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Profiting from Sustainable Business Practices

December 19th, 2008

Who says businesses can’t directly improve bottom-line results from being good corporate citizens? Well, there are some people. But an increasing number of reports are showing that there is a tangible link between sustainable business and financial return, including IBM’s “Sustainable Growth through Corporate Social Responsibility” and the Economist Intelligence Unit’s “Doing good: Business and the sustainability challenge.”

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Reputational Risk in the post-financial crisis era, part 4: Social media & corporate reputation

June 29th, 2009

For corporate communications specialists and reputation-minders in the post-financial crisis universe, distrust and dialogue converge most forcefully on the Internet, especially in the realm of social media. Social media comprise a loosely defined collection of blogs of all sizes and interests, and cyberspace gathering spots such as Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Alibaba, Craigslist, Orkut … the list is endless—and growing. Traditional media like newspapers, radio and television have seen their revenues plunge as advertisers follow their customers to the Web. more »

Quantifying the impact of reputation

May 16th, 2009

Jon LowThe topic of reputation and measuring the impact of its cost has been much in the news of late. An article from the April 1, 2009, edition of the Wall Street Journal entitled “Malibu Shows Road to Revival is Bumpy” tells the story about the challenges GM faces as its products like the Chevrolet Malibu struggle to overcome the effect of deeply ingrained negative perceptions based on historical weaknesses despite the increasingly strong product quality ratings some of its autos have received. A descriptive quote reads, “A perception (my emphasis) of inferior quality is the most serious problem facing GM aside from its financial predicament…” more »

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Chaos at the Capital: Reading Between the Lines–What are they really saying in Albany?

July 10th, 2009

Lisa BlackPolitical Communication is both a field of study and a sport. Rapid media changes and pressing policy concerns are the core of the game, in which writing and verbal communication is the skill, and deciphering the intended message from the actual speech or press release is the talent.

According to George Washington University, Political Communication is “the study of the flow of information through political processes: The study of who knows what, when, where and how; and how people use their information to further political goals.”

In my own experience, Political Communication is more about abstract thinking through analysis of different perspectives, including policy, history and, for those politically motivated purposes, psychology [as in, READ between the lines].

With this interpretation as a backdrop, consider the statements/claims made about the following events, which took place during the last month of the New York Senate Stalemate. Then, by reading between the lines from a Political Communication vantage point, I’ve provided a translation of what each individual really meant with their statements.

June 8th: Coup—Senators Espada and Monserrate join Reform Coalition.

  • •    STATEMENT/CLAIM: After five months of “utter failure” in the new Majority, we need fair and equitable resources to affect the real reforms our State deserves.
  • •    TRANSLATION: Crybabies. Some Senators are fed up with current leadership, aren’t getting what they want and would rather side with the enemy in order to be able to exercise some sort of power.

June 15th: Senator Monserrate rejoins his colleagues in Democratic Fold.

  • •    STATEMENT/CLAIM: Sen. Hiram Monserrate goes from traitor to superhero in a flash as he rejoins his fellow Democrats, stating that his move was done to get promises of leadership change and progressive legislation.
  • •    TRANSLATION: It was nice to be king for a day. After all the negative news surrounding this Senator’s personal life, the media finally showed him a little Statesman-like respect. Monserrate’s own party threatened the future of his Senate Seat by funding primary opponents, so he was left with no choice.

July 6th: Andrew Cuomo pans the Governor’s intent to name a Lt. Governor (LG).

  • •    STATEMENT/CLAIM: Attorney General: Proposal is Unconstitutional.
  • •    TRANSLATION: I want to be Governor. A likely Gubernatorial opponent to Paterson in 2010, Cuomo is acting on his power as the State’s Chief Legal Officer to scare the Governor into a lengthy legal battle for his LG decision.

July 8th: Gubernatorial announcement of “appointment” of Lt. Governor.

  • •    STATEMENT/CLAIM: Uncertainty and risk of no Presiding Officer of the Senate and therefore no successor to the Governor.
  • •    TRANSLATION: “I will do what I want.” Although a legal challenge is already underway, Governor Paterson is tired of not being allowed to leave NY State and is using this opportunity to make a statewide appearance to raise his pathetic poll numbers.

July 9th: Senator Espada to rejoin his colleagues in Democratic Fold?

  • •    STATEMENT/CLAIM: It’s time to end the deadlock and get back to the business of the people; this stalemate has gone on for far too long.
  • •    TRANSLATION: “Finally, I got what I wanted.” Pedro Espada is now the Senate Majority Leader. As the story continues to unravel, it appears that Espada read the writing on the wall. If the appointment of the LG were to win a court challenge and therefore be able to preside over the Senate Chamber, Espada would be left with little power so long as he remained with the GOP/Reform Coalition. Colleagues in his former Democratic Conference made Mr. Espada a deal he couldn’t refuse—he ends up with a worthy leadership role and title.

My advice to NY state taxpayers and avid news junkies like myself: Keep reading and continue to learn as much as you can about the players of the game of politics. In no time, you will realize that, in New York State politics, there are no six degrees of separation—it’s more like two or three. And, evidently, public officials don’t always mean what they say.

Lisa Black is a veteran political communications professional specializing in strategic messaging, crisis communication and media relations in New York State. In 2007, Lisa was named one of City Hall News’, Rising Stars: Top 40 Under 40, The Next Generation of Political Leaders in New York. Black is currently consulting on several New York City and State campaigns. She can be reached at emaillisablack@gmail.com.

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