wallydownundy

You can tell I’m a child of the 1970’s when I immediately think of David Bowie as a way to chart the changes in my life. His lyrics immediately pop to mind - especially as I’ve made a major change in my career. (Dear Gen Y’ers and Millennials - do watch this historic footage below.)

On Monday, 12 October I started a new role here in Sydney with Fleishman-Hillard, one of the largest global public relations consultancies. I’ll manage the Sydney office and have a triple-barrel title (SVP & Partner, GM - Sydney). I’ll have to get a longer business card.

For two years I managed my own consultancy, Perception Counsel. It was coincidental to launch a new business in the lead-up to The Great Recession. (Cool to see it with capital letters like 1930’s The Great Depression.) The upside - as all business owners know - is the flexibility and freedom that comes from reporting to yourself. Yet what I missed most was the interaction with like-minded colleagues. And in a single stroke I entered a wide and varied network. FH has 80 offices and I’ve had welcome notes from Atlanta, Seoul, Tokyo, Dallas, New York and St Louis (Global HQ firmly in the Midwest).

In addition, FH is part of Omnicom Group - one of the world’s leading diversified communications companies. Partner firms are in advertising, branding, direct mail, social media, etc. It’s exciting to have an insider’s pass to such an extensive network, especially as I love design but make an awful Pictionary partner (”It’s Lassie. No! It’s Liza!”).

The upside of the new job is there wasn’t that much surprise on Day One. Fleishman was exhaustive in the recruitment process. And while most candidates assume the inquisition is one-way, the firm wanted to ensure I knew what I was getting myself into. I walked in with my eyes wide open.

What have I found?

Fleishman-Hillard has been in Sydney since 2001 and has been a quiet achiever. There’s a considerable track record of high-profile clients and assignments. Today the office has a solid quartet of practices - Healthcare, Consumer Marketing, Technology and Corporate-Finance. The team today is solid and experienced. And like most firms there’s room to grow and time to trial new tactics.

 So wish me luck as I adjust my new computer to all my favourite settings, import my contacts, find where the files are stored and adjust to a new routine.  

Australian slang could be studied at a doctoral level and still you’d be finding new phrases. It’s a social leveler unknown in America. George Bush tried to speak like a common man - most days he came across as inarticulate. Here in Australia Prime Minister Kevin Rudd peppers his comments with common man language. Yet as an erudite man it comes across as studied and slightly false.

“Fair shake of the sauce bottle, mate,” said Rudd yesterday when defending postings in a Ministerial shake-up. Critics say not enough women got postings. Kevin defends the roles and winners by comparing it to a barbecue sauce bottle.

“If you were to compare what this Government has done in terms of promotion of women of talent and ability compared with our predecessors, it’s chalk and cheese,” he continued. Once again the colloquial language comes out.

For communicators this is done in an effort to boost understanding and retention - right away every listener gets a mental image that is emblazoned in their mind.

How does Rudd’s Government compare to Howard’s? Chalk and cheese.

“Could I try the heart?” asked Canada’s Governor General, Michaelle Jean as she leaned over a dead seal. She was showing her support for the Inuit tradition of seal hunting in the face of an EU ban on seal products. While Inuit cull small numbers of seal using traditional methods, EU members object to the larger-scale killing by commercial hunters of thousands of seal pups.

So after eating some raw seal meat the Governor General tucked into a bite of raw heart. Her verdict? It tastes “like sushi.” She encouraged all Canadians to sample raw seal.

(Side question: Is this now a national duty or merely an invitation? Are Canadians obliged to eat raw seal much like Japanese school children being served whale meat in school canteens?)

During the peak of “Mad Cow” disease (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) brave British politicans were photographed…enjoying a barbequed steak! Nothing could hold these brave men back as they tucked into a prized British export. (”If it’s safe enough for me…”) Eventually England killed 4.4 million head of cattle.

Now Swine Flu is in the headlines. The misnomer is leading to bans on the export of pork. And while world health authorities have changed the name to “H1N1 Virus” it lacks the same pizzaz as “Swine Flu” especially to the readers of The Daily Telegraph.

