Friday, February 17, 2012

The Crisis at TCU

Texas Christian University has an outstanding reputation for integrity, both in the classroom and on the athletic field. That’s as it should be for an elite institution with religious roots.

Its excellent image has been sorely tested by this week’s arrest of 18 students, including four players on the Horned Frog football team, for drug dealing. The arrests threw TCU into a classic crisis communications scenario.

Nefarious doings on campus, involving athletes in particular, have been an all-too-common stories in recent years. And in many cases, the respective scholastic institutions have done a poor job responding when things went bad.

TCU may be different. It’s receiving “deserved praise” from the media for getting in front of the story and explaining what it has done, and what it will do, to assure this won’t happen again. An early-on press conference allowed college officials to answer questions, not just read canned statements blessed in advance by the lawyers. Now, football Coach Gary Patterson’s personally on the phone with parents and other interested parties.

It ain’t over 'til it's over for the Horned Frogs, but TCU may come out of this crisis with its reputation intact. The school’s been responsive and transparent – vital points in making a crisis response successful.

Tuesday, February 07, 2012

Nora Frost's Top Ten List

At Last Thursday's PRSA February Luncheon, comedian and PR professional Nora Frost shared her take on the top ten list. Here it is for you to enjoy.

Top Ten Signs You're in PR

10. You enjoy yelling, "IT'S IN THE PRESS RELEASE! READ THE PRESS RELEASE!" internally... several times a day.

9. Well... what does the client want no. 9 to say?

8. You are very loyal to your job... pretty much because you can't get one anywhere else.

7. You start a fantasy press conference league.

6. Your family still doesn't understand what you do.

5. You still don't understand what you do.

4. You'd be more of a people person if you didn't have to relate to them so much.

3. You've told a journalist, "Eh... ethics is for politicians."

2. One man's tchotchke is another man's door prize.

1. You used to be a journalist.

What's in your top ten list?

Nora Frost is the principal of Dos Culturas, a bilingual, multicultural public relations firm. She has often been seen doing stand-up comedy in San Antonio, too. She can be reached at nora@dosculturas.com.