The post Anti-Feminism in Modern Day Sports appeared first on Platform Magazine.
]]>Published on March 18, 2024, at 4:17 p.m.
by Malia Elliott.
Did you know that only 41% of female sports teams are actually coached by a woman? Did you know that some argue how the media portrays female athletics makes it seem less entertaining? In a time when female athletics is underrepresented and the number of female professionals in the industry is low, how do these factors affect the few who are involved? Are the women who play collegiate and professional athletics treated fairly and given the same luxuries as the men? Are the women who work in collegiate and professional athletics given the same seat at the table as the men?
This article will look at two well-known and rather successful college coaches and their reputation in the media to provide some insight into how females are treated in the sports world.
Kim Mulkey, LSU women’s basketball head coach, and Nick Saban, former Alabama football head coach, are both the arguable “goats” (greatest of all time) in their respective sports. The two coaches also share strikingly similar mannerisms and habits when speaking with sports media.
Saban has long been praised and admired in the football world, which is not shocking considering his record at Alabama is 183-25. Along with his reputation for winning, Saban carries a reputation for being cold to the media. But what is interesting about Saban’s reputation is people seem to love and enjoy his attitude. Some even go as far as to say his attitude toward the media and treatment of players are “protective.”
Mulkey, on the other hand, acts in a similar way to Saban and carries an equally impressive record (713-116), but she is considered a brat, stuck-up and has her successes compared to past coaches.
In explaining this difference in perceptions, Brett Hudson, a University of Alabama adjunct instructor, said, “There is a difference between reluctantly doing media and being dismissive of media.”
Is this a Mulkey issue, or a media representation issue? Is Mulkey given the chance to display herself properly or is she automatically written off?
In the 2023 basketball season, LSU women’s basketball won the national championship, which helped them gain a lot of media coverage. Mulkey was shown multiple times in media yelling at referees, players and other coaches, resulting in some not-so-great media attention. One fan even went as far as to say Mulkey is a “disgrace.”
National Basketball Association (NBA) legend Magic Johnson showed his support for Mulkey after she secured the national championship ring but faced harsh backlash from fans for his support of the coach.
In another example, after a rather long-winded rant to the media, Saban was given the opportunity to explain his motivation for ranting, with the media simply writing it off as him “trying to send a message to his players.” But when Mulkey attempted to keep the reason for a player’s suspension private, LSU’s own fan site, tigerrag.com, said she “doesn’t get media relations 101.”
Professor Tom Arenberg of The University of Alabama provided an interesting insight, stating, “Saban can get away with stuff; Kim Mulkey can’t. I’m not justifying that.”
Which begs the question, why is that? How can two coaches with close to equal success be viewed so differently? Is there really a difference in how these coaches treat the media? Or is this a representation of female athletics issue?
“Look on social media, the abuse that female coaches take. That female athletes take. The abuse that female sports writers take. It’s horrifying,” said Arenberg. “Yeah, there is still some chauvinism in the world.”
For example, Alex Morgan, member of the U.S. Women’s National Team, is
the highest-paid female soccer player, making $800,000 a year, which sounds like a lot of money but pales in comparison to Cristiano Ronaldo’s $136 million-a-year contract. The average NBA player makes $8.5 million a year, but the average WNBA player makes roughly $116,000 a year.
“I think it is mostly how [Mulkey] speaks to the media,” Hudson noted, “but there is something to be said about the lack of exposure of women’s sports.”
As mentioned previously, women’s athletics is far underrepresented. One study found that in Southern California, women athletes receive less than 4% of coverage on sports news shows but account for over 40% of athletes.
Jacqueline Vinson, public relations intern for the Los Angeles Rams, said, “It definitely is a bad PR look for athletics that in 2024 women are still underrepresented and underappreciated.”
As pointed out by Global Sport Matters, women who work in sports in any capacity still face many trials and tribulations when simply trying to complete their jobs. Although collegiate and professional athletics are attempting to become a more inclusive space, is it too little, too late to save the image of sports as an inclusive community? Many companies, like Nike, are beginning to run advertising campaigns that showcase women in sports, which is helping to make strides for sports and PR.
While women’s sports and women working in sports are rapidly on the rise, there is still a massive gap between women’s and men’s sports. Kim Mulkey is what most would consider a trailblazer for female sports, and while she might face some negative media attention, she is helping females in sports make huge strides toward creating a more equal future. As more women start to work in sports media and in other capacities in the industry, this gap in reputation will soon grow smaller and smaller.
Until then, Kim Mulkey will continue fighting for females’ right to be in the sports world.
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]]>The post The AI Advantage in PR appeared first on Platform Magazine.
]]>Published on March 8, 2024, 6:25 p.m.
by Anne Smith.
The idea of using technology with human intelligence to perform tasks probably sounded unimaginable 10 years ago, but now, it’s our society’s new normal and is evolving constantly. Although there is still much to learn about artificial intelligence and all of its capabilities, there is no denying that this advanced technology is here to stay.