Today’s cover features “the first family of swine flu” - now under quarantine to stop the spread of the disease (pictured below: John and Fiona Darcy with sons Jarryd and Nicholas - source: The Daily Telepgraph).

My question: Will they put some pork on their fork? Should Kevin Rudd stop by with a take-away serving of Pork Lo Mein?

Public relations practitioners are the “behind the scenes” men and women who assist companies in good times and bad. They help companies get noticed and achieve balance reporting. We can train people to sit in front of television cameras and remain “on message” about an issue or a product. But it’s rare we’re the source of the story.

Today “The Australian” features a front page story on the media management of a high profile legal case. In this case the public relations firm and its client are the story - the print edition features investigative-style photographs of two PR people leaving court.

The article does not question the role of the public relations person - the reporter notes that it’s standard practice for a legal firm and/or company to have a PR firm available to assist journalists. What is under review is the practice of issuing media releases and “backgrounders” to journalists while a motion is being heard in court.

What the article does show is a shift in media opinion against the company and its agency. When the public relations firm becomes the story then the story is always going to be bad news.

Samsung is pretty happy. Months ago some PR agency folks were huddled around a conference table trying to figure out how to win the Samsung account. They drank caffeinated beverages, ate seeds or doughnuts or take-away szechuan and had a brainstorm session.

“It’s getting harder to achieve cut-through,” said the media director.

“We need this win,” said the business development guru (her card probably says guru as a title).

So more pressure was applied, more ridiculous ideas were offered and Junior Account Executives began to fear taking a toilet break.

Then - kismet! The Big Idea! The day was saved, the account was won and the client got primetime coverage on the evening news.

Now if the agency could just figure out how to get people to watch the news again. (”I know,” said the media director. “Let’s cut the clip and put it on Yahoo! News and hope it makes the top stories of the day. Bloggers everywhere will populate their sites with our story!)

I feel used…

In the midst of a bad new year, global insurance group AIG has made news by adding another public relations agency to its roster. It seems unusual that an announcement of this type has been made - perhaps it was to make it easier for journalists to contact the right firm for assistance?

It backfired spectacularly as one commentator tries to come to grips with a taxpayer-funded company hiring public relations agencies. Rachel Maddow then lists all the clients that have hired the same agency - and says, “…evil has PR on speed dial.”

It will be interesting to see how the firm handles its own crisis.

It’s financial results time in Australia - and the picture is far from rosey. Seems a number of companies decided to post their financial results on a Friday. Thanks to Stephen Mayne of The Mayne Report for compiling a chronology of one day’s announcements. For the record, here are the losses announced on Friday, 27 February 2009:

