Talking Shop Podcast

It's the end of the year, and that can sometimes mean layoffs. It's cruel to let somebody go right before Christmas - at least in western countries - but it happens more than you'd think. This week Ewan helps explain the meaning behind terms like "terminated with cause" and "without cause," and the steps employers should take to reduce risk and treat the employee respectfully. There's lots of good and practical information in this discussion, so don't miss it!

Then Cam talks about how blogs are becoming equal to - or even more effective than - the traditional news release. He explains how this change has happened over the last few years, why some continue to resist blogs, and advice for companies who want to tell compelling stories to their audiences and customers.

In Check This Out, Ewan shares a remarkable story about well-known website (which we can't name here without triggering all kinds of bots!) and the damage it's causing, while Cam looks at the new docuseries on Netflix about former International Monetary Fund Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Khan.

Don't miss any future episodes and get updates about the podcast by signing up to the PR & Law Podcast newsletter. We promise: no spam. Ever.

If you enjoy the show, please tell a friend or family member. It's the best way to get the word out and we are very grateful! We also frequently post updates to the stories we discuss on social media. You can find us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. You can also subscribe to our channels on YouTube and Soundcloud.

If you have a question we would be happy to answer it on the show! Just post it to social media with the hashtag #PRLawPod.

Links and Show Notes

• Episode #29: The Dreaded Workplace Investigation - PR & Law Podcast
• Why Your Press Release Doesn't Belong on Your Blog - Prezly
• Episode #32: How PR has Change with Edelman's Simon Murphy - PR & Law Podcast
• Blogging vs. Press Releases vs. Coverage - Sword and the Script
• Blog vs. News Release - Concentric Solutions

Check This Out

• The Children of P**nHub - New York Times
• An Uplifting Update on the Terrible World of P**nHub - New York Times
• Room 2806: The Accusation - Netflix

Hosts

Ewan Christie is an employment lawyer and partner at Duntrune LLP in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Cam MacMurchy is a corporate communications executive with a multinational technology company listed in Hong Kong and curator of the Digital Bits PR and Communications newsletter. He also contributes to Apple news website 9to5Mac and shares his thoughts on PR, media, travel, and technology on his website.

We had lots of content planned this week, but a late-breaking story drove a number of requests to the PR and Law Podcast... and we definitely take requests! The longtime anthem singer of an NHL team was fired in a public way after taking part in a "freedom rally" to oppose government restrictions amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Did the team have grounds to fire him? What rights does the anthem singer have? And what about the PR fallout? We go through all of it - in detail.

With Christmas around the corner, Ewan also brings up the thorny issue of company holiday parties. They can be rife with potential risk in the best of times, but during a pandemic those risks are exponential. Ewan talks about what companies should think about and how they might be able to avoid some costly problems.

In "Check This Out" both hosts turn to business news, with Ewan examining Warner's decision to release 17 feature films on HBO Max, while Cam looks at the Salesforce acquisition of Slack and how Microsoft Teams played a role.

Don't miss any future episodes and get updates about the podcast by signing up to the PR & Law Podcast newsletter. We promise: no spam. Ever.

If you enjoy the show, please tell a friend or family member. It's the best way to get the word out and we are very grateful! We also frequently post updates to the stories we discuss on social media. You can find us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. You can also subscribe to our channels on YouTube and Soundcloud.

If you have a question we would be happy to answer it on the show! Just post it to social media with the hashtag #PRLawPod.

Links and Show Notes

• Canucks fire anthem singer Mark Donnelly for performing at anti-mask rally - New York Post
• Canucks cut ties with anthem singer Mark Donnelly over plan to sing at anti-mask rally - Vancouver Sun
• Inside the decision to have Mark Donnelly on TSN 1040 hours after his firing by Canucks - TSN 1040
• Episode #9: HBO Max's Marketing Mess - PR & Law Podcast
• The Verge's Casey Newton turns to newsletters, the latest well-known journalist to go independent - CamMacMurchy.com

Check This Out

• Hollywood, theatre owners sound off over Warner Bros' bold HBO Max move: 'they're playing with fire' - Variety
• How Microsoft crushed Slack - Platformer

Hosts

Ewan Christie is an employment lawyer and partner at Duntrune LLP in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Cam MacMurchy is a corporate communications executive with a multinational technology company listed in Hong Kong and curator of the Digital Bits PR and Communications newsletter. He also contributes to Apple news website 9to5Mac and shares his thoughts on PR, media, travel, and technology on his website.

