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No Curry-ing Favor on “Today”
I didn’t use to be an Ann Curry fan. When I worked in Philadelphia, I was a multimedia producer for WCAU-TV’s MSNBC on the Internet operation. Ms. Curry was an anchor on MSNBC at the time and I saw her on-air often. She seemed too dramatic.
It took me leaving Philly and after five years in NYC (with Fox News Channel/Fox News Radio) to actually watch Ann Curry again. She seemed different to me; seamlessly transitioning from a celeb interview to a serious story. Ann Curry had “it;” a rare combination of smarts, style, and substance.
When Meredith Viera left the Today Show last year, Ms. Curry was named the new co-anchor, alongside stalwart Matt Lauer. It was a solid move… or was it? Fast forward to 2012. A story by Brian Stelter in the New York Times on June 20, reported that the Peacock Network was prepared to fire Ann Curry. I was baffled. The Today Show ratings have slipped a bit (ABC’s “Good Morning America” is gaining a ton of ground) and it appears that NBC needs a scapegoat. They pointed the finger of blame at Curry.
It’s not that firings in the media are all that shocking. Keith Olbermann has been canned more times that I can count. Dan Rather was (technically) fired, too. But it the way that NBC News is handling this situation is a) wrong and b) a public relations faux paux.
Curry is known for her international reporting of major stories from places such as Baghdad, Sri Lanka, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Albania, and Darfur. Needless to say, she has faced harsher times than what NBC is doing to her. As of this posting, the network hasn’t even commented on the speculation, leaving Curry to face questions as to her future. It’s a total lack of respect for a woman who has not only worked extremely hard, but who has shown class and grace.
From a public relations standpoint, NBC is taking a big hit. The media is already speculating who will take Ms. Curry’s place. The move is a bad one, but not something NBC seems to care about. They basically did the same thing with Conan O’Brien in 2010. Secondly, NBC hasn’t said word one about this report, let alone whether Ms. Curry is actually being fired or re-assigned.
Morning television is a big business. But that doesn’t mean that when business gets slow, you remove a piece. NBC should be finding ways to make the Today Show better. Leaving Ann Curry to wave in the breeze like a tattered flag isn’t good business… or good for ratings.
What the Avengers can teach you about PR
I have no problem admitting that I’m passionate about public relations, social media marketing, and teamwork. But, I’m also a huge super hero geek. Seeing how Iron Man, Thor, and Captain America have been placed on the big screen has been awesome. On Friday, May 4, The Avengers opens in theaters around North America.
I’ve done posts before on how Tony Stark taught me a thing or two. Now, I’d like to offer you five ways the Avengers can help your PR efforts. Some assembly is required, though.
1. Understanding each person’s strengths- No one member of your team is the same. Take the time to learn who is part of your team and how they can help. The person you feel is the weak link, may just need a different task to work on.
2. Leadership comes from every member- In the Avengers, Steve Rogers is a captain; Thor is a demigod; Iron Man (Tony Stark) is (basically) a genius. Who would be the leader? While one person may be considered top dog, every person can lead in their own way. If you trust your team, you know you can give them a task and be a strong leader for a plan or campaign.
3. Dealing with egos- From time to time, we have all dealt with “that person.” He/she has a healthy opinion of themselves. Heck, Tony Stark is a pretty confident and has a big ego. But, when working with a client like this, you can’t knock heads. You need to manage a client and let them know they are important, but part of the team. Show your client his ideas are good (“I really like how you framed this idea.”), then add your insight (“and I really think with the additions of XX and XX, this can be a winning campaign.”).
4. Adversity builds character- It’s not a secret that every PR/marketing/social media campaign will not be easy. It’s the challenges that will help shape you and your team. Nick Fury’s line, “We are hopelessly outgunned” is a perfect example of the adversity the Avengers face. But, within this seemingly impossible task, the team learns how to succeed. You may fail occasionally; but this is where you lick your wounds and gain strength.
5. Believe in your team- Sniping behind people’s backs and undermining what you are doing as a group is a sure sign that your campaign will fail. You may see a member slip up a bit, but you chose them. Believe that they can complete the task for the client. And show them your appreciation for a job well done. Maybe it’s lunch or a simple coffee break for your team. Good karma within goes a long way to outbound success.
Assemble your team and believe that their efforts will win the day. Your team could be “PR’s Mightiest Heroes.”