8.28am, Reckson New York Trust: $74.8m loss
8.29am, Pike River Coal: $NZ9.56m loss
8.29am, Hedley Leisure & Gaming: $174m loss
8.42am, Paperlinx: $567.5m loss
8.55am, HFA Accelerator Plus: $163.4m loss
9.11am, Chandler Macleod: $2.5m loss
9.17am, Funtastic: $50.8m loss
9.19am, Oz Minerals: loss of $2.4 billion.
9.23am, Staging Connections: $15.1m loss
9.27am, Every Day Mining Services: $10.1m loss
9.34am, GPG: $110m loss
9.35am, Trafalgar Corporate: $33.2m loss
9.38am, Roc Oil: $430m loss
9.40am Abacus Property Trust: $52m loss
9.42am, GPT: $3.25 billion loss
9.47am, Babcock & Brown Infrastructure: $245.8m loss
10.05am, Clinuvul Pharmaceutical: $9.05m loss
10.09am, Crown: $407.9m loss
10.17am, Rubicor Group: $20.8m loss
10.21am, GRD: $66.7m loss
10.32am, Tap Oil: $7.5m loss
10.34am: SciGen: $7.8m loss
10.37am: Ambition Group: $24.5m loss
10.41am: Drillsearch Energy: $5.5m loss
10.50am: Templeton Growth Fund: $14.5m loss
10.55am, Transoil Corp: $6.03m loss
11.04am, Babcock & Brown Capital: $1.43bn loss
11.11am, Tissue Therapies: $1.78m loss
11.12am, Rey Resources: $1.7m loss
11.18am, Sofcom: $77.7m loss
11.19am, ITL Ltd: $1.9m loss
11.20am, Clime Investment Management: $2.97m loss
11.25am, ORT Ltd: $1.62m loss
11.26am, Swish Group: $1.2m loss
12.03pm, India Equities Fund: $11.6m loss
12.04am, Teys Ltd: $2.04m loss
12.04pm, Environmental Clean Technologies: $1.05m loss
12.06pm, Sun Biomedical: $1.25m loss
12.20pm, Lend Lease Primelife: $204m loss
12.50pm, Lifestyle Communities: $2.24m loss
12.56pm, Western Areas: $12.34m loss
1.15am, Heartware International: $40m loss
1.16pm, Forest Enterprises Australia: $4.1m loss
1.18pm, Medical Therapies: $2.16m loss
1.19pm, Compass Hotels Group: $80.5m loss
1.20pm, RuralAus Investments: $1.2m loss
1.26pm, Automotive Technology Group: $2.96m loss
1.27pm, Univesrsal Biosensors: $12m loss
1.38pm, Allomak Ltd: $68.17m loss
1.40pm, Tyrian Diagnostics: $3.89m loss
1.45pm, Dyesol: $4.54m loss
1.50pm, ING Industrial Fund: $445.9m loss
1.52pm, KLM: $1.4m loss
2.15pm, Phoslock Water Solutions: $1.54m loss
2.29pm, Coretrack Ltd: $1.02m loss
2.32pm, Avita Medical: $2.96m loss
2.38pm, Electrometals Technologies: $2.3m loss
2.51pm, Hyro Ltd: $41.4m loss
2.55pm, Acuvax Ltd: $1.82m loss
2.57pm, Australian Education Trust: $41.3m loss
3.03pm, Novogen: $8.97m loss
3.05pm, Amazing Loans: $21.05m loss
3.06pm, APN Retail European Property Trust: $297m loss
3.10pm, Indigo Pacific: $6.6m loss
3.10pm, Contango Capital Partners: $26.2m loss
3.12pm, Rox Resources: $1.31m loss
3.13pm, Powerlan: $4.63m loss
3.20pm, Vinoto Ltd: $1.7m loss
3.21pm, Phylogica: $2.86m loss
3.22pm, Broad Investments: $2.59m loss
3.22pm, Everest Babcock & Brown Alternative Investment Trust: $300m loss
3.23pm, Praemium Ltd: $6.6m loss
3.25pm, ICSGlobal: $1.11m loss
3.28pm, Neuren Pharmaceuticals: $NZ18.43m loss
3.33pm, Over Fifty Group: $9.83m loss
3.33pm, Transpacific Industries: $52.6m loss
3.34pm, Macquarie Fortress Notes: $61.07m loss
3.39pm, ING Real Estate Community Living Group: $242.4m loss
3.40pm, China Century Capital Ltd: $2.88m loss
3.47pm, KTL Technologies: $2.63m loss
3.48pm, JV Global: $1.82m loss
3.52pm, Contango Microcap: $64.85m loss
3.53pm, 4C Security Solutions: $1.3m loss
3.54pm, LinQ Resources Fund: $225.83m loss
3.54pm, Astron Ltd: $5.83m loss
3.55pm, Jatoil Ltd: $1.8m loss
4.00pm, MacarthurCook: $11.46m loss
4.03pm, Natural Fuel: $40m loss
4.04pm, Two Way Ltd: $1.42m loss
4.06pm, Biosignal Ltd: $3.3m loss
4.08pm, Metal Storm: $10.65m loss
4.11pm, Community Life: $2.5m loss
4.11pm, BBX Holdings: $1.6m loss