There are many definitions that fall under the term “artificial intelligence” (AI) as it is a broad form of technology that continues to progress rapidly. However, in its essence, AI can be described as “the theory and development of computer systems that are able to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making, and translation between languages.”
Although the term artificial intelligence was introduced in 1956, its popularity has grown in recent years with AI tools that have become more accessible to the general public, such as ChatGPT and OpenAI. With powerful human-like intelligence and almost no limitations to the content that AI can generate, it can seem like an intimidating tool. However, when used with balance and responsibility, its advanced technology has the ability to positively transform our society.
Balance is key
For the public relations industry, AI tools offer numerous possibilities to increase efficiency and enhance creativity. But in an industry that thrives on human creativity, finding the balance between using AI and producing personable and compelling content is key.
As the founder and principal of Kinetic, Jay Brandrup specializes in helping organizations understand and apply the latest technologies to become more competitive. “While AI exhibits impressive capabilities in generating content and optimizing processes, there remains an acknowledgment of the irreplaceable aspects of human creativity,” Brandrup said. “Indeed, while AI can provide generalized solutions, the nuanced and emotionally resonant elements of creativity often stem from human experiences, perspectives and insights.”
Not only is maintaining a certain human and AI balance necessary, but remaining transparent to clients about the integration of AI into companies’ products is also crucial. Brandrup explained that even though client engagement levels may vary, it is important to offer tailored recommendations on how AI integrations can improve their clients’ results. This transparency encourages open communication between the company and the client.
PR powered by pixels
There are a vast number of ways that AI technology can be integrated when crafting PR campaigns. For PR professionals, it can be helpful to kick-start ideas, generate prompts or create content. Additionally, AI-powered analytics provide valuable insights that inform strategic decision-making and optimize communication strategies. AI gives PR professionals an inspiring starting point that they can branch off of to explore further.
Keelie Segars, chief executive producer at Markstein, gave interesting insight on how she uses AI in her agency: “It enables us to get started and get into the meat of the project much more quickly.” Segars explained that she uses AI technology typically at the beginning of her creative processes — for example, when writing a first draft for a press release or blog post.
However, Segars noted, they do still have an employee who analyzes and edits the AI-generated content in order to ensure it makes sense for the client. “Whatever information you get from AI, you’re going to have to spend some quality time with it,” she said. There is no question that some AI outputs aren’t 100% accurate or suitable for the client, so fact-checking the content that AI generates is imperative.
The perfect pair for PR
AI technology has the capability to completely transform the PR industry. But in a world where AI is constantly changing and evolving, in order for a company to stay competitive with others in its industry, it must adapt with these changes as well.
“Overall, the synergistic integration of AI and human creativity promises to redefine industry standards, provided companies navigate ethical challenges effectively and prioritize consumer trust and privacy,” said Brandrup.
The future of utilizing AI technology in the PR field is bright, and when used responsibly and ethically, this advanced technology enhances communication, fosters creative ideas and garners transparent relationships with clients.
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]]>The post Breaking Through: Women in Sports Are Here to Stay appeared first on Platform Magazine.
]]>The trailblazing women on the Hurts’ team are Nicole Lynn: agent, Jenna Malphrus: management, Rachel Everett: marketing, Chantal Romain: communications and Shakeemah Simmons-Winter: communications.
“I think what Nicole Lynn did to open the door for so many others who are going to follow in her
footsteps is incredible,” Kristin Weissman, founder/consultant for Wing Woman Public Relations, said. “She had the courage to approach him directly, and to relate to him most likely in a way that most men would not be able to do. And to be able to say to him, ‘Hey, you feel like an underdog at this time in your career, and I am an underdog just by being a woman in this industry. We’re both hustlers, so let me show you how we can achieve this together.”
But Lynn and the four other women are not the only ones trailblazing the sports industry and helping to make a place for women in sports.
“I want to spotlight my idol in sports, Kim Davis, the senior executive vice president of the NHL. She is just so transparent, honest and empowering in everything she does,” Delaney Galbraith, CEO & founder of Girls Club, said.
Kim Davis is the first Black woman in an executive position for the National Hockey League. Davis was appointed in 2017 and has since been steadily focused on making strides to further the progress of women in sports.
Galbraith noted, “She does it with grace but she’s also not afraid to have tough conversations, which I really appreciate in this industry. She knows that change needs to happen, and she is a game changer.”
Becky Hammon, Las Vegas Aces head coach, made history in 2020 by becoming the first female acting head coach in NBA history. Gregg Popovich, San Antonio Spurs head coach, was ejected purposefully so that Hammon would have this opportunity.
While it was a big step forward for women in sports, some believe it is not enough. “It shouldn’t take this intentional moment to get a woman to have the position of active head coach,” Brent Mitchell, assistant director of the Alabama Forensic Council and instructor at The University of Alabama, said.
