The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson

A digital intimidation campaign is only as effective as your fear of it. Franklin D. Roosevelt famously said that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself. How does that apply to Public Relations and strategic communications? Online attacks have become a pertinent problem for public relations clients but are not impossible to thwart. The best defense against an online attack is a strong offense, starting with your strong and trustworthy digital presence. By monitoring online conversations, attacks can be prevented before they begin. Responding quickly and professionally goes a long way, and a loyal following holds the power to provide a meaningful line of defense. Along with crafting a strategic response, it can be appropriate to consider if there is any validity behind the reasons for the attack and to offer an authentic and transparent response. The only thing worth fearing in an intimidation attack is what might happen if you don’t respond at all. Consider these five strategies to guide your path.Key Points From This Episode:Why fear and intimidation are relevant concepts to the PR industry.Where online attacks often stem from.What a default approach to dealing with digital intimidation may consist of.An alternative strategy to outflank and push back on negative feedback.Examples of further reaching traction that might unfold if a campaign is successfully thwarted.Why it is ill-advised to go against a well-meaning group that has a leg to stand on.Who this advice is for: an organization under unfair attack.The power of owning your own media, including social media. How a strong online presence can help to establish credibility and a loyal following.Monitoring online conversations to prevent an online attack.Why it is important to respond quickly and professionally.How influencers can help to defend companies against an attack. Building transparency and authenticity.Considering feedback.Why telling the truth is the most powerful defense. What is worthy of fear in an intimidation campaign: not responding at all! Admitting fault to deflate bullies.What happens to bullies when you start speaking the truth: they retreat!Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter  Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly:https://www.youtube.com/mollymcphersonhttps://mollymcpherson.substack.com/https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcphersonhttps://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/...

As seen on NBC News, exploring the phenomenon of manufactured outrage and how it is used by celebrities and brands to generate buzz and profit. Molly discusses her contribution to the broadcast news story about the business implications of this practice, as well as its impact on politics and culture.We take a look at the intersection of celebrity, marketing, and social issues. We're back to Dylan Mulvaney and Bud Light, as well as a discussion on Meghan Trainor (rightfully) being lectured by teachers. Key Points From This Episode:Bud Light fallout intensifies over trans partnership (NBC News, April 26, 2023) Meghan Trainor Apologizes After Criticizing Teachers (TikTok, April 23, 2023)Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter  Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly:https://www.youtube.com/mollymcphersonhttps://mollymcpherson.substack.com/https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcphersonhttps://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/...

Employee well-being should be at the forefront of every CEO’s mind, not only because it is the right thing to do from a humanistic perspective, but also because your reputation as a leader and the longevity of your company depends on it. Since the pandemic, employees are no longer willing to put up with being treated disrespectfully, and many customers are no longer willing to buy from companies who treat their employees in such a manner. In this episode, you’ll hear about the tirades that the CEOs of MillerKnoll and Clearlink went on during their virtual town hall meetings, how these meetings turned into viral videos, and the damage they have done. A rallying cry and a demeaning rant are two completely different things, and as a leader in today’s incredibly interconnected world, it is imperative that you are mindful of how you speak to your team. Key Points From This Episode:What the role of a CEO entails.Why some customers are boycotting MillerKnoll. How the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the working world.The question that sparked Andi Owen’s tirade during a company town hall meeting.Problems with the way Andi Owen responded to the backlash against the video of her town hall meeting that went viral. Why prioritizing employee wellbeing is essential to a company’s success.Advice for holding a virtual town hall meeting. The rant made by Clearlink’s CEO during their virtual town hall meeting. Today’s Indestructible PR® tip: be mindful of what you say and how you treat your team! Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Replying to @mollyschief #greenscreen MillerKnoll’s Andi Owen had spoken. Sort of. The official response to the “pity city” viral employee town hallOut of Touch CEO RIDICULES Employees Who Asked About BonusesThe World’s Worst CEO BLASTS Nearly Everyone In His CompanyWant More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter  Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly:https://www.youtube.com/mollymcphersonhttps://mollymcpherson.substack.com/https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcphersonhttps://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/...