It looks like we're getting closer to a COVID-19 vaccine, and maybe several of them. Once they're approved and available for widespread distribution, it raises the question of whether employers can demand their employees be vaccinated. There are a number of thorny legal issues around vaccinations and safe workplaces, so Ewan walks us through the possibilities while avoiding the landmines.

Cam then looks back at one of the biggest PR and marketing crises of 2020: the Burger King "Rebel Whopper" fiasco in the United Kingdom. Burger King released a burger targeted at vegans, but grilled alongside all-beef patties. The campaign was questionable to begin with, but Cam explains why Burger King's reaction only made the situation worse.

Then we look at the loneliness epidemic, Momofuku Chef David Chang's hardscrabble upbringing, and the Queen's Gambit.

Don't miss any future episodes and get updates about the podcast by signing up to the PR & Law Podcast newsletter. We promise: no spam. Ever.

If you enjoy the show, please tell a friend or family member. It's the best way to get the word out and we are very grateful! We also frequently post updates to the stories we discuss on social media. You can find us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. You can also subscribe to our channels on YouTube and Soundcloud.

If you have a question we would be happy to answer it on the show! Just post it to social media with the hashtag #PRLawPod.

Links and Sources

• Burger King adverts banned for claiming 'Rebel Whopper' is suitable for vegans - The Independent
• What we can learn from Burger King's latest PR error - MD Communications

Check This Out

• 'The Queen's Gambit' is actually 'Rocky', so your dad will love it - MSN
• Butter is booming, whole milk is back, and dairy is surviving - TechCrunch
• Vivek Murthy on America's loneliness epidemic - Ezra Klein Show
• Chef David Chang on depression, being a dad, and the burden of 'authenticity' - NPR

Hosts

Ewan Christie is an employment lawyer and partner at Duntrune LLP in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Cam MacMurchy is a corporate communications executive with a multinational technology company listed in Hong Kong and curator of the Digital Bits PR and Communications newsletter. He also contributes to Apple news website 9to5Mac and shares his thoughts on PR, media, travel, and technology on his website.

An article appeared in a Canadian newspaper this week alleging that workers are slacking off while working from home, "stealing" time from their employer. Ewan completely debunks this argument, saying work has only infiltrated more parts of our lives and left us working longer hours than ever before. Cam and Ewan also discuss what a modern workplace would look like.

In this week's PR segment, Cam dives into the world of YouTube influencers. He documents the growth of influencers in general and why they should be an important component of PR or marketing plans. He also shares a few ideas of how to get started.

Also: two terrific long reads. One is about MS-13, a gang that terrorized Long Island a few years ago, while the other is a heart wrenching story from Girls' star Lena Dunham on losing her fertility. Ewan also recommends an ambient album he claims is perfect to play while working.

Don't miss any future episodes and get updates about the podcast by signing up to the PR & Law Podcast newsletter. We promise: no spam. Ever.

If you enjoy the show, please tell a friend or family member. It's the best way to get the word out and we are very grateful! We also frequently post updates to the stories we discuss on social media. You can find us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. You can also subscribe to our channels on YouTube and Soundcloud.

If you have a question we would be happy to answer it on the show! Just post it to social media with the hashtag #PRLawPod.

Links and Show Notes

• Australians are doing $100 billion worth in unpaid overtime, as remote working comes at a cost - Smart Company
• Influencers are the new PR tour - Crane's Cleveland Business
• Surprising best friend with Borat - David Dobrick's YouTube Channel
• Borat streaming with DrLupo is as chaotic and hilarious as it sounds - Screen Rant
• Borat offers Katy Perry NSFW birthday wishes in video gifted by husband Orlando Bloom - Movieweb

Check This Out

• A Betrayal - ProPublica
• Michael J. Fox - WTF with Marc Maron
• False Labor: Giving Up on Motherhood - Harper's Magazine
• Gabriel Olafs "Absent Minded" - Bandcamp

Hosts

Ewan Christie is an employment lawyer and partner at Duntrune LLP in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Cam MacMurchy is a corporate communications executive with a multinational technology company listed in Hong Kong and curator of the Digital Bits PR and Communications newsletter. He also contributes to Apple news website 9to5Mac and shares his thoughts on PR, media, travel, and technology on his website.