Many more women are moving into larger roles in the sports industry. Kathryn Smith is the first female to hold a full-time NFL coaching staff position. Sandra Douglas Morgan is the first Black woman NFL team president. Rachel Balkovec is the first full-time woman manager in the history of Major League Baseball. Dawn Braid is the first full-time female coach in NHL history. All of these women have something in common — they are changing the game of sports for women everywhere.
The earliest hiring of the first female in any of the cases mentioned above was in 2016, only a mere eight years ago. This fact is shocking and puts into perspective the growth still needed in the industry.
“I do believe that sometimes the focus is a little bit lost because they
don’t realize that women are still suffering. We don’t have the proper representation, which is why my agency is female-focused,” explained Shajuanna M. Jordan, owner of Ladies 1st Sports Agency, an agency focused on representing and excelling female athletes, a first of its kind.
Women like Jordan, Lynn and many others are breaking glass ceilings and helping to ensure a future for all females who desire to work in sports. As more and more women enter this industry as athletes, coaches, athletic trainers and other roles, these trailblazers will effect more change and thus progress in the industry.
Jordan said, “I would love to see women on TV more. I would love to see them in commercials more. I would love to see them be the same influence that male athletes are. I want to them have that same opportunity.”
The goal of sports PR is to promote teams, players and organizations. Girls Club focuses on encouraging and promoting females to break into the sports industry and how to do so. Ladies 1st Sports Agency focuses on propelling female athletes to the next level. What is unique about these two organizations is they are taking a different approach to sports PR and helping to ensure females have and will always have a place in sports.
It is no secret there is room to grow all around in this industry. The optics surrounding women working in male-dominated sports is a heavily debated topic in the PR world. However, Hurts giving the five women on his public relations, marketing and managerial team this opportunity is definitely a large step in the right direction.
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]]>The post Media Blitz: The Changing Media Culture in College Football appeared first on Platform Magazine.
]]>Published on March 4, 2024, 4:34 p.m.
by Meg Fullen.
College football holds a special place in sporting fans’ hearts through the legacy of intensity and competition passed on since 1869. Throughout the last decade, college football fans find themselves saying goodbye to old traditions and transitioning into a new era of the sport. With rules and deals being changed every year, people within the sports industry find themselves at crossroads with the changing landscape of the beloved sport.
Scripting the future
The football game isn’t the only competition going on within college football. Not only are journalists and reporters competing with each other to get the news out first, but they are also contending with fans or connected alumni on social media getting information out before them.
“You have got to be first because regular people will be posting about it,” Edwin Stanton, former sports managing editor at Tuscaloosa News, said. “They are almost like journalists, too.”
The utilization of social media in this new era of college football is very important for journalists within the industry. Student-athletes are consistently posting new information on their own accounts, so journalists need to be always plugged in and watching for new updates. Quinn Ewers, University of Texas quarterback, posted on his Instagram account he is coming back for another year after uncertainty of his future. This example illustrates how crucial it is to stay on top of social media and other forms of digital media for news coverage ideas.
“There was a time your options as a journalist were either print, newspaper, magazine, broadcast TV or radio, and that is really about it,” WVUA 23 Sports Director Gary Harris said. “But now through social media and the internet, anybody can start a blog. Anybody can start a podcast.”
Media scores touchdowns
Recruitment has been a significant aspect of college football since its inception, but it has evolved as players can now leverage their social media platforms. As the No. 1 football recruit in the 2024 class, Jeremiah Smith has a whopping 133,000 followers on his Instagram account, and he has not even stepped foot on the collegiate field yet.
Stanton harped on this change by noting, “When I was in college, you didn’t know where a recruit was going until they faxed you the information. Now, it is a big deal, and the idea of recruiting is a business itself.”
Another major aspect in this new unfolding chapter is recruits making a brand or image for themselves through earned media. For example, Ryan Williams, one of The University of Alabama’s recruits, has had the nickname “Hollywood” since his early years playing football. Williams has now used this nickname to leverage his brand through different sports networks like The Athletic who boast of his talents and abilities on the field. By capitalizing on his brand, Williams is increasing his chances to get exceptional NIL deals.
Pamela Chvotkin, remote broadcast coordinator at various broadcast networks including ESPN, FOX, and CBS, as well as a sports publicity and promotion adjunct instructor for UA, explained, “There’s somebody who [companies] know is in the spotlight. They know that they’re successful regardless of how the team is going. As an up-and-coming athlete, they are looking for ways to promote themselves but also get benefits while doing it.”
Game-changing moves
Along with social media changing an aspect of college football, conference realignment and media deals have been regularly discussed subjects. For the upcoming 2024 football season, 14 schools are set to transition into new conferences, with a significant number of them belonging to the Power Five conferences.
