Media Analysis Episodes

This week’s podcast discusses the anger algorithm and why social media platforms favor aggression, enraged behavior, and the shaming of people. It looks at the 60 Minutes episode “Angry in America,” what it reveals about the combative ecosystem of social media, and why you should watch it if you are a business leader or someone involved in communication. Our Indestructible PR Tip discusses how you might be able to hack the social media algorithm to stop the negative commentary. Key Points From...

Kanye West (better known simply as Ye) has always been a contentious figure, but after his latest string of racist and anti-Semitic remarks, major brands like Adidas are dropping their endorsements with the rapper. This episode delves into this controversy to explain what happened, how Ye redefined the term 'cancel culture' and how the use of it can actually damage your brand. You’ll hear about Adidas’ termination of their partnership of Ye, as well as what they did wrong and what they did righ...

You can unleash a full-blown PR crisis on social media with one bad move against someone with a social media platform. To handle these situations, companies and brands need a plan. Who didn't prepare for her social media crisis? Bethenny Frankel. The "Real Housewives of New York City" alum has gained popularity on TikTok for her beauty product reviews and sometimes harsh criticism of other celebrities like Meghan Markel. However, when Frankel appeared to silence two creators on TikTok for cri...

Anyone who lives in Florida will have heard a hurricane warning recently, well today’s episode is a hurricane content warning. At the time of this podcast’s recording, Hurricane Ian was close to making landfall. This episode looks at President and CEO of the Red Cross Gail McGovern’s warning to those in Florida, why some people did not heed her advice, and what social media has to do with the problem. Discover why Hurricane Ian is the first social media hurricane and how both ordinary citizens ...

Today’s Indestructible PR podcast episode discusses the trending TikTok drama surrounding the Don’t Worry Darling Venice Film Festival premiere. Did Harry Styles spit on Chris Pine? Did Olivia and Harry break up? What’s the deal with Florence Pugh? As the cast of the upcoming American psychological thriller Don’t Worry Darling, directed by Olivia Wilde, hit the Venice Film Festival, they brought plenty of behind-the-scenes drama. Covered in this episode is Olivia’s statement at a press conferenc...

In a recent exclusive interview with The Cut, Meghan Markle opened up about her new life in California, the struggles of her past, and her plans for her future. This was partly done as part of a promotion effort for Meghan’s new podcast, Archetypes. This week, we examine and decode this article to analyze what she said and what she meant. Hear how Meghan and Harry’s PR has perpetually let them down, why their campaigns always feel like plan Bs, and discover examples of their many PR missteps. T...

Ageism, sexism, bad management, and incredibly poor messaging, today’s PR crisis has it all! This week’s podcast focuses on Bell Media’s ousting of Lisa LaFlamme and her replacement by a younger male, shortly after the beloved CTV Anchor allowed herself to go gray. Let's discuss Lisa’s PR masterpiece of a response video and Bell Media’s well-written but completely inadequate response statement. While a private company has the right to hire and fire whomever they choose, decisions like these af...

When music artist Lizzo released her new single ‘Grrls’ she was faced with backlash from the disabled community about a specific lyric used. Lizzo was labeled as an ableist, and fans of her work quickly pointed out why the word was so offensive and that it needed to change. The steps that Lizzo took to rectify her mistake and how she turned the controversy around should become the new standard for all PR professionals to use in such situations. In this episide we discuss the Lizzo lyric that go...

Focusing on who you are speaking to and what they want to hear before stepping into the public eye can help prevent press conference mishaps. Media trainer Warren Weeks to discuss Matthew McConaughey’s reaction to the Texas shootings and Jack Del Rio’s inappropriate political commentary. Tuning in you’ll hear why Matthew’s comments on the shootings resonated differently to those of other celebrities, how he justifies being a gun owner while advocating against gun violence, and what feels differ...

Social media has made it exponentially easier for activists to share their grievances and find like-minded individuals online to join their cause. In today’s episode, we take a look at the root cause of dissent, why it happens, and how you can respond. Learn how to identify the typical activist who might target your business and what you can do about it. Remember that it’s not necessarily about ego or malice, but rather, a desire for control. Tune in to learn more about what drives activists, ...

Today’s topic is relevant to everyone who dares to engage in online dialogue, no matter our standing in the public eye. Using the ever-relevant example of ESPN’s Adam Schefter’s controversial tweet following the untimely passing of NFL quarterback, Dwayne Haskins, we tackle the great question: Delete or Not Delete That Tweet? In this episode, you’ll discover the best way to repair the damage of an insensitive tweet, as well as how to avoid such an unfortunate circumstance altogether. Tune in to...

President Zelensky knows how to work a medium to his advantage. Volodymyr Zelensky, then a comedian playing the president of Ukraine in a TV series, won the very first season of the popular dancing show in 2006. Now he is winning the PR war against Russia by strategically sharing 'selfie' videos filmed from a smartphone. In this episode, why the 'selfie' is a powerful weapon for anyone in battle. Mention in the Episode Molly McPherson on TikTok @mollybmcp "I think I have found my favorite cl...

