The Not-So Top 10 PR Plays of the Semester

Public Relations has its ups and downs, just like anything in life. However, this semester there have been some disasters that had some PR representatives contemplating early retirement. It is my pleasure to bring you the “Not-So Top Ten PR Plays of the Semester.”

10. The number ten PR disaster is in regard to President Obama’s recent press conference that had people tagging it as, “the worst press conference—ever. And I don’t just mean for Obama. I mean for any president.” Luckily for President Obama he has plenty more opportunities to prove these critics wrong. I have a feeling people will forgive and forget this slip up.

9. Our next Not-So Top 10 contender is the HP scandal. Whether or not the sexual harassment allegations against Mark Hurd are true, it sure earned a lot of publicity for both HP and their CEO, or should I say former CEO. When it was all said and done, HP didn’t come out and fire Hurd, but after a nice talk and a big write-off check, Hurd willingly ended his employment with the company.

8. Coming in at number eight is The Gaps failed attempt to redesign their logo. Critics were relentless saying, “looks like something that costs $17 from an old Microsoft Word clipart gallery.” After endless criticism, Gap decided to give the new logo the boot, happily reinstating the old design.

7. The lucky number seven spot goes to the Toyota recall. After more than eight million vehicles recalled, and costs totaling in the billions, this spot is well deserved. However, I find it a little ironic that Toyota has adapted their new slogan, “Toyota keep moving forward,” seeing as forward was the only direction over 8 million people were headed.

6. BP Oil Company deservingly slides in at number six. There is not a PR professional in the world that can help BP through this one. Luckily for them, they realized their image was so far gone that they decided to face the issue head on admitting to the carelessness of the company.

5. The number five spot is awarded to the very friendly staff of the Transportation Security Administration. More and more sexual harassment cases have been arising regarding new airport security measures. If groping passengers ensures security than I guess the TSA staff is doing their job.

4. PR disaster number four is KFC’s controversial advertising technique. KFC caught the attention of feminist nationwide after using the backside of college-aged to endorse their bunless double down sandwhiches. In situations like this, one can only wonder where KFC’s PR representative was when their marketing decisions were being finalized.

3. Jet Blue flies in at the number three spot on this countdown. The airline made headlines after flight attendant Steven Slater quit his job in style. Slater announced his resignition over the plane’s loudspeaker, and then grabbed a beer before exiting the plane via the emergency chute. It’s safe to say the company didn’t have a contingency plan preparing them for a situation like this. Jet Blue may have taken a hit by this publicity stunt, but Steven Slater will go down in history as “the man” by job haters worldwide.

2. Jet Blue had no control over their PR disaster, but what excuse did Blue Waters Group and the South Bend school district have? Blue Waters Group was responsible for the South Bend school districts billboard that read, “15 best things about our pubic schools.” I guess both parties forgot to proofread the project before it appeared on State Road 23 in Florida last September.

1. The number one PR disaster of the semester goes to Ochocinco and his sexy attempt to do good. Although his intentions were charitable, his plan to raise money for Feed the Children backlashed when the number given on the back of his OchocincO’s cereal boxes was a direct line to a not-so charitable sex line.

It’s been said that all press is good press, but I’m not sure any of these contenders on “The Not-So Top 10 PR Plays of the Semester” will attest to that.