But, why? Each new conference has struck up new network and TV deals with different networks. A few notable changes include the Big Ten with a seven-year, $7 billion deal with FOX, CBS, and NBC, and the Southeastern Conference with its 10-year, $3 billion Disney TV deal to bring the SEC to ESPN and ABC. These media deals have transformed the landscape of college football and how each team competes against each other.
The media deals are fresh on many people’s minds because they don’t know what will happen or where it will go from there. Harris emphasized, “We are headed toward I think at most four megaconferences, or it may be two or three. Then, you will have your other schools that aren’t in megaconferences that are trying to compete at the Division 1 level.”
Conference changes are not new to college football; however, one can infer that, with these major media deals following recent realignments, networks and conferences are out for one thing — money. Chvotkin agreed, saying, “It was always about the money when there were conference realignments with the Big East back in the day. With any of the schools, they want viewership, and with viewership comes more production value.”
The future of college football remains uncertain, so sit back and enjoy the game!
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]]>The post 2024 Vision: Emerging PR Trends appeared first on Platform Magazine.
]]>Published on March 4, 2024, 3:56 p.m.
by Halston Seton.
As the new year begins and technology advances, staying on top of evolving public relations trends is a must. Year after year the PR industry evolves by capitalizing on social, cultural and technological trends that result in bigger and better campaign strategies.
So, what trends shaped last year’s campaigns and what do PR professionals have to look forward to in 2024?
Best of 2023
A PR campaign that gained immense exposure was Rhianna’s
Super Bowl halftime performance. The artist incorporated her brand Fenty Beauty into her act by fixing her makeup with the Invisimatte Blotting Powder. Not only did Rhianna take
advantage of her performance to promote her company, but she also announced her second pregnancy during the show.
As a result, Fenty Beauty generated $5.6 million in earned media within the first 12 hours after the performance. Rhianna, herself, generated a 390% increase in music sales. Rhianna used storytelling to foster a meaningful relationship between her and her fans. By telling the 118.7 million Super Bowl viewers she was pregnant, the artist created an emotional connection between herself, her brand and her audience. This strategy sent hundreds of thousands of people to social media in order to discuss the news, driving more publicity toward Rhianna’s various brands.
Another PR campaign that generated buzz was “Barbie.” Among various “Barbie” partnerships, Dreamhouse x Airbnb was one of the best campaigns the industry has seen. This partnership allowed two lucky guests to stay in an Airbnb, inspired by Barbie’s Malibu Dreamhouse. Free of charge, guests received the full “Barbie” experience by dancing on Ken’s disco dancefloor, lying by the infinity pool, looking through Barbie’s wardrobe and much more.
Inspired by Dreamhouse x Airbnb, Alana Doyle, senior associate at GoPuff, said, “The ‘Barbie’ movie set the gold standard of PR launches in the entertainment industry. With over 100 relevant brand partnerships, The ‘Barbie’ team capitalized on the opportunity to expand the brand’s reach and create a steady drumbeat of newsworthy moments leading up to the premiere — including the genius Barbie Dreamhouse collaboration with Airbnb.” This campaign led to great exposure for the “Barbie” movie on premiere day and left fans anticipating what Barbie and Ken would come up with next.
The Dreamhouse x Airbnb campaign had a unique message, and according to Advertising Week, sincerity stands out. The campaign strategy evoked power for women along with nostalgia for all “Barbie” lovers. Instead of making women feel silly for their life passions, “Barbie” pushed women to embrace their passions. As a result of this emotional connection, “Barbie” reached a wider audience of those who felt underrepresented.
Back to the future
With such successful PR campaigns in 2023, brands face pressure to make their campaigns even better in 2024. Here’s a look at PR trends predicted for 2024.
A humanized perspective and authenticity
Individuals’ demand for unique experiences while being part of a community is a growing social trend. By incorporating more relatability, authenticity, compassion and humor into campaigns, brands will see an increase in audience engagement. Getting to know a brand’s target audience in a personal way levels up the brand, giving it an advantage.
While artificial intelligence is gaining popularity in 2024, it does not compare to the emotional, strategic approach that humans can achieve. Mia Oliveira, assistant account executive at KC Projects, said that the issue with AI is that it has no advanced human emotion. She stated that this is a large downfall to AI and believes human strategists are essential for an authentic feel. In addition, it is important to stay true to a brand’s mission and values. This builds reliability for the audience, leaving individuals feeling confident about the brand.
Simplicity
According to PR Lab, simplified messaging will be prevalent throughout 2024. Because so many brands offer similar products and services, the last thing consumers want is complex messaging, packaging and logos. People’s attention spans are continuously decreasing, so focusing on a simplistic approach is the best way to capture a brand’s audience. This year, brands should focus deeply on the audience’s wants and needs to generate clear, simple copy and illustrations. As a result, the brand’s social media can expect to see an increase in impressions, as this technique will also lead to a wider audience reach.
In-person events
The reason in-person events are vital to PR is because of the meaningful connections that are fostered through these experiences. In-person interviews, meetings and events build on a brand’s credibility, showing its audience its values and personality.
