The Flack

This weblog attempts to shine a brighter light on the subtle role public relations plays in politics, culture, media, business and sports. Through greater transparency, the author hopes to make the profession better understood and perhaps more widely appreciated.

As predicted here, the court of public opinion prevailed once again. Yesterday Ford announced it would resume advertising in gay friendly publications. The decision may not gibe with the company’s initial explanation for pulling the ads — marketing budget cutbacks — and its denial that pressure from conservative Christian (and anti-Gay) groups swayed the company.

Nonetheless, Ford had the Forditude to reverse itself to make the correct decision. Our hat goes off to them…at least in this chaptr\er. (Now if only other authoritative figures could learn the benefits of a full and genuine mea culpa.)


Posted in Ford Motor Co. | No Comments »

Choose Your Partner

Posted by Peter Himler on 6th December 2005

The decision by the Ford Motor Company to pull its advertising from several gay-oriented publications will have big PR consequences for the already beleaguered automaker. It’s reminiscent of Microsoft’s short-lived support of an anti-gay rights bill that led to MS reversing itself under pressure from employees, the blogosphere, NGOs…

The advertising news comes on the heels of a surprisingly non-resonant announcement that the company will close “more than” eight plants. The corporate spokesperson lamely explained the ad pull: “As they begin planning their marketing for next year,” the spokesman, Mike Moran, said Monday, “they’ve streamlined their budgets.”

Mr. Moran made no mention of the corporate blackmail by the virulently anti-gay, Mississippi-based American Family Association, which reportedly forced this move. Nonetheless, the headlines and victory dance in Tupelo for its win in its ongoing battle against the “homosexual agenda” said it all.

Let’s now see what kind of noise the civil rights and gay movements, employees, and the blogosphere will muster to make Ford second-guess its decision.

Posted in Ford Motor Co. | 1 Comment »