The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson

Sweeping layoffs were big news in 2022, and this shows no sign of slowing down in 2023. From Amazon to Salesforce, Twitter, Google, and more, major tech companies are making large numbers of employees redundant. Recently, Meta announced that it would be cutting 10,000 jobs (or roughly 10% of its workforce) in response to what CEO Mark Zuckerberg describes as “challenging market conditions.” While layoffs can be challenging and emotional for both the employees affected and the leaders of those companies, the language used by CEOs in their statements can make a major difference in how these dismissals are perceived. This week’s podcast addresses the language commonly used by CEOs in their layoff announcements, the importance of displaying empathy and humanity, and which terms leaders should avoid. Also covered is a handy framework to follow when crafting a statement regarding any changes that impact the future of a company and those who work there. Ultimately, the more information CEOs can provide to explain layoffs and what steps the company is taking to mitigate the impact on employees, the better! Thanks to social media, disgruntled employees are now able to tell the world how they feel about being laid off, whether fairly or unfairly, and it’s your job as a leader to mitigate those outcomes. People are paying attention, and as you’ll learn from this episode, CEOs should see this as an opportunity to show some humanity.Key Points From This Episode:Why displaying empathy and understanding for dismissed employees is important.Terms to avoid, including redundancies or cutbacks.Corporate pet names, blaming outward, and other insights from The Washington Post about “how tech CEOs talk when they lay off workers.”Victim-blaming language that tech CEOs use in statements and memos regarding layoffs.Accountability, apologies, and vulnerIf you work in strategy or communication, join Molly on December 17 at 12 PM ET for a 60-minute live media training that breaks down a crisis in real time. RFK Jr is being hit from two sides at once. Now Olivia Nuzzi’s memoir is out, weeks after Tatiana Schlossberg’s essay landed a punch. We'll walk through the headlines, the data, the sentiment, press coverage, then map out what a competent response would actually look like. Click here to attend. Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter Subscribe to Molly's Live Events Calendar. Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly: https://www.youtube.com/mollymcpherson https://mollymcpherson.substack.com/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcpherson https://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/ ...

 The Academy Award-winning actress and Goop founder Gwyneth Paltrow recently made headlines for a comment she made on a podcast about her daily wellness routine. This episode explains how information taken out of context is often the biggest obstacle faced by PR professionals and how this controversy seems to be an example of this. It then uncovers the potential reason why Gwyneth may have made this particular comment in the first place. Find out about Gwyneth Paltrow’s current legal battle for her role in a 2016 skiing crash and how her PR team may be trying to divert attention away from it. Listen in for a better understanding of how this relates to keywords and SEO, and how you can use this tactic too!  Key Points From This Episode:  Hear the viral clip of Gwyneth Paltrow on the podcast The Art of Being Well.How the TikTok clip was taken out of context. Why information taken out of context is often the biggest obstacle faced by PR professionals.How this was a well-timed, strategically placed interview.Other controversial statements that Gwyneth Paltrow has made in her career.Gwyneth Paltrow’s Instagram story response to the controversy.Why this seems to be an attempt to detract attention away from the story of her standing trial for a 2016 skiing crash.Distraction as a tactic and how this relates to keywords and SEO.The Indestructible PR® tip for the day about using this SEO tactic. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: #qwynethpaltrow shares her daily wellness routine on The Art Of Being Well Listen and Subscribe on Apple Podcasts If you work in strategy or communication, join Molly on December 17 at 12 PM ET for a 60-minute live media training that breaks down a crisis in real time. RFK Jr is being hit from two sides at once. Now Olivia Nuzzi’s memoir is out, weeks after Tatiana Schlossberg’s essay landed a punch. We'll walk through the headlines, the data, the sentiment, press coverage, then map out what a competent response would actually look like. Click here to attend. Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter Subscribe to Molly's Live Events Calendar. Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly: https://www.youtube.com/mollymcpherson https://mollymcpherson.substack.com/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcpherson https://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/ ...