Artificial intelligence
Although AI is unable to produce the same level of emotion as humans, it is still going to be a hit among PR trends this year. AI will not be used as a substitution for human strategy; instead it will be used as a partner in professionals’ work.
According to Forbes, AI will be embraced as an aid in analyzing data, producing content and creating strategies. Doyle said that she currently sees AI being used as a tool “to help with the framework of first draft communication materials, or to ideate new concepts and messaging options — all with the need for continued human invention.” Users of AI need to educate themselves on how AI works, its limitations and when it becomes unethical.
Essential skills
It takes certain skills to be able to keep up with PR trends. The most significant skills PR professionals need to obtain in 2024 are social listening and adaptability. This entails knowing what is happening in the industry and what people are saying about your brand online. Social listening requires research, so staying up to date on current events is the best way to expand on this skill.
Social listening goes hand in hand with adaptability. Oliveira pointed out that the industry is always changing, along with consumers’ wants and needs. She said that professionals need to be insightful when it comes to trends, figuring out how to evolve with the consumer.
On the lookout
Some brands to keep an eye out for in 2024 are Dove, Tito’s and Tropicana, Doyle stated. She added that these brands have already made an impact on the PR industry in their campaign efforts, and she is eager to see what will happen next.
2024 will be the year of personalization and originality for brands across the globe. Be on the lookout for new trends and how your favorite brands take advantage of them this year!
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]]>The post Lil Nas X(treme)’s PR Stunts appeared first on Platform Magazine.
]]>Published on February 28, 2024, 6:12 p.m.
by CamiLee Downey.
If there is one star in today’s music industry who knows how to get your attention, it is Lil Nas X. The artist began his music career in 2018 with the release of his song “NUMB” and rose to stardom with “Old Town Road,” which holds the record for the longest-running stint as No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 at 19 weeks. While this song was his claim to fame for a while, the artist found a new way to put himself in the spotlight: PR stunts.
Making bold moves
The artist is no stranger to making bold choices. In March 2021, “MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)” was released, followed by a music video that has amassed over 565 million views on YouTube. The video was filled with imagery – some would call satanic – that left many viewers shocked and upset. The singer followed the music video by promoting custom Nike Air Max 97s that featured a pentagram, an inverted cross and, supposedly, a drop of human blood. All of this satanic symbolism gained the artist massive amounts of attention in the media and online.
This bold combination of PR moves sparked many conversations about the artist and his music, and the song reached No. 1 on the Billboard charts. The singer was later seen walking the red carpet and on social media donning a prosthetic pregnant belly to generate conversation around the release of his self-titled, first album “MONTERO,” which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard charts.
Going too far?
More recently, the artist announced on social media that he was releasing “Christian music” in a TikTok video on his personal account @lilnasx that subsequently gained over 51.7 million views. This TikTok post left many viewers skeptical about his new song that he claimed to be a gospel song, because of his past use of PR stunts. Many did not believe him, and when his song “J CHRIST” was released on Jan. 12, members of the Christian community were offended by the references he made in his music and on social media.
On Jan. 15, Lil Nas X released a video on X, formerly known as Twitter, to explain the intention behind his “J CHRIST” music video and album cover artwork. In this video, he also apologized for a video he posted on his personal TikTok account where he was dressed like Jesus. “I’m sorry for that,” said Lil Nas X. “That was overboard.”
Losing the shock factor
While the artist’s series of TikTok posts were meant to inspire conversation and generate interest behind his first song release since 2022, the song did not gain nearly as many streams as his hit songs “Old Town Road,” “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” and “Industry Baby.”
For the past three years, Lil Nas X has been using similar PR stunts to generate hype around his music releases, but it seems listeners have gotten bored with his controversial ways and see them as “expected.” Lil Nas X might be losing his touch with his outlandish PR antics.
Will the artist pivot to a new PR strategy, or will he continue with these PR stunts?
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]]>The post Tackling Change: The PR Impact of Flag Football on the NFL appeared first on Platform Magazine.
]]>Published on February 27, 2024, 6:15 p.m.
by Alexis Anderson
The NFL is one of the most prevalent and popular sports and entertainment organizations in the United States. Its annual revenue in 2022 was $18.6 billion, with its most popular event, The Super Bowl, bringing in an average of $500 million alone. It is continuously growing and becoming more popular not only in the U.S. but also internationally, with games being played in London, Germany and Mexico City.
The type of football that the NFL plays requires tackling. However, the NFL has recently been promoting the sport of flag football. Moreover, its players have also been promoting and playing flag football outside of their regular season football games.
One example of how flag football is becoming more popular within the NFL
is the 2023 Pro Bowl Flag Football Game. Years prior, the Pro Bowl game was purely tackle football. But in 2023, the NFL started having the top NFC and AFC players compete against each other in a flag football game instead. The transition from tackle to flag football maintained its popularity and was incorporated into this year’s Pro Bowl game as well.
