Tag: crisis communications

Nikon Photo Contest: Viral Sensation or PR Fiasco?

January 31, 2016 Public Relations 2 comments

Nikon captures Photo Yu Wei

Courtesy of Nikon Facebook

“Look up in the sky! It’s a bird… It’s a plane… It’s a doctored photo which won a Nikon trolley bag!”

OK, just in case you were hiding behind a huge rock over the past 48 hours or so, a huge viral Facebook event has overtaken Singapore. Shutterbugs everywhere are talking about this photo contest so widely that it will probably become the most “viral” Facebook photo contest ever organised in Singapore.


The Dîner en Blanc Debacle

August 25, 2012 Public Relations 4 comments


Are these foods not “white” enough? (courtesy of Daniel’s Food Diary)

When the ingredients to a dish are not properly assembled, the outcome could be a recipe for disaster.

It all started rather innocently and positively. Pitched as part of a global initiative, Dîner en Blanc is the world’s first viral event premised on the concept of a “très chic picnic” imported from Paris. According to its website, this mass gastronomic extravanganza have taken place in outdoor public spaces in 20 cities across 5 continents this year, from Barcelona to New York City, from Montreal to Sydney.


Why Saying Sorry Matters in Business

December 28, 2011 Public Relations 1 comment


BP Former CEO Tony Hayward’s Apology came too little too late (courtesy of Infinite Unknown)

Recently, everybody in Singapore has been talking about the spate of SMRT train delays and breakdowns in December.  Numerous netizens have called for extreme measures to be taken, including the resignation of the CEO, granting of free rides to commuters, andother actions to be taken.   

As an aftermath of the incidents, we learnt that the CEO Saw Phaik Hwa has apologised soon after the incidents.  The SMRT Board has also apologised for them, and has commissioned a committee led by NTUC Dy Sec Gen Ong Ye Kung to look into the matter.  Separately, the Government is also investigating the incidents as part of a formal Committee Of Inquiry.


Telling the Bad News

July 23, 2008 Public Relations no comments


Crises can be opportunities if handled well, as these Chinese characters show (courtesy of tingilinde)

One of the most important skills PR practitioners need to know is crisis communication. That is when things go wrong but need to be made public. Public listed companies would probably be most familiar with this when sharing their quarterly earnings reports.

Hiding the truth is probably one of the worst things to do in such a situation. The widespread availability of information and records through both the internet and public libraries makes it difficult for one to fudge. Sooner or later the truth will come out, and it would be far better coming from you rather than a third party source.