As AI continues to advance and become more accessible, the question of using it to write press releases is becoming more relevant. After a tweet posted by Molly on the topic of using AI for this purpose received almost 19,000 views, this episode breaks down the pros and cons of doing this. You’ll learn about how these tools can be helpful to you and what safeguards you can use to limit the damage you can cause through them. You’ll also learn about the legal, copyright, and privacy implications of using them. The fact that the PR industry is rooted in truth raises ethical concerns about using AI to generate its content. This podcast explores both sides of the argument to help you decide whether AI is the right choice for you when you write your press releases.  Key Points From This Episode:  The viral tweet that inspired this episode’s topic on using AI to write press releases.The fact that the tweet was written by AI and thoughts on the ethics of this. The fact that the PR industry is rooted in truth and the ethical concerns of using AI to generate its content. Some of the benefits of using AI to write press releases. Some of the risks of using AI to write press releases.Why you should consider your needs and goals when you choose whether or not to use AI to write a press release.Some of the responses Molly got to her tweet. The legalities of using ChatGPT to write your press releases. Questions of privacy when it comes to the use of ChatGPT or AI.The Indestructible PR®  tip for the day about why you should never try to pass off AI content as original.  Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Molly’s viral tweet about using AI to write press releases If you work in strategy or communication, join Molly on December 17 at 12 PM ET for a 60-minute live media training that breaks down a crisis in real time. RFK Jr is being hit from two sides at once. Now Olivia Nuzzi’s memoir is out, weeks after Tatiana Schlossberg’s essay landed a punch. We'll walk through the headlines, the data, the sentiment, press coverage, then map out what a competent response would actually look like. Click here to attend. Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter Subscribe to Molly's Live Events Calendar. Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly: https://www.youtube.com/mollymcpherson https://mollymcpherson.substack.com/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcpherson https://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/ ...

Social media has revolutionized the way we communicate, connect, and consume information, and will continue to do so. The world of social media is ever-changing and, as we enter the next generation of social media, we need to adapt and learn new ways to respond to social media crises. In this episode, you’ll learn about the ways in which social media is changing, with the predicted proliferation of deep fakes and the ever-increasing influence of bots. You’ll discover how to determine the best platform to target and how to respond to a crisis, as well as the ultimate key to navigating social media. Tune in to find out the appropriate crisis response for the new bot-driven world.   Key Points From This Episode:Today’s topic: How to navigate the next generation of the social media crisis.The challenge of navigating the ever-changing world of social media.Axios writer Eleanor Hawkins’ take on the evolution of social media crises.The unique nature of social media crises on different channels.The move to short-form video on all social media platforms.How to determine how to respond to a crisis.The proliferation of deep-fake technology.The algorithm challenge and the influence of bots.The future of the social media crisis and the appropriate crisis response for the bot-driven world.How to determine the best platform to target.The key to navigating social media: using it.Keywords/Tags:The social dilemma, social media crisis, bots, algorithms, deep-fake, Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:The Social Dilemma ProgramAxios: Global Twitter conversation around mis- and dis-information bIf you work in strategy or communication, join Molly on December 17 at 12 PM ET for a 60-minute live media training that breaks down a crisis in real time. RFK Jr is being hit from two sides at once. Now Olivia Nuzzi’s memoir is out, weeks after Tatiana Schlossberg’s essay landed a punch. We'll walk through the headlines, the data, the sentiment, press coverage, then map out what a competent response would actually look like. Click here to attend. Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter Subscribe to Molly's Live Events Calendar. Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly: https://www.youtube.com/mollymcpherson https://mollymcpherson.substack.com/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcpherson https://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/ ...