Wondering if it's okay to keep marketing during times of unrest? Social media is a helpful way to get a snapshot of the public's mood. And right now, it's safe to say that people feel uneasy watching the horrific scenes from Russia's attack on Ukraine. But it turns out, people are still interested in your products and services - they just need them delivered in a different way right now. We know it's hard to stay positive watching, but that doesn't mean your business has to stop. In fact, we t...

When Buckingham Palace announced that Her Majesty the Queen had tested positive for Covid-19, the press was alerted to the news via media advisory. Even if a media advisory isn't necessary for your organization, knowing how to handle it is always helpful for communicators. In this episode, we'll discuss how to craft a media advisory: What is the point of writing an advisory and how to structure it. Listen + Subscribe on Spotify or Apple Podcasts © Molly McPherson 2022 Join Molly on Patreon f...

The news of Jeff Zucker resigning as the president of CNN after admitting not disclosing a romantic relationship with another senior executive at the network was certainly a bombshell. It was also a story with similarities to many of the crises we hear about that land on the front page. This episode features an interesting element about Zucker's departure that points to a significant shift in crisis management. What is one red flag you need to be on the lookout for that indicates a potential cr...

Twitter can be a great way to connect with customers and show off your brand’s personality. But is it safe to be sarcastic? There’s a thin line between being clever and sounding mean, and you don’t want your brand to cross it. My guest, Dusty Weis from Podcamp Media - a branded podcast production company - joins me to discuss tips for having a snarky Twitter account without damaging your brand. Mentioned in this episode: Pabst Blue Ribbon Is Facing Backlash Over This Now-Deleted Tweet, Mashed...

Public relations campaigns can work wonders when it comes to generating awareness and interest in your business, but they can also be expensive without any guarantee of success. Geofence advertising may offer an effective PR boost that’s more affordable than traditional forms of advertising. Jeff Swartz, the founder and CEO of Ethic Advertising Agency, shares how it works and why it could be the next big thing in PR campaigns today. Mentioned in this episode: 9 Reasons Why Advertising Doesn't ...

Actor, writer, and director Ben Affleck recently went on a promotion tour for his film The Tender Bar. One line from Affleck's over two-hour interview with Howard Stern went viral, causing even bigger problems for him and the filmmakers. To repair the damage caused by his comments regarding his ex-wife, Jennifer Garner, Affleck must spend the rest of the publicity tour in damage control mode. In this episode, we discuss three key lessons for anyone preparing for an important media interview. ...

The key to managing a digital crisis is to unlock the cause of the crisis in the first place. Critical data and information can be found in conversations and traffic on social media and websites. Zack Condry, President of Everest Communications, knows how to interpret this information and strategize how to use it to manage the situation. He specializes in developing and executing digital communications strategies to help organizations tackle critical public affairs issues, major crises, regulat...

The story of Alec Baldwin in the aftermath of the tragic shooting death of Halyana Hutchins on the set of the film "Rust" is worth following if you follow public relations and crisis communication. From the first news stories from the Albequeque filmset to the "pop-up" press conference Baldwin held on a busy road in Vermont, we have been following Baldwin's media interactions over his involvement in the tragedy. Baldwin's latest public relations strategies were revealed in his sitdown intervie...

The actor Jake Gyllenhall knows all too well that bad publicity may not be the best publicity when your name is trending because you broke up with a girlfriend more than ten years ago. Having this ex-girlfriend record a song about the breakup and then upload a 10-minute video to YouTube is the sort of negative publicity that will never disappear. Especially if the video has over 17 million views. The Irish poet and playwright Oscar Wilde once said, "The only thing worse than being talked about...

Media trainer Warren Weeks joined me in a webinar to discuss the top mistakes he sees many spokespeople make and how to fix them. Our episode discusses how to overcome these common media interview challenges straight from the webinar. Make sure you don't damage your reputation by saying the wrong thing during a nerve-wracking conversation that will likely live online for years to come. Learn three techniques prepared speakers use during a media interview. --- Listen + Subscribe on Stitcher or...

What happens when an army of people begins to dig to solve a mystery? They quickly find answers. The intense interest in the Gabby Petito missing case (now murder) also led to an intense interest in discovering why the case became such a sensational news story. The answer: social media sleuthing Young, social media-savvy women used TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook to desperately get to the bottom of what happened to the 22-year-old who documented her travels to state and national parks with h...

It was inevitable. On August 10, 2021, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced he was stepping down from his position after an investigation found he sexually harassed 11 women. Cuomo's announcement was his chance to respond directly to allegations of sexual harassment against him, and to covertly address his rep for being a bully and thug. Governor Cuomo used his resignation speech to repair his reputation and legacy. Did it work? In this episode, discussing three strategic tactics Cuomo used in hi...