It’s not often that one of the world’s most admired spiritual leaders who describes himself as an advocate for warm-heartedness, compassion, forgiveness, tolerance, and self-discipline finds himself in the midst of a PR crisis. A video filmed in February 2023 of the Dalai Lama asking a young boy to ‘suck’ his tongue went viral in April. Although some people have argued that there has been a cultural misunderstanding, the overwhelming majority of responses have been vehemently critical. In this episode, you will hear a line-by-line dissection of the very problematic public apology that the Dalai Lama made in the wake of the negative responses to the video.Key Points From This Episode:The video that led the Dalai Lama to receive a lot of negative attention in the media. Who the Dalai Lama is and the values that he advocates for. Controversial statements that the Dalai Lama has made in the past. The argument in defense of the Dalai Lama’s actions in the video. The overwhelming response that the video received. How the Dalai Lama publicly responded to the outcry about the video.Problems with the Dalai Lama’s public apology. Unpacking the DARVO strategy. Tactics that should always be avoided in public responses.Advice on what to do if you are involved in an incident that goes viral. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Dalai Lama apologizes after video asking boy to ‘suck my tongue’Dalai Lama apologizes after video show him asking boy to ‘suck my tongue’Dalai Lama apologizes after video asking child to ‘suck’ his tongue sparks outcryStatement | The 14th Dalai LamaAnalysis of the Dalai Lama apology on TikTokMolly McPherson Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter  Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly:https://www.youtube.com/mollymcphersonhttps://mollymcpherson.substack.com/https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcphersonhttps://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/...

In this episode, discussing how celebrities can turn scandal into opportunity and leverage their time in the spotlight to create positive change. We will explore different ways in which celebrities have used their platform to redeem themselves and make a positive impact on society.Key Points From This Episode: The Anatomy of a ScandalWhat are the different types of scandals that celebrities may find themselves in and how these scandals can affect their public image.We will also explore how scandals can be a double-edged sword and how they can be turned into opportunities for growth and redemption.Examples of celebrities who have turned scandal into opportunityDiscussed examples of celebrities who have successfully turned their scandals into opportunities for positive change: Gwyneth Paltrow, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, and Ricky Martin. Exploring how these celebrities were able to use their platform to redeem themselves and create a positive impact on society.Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter  Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly:https://www.youtube.com/mollymcphersonhttps://mollymcpherson.substack.com/https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcphersonhttps://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/...

Sweeping layoffs were big news in 2022, and this shows no sign of slowing down in 2023. From Amazon to Salesforce, Twitter, Google, and more, major tech companies are making large numbers of employees redundant. Recently, Meta announced that it would be cutting 10,000 jobs (or roughly 10% of its workforce) in response to what CEO Mark Zuckerberg describes as “challenging market conditions.” While layoffs can be challenging and emotional for both the employees affected and the leaders of those companies, the language used by CEOs in their statements can make a major difference in how these dismissals are perceived. This week’s podcast addresses the language commonly used by CEOs in their layoff announcements, the importance of displaying empathy and humanity, and which terms leaders should avoid. Also covered is a handy framework to follow when crafting a statement regarding any changes that impact the future of a company and those who work there. Ultimately, the more information CEOs can provide to explain layoffs and what steps the company is taking to mitigate the impact on employees, the better! Thanks to social media, disgruntled employees are now able to tell the world how they feel about being laid off, whether fairly or unfairly, and it’s your job as a leader to mitigate those outcomes. People are paying attention, and as you’ll learn from this episode, CEOs should see this as an opportunity to show some humanity.Key Points From This Episode:Why displaying empathy and understanding for dismissed employees is important.Terms to avoid, including redundancies or cutbacks.Corporate pet names, blaming outward, and other insights from The Washington Post about “how tech CEOs talk when they lay off workers.”Victim-blaming language that tech CEOs use in statements and memos regarding layoffs.Accountability, apologies, and vulnerability: why there needs to be less ego in the C-suite.What you can learn from the missteps of “robotic” leaders who lack compassion.Placing blame on broader economic factors rather than employees.Own it, explain it, promise it: a framework for statements regarding changes in a company.How CEOs can communicate a sense of hope and optimism for the future of the company.Why the most basic requirement for any layoff announcement is showing humanity.Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter  Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly:https://www.youtube.com/mollymcphersonhttps://mollymcpherson.substack.com/https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcphersonhttps://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/...

 The Academy Award-winning actress and Goop founder Gwyneth Paltrow recently made headlines for a comment she made on a podcast about her daily wellness routine. This episode explains how information taken out of context is often the biggest obstacle faced by PR professionals and how this controversy seems to be an example of this. It then uncovers the potential reason why Gwyneth may have made this particular comment in the first place. Find out about Gwyneth Paltrow’s current legal battle for her role in a 2016 skiing crash and how her PR team may be trying to divert attention away from it. Listen in for a better understanding of how this relates to keywords and SEO, and how you can use this tactic too!  Key Points From This Episode:  Hear the viral clip of Gwyneth Paltrow on the podcast The Art of Being Well.How the TikTok clip was taken out of context. Why information taken out of context is often the biggest obstacle faced by PR professionals.How this was a well-timed, strategically placed interview.Other controversial statements that Gwyneth Paltrow has made in her career.Gwyneth Paltrow’s Instagram story response to the controversy.Why this seems to be an attempt to detract attention away from the story of her standing trial for a 2016 skiing crash.Distraction as a tactic and how this relates to keywords and SEO.The Indestructible PR® tip for the day about using this SEO tactic. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: #qwynethpaltrow shares her daily wellness routine on The Art Of Being Well Listen and Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter  Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly:https://www.youtube.com/mollymcphersonhttps://mollymcpherson.substack.com/https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcphersonhttps://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/...