We had the privilege of welcoming Edelman Hong Kong Head of Corporate Simon Murphy to the show this week to get his perspective on how the PR industry has changed over the years, what companies often overlook when putting a communications plan together, how the recent US presidential election affected clients far beyond the United States, and what advice he'd give to small businesses struggling with PR.

Then Ewan updates the infamous Jeffrey Toobin case. You may recall from Episode 29 that Toobin, a New Yorker staff writer and CNN pundit, accidentally exposed himself during a staff Zoom call. Well, the ax has finally fallen, and Toobin is now out of a job after nearly 30 years with the magazine. Ewan looks at what happened while Cam dissects the trite staff email sent around by New Yorker corporate owner Conde Nast.

Also: you won't believe what former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski's wife had to say about her husband catching COVID-19. It's about as bad as it gets!

Don't miss any future episodes and get updates about the podcast by signing up to the PR & Law Podcast newsletter. We promise: no spam. Ever.

If you enjoy the show, please tell a friend or family member. It's the best way to get the word out and we are very grateful! We also frequently post updates to the stories we discuss on social media. You can find us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. You can also subscribe to our channels on YouTube and Soundcloud.

If you have a question we would be happy to answer it on the show! Just post it to social media with the hashtag #PRLawPod.

Links and Show Notes

• Corey Lewandowski's Wife Just Posted This on Instagram - Twitter
• Trump Admits Biden Won, but Still Won't Concede - CNBC
• Jeffrey Toobin Fired from The New Yorker for "Zoom Dick Incident" - Vulture

Check This Out

• The Crisis Isn't Trump, it's the Republican Party - Ezra Klein Show
• Parler App Grows as Conservatives Debate Free Speech on Social Media - WSJ
• The Atlantic's Caitlin Flanagan Rips 'Leftist' Media, 'Crying' Anchors: Gotta 'Suck it Up,' 'be Less Partisan' - Fox News
• Miami Marlins Hire Kim Ng, Breaking a Baseball Gender Barrier - New York Times

Hosts

Ewan Christie is an employment lawyer and partner at Duntrune LLP in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Cam MacMurchy is a corporate communications executive with a multinational technology company listed in Hong Kong and curator of the Digital Bits PR and Communications newsletter. He also contributes to Apple news website 9to5Mac and shares his thoughts on PR, media, travel, and technology on his website.

We wondered if we'd have a winner declared by the time we recorded Episode #31, and we just made it: Joe Biden was declared President-Elect after securing enough votes in the electoral college to secure victory -- but not without some drama. We dive into all things election, including the chronology of events on election night and the advice PR teams may have been giving the candidates. We also look at the speeches from Trump and Biden on election night and thereafter, picking out parts that worked and others that didn't.

Of course, selecting a president wasn't the only thing on the ballot, at least in California. Ewan updates us on Proposition 22, which asked Californians whether they believe gig economy workers like Uber and Lyft drivers should be treated like employees. Ewan and Cam debate the subject, with Ewan detailing why the results matter for gig economy workers.

We also look at the future of work, whether Zoom can replace face-to-face interaction, and much more.

Don't miss any future episodes and get updates about the podcast by signing up to the PR & Law Podcast newsletter. We promise: no spam. Ever.

If you enjoy the show, please tell a friend or family member. It's the best way to get the word out and we are very grateful! We also frequently post updates to the stories we discuss on social media. You can find us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. You can also subscribe to our channels on YouTube and Soundcloud.

If you have a question we would be happy to answer it on the show! Just post it to social media with the hashtag #PRLawPod.

Links and Show Notes

• California Proposition 22, App-Based Drivers as Contractors and Labor Policy Initiatives (2020) - Ballotpedia
• President Trump's Election Night Remarks - YouTube
• Joe Biden Speaks Live on Election Night - YouTube
• Joe Biden Addresses the Nation After Election Victory - YouTube

Check This Out

• How Joe Biden Changed, and Changed, and Changed - and Made it to the White House - Vox
• Imprecision 2020 - WNYC Studios
• Leading from the Living Room: One CEO's Quest to Make the Work-from-Home Revolution Last - Globe and Mail (Paywall)hg

Hosts

Ewan Christie is an employment lawyer and partner at Duntrune LLP in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Cam MacMurchy is a corporate communications executive with a multinational technology company listed in Hong Kong and curator of the Digital Bits PR and Communications newsletter. He also contributes to Apple news website 9to5Mac and shares his thoughts on PR, media, travel, and technology on his website.