Context is everything. February 22nd, 2023, cartoonist Scott Adams aired an episode of his nightly podcast that would turn his career on its head. The creator of the beloved character, Dilbert Done, surprised us all with the heavily racist remarks he made in the video entitled, “It’s Okay to Be White,” which very quickly went viral. As a result, Scott Adams has been canceled, not only figuratively by society, but also literally through the loss of his newspaper contracts. Nobody is immune to the risk of losing their reputation or their livelihood through something that they post online, so let this episode be a lesson that you can use to protect yourself against being canceled like Scott Adams.  Key Points From This Episode:  Who is Scott Adams?The Rasmussen poll that formed the basis of the video leading to Scott being canceled.Why Scott’s video, “It’s Okay to Be White,” went viral. The controversial nature of Rasmussen polls. How Scott has responded to the uproar around his video. Scott’s self-proclaimed political views. The problem with Scott’s approach to airing his opinion. Why context is everything. Indestructible PR® tip: know your audience and know your medium.  Keywords/Tags: Canceled, cancel culture, racism, Rasmussen poll, human behavior, context Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Dilbert by Scott Adams Scott Adams Interview - It’s Okay to Be White Tap water connoisseur on Twitter Molly McPherson If you work in strategy or communication, join Molly on December 17 at 12 PM ET for a 60-minute live media training that breaks down a crisis in real time. RFK Jr is being hit from two sides at once. Now Olivia Nuzzi’s memoir is out, weeks after Tatiana Schlossberg’s essay landed a punch. We'll walk through the headlines, the data, the sentiment, press coverage, then map out what a competent response would actually look like. Click here to attend. Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter Subscribe to Molly's Live Events Calendar. Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly: https://www.youtube.com/mollymcpherson https://mollymcpherson.substack.com/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcpherson https://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/ ...

Recently, Don Lemon, co-anchor of CNN This Morning, went off script and made news by stating that presidential candidate Nikki Haley was past her prime at the age of 51. This episode covers the things you should do immediately when an employee causes a PR crisis of this nature. Hear the full exchange of exactly what was said by Don Lemon and how he doubled down on his mistake, before learning how CNN responded. Hear about the importance of acting quickly, the difference between an effective apology and a non-apology, whether or not your company may need to terminate the employment of that staff member, and additional things you may need to do to mitigate further damage to its reputation. The Indestructible PR® tip for the day includes a helpful resource that you may want to keep on hand for the event of a crisis like this one. Key Points From This Episode:The details of the PR crisis caused by Don Lemon on CNN This Morning. Recent PR crises on other morning television news shows. Cohosts Poppy Harlow and Kaitlan Collins’ responses to Don Lemon’s statement.  The full exchange of what Don Lemon said.A breakdown of where he went wrong and how he continued to make it worse.The things you should do immediately when an employee causes a PR crisis.What CNN did directly following this incident.The training that Don Lemon was forced to do.The importance of a public statement. Don Lemon’s initial apology and what was wrong with it.Why your company may need to consider terminating the employment of that staff member.The importance of transparency. Additional things you may need to do to mitigate further damage to the company’s reputation.The Indestructible PR® tip for the day about where you can find a helpful tool for handling a crisis like this.Links Mentioned in TodIf you work in strategy or communication, join Molly on December 17 at 12 PM ET for a 60-minute live media training that breaks down a crisis in real time. RFK Jr is being hit from two sides at once. Now Olivia Nuzzi’s memoir is out, weeks after Tatiana Schlossberg’s essay landed a punch. We'll walk through the headlines, the data, the sentiment, press coverage, then map out what a competent response would actually look like. Click here to attend. Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter Subscribe to Molly's Live Events Calendar. Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly: https://www.youtube.com/mollymcpherson https://mollymcpherson.substack.com/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcpherson https://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/ ...