It is likely the NFL changed its Pro Bowl game to a non-contact football game to prevent injuries, especially since some past Pro Bowl games resulted in very serious injuries. For example, in the 2015 Pro Bowl, former Cincinnati Bengals’ tight end Tyler Eifert faced an ankle injury that led to a major surgery, and although he was only out for half of the next season, he never played again at the NFL caliber he once had.
Flag football is not only growing in the NFL; the sport will now officially be included at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. NFL players such as Tyreek Hill are highly considering playing in these games. A 2023 NFL article noted Hill’s interest when he said in his podcast, “You know how amazing it would be to assemble a super team to play in the Olympics.” The same article also stated that the NFL wanted to work with the players union on allowing them to participate in these games.
Flag football is also becoming popular in youth sports. The NFL is hosting the NFL Flag Championships this summer. There will be 30 games overall for both girls and boys, featuring 280 teams, and it will be broadcast on multiple platforms. The NFL also has a program called NFL FLAG that is the biggest flag football league in the United States and the official flag football league of the NFL with 500,000 young athletes competing in all 50 states and an emphasis on growing women’s flag football.
Sean Sadri, assistant professor of sports media at The University of Alabama, shared his thoughts on the public perception of the NFL promoting flag football.
“In professional football, there have been a lot of instances and a lot of bad press when it comes to concussions and CTE and things like that,” said Sadri. “So a lot of parents were really apprehensive about signing up their kids for a sport that can be really damaging to them mentally, and they could potentially suffer major injuries. I think flag football is a way to get young kids interested in a sport with various injury risks at the next level.”
“Getting younger audiences interested in the sport through flag football, where their parents are more willing to allow them to do that, is kind of smart PR on their part,” Sadri added.
Randall Huffaker, senior instructor in the Department of Advertising and Public Relations at The University of Alabama, agreed: “I think it’s a way for the NFL to get people interested in football without having to actually suit up and play.”
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy, CTE, has become a growing problem, not just within the NFL but also at the college and high school levels. Last year, a recent high school graduate who had played football all throughout school committed suicide, and researchers found the first known case of CTE among a high school football player. There have also been cases of suicides from CTE within the NFL. One of the most well-known was Dave Duerson, who shot himself in the chest instead of his head so researchers could study his brain for CTE, and after further analysis, it was determined he did have CTE.
A 2021 Public Relations Journal article discussed how “cultural ingrainment” can lead to an “invincible brand” in times of crises, such as the NFL’s crisis related to concussions. The NFL apparently tried to deny the seriousness of CTE when it first became a recognized problem, the article noted. While the organization changed game rules and organizational policies in response, it took a lawsuit for affected players to receive reparations. The organization eventually launched “the NFL Evolution online health resource and [focused] on youth football in response to declining youth football participation.” And the NFL brand continues to be successful today despite the CTE issue.
One of the authors of the Public Relations Journal article, Kenneth Plowman, associate professor at Brigham Young University, commented on the NFL’s public relations efforts to combat the CTE problem.
“This ongoing crisis is not going to be solved by PR people being able to handle crises better,” said Plowman. “They’ve got to address the source of the problem more.”
Within the Public Relations Journal article, the authors included this quote from a 2015 article written by Jay Marriotti where he stated, “By midcentury, perhaps, maybe football dies. Maybe it will carry on without tackling and equipment, like flag football. … Maybe all the concussion lawsuits will wipe out the NFL. Maybe [Chris] Borland and others in his footsteps will have a seminal effect. But for now, too many Americans are immersed in too many Sundays, Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays to slow down the corporate hubris-and-greed train.”
In contrast, Troy Vincent Sr., executive vice president of NFL football operations, said on NFL Football Operations’ “Football for All” webpage, “When we talk about the future of the game of football, it is, no question, flag. When I’m asked what the next 100 years looks like when you look at football, not professional football, it’s flag. It’s the inclusion and the true motto of ‘football for all.’ There is a place in flag football for all.”
The Baltimore Ravens’ punter Jordan Stout shared his opinion on the growing popularity of flag football and the impacts it could have on the NFL.
“It could absolutely lead to the game changing entirely,” voiced Stout. “There could be a future where tackle football doesn’t exist — which could inevitably lead to the game losing its culture and tradition. Whether that’s a good thing or bad thing can be interpreted differently by each person.”
Instead of the NFL trying to oppose flag football, the organization is
embracing it entirely. From the program NFL FLAG that is contributing to flag football for all, to even including flag football in its Pro Bowl game and encouraging NFL players to play flag football in the Olympics, the NFL is taking the growth of this sport and running with it for its own good and the good of others.
In embracing flag football, the NFL is increasing its brand awareness, as well as practicing good reputation management, despite different controversies. Most importantly, the NFL supporting and promoting flag football aligns with its mission to “unite people and inspire communities in the joy of the game by delivering the world’s most exciting sports and entertainment experience.”