4.11pm, Cellnet: $10.2m loss
4.15pm, China Cattle Ltd: $1.4m loss
4.17pm, Jackgreen Ltd: $1.9m loss
4.17pm, Wentworth Holdings: $10.26m loss
4.17pm, AnaeCo Ltd: $2.38m loss
4.18pm, Van Eyk Blueprint Alternatives Plus: $11.64m loss
4.22pm, Century Australia: $5.03m loss
4.23pm, Benitec: $1.13m loss
4.31pm, Allco Max Securities and Mortgage Trust: $105.17m loss
4.32pm, Select Vaccines: $1.16m loss
4.34pm, Carnegie Corporation: $5.96 loss
4.37pm, Celtex: $1.2m loss
4.37pm, National Leisure & Gaming: $8.45m loss
4.38pm, Jupiter Mines: $1.5m loss
4.41pm, Allstate Exploration: $1.3m loss
4.41pm, Range River Gold: $2.15m loss
4.42pm, Hudson Investment Group: $3.87m loss
4.43pm, CBD Energy: $2.29m loss
4.44pm, Enviro Mission: $3.8m loss
4.44pm, Datadot Technology: $7.75m loss
4.45pm, Bluefreeway: $14.65m loss
4.45pm, Shaw River Resources: $1.9m loss
4.46pm, ING Private Equity Access: $8.2m loss
4.46pm, Jervois Mining: $1.28m loss
4.47pm, Boulder Steel: $4.04m loss
4.54pm, Salinas Energy: $2.86m loss
4.57pm, Perilya Resources: $77.17m loss
5.01pm, Mercury Mobility: $1.7m loss
5.01pm, Zylotech: $1.36m loss
5.02pm, Van Eyk Three Pillars: $27.6m loss
5.06pm, Commquest Ltd: $46.4m loss
5.09pm, Flat Glass Industries: $4.67m loss
5.10pm, Living Cell Technologies: $2.89m loss
5.12pm, Fig Tree Developments: $1.49m loss
5.14pm, Polartechnics: $4.43m loss
5.16pm, ChongHerr Investments: $1.28m loss
5.25pm, Cue Energy: $16.72m loss
5.26pm, Australian Biodiesel: $1.9m loss
5.27pm, Cloncurry Metals: $3.54m loss
5.27pm, Viento Group: $6.21m loss
5.27pm, AFT Corporation: $1.12m loss
5.28pm, Kings Minerals: $4.39m loss
5.28pm, 3Q Holdings: $2.49m loss
5.32pm, Green Invest: $1.39m loss
5.33pm, Optiscan: $5.62m loss
5.35pm, Facilitate Digital Holdings: $2.1m loss
5.37pm, Carbon Conscious: $1.1m loss
5.39pm, Minerals Corporation: $11.7m loss
5.40pm, Marine Produce: $3.86m loss
5.40pm, Multistack International: $8.5m loss
5.42pm, Sirius Corporation: $1.06m loss
5.42pm, African Energy Resources: $1.41m loss
5.43pm, Omnitech Holdings: $1.05m loss
5.44pm, Fermiscan Holdings: $9.24m loss
5.44pm, Amex Resources: $1.37m loss
5.47pm, Advanced Ocular Systems: $18.54m loss
5.47pm, Nusep: $1.95m loss
5.48, Coltech Australia: $1.13m loss
5.51pm, Fox Invest: $6.12m loss
5.52pm, Pacific Environment: $1.74m loss
5.54pm, TTA Holdings: $1.24m loss
6.01pm, Wasabi Energy: $12.2m loss
6.04pm, CVC Ltd: $56.2m loss
6.06pm, Austpac Resources: $1.07m loss
6.07pm, Charter Pacific: $4.77m loss
6.09pm, Luminus Systems: $11.1m loss
6.11pm, Planet Gas: $17.07m loss
6.12pm, Australian Power & Gas: $5.65m loss
6.13pm, Quay Magnesium: $4.2m loss
6.16pm, Cockatoo Coal: $2.35m loss
6.59pm, Stirling Products: $15.3m loss
7.00pm, Globe Securities: $1.67m loss
7.01pm, Mikoh Corporation: $1.92m loss
7.02pm, Quantum Energy: $10.13m loss
7.02pm, Straits Resources: $106.7m loss
7.06pm, Cockatoo Ridge Wines: $54.8m loss
7.07pm, PanAust: $62m loss
7.07pm, Real Estate Capital Partners: $13.9m loss
7.09pm, Kagara Zinc: $49.9m loss
7.10pm, Cool or Cosy Total Comfort Solutions: $1.14m loss
7.13pm, Wallace Absolute Return Fund: $28.28m loss
7.13pm, Energy Ventures: $1.87m loss
7.17pm, NSX: $12.58m loss
7.21pm, Sino Strategic International: $3.1m loss
7.22pm, Payce Consolidated: $33.84m loss
7.27pm, Valad Property Group: $821m loss
7.28pm, Bentley International: $1.78m loss
7.33pm, Pacific Enviromin: $3.6m loss
7.39pm, EFTel Ltd: $1.72m loss
7.40pm, Centamin Egypt: $24.43m loss
7.40pm, Capitol Health: $1.1m loss
7.45pm, Orchid Capital: $2.1m loss
7.44pm, Tolhurst Group: $38.5m loss

