TCC Insights

Helping Joplin, Mo., Without Leaving Your Computer Desk

By Lisa Cialfi, Account Coordinator

Admittedly, I’m a social media addict. A lot of my friends who don’t work in the communications field often tease me by saying “What, are you going to tweet about that??” anytime someone so much as sneezes. While I’m not quite at the point of tweeting about sneezes, I humor them with a laugh. This week my love of social media was reinforced.

Notre Dame Does the Right Thing

By Bill Collins, Principal

The University of Notre Dame has written a  new chapter in the crisis-communications textbook with the way the institution has responded to the tragic death of Declan Sullivan, the student who was killed when the elevated scissor lift from which he was videotaping the Notre Dame football practice fell.

Southwest Is Still the Best

By Christian Nole, Account Service Intern

Some people love to complain; so it was really no surprise that when Southwest Airlines experienced some technical issues with its aircrafts, a lot of customers, bloggers, and even some media outlets were quick to put Southwest on trial. I, on the other hand, like to consider myself a rational person. If you haven’t heard about it yet, Southwest Airlines had a little mishap on Friday. I will admit that it was concerning to hear about Southwest having issues with a hole in a plane, especially because I have always looked to Southwest as my first choice in air travel. However, there is a silver lining (not in the planes of course; that would have prevented depressurization).

Bla, Bla, Bla

By Kate Torok, Account Manager

Woe is you, Tiger Woods.

It’s good to see you though, even if it’s about three months too late.

Admittedly, I, along with several colleagues, tuned in to Tiger’s 11:00 a.m. press conference (which started a few minutes late, by the way.) We were undoubtedly only some of the millions who did.

Toyota's Image in a Crisis

By Bill Collins, Principal

If I had asked you five years ago to name some brands that you might have considered bullet-proof, I bet Toyota would have been on your list.  Everything you would want a brand to be, Toyota seemed to have it all:  friendly, warm, innovative, reasonably priced, attractive products and dependable.  No wonder the Japanese automaker had overtaken the Detroit Big Three in becoming the biggest car company in the world.  Toyota earned the support of the car-buying public and it was all blue skies ahead.

That was then.  Now Toyota is becoming a punch line and its preeminent franchise is definitely in a world of hurt.  The company’s awkward and hesitant response to this crisis of epic proportions hasn’t helped matters and once again reinforces the dos and don’ts of such situations.  Toyota has been too much “don’t” and not enough “do” and they are paying the price.

Tiger, say it ain't so!

By Bill Collins, Principal

Where do you begin with the Tiger Woods mess?  Just when you think it couldn’t get any worse for him, another piece of the story is chipped loose and the media engine roars into overdrive all over again. This baby ain’t over by a long shot! 

Speaking of shots, an industry colleague of mine suggests that whoever is handling Tiger’s PR (or more to the point, not handling it), ought to be shot.  The incident came to light on Friday and he didn’t make a mea culpa statement until Wednesday.  By then he had been barbecued to a crisp and it looks like it’s going to get even worse with additional sordid details airing almost hourly.

Tiger Woods has got some ‘splainin to do – or does he?

By Dick Shaner, Senior Vice President

I am not a big Tiger Woods fan and I continue to hold out fading hope that he won’t one day surpass Jack Nicklaus’s record of 18 major golf titles.  That said; I am in awe of Tiger’s ability to pull off an unbelievable shot or sink a pressure-packed putt seemingly whenever he sets his mind to it.  At times, I have gone so far as to suggest he has attained a psychokinetic or telekinetic power that cannot be easily explained or understood.