PR Disasters
PR Disasters
More PR Disasters
BA Hits High Turbulence over Crosses
Just days after that cuddly, sweet-smiling, honey-tongued old Jack Straw, the veteran Labour politician, caused a storm by asking Muslim ladies to remove their full-face veils when addressing him, BA fell headlong into the same hole.
This time it wasn’t Muslims being offended, but Christians. BA decided that wearing a cross and displaying it was taboo for its staff.
Well, whoever dreamt up that wheeze and chose to enforce it at such a sensitive time? So absurd were both Straw and BA that the Archbishop of Canterbury weighed in. “Oi, now look here, this is a free country and people can wear whatever religious symbols they like!” he intoned or words to that effect.
Which is worse? Clothes fascism or religious intolerance of little symbols which have big meaning for those wearing them? Isn’t it a criminal offence to wear a cross in public in Saudi Arabia? So, now, it seems, BA are going down that road.
Jewellery may not be allowed for their staff in uniform, but a small cross is hardly jewellery in the bling sense. Now BA have become the object of public anger and ridicule, which is hardly the image designed to pull in customers.
But thanks for an object lesson in PR disasters which tipped the world’s favourite airline into a spectacular tail spin.
**
Macca: the Whiff of Burning Martyr, Courtesy Heather??
Heather Mills McCartney’s advisers adopted a very risky strategy, if indeed they had anything to do with the leaking of the divorce petition, alleging that Macca had attacked her in a drunken rage. This was an outrageous allegation in every sense, whether true or not, and then to allow it into the tabloids was even worse.
It reflected badly on her camp for letting it happen. It questioned their motives, and it had no account for the effect it would have either on their three year old daughter in years to come, or on public opinion today.
Divorce is ghastly at any time. And to wage PR wars – for whose benefit??? – by leaking the most sensitive of documents to a salivating press and prurient public, is surely a disastrous strategy.
Commentators claim that the petition was leaked to the papers in anger as McCartney had withdrawn security cover to Heather even when she was with their daughter. Really? Well, why then is she suing the publishers who ran the story in such graphic detail? Unless, it’s an elaborate, expensive double bluff.
In brief, a nasty mess, which helps no one. Except Sir Paul who is maintaining a Trappist silence.
Copyright Paul Nathanson
PR Tip of the Month. Sometimes saying nothing a la Macca can be the best and most difficult approach to publicity. You maintain dignity and avoid distortion.
PR Disasters - To learn more about this author, visit Paul Nathanson's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
PNPR Ltd Newsletter No. 1010
More PR Disasters
BA Hits High Turbulence over Crosses
Just days after that cuddly, sweet-smiling, honey-tongued old Jack Straw, the veteran Labour politician, caused a storm by asking Muslim ladies to remove their full-face veils when addressing him, BA fell headlong into the same hole.
This time it wasn’t Muslims being offended, but Christians. BA decided that wearing a cross and displaying it was taboo for its staff.
Well, whoever dreamt up that wheeze and chose to enforce it at such a sensitive time? So absurd were both Straw and BA that the Archbishop of Canterbury weighed in. “Oi, now look here, this is a free country and people can wear whatever religious symbols they like!” he intoned or words to that effect.
Which is worse? Clothes fascism or religious intolerance of little symbols which have big meaning for those wearing them? Isn’t it a criminal offence to wear a cross in public in Saudi Arabia? So, now, it seems, BA are going down that road.
Jewellery may not be allowed for their staff in uniform, but a small cross is hardly jewellery in the bling sense. Now BA have become the object of public anger and ridicule, which is hardly the image designed to pull in customers.
But thanks for an object lesson in PR disasters which tipped the world’s favourite airline into a spectacular tail spin.
**
Macca: the Whiff of Burning Martyr, Courtesy Heather??
Heather Mills McCartney’s advisers adopted a very risky strategy, if indeed they had anything to do with the leaking of the divorce petition, alleging that Macca had attacked her in a drunken rage. This was an outrageous allegation in every sense, whether true or not, and then to allow it into the tabloids was even worse.
It reflected badly on her camp for letting it happen. It questioned their motives, and it had no account for the effect it would have either on their three year old daughter in years to come, or on public opinion today.
Divorce is ghastly at any time. And to wage PR wars – for whose benefit??? – by leaking the most sensitive of documents to a salivating press and prurient public, is surely a disastrous strategy.
Commentators claim that the petition was leaked to the papers in anger as McCartney had withdrawn security cover to Heather even when she was with their daughter. Really? Well, why then is she suing the publishers who ran the story in such graphic detail? Unless, it’s an elaborate, expensive double bluff.
In brief, a nasty mess, which helps no one. Except Sir Paul who is maintaining a Trappist silence.
Copyright Paul Nathanson
PR Tip of the Month. Sometimes saying nothing a la Macca can be the best and most difficult approach to publicity. You maintain dignity and avoid distortion.
PR Disasters - To learn more about this author, visit Paul Nathanson's Website.
Like this article? Share it with your friends
| |||
 |
No article feedback found. | ||
|
Leave Your Feedback | ||
|
|||
 Take Your Dog and Pony Show on the Road
| |||
| There are obvious disasters in a business plan presentation, especially in a strange location. Things like broken projectors, bad lighting, lousy sound system -- these are all normal disasters, and ones you will of... |
|||
|
Talespin
| |||
| Book Review -- Public Relations Disasters – Inside Stories & Lessons Learnt – Gerry McCusker; Kogan Page, 22883 Quicksilver Drive, Sterling, VA 20166; 227 pages, October 2004, $29.95 |
|||
|
Addicted to Disaster
| |||
| A person can become addicted to most anything. Besides drugs and alcohol, addictions can be toward different foods, television, people, work, spending, internet (especially email), fear, and one of the most addictiv... |
|||
|
Blueprint for Success
| |||
 It’s not just business acumen, but integrity, that carries you forward in the business world. It’s as simple as keeping your word, or, in some cases, remembering what your words were. It seems that “simple” isn’t al... |
|||
|
Innovation - it's easier than you think
| |||
| Innovation is not the 'big idea' that transforms your business or how you do it. Well, it might be but innovations can be small - but still important. If you try to hard for the revolution, you might miss the small ... |
|||
| |||
| |||
|
To learn more about the Evan Elite Author Program please contact us. | |||
 | |
 Paul Nathanson (Visit Paul's Website)
|  |
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
| Modeling the Masters: Learn the true secrets behind Walt Disney's business success factors & grow your company! Video produced by Phanta Media |
|
|
 |
| Have you written articles that would be of value to entrepreneurs? Become an expert on our site by publishing them! Expose yourself to a wide audience, drive more traffic to your website and get more sales! Click Here for details. |
 |
 | ||
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
|
| ||
|
|
|
Get advice & tips from famous business owners, new articles by entrepreneur experts, my latest website updates, & special sneak peaks at what's to come!
|
|
|
 |
 Networking Impacts Income Leadership Audit For Business What’s Wrong With Your Site? Why Business Owners Quit Law of Attraction |
|
 | ||
 |
Top 50 HR Blogs 2009
Top 50 HR Blogs 2009 | |
 |
Top 50 Marketing Blogs
Top Blogs To Watch In 2008 | |
| ||
 |
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
|
|
||||||||||||
