporting – whether mainstream or online – is in dire need of being more fair and balanced, especially as online media grows in influence. I was reviewing Dan [...]
Iranian Hackers Attack Social Media Site
Cyber hackers linked to Iran have attacked the U.S.-based Persian-language social media site, Balatarin.com. For nearly a week, the site has been under constant attack, its Paypal account hacked and certain financial details, including credit card numbers, stolen, reports Dr. Abbas Djavari on his blog, Djavadi.net. Abbas, who is a friend, is associated with Radio [...]
The Lowest Form of Sleazy Commercialism
Charles Caleb Colton, an English cleric, allegedly coined the phrase, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.” That was in 1820. That was then, this is now. While walking through Washington’s Union Station this morning, I saw a large sign for Pepsi (right), that is an example of the worst form of imitation. It is [...]
Andy Grammer
Okay, it’s Friday. Almost the weekend. And, I want to write about something fun. Andy Grammer is a performer and singer who lives in Los Angeles, and is a family friend. He radiates charisma and appeal in his performances, and audiences love him. He’s recently been appearing at the House of Blues in LA, and [...]
Strategy Planning – While You Wait
The whole concept of strategic planning has become too complicated, in my opinion. It’s reached the point where developing a strategy, as espoused by many consultants, is simply too time-consuming, too divisive, and too frustrating a process. It’s dreaded at many organizations. Years ago, I had a business partner, the late Jon Phelps, who, like [...]
From the Frontline
There was a time, several decades ago, when the concept of foreign correspondents’ clubs flourished. They were places for journalists from all over the world to gather, relax and share in friendship and adventures. Then, it became more expensive for the clubs to operate, and membership was opened up to the PR crowd with their [...]
