Ageism, sexism, bad management, and incredibly poor messaging, today’s PR crisis has it all! 

This week’s podcast focuses on Bell Media’s ousting of Lisa LaFlamme and her replacement by a younger male, shortly after the beloved CTV Anchor allowed herself to go gray. 

Let's discuss Lisa’s PR masterpiece of a response video and Bell Media’s well-written but completely inadequate response statement. While a private company has the right to hire and fire whomever they choose, decisions like these affect the public, and if not handled correctly, this could be detrimental to a company’s continued support and ultimately their bottom line. This podcast looks at the importance of truth and transparency in a PR response, and when a statement should be replaced by an apology. Tune in to hear the statement Bell Media put out, why it was a bad statement, why it created such a blowback, and how the statement should have been written to avert a PR crisis. 

Key Points From This Episode: 

• Today’s topic: the PR nightmare associated with Bell Media’s firing of CTV anchor Lisa LaFlamme and why their statement was inadequate.
• Some previous examples of anchors being let go and the resulting PR crises.
• The implications of how Lisa LaFlamme was fired shortly after allowing herself to go gray. 
• The problem of the lack of transparency on the part of Bell Media regarding why they fired Lisa.
• Lisa LaFlamme’s video response and why it’s a PR masterpiece. 
• Why does a situation like this call for an apology, not a statement?
• Who was hurt by Bell Media’s decision.
• The biggest problem with Bell Media’s statement.
• The legal implications of making an apology or accepting responsibility.
• How an apology can help you regain trust, reduce liability, and be an effective business decision.
• How Bell Media’s apology should have been written.
• The Indestructible PR tip for the day relating to the importance of the first line in any response statement.
• Closing words on why you should never fire women of a certain age.

 

Where in the World is Matt Lauer’s Reputation? 

173: How Jeff Zucker's Resignation from CNN Signals a Shift in Crisis Communications  

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