We welcomed special guest Allyson Lee to the PR & Law Podcast this week to talk about her case, which was heard before the Supreme Court of Canada. Very few cases make it that far, so Lee's experience is more rare than you'd think. She walked us through it, from strange book binding to the feeling of directly addressing the seven justices. Lee won the case, which set an important precedent that companies are going to have to contend with, too.

Then we look at how to prepare your company for a PR crisis in a year that feels like one big never-ending crisis. Rushing to put out fires is common, but it's always wiser to prevent them before they ignite. We discuss five key points for companies and PR teams to consider.

Plus: online services to track journalists and media outlets, a doozy of a story on Jeffrey Epstein, and Glenn Greenwald's tantrum.

Don't miss any future episodes and get updates about the podcast by signing up to the PR & Law Podcast newsletter. We promise: no spam. Ever.

If you enjoy the show, please tell a friend or family member. It's the best way to get the word out and we are very grateful! We also frequently post updates to the stories we discuss on social media. You can find us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. You can also subscribe to our channels on YouTube and Soundcloud.

If you have a question we would be happy to answer it on the show! Just post it to social media with the hashtag #PRLawPod.

Links and Show Notes

• Allyson Lee - Sherrard Kuzz llp
• Matthews v. Ocean Nutrition Canada - Canlii
• Preemptively Planning for a PR Crisis: How to Protect Your Company - Forbes
• Journalist Database Tools:
• Muck Rack
• Cision
• Telum Media

Check This Out

• I Called Everyone in Jeffrey Epstein's Little Black Book - Mother Jones
• My Resignation from the Intercept - Substack
• The Real Scandal: U.S. Media Uses Falsehoods to Defend Joe Biden from Hunter's Emails - Substack
• Glenn Greenwald Resigns from The Intercept - The Intercept
• The Aftermath of my Move to Independent Journalism - Substack

Hosts

Ewan Christie is an employment lawyer and partner at Duntrune LLP in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Cam MacMurchy is a corporate communications executive with a multinational technology company listed in Hong Kong and curator of the Digital Bits PR and Communications newsletter. He also contributes to Apple news website 9to5Mac and shares his thoughts on PR, media, travel, and technology on his website.

It's not everyday that a case like this lands on our lap: a prominent journalist exposed himself on a company Zoom call, apparently unaware that his colleagues could see what he was doing. It's embarrassing, to be sure, but what's the legal case against the New Yorker's Jeffrey Toobin? He claims it was an accident, so is he still liable for sexual misconduct? What about the PR fallout for Toobin, The New Yorker, and CNN, where he also works as a pundit? It's a fascinating case and we look at it from every angle.

Then Cam looks at the top five trends expected to drive corporate communications in 2021, with ESG at the top of the list. ESG and CSR aren't new concepts, but their importance is continuing to grow and become a much larger part of a company's corporate story. Large corporations have been involved in CSR for a while, but what can small or medium-sized businesses do? We explore the answers.

Also: RSS and why it's critical to tracking news and social conversations, how Canada could be the biggest "swing state" in the upcoming US presidential election, and the Greater Vancouver-born alt-right starlet that has galvanized the white supremacist movement in the US and Europe.

Don't miss any future episodes and get updates about the podcast by signing up to the PR & Law Podcast newsletter. We promise: no spam. Ever.

If you enjoy the show, please tell a friend or family member. It's the best way to get the word out and we are very grateful! We also frequently post updates to the stories we discuss on social media. You can find us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. You can also subscribe to our channels on YouTube and Soundcloud.

If you have a question we would be happy to answer it on the show! Just post it to social media with the hashtag #PRLawPod.

Links and Show Notes

• New Yorker suspends Jeffrey Toobin for masturbating on Zoom call - VICE
• Don't show your dick on work Zoom - Rolling Stone
• 5 powerful PR trends for 2021 - Public Relations Today
• Feedly RSS Reader - Feedly
• Toxic social media leading to renaissance in RSS readers - CamMacMurchy.com

Check This Out

• American voters living in Canada increasingly being counted in presidential race - Toronto Star
• Why the alt-right's most famous woman disappeared - The Atlantic
• White Noise Documentary - The Atlantic
• The alt-right's sad decline documented in White Noise - CamMacMurchy.com

Hosts

Ewan Christie is an employment lawyer and partner at Duntrune LLP in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Cam MacMurchy is a corporate communications executive with a multinational technology company listed in Hong Kong and curator of the Digital Bits PR and Communications newsletter. He also contributes to Apple news website 9to5Mac and shares his thoughts on PR, media, travel, and technology on his website.