The rise of social media influencers means it is easier than ever to form parasocial relationships with celebrities or online influencers. Although parasocial relationships are one-sided and don’t involve any contact in the real world, the death of someone whose life you have been closely following online can cause a visceral reaction.In the case of Dave Hollis, his sudden death at the age of 47 sent a subreddit community of over 13,000 people into an emotional freefall. In this conversation with Emily Rose, digital creator and host of the It’s Become A Whole Thing podcast, you’ll hear about the dynamics of parasocial relationships, how celebrities leverage these types of relationships, and the coping mechanisms that people employ when the other side of a one-way relationship experiences a life event.Key Points From This Episode:The tragic event that shook a 13,000-person-strong Reddit community and how they expressed their grief. The story of how Dave Hollis and his ex-wife Rachel Hollis turned their once rabid fans into disenfranchised ex-fans.The abrupt emotional shift that often accompanies a person’s death. The definition of a parasocial relationship. The spectrum of celebrity-focused communities that can be found online.Emily’s thoughts on the worst thing that can happen to a celebrity. Examples of how celebrities leverage parasocial relationships to their advantage.Reddit communities can be a double-edged sword - they can offer amazing support and resources, but also attract trolls who can make the experience unbearable.  Aspects of the Hollis brand that make them so relatable.Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Emily Rose on InstagramIt’s Become A WhoIf you work in strategy or communication, join Molly on December 17 at 12 PM ET for a 60-minute live media training that breaks down a crisis in real time. RFK Jr is being hit from two sides at once. Now Olivia Nuzzi’s memoir is out, weeks after Tatiana Schlossberg’s essay landed a punch. We'll walk through the headlines, the data, the sentiment, press coverage, then map out what a competent response would actually look like. Click here to attend. Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter Subscribe to Molly's Live Events Calendar. Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly: https://www.youtube.com/mollymcpherson https://mollymcpherson.substack.com/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcpherson https://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/ ...

No matter the scale of your business, you need to have a strategy in place in case of a PR crisis. If someone takes it upon themselves to attack you on social media, or you experience an actual operations meltdown, you need to be prepared. This episode tackles the ins and outs of creating an effective and comprehensive crisis communication plan to keep your business afloat if ever you find yourself in the line of fire. Discover what you need to ascertain before creating your crisis communication template, and what to include in the template itself. A post-crisis communication plan is equally as important, and in this episode, you’ll find out why. Tune in for an overview of how to communicate effectively in a crisis, reassuring stakeholders and the public alike.Key Points From This Episode:A CNN excerpt outlining Southwest Airlines’ operations crisis and subsequent crisis communication.Why it’s essential for every business to have an effective and comprehensive crisis communication plan.Why it’s important to identify and define what constitutes a crisis in your business.The difference between disaster communication and a PR crisis.What to include in your crisis communication template.Identifying your stakeholders and crisis response team.How to identify the most impactful social media channel for communicating with stakeholders.The role of monitoring and evaluation in crisis management.Strategies versus tactics.What a post-crisis communication plan involves.Sign up for the live Indestructible PR® workshop, "How to Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:Why Southwest is melting down | CNN BusinessIf you work in strategy or communication, join Molly on December 17 at 12 PM ET for a 60-minute live media training that breaks down a crisis in real time. RFK Jr is being hit from two sides at once. Now Olivia Nuzzi’s memoir is out, weeks after Tatiana Schlossberg’s essay landed a punch. We'll walk through the headlines, the data, the sentiment, press coverage, then map out what a competent response would actually look like. Click here to attend. Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter Subscribe to Molly's Live Events Calendar. Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly: https://www.youtube.com/mollymcpherson https://mollymcpherson.substack.com/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcpherson https://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/ ...

