Tag Archives: issue communication

Should shareholder funds be spent on divisive social issues?

Posted on October 30, 2023 by managingoutcomes

Companies have struggled for years with whether to speak out on controversial social and political issues. This debate was reignited very publicly by high-profile companies taking a stance on the failed Referendum to create an indigenous Voice to the Australian … Continue reading →

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Global Boiling? Really? Words matter when you manage an issue

Posted on September 20, 2023 by managingoutcomes

Naming an issue is a crucial strategic decision. But how you define the issue must be credible. That was the problem when United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres boldly declared: “The era of global warming has ended; the era of global … Continue reading →

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Should the CEO be ousted because of a corporate crisis?

Posted on August 2, 2023 by managingoutcomes

As British banking sinks into the quicksand of a new scandal, an important question has emerged for organisations everywhere: Should the CEO be sacrificed in the wake of a reputational crisis? The drama began when political gadfly Nigel Farage – … Continue reading →

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Say less, communicate more: Brevity matters when problems strike

Posted on February 15, 2023 by managingoutcomes

Knowing what to say in a crisis is never easy. While some leaders manage crises with skill and empathy, many fall into the trap of saying the wrong thing . . .  or saying too much. The first challenge is credibility. CEOs … Continue reading →

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How has apologising become so damned contentious?

Posted on August 15, 2022 by managingoutcomes

Gay Pride football jerseys. Splendour in the Grass. Will Smith. Whoopi Goldberg. When and how to apologise has always been a challenge. But new media demands and expectations – sometimes aided by arrogance and poor judgement – are making it harder to … Continue reading →

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Has COVID vaccination transformed Corporate issue activism?

Posted on August 17, 2021 by managingoutcomes

Proactive corporate support for COVID vaccination has triggered praise for some companies. But does it indicate a growing willingness to take a stand on high-profile public issues . . . or is it simply opportunistic marketing? It’s easy and low-risk … Continue reading →

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Woolworths and the cost of ignoring stakeholders

Posted on July 1, 2021 by managingoutcomes

Every undergraduate PR student knows from their first semester that understanding stakeholders is essential, yet some big corporations appear to have forgotten that basic principle. An independent report in June castigated Woolworths for failing to properly consider the aboriginal people of Darwin … Continue reading →

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Since when has age disqualified issue activism?

Posted on October 17, 2019 by managingoutcomes

Whatever you think of Greta Thunberg and school students around the world marching to protest about climate change, there is an important underlying question: Do young people have a valid voice in important issues of the day? There were plenty of … Continue reading →

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Never underestimate how celebrities can influence important issues

Posted on March 4, 2019 by managingoutcomes

Does it really matter when self-styled influencers enter into important public issues? Like the recent headlines when the 20-year-old wife of an Australian football player spoke out against vaccination and told her 7,000 followers that hospitals can’t be trusted. The answer … Continue reading →

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Barbecued ‘dog’ stunt masks a more serious issue campaign

Posted on February 4, 2019 by managingoutcomes

A stunt by PETA to barbecue a fake dog in the CBD of Sydney last week created predictably outraged headlines around the world. PETA’s message was “If you wouldn’t eat a dog, why eat a lamb?” However the barbecue street … Continue reading →

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