We've all heard about workplace investigations, and many of us have been a part of them in some form or another. This week Ewan talks about why workplace investigations are sometimes necessary, how employers should conduct them to ensure they mitigate risk, and provides some surprising advice for employees who find themselves in investigators' crosshairs. It's definitely worth a listen.

Then Cam explains content marketing, which has taken off in recent years to become a staple of many successful companies. Cam explains how content marketing works, what you should know before starting, and why it's beneficial.

We also discuss three new albums perfect for fall listening, the prospect of war over Taiwan, and how to pronounce "Toronto".

Don't miss any future episodes and get updates about the podcast by signing up to the PR & Law Podcast newsletter. We promise: no spam. Ever.

If you enjoy the show, please tell a friend or family member. It's the best way to get the word out and we are very grateful! We also frequently post updates to the stories we discuss on social media. You can find us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. You can also subscribe to our channels on YouTube and Soundcloud.

If you have a question we would be happy to answer it on the show! Just post it to social media with the hashtag #PRLawPod.

Links and Show Notes

• Coronavirus: Hong Kong, Singapore reach agreement in principle on 'world's first' two-way, quarantine-free travel bubble - South China Morning Post

Check This Out

• Matt Berninger - 'Serpentine Prison' review: poise and prowess from The National frontman - NME
• Kevin Morby - Sundowner - Music OMH
• James Blake - 'Before' EP: A gorgeous, much-needed trip back to the dance floor that'll leave you buzzing - The Forty-Five
• That photo of Billie Eilish isn't brave. It's just typical. - BuzzFeed

Hosts

Ewan Christie is an employment lawyer and partner at Duntrune LLP in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Cam MacMurchy is a corporate communications executive with a multinational technology company listed in Hong Kong and curator of the Digital Bits PR and Communications newsletter. He also contributes to Apple news website 9to5Mac and shares his thoughts on PR, media, travel, and technology on his website.

The dreaded Performance Improvement Plan is something workers want to avoid, but employees do have ways to protect themselves. Ewan gives some great advice on how to respond to PIPs, as they're known, and ensure that your voice is heard. On the management side, Ewan explains what companies should do to make sure their PIPs are air-tight.

Then Cam dives into the sexting and extra-marital affair scandal that has engulfed North Carolina Senate candidate Cal Cunningham. Politicians cheating on their spouses is a story as old as time, but the expectations are changing and so have PR approaches. Cam makes the case that Cunningham has only made the situation worse, and provides some advice on how to approach these thorny issues in a more advantageous way.

Plus: Mental Health Day and the crazy story of eBay executives stalking bloggers.

Don't miss any future episodes and get updates about the podcast by signing up to the PR & Law Podcast newsletter. We promise: no spam. Ever.

If you enjoy the show, please tell a friend or family member. It's the best way to get the word out and we are very grateful! We also frequently post updates to the stories we discuss on social media. You can find us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. You can also subscribe to our channels on YouTube and Soundcloud.

If you have a question we would be happy to answer it on the show! Just post it to social media with the hashtag #PRLawPod.

Links and Show Notes

• North Carolina Senate Candidate's Sex Scandals Renews GOP Hopes of Keeping Majority Despite Trump's Drag on the Ticket - CNN
• Cal Cunningham Gives Weak Response to Questions of his Adultery - NationalFile
• Episode #19 - McDonald's Plunged into Crisis over Serial-Dating CEO - PR & Law Podcast

Check This Out

• Inside eBay's Cockroach Cult: the Ghastly Story of a Stalking Scandal - New York Times

Hosts

Ewan Christie is an employment lawyer and partner at Duntrune LLP in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Cam MacMurchy is a corporate communications executive with a multinational technology company listed in Hong Kong and curator of the Digital Bits PR and Communications newsletter. He also contributes to Apple news website 9to5Mac and shares his thoughts on PR, media, travel, and technology on his website.