The post Tackling Change: The PR Impact of Flag Football on the NFL appeared first on Platform Magazine.
]]>The post Fight or Flight: Boeing’s Scramble To Salvage Its Reputation appeared first on Platform Magazine.
]]>After boarding a flight and the plane departs the gate, the attendants give passengers a safety briefing. The usual requests and advisories include keeping your tray table folded, your seat in the upright position, and what to do with your seat cushion in case of a water landing. What the safety briefings lack is what to do if the side of the plane suddenly opens to the outside sky.
That’s exactly what happened on an Alaska Airlines flight bound for California from Portland, Oregon, in early January 2024. Flight 1282’s aircraft, a Boeing 737 MAX-9, suffered an extremely rare but serious failure of a door plug on the Jan. 5 flight, causing the side of the plane to explosively open at 16,000 feet. What is not rare, though, is quality control issues for Boeing in recent years.
Is Boeing a bust?
Taking previous issues in to consideration when deciding the right path for a crisis response is preeminent. Unfortunately for Boeing as a whole and the 737 model specifically, there are quite a few things to note.
One major problem with Boeing’s 737 MAX model aircraft is that mistakes on these planes have killed people before. Just a few short years ago two separate plane crashes — with Lion Air in 2018 and Ethiopian Airlines in 2019 — killed a combined 346 passengers and crew. Both of these incidents involved Boeing’s 737 MAX-8 aircraft, which was unveiled just two years before the first incident.
These incidents caused 737 MAX-8 aircraft to be grounded temporarily in the United States and many other countries in 2019 and stayed that course for two years. Following these major crashes, Boeing’s stock prices were cut in half and never recovered, continuing to fall amid this newest issue for the manufacturer.
Thankfully in the Alaska Airlines situation, no one was seriously injured.
Past issues ground new orders
Even from a theoretical perspective, Boeing has serious history with crises that have to be evaluated when determining how much responsibility the company has in the situation. However, just because Boeing may believe it isn’t heavily responsible does not mean its customer airlines will see it that way.
In fact, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said its company is not counting on its orders to be filled for nearly 300 Boeing 737 MAX-10 aircraft. Kirby also expressed disappointment in Boeing’s continued manufacturing issues, saying that this latest incident was “the straw that broke the camel’s back.” United currently has 79 of the MAX-9 aircraft that had to be grounded for inspection as a result of the Alaska Airlines incident.
The important thing to note is that Boeing’s reputation is paramount, because for its planes to sell to airlines, the customers of the airlines have to believe the planes they are ascending 30,000 feet into the sky in are safe. If the customers of the airlines don’t believe the planes are safe, the airlines won’t buy the planes. This is going to be one of Boeing’s largest issues in the coming months as airlines evaluate whether fulfilling their orders of MAX-10 aircraft are in their best interest.
Boeing’s response takes flight
So what did Boeing do right or wrong in its response? It’s hard to say right now.
One thing that is clear is that Boeing was prompt in its response to the public and Alaska Airlines, quickly identifying the issue. Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun delivered an address to company employees and stated that Boeing will “approach [an FAA investigation] with 100% complete transparency.”
When looking at this investigation through the lens of situational crisis communication theory, the two main factors in determining both the organization’s responsibility and future reputation lie in reflecting on the past. Prior reputation evaluations and crisis history allow a public relations practitioner to learn from mistakes or make improvements upon previous responses to crises. The practitioner heading this response likely made a wise choice in deciding to use a strategy that allowed Boeing to accept responsibility in the wake of its previous issues. Boeing also has a page on its website dedicated to news, actions, and updates about the crisis and how the company is responding.
While Boeing’s future still looks tumultuous for the weeks and months ahead, what is clear is that the company appears to have responded adequately to the crisis. Air travelers will likely need a lengthy amount of time to begin to trust a manufacturer that has their lives in its hands when they fly.
Will time be the only measure of success in this situation, or is Boeing already seeing the light at the end of the tunnel?
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]]>The post Open Cabinet: What Lloyd Austin Did Right in His Apology appeared first on Platform Magazine.
]]>Usually when you are sick and cannot work, you have to tell your boss you won’t be there. Is it any different if your boss happens to be the president of the United States?
Lloyd Austin, the first Black defense secretary and member of President Biden’s Cabinet, was hospitalized in late December last year for a procedure to remove prostate cancer and subsequently released. He returned to the hospital and was placed in intensive care on New Year’s Day at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. During his two weeks in intensive care, media outlets frenzied when they learned the secretary never notified the White House and key staffers at the Pentagon of his situation. Three days after Austin was placed in intensive care, the White House was notified of his hospital stay, and he transferred his powers to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks. Austin was eventually released from Walter Reed on Jan. 15.