As AI continues to advance and become more accessible, the question of using it to write press releases is becoming more relevant. After a tweet posted by Molly on the topic of using AI for this purpose received almost 19,000 views, this episode breaks down the pros and cons of doing this. You’ll learn about how these tools can be helpful to you and what safeguards you can use to limit the damage you can cause through them. You’ll also learn about the legal, copyright, and privacy implications of using them. The fact that the PR industry is rooted in truth raises ethical concerns about using AI to generate its content. This podcast explores both sides of the argument to help you decide whether AI is the right choice for you when you write your press releases.  Key Points From This Episode:  The viral tweet that inspired this episode’s topic on using AI to write press releases.The fact that the tweet was written by AI and thoughts on the ethics of this. The fact that the PR industry is rooted in truth and the ethical concerns of using AI to generate its content. Some of the benefits of using AI to write press releases. Some of the risks of using AI to write press releases.Why you should consider your needs and goals when you choose whether or not to use AI to write a press release.Some of the responses Molly got to her tweet. The legalities of using ChatGPT to write your press releases. Questions of privacy when it comes to the use of ChatGPT or AI.The Indestructible PR®  tip for the day about why you should never try to pass off AI content as original.  Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Molly’s viral tweet about using AI to write press releases 220: What is ChatGPT and Why Is Everyone Obsessed With It? - Molly McPherson   © 2023 Indestructible PR® Podcast Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter  Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly:https://www.youtube.com/mollymcphersonhttps://mollymcpherson.substack.com/https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcphersonhttps://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/...

Social media has revolutionized the way we communicate, connect, and consume information, and will continue to do so. The world of social media is ever-changing and, as we enter the next generation of social media, we need to adapt and learn new ways to respond to social media crises. In this episode, you’ll learn about the ways in which social media is changing, with the predicted proliferation of deep fakes and the ever-increasing influence of bots. You’ll discover how to determine the best platform to target and how to respond to a crisis, as well as the ultimate key to navigating social media. Tune in to find out the appropriate crisis response for the new bot-driven world.   Key Points From This Episode:Today’s topic: How to navigate the next generation of the social media crisis.The challenge of navigating the ever-changing world of social media.Axios writer Eleanor Hawkins’ take on the evolution of social media crises.The unique nature of social media crises on different channels.The move to short-form video on all social media platforms.How to determine how to respond to a crisis.The proliferation of deep-fake technology.The algorithm challenge and the influence of bots.The future of the social media crisis and the appropriate crisis response for the bot-driven world.How to determine the best platform to target.The key to navigating social media: using it.Keywords/Tags:The social dilemma, social media crisis, bots, algorithms, deep-fake, Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:The Social Dilemma ProgramAxios: Global Twitter conversation around mis- and dis-information by Eleanor Hawkins. © 2023 Indestructible PR® PodcastWant More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter  Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly:https://www.youtube.com/mollymcphersonhttps://mollymcpherson.substack.com/https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcphersonhttps://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/...

Context is everything. February 22nd, 2023, cartoonist Scott Adams aired an episode of his nightly podcast that would turn his career on its head. The creator of the beloved character, Dilbert Done, surprised us all with the heavily racist remarks he made in the video entitled, “It’s Okay to Be White,” which very quickly went viral. As a result, Scott Adams has been canceled, not only figuratively by society, but also literally through the loss of his newspaper contracts. Nobody is immune to the risk of losing their reputation or their livelihood through something that they post online, so let this episode be a lesson that you can use to protect yourself against being canceled like Scott Adams.  Key Points From This Episode:  Who is Scott Adams?The Rasmussen poll that formed the basis of the video leading to Scott being canceled.Why Scott’s video, “It’s Okay to Be White,” went viral. The controversial nature of Rasmussen polls. How Scott has responded to the uproar around his video. Scott’s self-proclaimed political views. The problem with Scott’s approach to airing his opinion. Why context is everything. Indestructible PR® tip: know your audience and know your medium.  Keywords/Tags: Canceled, cancel culture, racism, Rasmussen poll, human behavior, context Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Dilbert by Scott Adams Scott Adams Interview - It’s Okay to Be White Tap water connoisseur on Twitter Molly McPherson Indestructible: Reclaim Control and Respond with Confidence in a Media Crisis Indestructible: Reclaim Control and Respond with Confidence in a Media Crisis - AudioBook Listen and Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter  Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly:https://www.youtube.com/mollymcphersonhttps://mollymcpherson.substack.com/https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcphersonhttps://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/...