STAT OF THE DAY In Edelman’s 2019 “In Brands We Trust Multicultural Report,” 59% said that too many brands use societal issues as a marketing ploy to sell more product. The figure reveals the danger of inauthentic messaging during a national crisis. COVID-19 UPDATE At the time of reporting, The New York Times showed 1,820,269 cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. and 105,095 fatalities. Bing’s COVID-19 Tracker reported 1,847,729 cases in the U.S. and 106,550 fatalities. Protests and riots continue to sweep the nation as many locales have imposed curfews to try and limit damage to property. Here’s a list of cities that have issued curfews. Church leaders, like the Bishop of the Episcopal Church for the Diocese of Washington, have decried Trump’s visit to St. John’s church for a photo op as a “symbolic gesture.” Joe Biden addressed the nation in Philadelphia saying the death of George Floyd is a “wake-up call for our nation.” The Fed says U.S. GDP has contracted by more than 50% in Q2, but some experts are optimistic on the outlook for a recovery.
Help your leaders find their voice in this crisis. For many who care about racial justice and equity, silence in this moment will be seen as complicity. Here are some tips to help your leaders find an authentic and heartfelt message on this crucial issue.
Comms pros must join the fight against disinformation. With high stakes around brand responses to the civil unrest, make sure you are helping audiences find reliable information and inoculate against propaganda and weaponized disinformation. Here’s how to think about the problem. TikTok apologizes after users complained of censorship during riots. The social platform says a technical glitch was responsible for incorrect viewer counts on posts that included the hashtag #BlackLivsmatter. It wrote in its newsroom: First, to our Black community: We want you to know that we hear you and we care about your experiences on TikTok. We acknowledge and apologize to our Black creators and community who have felt unsafe, unsupported, or suppressed. We don't ever want anyone to feel that way. We welcome the voices of the Black community wholeheartedly. Be sure to check your bias as you address the current protests. Here’s some advice from our community of experts on how to develop messages with empathy and inclusion during an emotionally-charged moment for so many both at home and abroad. Cisco postpones virtual conference due to ongoing protests. Cisco Live 2020, originally scheduled for this week and moved online due to COVID-19, has now been postponed. It’s making a $5 million donation to social justice charities, CEO Chuck Robbins announced in this video message. Target’s history with police gets careful examination during riots. As the retail chain has become a focal point for many looters, starting with a Lake Street location in Minneapolis, some are taking a closer look at the company’s history of working with police on surveillance and shoplifting countermeasures. A reputation isn’t built overnight, and communicators must do their homework on the history of their organization when confronted by a crisis. Consider how the COVID-19 crisis has highlighted racial inequality in your organization. The New York Times reported that many African American workers fall into two categories: frontline essential workers who are exposed at higher rates to the virus, and those who have lost their jobs. Organizations should think about how to address structural inequality in their workforce that has been revealed by the COVID-19 crisis. Marriott’s CEO Arne Sorenson shares sadness on LinkedIn. Leaders must be prepared to share feelings of grief and anxiety to connect with audiences and stakeholders grappling with major cultural movements around race and violence. The key to successful messages is vulnerability and openness. Sorenson shared on LinkedIn: As I watch this crisis unfold, there is another emotion that envelops me -- sadness. That sadness begins with a recognition that we have lost another valuable life, needlessly. George Floyd should be living and breathing and bringing smiles to the faces of neighbors and friends today, just as he was a week ago. Internal communications is different (but the same) during COVID-19. Here’s how best practices have shifted for engaging employees and internal stakeholders during this historic pandemic and the crises that have followed. Bank of America pledges $1 billion to fight racial inequality. Financial service groups have been quick to offer action on issues surrounding race and injustice during this period of unrest and rioting. Many consumers are looking for words to be met with actions to show commitment. CNBC wrote: “Underlying economic and social disparities that exist have accelerated and intensified during the global pandemic,” Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan said in the release. “The events of the past week have created a sense of true urgency that has arisen across our nation, particularly in view of the racial injustices we have seen in the communities where we work and live. We all need to do more.” Virtual Conference Alert Join us for Ragan & PR Daily's Social Media & Digital Communications Virtual Conference June 18-19 to learn brand strategies and best practices to meet the challenges of the new reality. Join our Crisis Leadership Board Ragan’s Crisis Leadership Board is the resource you need before, during and post-crisis. As a Board member, you have access to all back issues of this newsletter—as well as research, data, case studies, checklists, tip sheets, articles and other resources—plus a peer-to-peer discussion board and an all-access pass to the annual Crisis Management Conference. Sponsorship/Advertising Opportunities Contact Hannah Lavelle at HannahL@ragan.com with sponsorship and advertising inquiries. Pitch Us Have a great story to share about crisis communication or your own take on current best practices? Contact Editor Ted Kitterman at TedK@ragan.com. Sign Up Subscribe to Ragan’s Crisis Daily newsletter today. | 