The founder of now-bankrupt Rubicon Holdings continues to blunder in the media. When asked how much he earned, he said “I haven’t added it all up yet” (see today’s The Australian).

Yet investors can quickly tabulate their losses. Rubicon has collapsed in value from$870 million to today’s $15.5 million.

There are recommended ways to handle challenging questions, especially in times of crisis. Mr Fell needs to exress some more empathy for fellow investors - and showcase actions underway to resolve the issue. Finally some perspective on the overall, global economic situation should be offered.

Instead Fell distances himself from audiences - and any sympathy.

I’d strongly recommend in-depth media training immediately. And re-development of the core messages. Until then Gordon Fell is likely to be the media’s whipping boy.

Public relations is more convincing than advertising - consumers feel the additional scrutiny placed by an independent reporter provides a level of assurance that is missing in mainstream advertising. Working for clients to secure positive media coverage is the basic building block of public relations.

Given it’s fundamental to my business, I was pleasantly surprised to positively respond to an article endorsing Barack Obama.

As a disclaimer I am a life-long Democrat and would have voted for Obama. (In fact as an overseas American I posted my ballot a fortnight ago.) Yet until today I lacked solid conviction that Obama merited my vote.

Time Magazinethis week features and essay and interview by Joe Klein (”Why Barack Obama Is Winning“). In it Klein chronicles defining moments in his coverage of the candidate. When McCain suspended his campaign to be in Washington for emergency finance meetings (where McCain did NOT succeed), Obama instinctively responded, “A President has to be able to do more than one thing at a time.”

Best of all though is the report of a meeting with Iraq war commander General Petraeus. The two discussed strategy for an extended time then agreed to disagree - Obama knew a never-ending campaign would be disastrous for America. Here’s a great summary:

Unlike George W. Bush, who had given Petraeus complete authority over the war — an unprecedented abdication of presidential responsibility (and unlike John McCain, whose hero worship of Petraeus bordered on the unseemly) — Obama would insist on a rigorous chain of command. (Source: Joe Klein, Time Magazine)

I recommend a full read of the article - it demonstrates how a well considered essay can boost the brand power of a person, a product or a presidential candidate.

God bless John Stewart. The comedian hostof “The Daily Show” is now the primary source of news for more than 50% of Amrica’s high school students. And these budding minds are in safe yet sarcastic hands. Here John shows how George Bush sold the Iraq War and the $700 billion rescue plan with the same language.

See the video by clicking here.

What’s reassuring is to see the death of “politics of fear”. We’ve lived under a cloud of fear, doubt, suspicion, divide and concern for 8 years and 1 month. I guess Americans are saying enough is enough. Let’s tp being scared and let’s start solving this mess.