Posts Tagged ‘Network Communication’

1. Why winning is important to us all

   Published on Friday, February 10th, 2012
   “Winning” was a word on many people’s lips last year. The All Blacks and their millions of supporters were able to use it aplenty. Charlie Sheen’s overuse of the word reinforcing the old adage, “It’s not what you say about yourself that matters, it’s what others say about you that really counts.” Awards are just that; recognition by others of just how awesome someone or something is.

   The film and television industry knows just how valuable awards are, as evidenced by the costly and exhaustive publicity machines that get behind different nominees.

   The New Zealand Public Relations Industry is right now calling for entries for the 2012 Awards, with winners being announced at the annual conference in May. For Network, the numerous PRINZ awards won over many years are highly valued for a host of reasons, but none more so than the satisfaction of knowing our work was recognised by our peers as being outstanding. The industry awards confirm the real power of PR while also raising the bar so that others can strive to do the same.

   Not surprisingly, the All Blacks were the big winners at last night’s Halberg Awards. While this left some other sports teams and people out of the running, it showed that in 2011 the All Blacks were in a class of their own. They created those standards and deserve thanks for showing others how far you can go!

   I get the feeling that New Zealanders are a lot more comfortable celebrating success than we were in the past. We are unlikely to have the ‘college coach’ mentality that deems non-winners to be losers, but we can show that being the best is something to be proud of. A winning spirit lifts everyone’s game, not just the winner’s.

   We will keep you posted on how we fare in this year’s awards as there is certainly some exciting work we are looking forward to putting to the test amongst our industry. What are your thoughts on the value of winning?

2. The tatty remnants of Occupy

   Published on Thursday, January 26th, 2012
   When the messages become so blurred, disparate and even meaningless, surely it’s time to retire the brand. Such is the case with the “Occupy” movement in this country.

   There was a time and place for “Occupy” in our civic precincts, but it has now totally lost its legitimacy. The individuals involved in the tatty remnants of  “Occupy” are entitled to their views and free to express them, but their encampment is no longer acceptable.

   In Auckland, the Council’s limp and long drawn-out treatment of this issue has become a disgrace.  John Minto has maintained that the illegal camp in Aotea Square was no more messy than other New Zealand campsites. I don’t know where he’s been, but I’d suggest it’s not to any Council or DOC parks around the Auckland region this summer.

   The proper functioning of the city depends on the observance of a whole raft of bylaws, of which the “no camping” in Aotea Square is one.  How do you respect a council which is penalising parking breaches on a daily basis, yet vacillating over the illegal presence of a few flimsy tents?

   Perhaps Occupy is not the only blurred brand here.

3. Media relationships – it’s important to make them work

   Published on Thursday, January 19th, 2012
   The Press has accused EQC of being unprofessional in its portrayal of two of its reporters – one as “schizophrenic in his writing” and another as a “rogue reporter”.

   The background to this is the EQC’s presentation to field staff on Monday reminding them of the organisation’s responsibilities to the media and that media enquiries should be referred to the designated media contact person.

   This story is evidence of natural tensions between an organisation in the spotlight (and even under siege) and the legitimate role of the media – a fact acknowledged by EQC.

   Any organisation that’s dealt with the media on sensitive issues will have some sympathy for the frustrations of the EQC at this time.  No matter how brilliantly they respond to many claims, some people will remain disaffected and will take their complaints to the media, because they feel that is the only power they have.  Whether these complaints are legitimate or not, the EQC has to accept this.

   If the EQC made a mistake in it presentation to staff, it was in overtly personalising its concerns with individual reporters and preference for others.  For its part the newspaper has over-reacted to this. I suspect there’ve been instances when its own reporters have privately characterised some of the EQC’s personnel in less than flattering terms. That’s just human nature.

   It should not be forgotten that contacts between reporters and organisations are complex human relationships.  In pressure situations there can be an added edge, and what the reporter sees as relatively straight forward is often not so, and the relationship can become prickly.

   There is a long way to go in the repair and re-establishment of Christchurch.  The Press and the EQC are two organisations critical to a successful outcome, and it is vital that they take stock of their respective roles and make the relationship work for everyone.

   For any business, dealing with reporters can sometimes be a fraught experience – never more so than in higher-stake situations such as this.  Getting professional advice is often the best course.

4. The spirit of communicating

   Published on Wednesday, December 21st, 2011
   St Matthew-in-the-City sees the Christmas season as an opportunity to spark thought and conversation in the community.  They’ve put up their Christmas billboard portraying Mary, Jesus’ mother, looking at a home pregnancy test kit revealing that she is pregnant.

   In much less dramatic ways, on one level many of us use the Christmas season to express thanks to our clients or customers, business partners and colleagues using small gifts, cards or a timely call.  It is a time for thinking about and acknowledging others.

   On a more personal level, we are out buying for those near and dear, and preparing for the occasion that is Christmas.

   All this shows that with the right imperative, we are all very good communicators.  Our challenge is to push that spirit of good communication deeper and deeper into New Year. Right?

5. Mayor Parker and Ballantynes show us how it can be done

   Published on Thursday, December 8th, 2011
   As President of the Public Relations Institute of NZ (PRINZ), I was privileged late last week to present Bob Parker, Mayor of Christchurch with the Institute’s Communicator of the Year award in Christchurch.  It is an annual award bestowed by the College of Fellows, so the selection of Mayor Parker is not simply one of popularity due to level of profile.  It was hard earned and well deserved.

   The word resilience is one I have heard a lot lately and it aptly describes the quality that has been evident across Christchurch as people adapted to these new circumstances.

