An internet forum site with thousands of Australian users – tidalwave.com.au – includes a number of threads that are openly critical of the work that your group does. One thread in particular contains accusations that you and your group have acted illegally. These accusations are false. A major national newspaper has been lifting stories from this forum site on a regular basis and you fear that the contents of this thread could be next. You contact the media relations advisor in your department but they do not appear to understand the risks involved.
What do you do?
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5 comments:
Go over the media relations advisor's head.
Andrew - OK, so what does that entail. What will you do when you go over the media advisor's head?
Reiterate and reexplain the situation, perhaps beforehand ask a colleague to listen to see if they can articulate where you might be able to sell the problem better.
If still no go, get written explanation from media relations (i.e email from them, saved in three places), while at the same time going over their head and communicating the problem again.
You don't mention what role the other person is in, which would probably have some bearing on the situation (i.e. their accountability or lack of if it hits the fan).
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P.S. This scenario seems strangely familiar, what could it be, what could it be.... Can we transpose a tidal wave for a whirl pool, perhaps? ;-)
Talking to media advisor's boss. Explain the risk. Provide examples of bad press previousoly listed. Say that we need to get on front foot and be part of the community forums.
Interesting.
The first thing I thought of was to participate covertly on the forum.
But as we have seen you can never win an argument if the other person keeps ignoring you.
You would have to keep trying with the media advisor or bring in PR or other parts of the business that could understand the risks.
You could of course go ont he offensive and go through the press to reveal how small minded people can get away with saying anthing on the internet. Hmmm... hold on, that could be the same for the newspaper.
Corza
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