Between the White House and a hard place
So, why should we care? After all, we wouldn’t normally expect to have a news release distributed about any medical issues we experience. Austin himself made light of this issue in a Feb. 1 press conference, stating that “taking this kind of job means losing some of the privacy that most of us expect.” Perhaps we expect too much transparency from our public officials, but medical ethics experts are unclear where that line should be drawn.
As a private citizen, it is expected that we can keep information private unless someone else releases it without our permission. We even have laws and regulations in place to protect patients in medical settings (think HIPAA). Previously, there have been cases where public officials or celebrities have been treated differently in the media when it comes to their medical issues. Two notable cases are former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and Apple CEO Steve Jobs; one had almost too much information released, while the other had almost none. Should every public official expect the former?
Secretary Austin is notoriously quiet about his personal life and said that his first instinct upon learning his prostate cancer diagnosis was to keep it private. However, he acknowledged that his wider circle including the president should have been notified he was in the hospital. At the press conference, he also answered when asked if he told his staff to keep the situation secret that “the answer is no.” However, this lack of judgment is now requiring him to testify before the House Armed Services Committee.
The secretary’s defense
With great power comes great responsibility, and with responsibility comes the inevitable public relations crisis. While there are plenty of ways this crisis went wrong, it is important to note how well Austin and his team handled the aftermath. Making note of proper crisis communication strategies, Austin faired better than expected because of one main aspect of his reaction: his use of empathy.
Taking an issue like his diagnosis of prostate cancer and using his platform as a high profile official to educate the public about the condition while also apologizing for his mishandling of the situation is clever. He also highlighted the increased prevalence of the condition in African American men and advised them to get screened to prevent cases like his. Because of his in-depth explanation of his thoughts and feelings as he experienced a somber diagnosis, he humanized himself and related to the American public.
Austin also owned up to the mistake and ensured Americans everywhere that proper procedures were in place to ensure a situation like this did not occur again. It was put to the test just days later on Feb. 11, when Austin was admitted to the critical care unit at Walter Reed once more for ongoing issues. This time, the American public was notified within the hour from a Pentagon statement, and power was transferred to the deputy secretary.
A crisis earned is a lesson learned, but has Austin’s team learned this valuable lesson based off their most recent response? And should we expect total transparency from our public officials when it comes to their health?
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]]>The post The Stanley Cup Survival: The Importance of Strong Consumer Relations appeared first on Platform Magazine.
]]>A few years ago, you may have known the Stanley Cup to be the annual award given to the champion of the National Hockey League. Now, the name is more commonly associated with the high-demand, trendy water bottles that customers are obsessing over. However, the love for the Stanley brand is not a one-way street. In a recent viral TikTok, Stanley shows its unwavering gratitude for one of its customers after a traumatic car fire.
Stanley, a brand known for its sturdy, insulated tumbler cups, has accumulated an enormous fan base in recent years. In fact, according to Today.com, the trending “#Stanley has amassed nearly 3 billion views on TikTok alone,” as of January 2024. Customers are always eager to get their hands on a new color or style of Stanley cups, and its products are frequently sold out on its website. Recently, the company gained even more recognition when repaying one of its customers with the gift of a lifetime.
On Nov. 15, 2023, a woman named Danielle Turner posted a video on TikTok showing viewers the interior of her car after catching on fire. The video showed her car’s shattered windows and burned car seats, yet her Stanley cup remained perfectly intact. Not only was Turner OK, the physical cup itself was unharmed, with the contents in her Stanley cup still freezing cold. Turner’s video proved Stanley’s “Built for Life” motto to be true!
The video immediately went viral and has generated 9.1 million views on TikTok. In response to her video, the president of Stanley, Terence Reilly, posted a TikTok video thanking Turner for her promotion. To show his gratitude, Reilly announced in his video that not only would Stanley send Turner more Stanley tumblers, but the company would also be replacing her car on its behalf. Viewers were touched by Stanley’s gesture, and the company’s TikTok comments were filled with praise for the brand.
Recently, Stanley has found itself back in the spotlight, but not in a good
way. Its customers grew concerned after learning that its products include lead, which can increase the risk of lead poisoning and other health concerns. Stanley addressed these concerns and explained that its Stanley cups do contain small amounts of lead in each cup’s vacuum insulation at the base of the cup. However, the company assured worried customers that it’s not possible for the lead to come into contact with the consumer nor the liquid they drink, “unless the stainless steel barrier comes off — which is possible but ‘rare.’”
Despite these serious allegations, Stanley was still riding on the popularity it gained from its response to Danielle Turner’s viral TikTok video and was able to shut down these negative concerns.
How has Stanley been able to control this crisis? The answer is maintaining strong consumer-based relationships. Cultivating these relationships is important because it ensures loyalty and grows the connection between the brand and consumer. Because Reilly’s personal response to Turner left a lasting impression on viewers and generated enough good PR, the Stanley cup’s lead issue never really affected the business’ success.
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