When Boston-based staff executive, Whitney Sharpe, outlined the actions she took to address her disturbing experience of sexual harassment on TikTok, she had no idea that it would become viral overnight and be viewed by over 14 million people. The original incident had taken place while on a work call with potential vendors, during which, Whitney captured a profoundly unprofessional incident. Thanks to the ill-advised (and highly consequential) misuse of the screen-share function, Whitney was exposed to a company chat wherein staff members had made crude sexual remarks about her. Whitney’s recent TikTok demonstrates how one company was completely unprepared to handle a massive vulnerability within their organization and the fallout that is taking place as a result. Hear about the company’s lack of response online, what was missing from their apology email, how to ensure that your company is prepared for this type of exposure, and the importance of honoring your values as a company.Key Points From This Episode:How Whitney Sharpe, a Boston-based executive at a large staffing firm, took a stand against sexual harassment and went viral on TikTok.The inappropriate company chat that Whitney was exposed to.How Whitney captured the interaction and went viral on TikTok.What happens when an HR crisis collides with a PR crisis.The key vulnerabilities that Whitney’s viral TikTok exposes within the company she is confronting.The email Whitney received from the company in response to her complaint.Why the email fell short and felt like an ‘insincere’ apology.The company’s choice not to respond to Whitney’s viral TikTok.The growing trend of companies not responding to public outcry.How to ensure that your company is ready for this type of exposure.Recommendations on the social media guidelines that companies should be If you work in strategy or communication, join Molly on December 17 at 12 PM ET for a 60-minute live media training that breaks down a crisis in real time. RFK Jr is being hit from two sides at once. Now Olivia Nuzzi’s memoir is out, weeks after Tatiana Schlossberg’s essay landed a punch. We'll walk through the headlines, the data, the sentiment, press coverage, then map out what a competent response would actually look like. Click here to attend. Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter Subscribe to Molly's Live Events Calendar. Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly: https://www.youtube.com/mollymcpherson https://mollymcpherson.substack.com/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcpherson https://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/ ...

Gwen Stefani recently made headlines after an interview with Allure magazine in which she claimed to be Japanese. The pop star received a lot of backlash for these comments and has been accused of cultural appropriation. The controversy raised a lot of questions about what it means to be respectful when engaging with other cultures. This week’s episode unpacks the difference between cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation. In order to do this, it draws on the expertise of Melissa Vela-Williamson, an award-winning PR practitioner, national PR columnist, author, and podcast host, who has a rich and deep background in Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion and how this relates to communication. Tune in to find out whether Gwen is guilty of cultural appropriation or cultural appreciation and hear an important list of some of the dos and don’ts of multicultural practices for anyone in communication.Key Points From This Episode:What Gwen Stefani said about her Harajuku era in an Allure interview that caused such a backlash.How Molly’s recent workshop with guest Melissa Vela-Williamson relates to the question of cultural appropriation.The difference between the full context of the entire article and the pull-quote.Molly’s definition of culture and how it relates to her work of drawing lessons from pop culture.How Molly hopes that this episode will help people gain cultural competence.Melissa’s definition of the difference between cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation.Where Gwen Stefani falls in light of this definition.A list of some of the dos and don’ts of cultural appreciation for those in communication.How Gwen should have handled the question.The Indestructible PR® Tip regarding cultural appropriation and awareness.Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:If you work in strategy or communication, join Molly on December 17 at 12 PM ET for a 60-minute live media training that breaks down a crisis in real time. RFK Jr is being hit from two sides at once. Now Olivia Nuzzi’s memoir is out, weeks after Tatiana Schlossberg’s essay landed a punch. We'll walk through the headlines, the data, the sentiment, press coverage, then map out what a competent response would actually look like. Click here to attend. Want More Behind the Breakdown? Follow The PR Breakdown with Molly McPherson on Substack for early access to podcast episodes, private member chats, weekly live sessions, and monthly workshops that go deeper than the mic. It is the inside hub for communicators who want real strategy, clear judgment, and a little side-eye where it counts.Follow Molly on Substack Subscribe to Molly's Weekly Newsletter Subscribe to Molly's Live Events Calendar. Need a Keynote Speaker? Drawing from real-world PR battles, Molly delivers the same engaging stories and hard-won crisis insights from the podcast to your live audience. Click here to book Molly for your next meeting. Follow & Connect with Molly: https://www.youtube.com/mollymcpherson https://mollymcpherson.substack.com/ https://www.tiktok.com/@mollybmcpherson https://www.instagram.com/molly.mcpherson/ ...