It didn’t get much pick-up here. In fact, I think I only saw a brief Reuters item in The Times. But BP CEO Lord Browne’s announcement earlier this week on his company’s auspicious plans to make an $8 billion investment in alternative energy sources further bolsters and differentiates this socially responsible company at a time when the spotlight on the oil industry is especially harsh. Is this simply a ploy to deflect the criticism?

The answer is a resounding no! Some years ago, I had the fortune of representing BP as it broke with the industry to acknowledge the potential dangers of global warming. It was a bold, risky, but earnest move, which enabled BP to completely recast its corporate reputation. The company’s new and continuing commitment to do good, has allowed it also to do well. Kudos to Lord Browne for paying more than lip service to the environment.

PR environment
business CSR

The blitzkrieg is on. Viacom-owned Infinity Radio, the company on whose airwaves Howard Stern gained national notoriety only to be abandoned for the big paid bird in the sky, will be trampled upon at least two more times.

Viacom’s CBS unit (for now) will allow the traitor to promote his new competitive media channel on the broadcast network’s top news and entertainment programs, “60 Minutes” and “The Late Show with David Letterman.” This in spite of the incessant disrespect and degradation Mr. Stern has heaped upon Infinity during his reign (and with particular vitriol these last few months).

Other than his ubiquity on-air, at raunchy parties and at PR events, Mr. Stern has done relatively few interviews to further fuel his infamy. Why should he? He has multiple (controlled) public pulpits from which to pontificate. As a result, his heretofore unavailability has enhanced his “mediability,” thus allowing Sirius PR man Patrick Reilly to pretty much pick and choose in and on which media to “place” Mr. Stern. Steve Huvane, you listening?

Now let’s watch for Mr. Stern with Katie and Matt, and the “ET,” “Access” and/or “Extra’s” of the world.

PR media television radio

It took a year for Presidential candidate John Kerry to face the media following his election loss. New York City Democratic Mayoral hopeful Fernando Ferrer waited just three weeks before giving the city’s top Spanish-language (and presumably sympathetic) newspaper a wide-ranging interview. In it, Freddie groused on the shortcomings of his campaign, placing the blame for his loss on a biased media and fallible pollsters. He even accused Mayor Bloomberg of pulling the proverbial fire alarm (i.e., a city-wide terrorist alert) at a pivotal point in the campaign. Geesh!

Truth be told, Mr. Ferrer’s rival, a very popular and very rich incumbent, spent a gazillion dollars to draw unprecedented bi-partisan support in coasting to victory. Mr. Ferrer’s message, if he ever had one, simply was not heard or not appreciated over the noise from the Bloomberg machine.

I guess it’s a good thing that within days of losing, Freddie announced his retirement from public life. Had he not, his misguided finger-pointing might have done the trick for him. Let’s also not forget that Freddie still must dig his way out of campaign debt. Somehow, I think this ill-timed El Diario interview won’t help.

PR media politics