The problem with lies from Trump or other authoritarian leaders is that others believe them, or worse, act as if they believe the lies. That’s why we see people like US Secretary of State Marco Rubio revising his statements on Ukraine because they contradicted his president’s previous lie. It was so refreshing, so uplifting to […]
The importance of clarity Every message has to have one clear, main message. Mix in too many, and you risk coming across as confused, dishonest or ridiculous. And when you change your messaging, you lose credibility. Sometimes, you have to change your message because circumstances change, or we learn more. Even so, you will raise […]
Whose fault is the delay in delivering Pfizer-Biontech’s COVID-19 vaccines delay to Canada? The current debate makes it impossible to say. The debate also offers excellent lessons for communicators. Provincial premiers like Ontario’s Dougie Ford blame the federal government—but in Dougie’s newfound low-key style, he offers useful advice like, “I’d be on the phone call, […]
Ontario government announces shutdown: Epic fail Ontario announces lockdown starting December 24 — no, wait, not until the 26th! Dougie Ford just spend an hour lying on TV. With one exception, a moment of candor that began “I’m a businessman.” He then expounded on the measures his government was taking to protect businesses. A little […]
The darling of marketing communications today is “content marketing,” but it’s nothing new. Businesses large and small have been doing it for decades, through newsletters and free hand-outs in print. Think of your in-flight magazine describing your destination, or the white papers about technical subjects. Content marketing isn’t just for big corporations, though. Smaller and […]
Covid-19, information and misinformation Yahoo News: “Poll shows Republicans largely dismiss threat of coronavirus.” 43 percent of Americans said they are not worried about it, and 44 percent believe the threat is exaggerated. Among Republicans, following the President of the U.S., that number is 58 percent. Social media posts about a book by Dean Koontz […]
Last post, I wrote about how I cut down on some of the stressors in my life. One of them was a particular freelance client for which I wrote blogs and social media content. Letting that one go was necessary for my health. My blood pressure was through the roof, and I felt wrong about […]