We Are Talking Again!

I’m pleased to announce that my podcast “Stop Talking – Crisis Management In The Digital Age” has launched its second season as of Thursday, March 16, 2022. Host Tom Jelneck and I had a longer than expected hiatus due to the pandemic and other issues that we discuss on the podcast. Suffice it to say that like everyone around the globe, the past couple of years have been difficult and emotional here, too.

But it’s time to move forward and return to conversations about crisis communications, corporate communication mishaps and stumbles, the news media – to whom we are profoundly grateful at this time for their coverage of the Russian war against Ukraine. Along the way, we may randomly expand our topics just for fun.

We kick off Season 2 with a delightful guest -- retired USA Today editor (and my longtime friend) Carolyn Cerbin, who shares her experiences in print journalism as it expanded to digital news coverage and all the bits in between.

On a personal note, my thanks to so many of you who have been asking me to bring the podcast back. Our muscle memory was a bit shaky, but we’ll find our groove. I’m also very excited to have potential guests asking to appear and talk about, well, not talking. Thanks for listening!

Sara

A NOTE OF GRATITUDE

I began to write an update about my podcast, just to let listeners know when the new season will begin and what we’ll be doing differently. But then, the Capitol building was attacked – by Americans. I stopped working and glued myself to the news coverage; that’s where I have remained for days.

This podcast has always been focused on providing perspective about how to handle a public crisis, which involves interacting with news media. We’ve discussed the good and bad about public relations practitioners as well as news media, and we have recognized the outstanding and impactful work of journalists. Journalists have been our guests because we enjoy hearing about their work and the ensuing discourse about our respective areas of work. But like so many, we have sometimes taken for granted the importance of journalism and specifically the sacrifice of those who work in news gathering. We also forget they are human beings with families and struggles like everyone else.

Today, I post a letter of gratitude to journalists – most especially to those who last week risked their lives – yes, literally risked their lives on Wednesday so the rest of the world could see the horrors of what was happening. If it hadn’t been for journalists, we would not have seen in real time the doors and windows of the Capitol being shattered by a stampede for wrongful entry, a police officer being beaten by rioters who used the American flag as their weapon, the shocking display of the Confederate flag actually inside the Capitol, or the remarkable heroism of a Black Capitol police officer who deliberately led rioters away from members of Congress and probably saved lives. I note that the officer was Black because he stood up to a crowd of white supremacists.

Without news organizations, we would have no one to force elected officials to share public health information associated with the coronavirus pandemic and to keep us aware of the scope of its threat.

The past four years in politics have been exhausting. As an American citizen, I don’t have the time to regularly focus on how our government is running. It is the mainstream news media that I count on to challenge the White House (including its spokespeople), members of Congress, and all the decision-making and behavior of the leaders of this country and in local government - now more than ever. So again, I say, “Thank You.”

Podcast Update:

The podcast is one of my favorite aspects of my business. There’s nothing better, especially now, to have great conversation, learn something new and certainly to have a few laughs. But my podcast mentor and partner, Tom Jelneck, sold his successful digital marketing company, which included the podcast studio and service. Wow! Something good happened in 2020! He’s super happy – what entrepreneur wouldn’t be thrilled about building a successful business from the ground up only to have someone else see the vast potential and invest in it.

So, for now, just like my business wardrobe, Stop Talking is on hiatus. I’m in the process of making new production arrangements while simultaneously taking advantage of the quiet time to update the format and expand the conversations. I remain flattered and overwhelmed by the support, comments, questions and requests to appear as a guest on the podcast.

So, don’t touch that dial. Don’t turn the channel - just stay tuned. The podcast will return soon so we can all start talking again.

The Harm Of Hacking

After recent reports that Twitter accounts belonging to high-profile individuals and influencers were hacked, concern about the security of accounts held by ordinary people has increased. As the national election season heats up, social media content most likely contribute to doubt creation about issues and facts.

If you’ve listened to my Stop Talking podcast before, the discussion about the weight and influence of Twitter won’t be a surprise, but discuss it again we do. This week, social media expert Tom Jelneck explains how the hacking could have been committed and how safe social media is in general.

The reality is that the ease with which intruders were able to infiltrate Twitter accounts that should have been locked tight should serve as a bright red flag to every executive who uses social media. The possibility of disgruntled employees, unhappy customers or just trolls looking to make trouble by hacking and posting a complete and harmful misrepresentation exists. And it’s hard to correct. The issue is real, and so is the podcast conversation.

Stop Talking: Crisis Management in the Digital Age · Stop Talking | The TRUE Power Of Social Media