Filed under: PR, business, crisis communications, media | Tags: business, crisis communications, eliot spitzer, media, news, PR
Ok. I admit it. The whole Spitzer thing is fascinating and also has me considering a career change. $5,000 an hour isn’t bad and Eliot isn’t ugly. Just kidding, mom.
The interest is from a crisis communication standpoint. How to handle this blow to Spitzer’s image and career? He certainly isn’t the only politician or high-profile guy to have a morale hiccup in the arms of a very hot twentysomthing prostitute.
Then there’s the additional issue that he made career by going after the bad guys aka hookers and pimps amongst others.
If Mr. Clean called you at 3am asking for your counsel: what would it be?
Gawker asked one top crisis communicator:
Expert #1 is Michael Robinson, an SVP at DC-based crisis specialist Levick Strategic Communications. He’s an ex-NYT reporter who used to run communications for Nasdaq and the SEC, and has worked in the White House. “With regard to your question…about potential paths for Gov. Spitzer to follow, the only realistic outcome is for him to resign,” he writes. Shucks!
I say this primarily because his “brand” was that of a squeaky clean politician and now it’s just squeaky. It as if another famous Elliott – Elliott Ness – was in Al Capone’s pocket all along. For somebody who built their entire image and reputation fight crime, his continued tenure in office just can’t be sustained. As it turns out, the entire foundation of who he was (at least as far as the public is concerned) was built on sand.
Agreed. Not a lot of wiggle room in terms of shifting public opinion immediately. A B2B Marketing post describes how these types of situations look to PR for a quick fix when the real strategy should focus long term instead of immediate gratification.
Here’s a round up of PR related (news, advice, media) coverage.
Gawker: PR Experts to Spitzer: Uh, You’re Toast
Gawker: Riding the Spitzer News Cycle
The New York Observer: Eliot Spitzer, Public Relations Ace
PR Insider.com: Political/PR Guru Ned Barnett Identifies Spitzer’s Real Victim – Hillary Clinton
PRNews: PR pros discuss Spitzer’s actions
PRNews: Spitzer needs the right communication plan
PRNews Blog: Spitzer’s Accidental Beneficiary
PRNews Blog: Another One Bites the Dust
B2B Marketing Blog: Eliot Spitzer – PR Style