   Earlier in the year I heard it suggested by one expert commentator that New Zealanders were perhaps less resilient to situations like this because we had, by international standards, such an easy life.  Mayor Parker showed that to be wrong when, as the public face of his city, he consistently demonstrated how resilient they really were (and still are). His wife who was never far from his side and who also carried a significant workload did the same.

   What has emerged is a strong and purposeful community consistently showing resilience in circumstances that none of us dreamt of dealing with.  I would also add: resourceful and proud. Recently we saw this exemplified in the containerised new City Mall that sprung to life and the reopening of Ballantynes, that symbol of classic Christchurch.

   Ballantynes is another brilliant example of the Christchurch resilience. It has shone as a beacon of hope and normality for people. From the start Ballantynes adopted a ‘business as usual’ attitude – even though their iconic store was in the red zone and their own staff were seriously affected – no workplace and in some cases no home themselves.

   It has been a remarkable story of how managing director Mary Devine and her team worked to remain accessible to customers throughout eight months of closure. Their website (online store), household mailers and special customer events held at venues around the city helped maintain precious contact.

   In receiving his award, Mayor Parker said he was not the only one who deserved this acknowledgement as a communicator. That’s undoubtedly true, but leadership through communication sets the path for others and that is what he did. Congratulations to Mayor Parker and his entire crew on being inspiring communicators.

6. Good on you, Vector

   Published on Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011
   All the professionals I’ve spoken to agree that Vector, and particularly its chief, Simon Mackenzie, did an excellent job of communicating during the gas supply crisis. That is why it was surprising  to read that the organisation had been quick to “admit communication errors”, and was undertaking a formal review of its communication process.

   However, I was not an affected party, so had no actual experience of the supply problem suffered by so many businesses and organisations where it appears there were issues with communications.

   It is commendable that Vector is tackling this head on and so soon after the crisis, so that its customers can have objective answers.

   From the experience of the disruption to the gas supply in Hawke’s Bay in 2004, I know that businesses can never have enough information in these circumstances. On that occasion, East Coast gas supplies were cut by a major washout in the Manawatu. The frustration of not being able to process crops ripe for harvest was enormous. At the time NGC was the owner and operator of the pipe so there was a single point of contact.

   It seems clear that the recent crisis was exacerbated by the dichotomy of ownership and operation and the inability of Maui Developments to grasp the communications challenge. When Maui’s spokesperson did speak it was unhelpful and defensive. He likened the break in gas supply to a disruption to a highway, going on to say when such events happened no compensation was paid. He’d forgotten, it seems, that Maui derives revenue and profits from its “highway”. The fact that the owner was not up to it, was not the fault of Vector.

   Vector’s initiative in reviewing communication around the event points to the importance of all companies having a crisis plan as part of the business continuity plan, and from time to time testing it.

   What was your experience or view of this event?

7. Come on its Halloween – enter into the fun

   Published on Wednesday, October 26th, 2011
   In the United States Halloween is now acknowledged as the second most important celebration after Christmas Day. And wait for it, depending on your reference source, spending – mainly on costumes and lollies (NZ translation of candy) – will hit as much as US$7 billion.

   That’s a staggering sum – about US$22 for every man, woman and child in the States.

   First reaction around the office to this piece of trivia bordered on resigned disbelief as to the ‘folly’ of our American cousins. But wait a minute! What about the economic impact of spending $7 billion in the space of a week on the manufacturing, wholesale, distribution and retail sectors of the economy. Surely there has to be benefit in that!

   Not moved by economic arguments?! Well what about the outpouring of enjoyment and fun for the ‘small and big kids’ among us who aren’t too self-conscious to enter into the spirit of the occasion. Coming off the back of our Rugby World Cup success, we know only too well the uplift that comes when the community celebrates collectively.

   From modest beginnings in New Zealand, Halloween is progressively becoming a major on our special events calendar. Personally I’m in favour of it becoming more popular, even if it is starting to challenge – but hopefully not overtake – the place of one of my favourites – Guy Fawkes Day.

   So come October 31, our household will be armed with a hoard of lollies to dispense to the swarm of children who come ‘trick or treating’ dressed as witches, fairies, pirates and wizards. I’ve even been known to don my wizard hat myself in answer to the doorbell – that is if I can beat my wife (in full costume) to the door.

8. Not dead, but often in need of resuscitation

   Published on Tuesday, September 13th, 2011
   When Google acquired the restaurant survey guide Zagat last week one media columnist boldly declared that the “press release”, the traditional format for announcing such initiatives, was now “officially dead”.

   You see the Zagat owners used the style of one of their restaurant surveys to communicate with stakeholders, and Google, unsurprisingly, tweeted the news.

   In our view, the way the acquisition news was conveyed said more about creativity of the parties involved than the demise of any particular form of official communication.

   Their creativity is to be applauded.  It was simply their recognition that social and online media are empowering us to be more creative with our tactics for news generation. And with the ‘medium is the message’ in-mind, now more than ever we need to be proactive about crafting to-the-point, snappy messaging.

   Press releases are not sacred and they are not dead.  They will continue to be the “record” of certain events.  However, in many cases they need some creative resuscitation, and they need to be leveraged to ensure they touch all the necessary audiences.

   With the treatment of the announcement of their deal, Google and Zagat are challenging us to work harder at finding audience-specific forms of communication to achieve our goals.  The traditional press release will almost certainly be part of the mix.

   A press release tells our story – plain and simple.  The communicators then needs to tell that story to different people in the best way possible.