QUOTE OF THE DAY “Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other.” – John F. Kennedy – as featured in Bits & Pieces on Leadership COVID-19 UPDATE At the time of reporting, The New York Times showed 4,502,551 cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. and 152,431 deaths. Bing’s COVID-19 Tracker reported 4,582,521 cases in the U.S. and 154,261 fatalities. Wisconsin’s Gov. Tony Evers has issued a statewide order on masks following a spike in his state. States in the Midwest have seen rising numbers as Southern states have plateaued in recent days. The debate over hydroxycholoroquine is back as President Trump has pushed the malaria drug as a treatment for COVID-19. Scientists, including top White House pandemic expert Dr. Anthony Fauci, say the drug is not helpful in treating the disease. Lawmakers have gone home for the summer recess as unemployment benefits expire for millions of Americans.
Internal communications should drive external messaging right now. An external message that isn’t met with internal action will seem inauthentic. Here’s how you should think about working inside-out.
How can you become a resource for your community? LogMeIn wanted to take advantage of the moment it saw with increased remote work during COVID-19. Here’s how it was able to drive the conversation. PR Can Reach Higher in Search Results Than Your Clients’ SEO Efforts. That, according to a study that reviewed the average the Domain Authority of earned media websites verses brand-owned websites. More on how PR has the opportunity to win search engine visibility where SEO and SEM fail: The Ultimate PR Guide on Search Engine Strategy. The CDC has revised isolation tips for individuals with COVID-19. The new rules could affect plans for bringing workers back to the job site, and communicators should consider how to explain these changes—and prepare audiences for future updates. Social media is a crucial tool during COVID-19. Here’s how one PR pros sees the future of the industry and how technology can play an important role in future messaging. California Pizza Kitchen files for bankruptcy. The move comes as the pizza chain is reeling form losses due to the COVID-19 crisis, leaders say. CNN reported: "The unprecedented impact of Covid-19 on our operations certainly created additional challenges, but this agreement from our lenders demonstrates their commitment to CPK's viability as an ongoing business," CEO Jim Hyatt said in a release. Only 17% of employees give their employer an “exceptional” rating. Here are some ways you can improve trust with important internal stakeholders. United Airlines warns of more pilot furloughs. The company is trying to adjust as the pandemic continues and travel has yet to recover—along with uncertain plans for more federal aid. The New York Times reported: "There are really only two ways to mitigate the full impact of furloughs. The first is another stimulus bill," United's head of flight operations, Bryan Quigley, said in the memo. The Chicago-based airline had previously said it would furlough 2,250 pilots between Oct. 1 and the end of 2020 and another 1,650 in 2021, depending on demand. Remote work requires a strong culture at its root. How can you improve your connections with workers to keep everyone pulling in the same direction during this difficult time? Here are some tips. Walmart responds to reports of hundreds of job cuts. A memo explaining the cuts follows media reports of the job cuts as businesses try to adapt to the future of the current crisis. Chain Store Age reported: “We are continuing on our journey to create an omni-channel organization within our Walmart U.S. business and we’re making some additional changes this week,” said [spokesperson Jami LaMontagne.] “Our customers want to have a seamless experience whether they’re shopping in our stores, using our app or shopping online. Our goal is to deliver that experience while increasing innovation, speed and productivity. We will share additional information after we’ve completed our communication with associates.” Special Report Get a free copy of Ragan’s Crisis Leadership Board’s “Organizational Responses to Black Lives Matter,” a concise and meaningful review of how 10 brands responded to the Black Lives Matter movement—from best to worst—and the lessons taken from each response. Virtual Conference Alert Join us for Ragan’s Brand Storytelling During a Crisis Virtual Conference Aug. 4-5 to learn the latest tips on telling your brand story and protecting your reputation during these uncertain and tumultuous times. Join our Crisis Leadership Board Ragan’s Crisis Leadership Board is the resource you need before, during and after the 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. | 