American for the arts tellem media mayhem without theatrical crisis

Media Mayhem Working with the Media in

Crisis Situations

TGPR Has Had Its Share of Media Mayhem in the Arts

Union Issues Toronto and Las Vegas – are Blue Men

singers, dancers, musicians, robots?

Michael Jackson’ s Molestation Trial

Starts with a crisis


Classic crisis Media mayhem Unexpected developments – drugged,

asleep, umbrella on the car TGPR became the story Death threats More than a 1,000 media camped out Gag order


We became a target

From: Chuck [[email protected]]

Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2003 8:12 PM

To: [email protected]

HEY SUSAN! HAPPY COP SUCKING!

YOU JERK!!


They find out where you work and live

[mailto:[email protected]]Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2004 8:57

AMTo: [email protected]: Tom Sneddon

Shame on you for representing sneddon with your PR

firm. This just proves how fucked up you are!!!

I hope you and Sneddon die a slow and painful death.

You will get yours, CUNT RAG!!!!


The crazies come out…

From: waldo Sent: Monday, January 05, 2004 5:14 AMTo: [email protected]

Subject: hello

leave michael jackson alone or else a terrorist might fly a

plane into your building!!


You become the story/rumors are rampant


LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- The public relations firm hired by the Santa Barbara County district attorney's office denied it "played the race card" in the child molestation case against Michael Jackson, countering a statement made by defense attorney Mark Geragos on CNN's "Larry King Live" Thursday.

"The fact of the matter is -- you want to know where this originates from? It's the PR firm that the prosecution hired," Geragos said. "And what they did is, they played the race card. They're trying to inject the Nation of Islam as some kind of a buzz word into this." Susan Tellem, head of the PR firm Tellem Worldwide, told CNN's Art Harris she was "baffled" by Geragos' claim.


Evolved with a crisis – initial press conference bad Involved an international celebrity DA an unwilling client Provided counsel and written statements Frequent updates Took every media call Turned rumors into fact Made reporters happy even with a gag order

What Do You need To Know About Managing

Media Mayhem?

Current Arts Media Mayhem

Spiderman – the continuing saga Art trafficking Sony Playstation privacy issues Charlie Sheen Tracy Morgan Recession – funding cuts MOCA DC

Likely Crises In the Arts Injuries, accidents Sexual harassment Disgruntled workers, mass murders Corporate scandals Theft – cooking the books Drugs, alcohol, celebrity misdeeds Strikes Ticket fraud Identify theft

Very First Steps in Media Mayhem

Remember – media are a keystroke awayAccess the issueBuy time and alleviate initial media interest

with brief statementDictate rules about staff contact with the

media (strict rules about talking to press)Work closely with legal counsel to develop a

strategy (but lawyers don’t always listen)

Next Steps

Create and/or update media databaseDiscuss likely press questions beforehandDistribute information in a timely mannerField media inquiries quicklyCreate talking pointsMedia train spokespersonSet up/monitor Facebook, TwitterMeet with local press via a press briefing

During Press BriefingsConfirm format and location via email & FaxAssist media with logistics (inside or out – mult box (press bridge)

Collect business cards from media or make a sign in sheet though most won’t use it

Set a time limit for speaker/questions (5 + 5)Activate Google alerts/clipping service/social monitoring

Ongoing Protocol Establish recurring methods of contact

Releases or statementsWebsite, text messages, Twitter, Facebook

Build and update database (they’ll come to you) Return calls promptly, but manage expectations on

big news days Learn the value of “no news” to media vs. silence Obey “gag” order but say how much you’d like to help

Avoid• Stonewalling and “no comment” • Arguing, running at the mouth, rumors• “Off the record” quotes• Lack of engagement – it’s passivity which invites

“media frenzy”• No media engagement means an unbalanced

story• No or lax crisis plan – you will be overwhelmed,

discredited or demoralized if you do not have one

Positive Outcomes Control of hearsay, rumor mill Company can focus on “real” work Openness and honesty conveyed through

media engagement More useful information, more quickly to

media — win/win Balanced stories even if they still are not

positive

Conclusions

“Crisis” can occur anywhere News by its very nature is often bad Control media to keep operations running

smoothly Must have a media relations plan prior to

a crisis (audit sample in your online packets)

Deal with media in a professional, effective manner - you can never go wrong

Questions?

American for the arts tellem media mayhem without theatrical crisis

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