The Ref, The Tweet & The Lawsuit

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You may have heard that NBA official Bill Spooner is suing Associated Press reporter Jon Krawczynski. You may also have heard that pretty much nobody beside Spooner seems to think he has a case.

The lawsuit, which was filed against official NBA advice, is a mistake from a PR standpoint. A single tweet is quickly lost and forgotten in the churning flow of messages we read from social media every day. By filing a frivolous and frankly ridiculous lawsuit Spooner is calling attention to his ability as a referee and ensuring that his legacy will forever be “remember that guy who sued over a tweet?”

Spooner’s case illustrates an all too common phenomenon in social media – when the twitterverse turns against you, the worst thing you can do is overreact. Brands are learning this lesson, too – Aflac and Chrysler’s recent social media flubs dominated the press coverage, distracting the consumer away from the brand. So how does a company restore its good name?

Here are some ways to brave a Social Media Disaster:

An ounce of prevention: Give your employees and social media representatives some clear and simple guidelines for engaging in social media and be upfront about the consequences. Make sure they know what you consider “on the record” and what their responsibilities are.

Don’t overreact: The last thing you need when your brand has made the news for a social media misstep is to prolong the story by creating controversy with your reaction. Assess the situation, react appropriately, and be transparent. Don’t let a kneejerk reaction create more negative news.

React with something positive: The worst news for a brand is no news. You may have made the news with negative press, but now you have the public’s attention. Use it to gain exposure for the things you’re doing well.

Social media is still in its infancy and the legal and ethical implications are still in flux. Despite that, social media is ultimately a benefit to brands. It allows your brand to engage more personally with consumers and to form a lasting affinity.

 http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/basketball/nba/03/15/nba.referee.twitter.lawsuit.ap/index.html#ixzz1Gm8OwPo9

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/16/business/media/16adco.html?src=bus

Laura Reese: LevLane

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LevLane hired Laura Reese as account manager at the agency’s newly established Atlanta office. Previously, Reese was regional broadcast manager for Rubin Postaer & Associates, Atlanta.

From MediaPost

Advertising agency LevLane opens Atlanta office

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Philadelphia – Advertising agency LevLane, Phila., has hired Laura Reese as account manager at the agency’s newly established Atlanta satellite office, where she will be responsible for the coordination of all programs and promotions, and for developing sales concepts, for the seventeen-member Atlanta KFC Advertising Co-op. Previously, Reese was regional broadcast manager for Rubin Postaer & Associates, Atlanta, working primarily on Honda and Acura.

LevLane president David Lane states, “Laura knows the Atlanta DMA inside and out, and that’s critical for us. QSR [the quick service restaurant category] is all about having brains in the market: shopping the competition, watching the local TV, being in the thick of it. We’re excited about what this office will be able to accomplish for Atlanta’s KFCs.”

LevLane is a full-service marketing communications agency with offices in Philadelphia, West Palm, Fla., and Atlanta. Clients include regional KFC/Taco Bell, Beneficial Bank, ALI-ABA, Phila. Recycling Office, Fairmount Park Conservancy, WXPN, Phila. Corporation for Aging, Reliance Standard Life Insurance, Wesley Enhanced Living, Kennedy Health System and The Phila. Center City District, among others. www.levlane.com

From dBusiness News

LevLane Names Reese to Open Atlanta Office

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Philadelphia-based advertising/PR agency LevLane (www.levlane.com) has hired Laura Reese as account manager at the agency’s newly established Atlanta satellite office, where she will be responsible for the coordination of all programs and promotions for the seventeen-member Atlanta KFC Advertising Co-op. Previously, Reese was regional broadcast manager for Rubin Postaer & Associates, Atlanta, working primarily on Honda and Acura.

LevLane president David Lane states, “Laura knows the Atlanta DMA inside and out, and that’s critical for us. QSR [the quick service restaurant category] is all about having brains in the market: shopping the competition, watching the local TV, being in the thick of it. We’re excited about what this office will be able to accomplish for Atlanta’s KFCs.”

This article is from the Bulldog Reporter

LevLane Names Account Manager to Open Atlanta Office

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Advertising agency LevLane has hired Laura Reese as account manager at the agency’s newly established Atlanta satellite office, where she will be responsible for the coordination of all programs and promotions, and for developing sales concepts, for the seventeen-member Atlanta KFC Advertising Co-op. Previously, Reese was regional broadcast manager for Rubin Postaer & Associates, Atlanta, working primarily on Honda and Acura.

LevLane president David Lane states, “Laura knows the Atlanta DMA inside and out, and that’s critical for us. QSR [the quick service restaurant category] is all about having brains in the market: shopping the competition, watching the local TV, being in the thick of it. We’re excited about what this office will be able to accomplish for Atlanta’s KFCs.”

LevLane is a full-service marketing communications agency with offices in Philadelphia, West Palm, Fla., and Atlanta. Clients include regional KFC/Taco Bell, Beneficial Bank, ALI-ABA, Phila. Recycling Office, Fairmount Park Conservancy, WXPN, Phila. Corporation for Aging, Reliance Standard Life Insurance, Wesley Enhanced Living, Kennedy Health System and The Phila. Center City District, among others. www.levlane.com

Philly Spring Cleanup: Let the Countdown Begin!

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The Philadelphia Streets Department is joining forces with Mayor Michael Nutter in celebration of the one month countdown to the 4th Annual Philly Spring Cleanup, an event designed to raise awareness and put an end to illegal dumping and litter.

Some of Philadelphia’s top officials and community members will also be speaking at the event along with Nutter to encourage residents and organizations to “Keep Up the Sweep Up.”

“This is something that we’ve traditionally done every year,” says Holly Mantle of LevLane PR, the event’s publicist. “We want residents to know what is coming up and remind them about the cleanup in April.”

Generally, the actual spring cleanup takes place the first Saturday in April, except for last year when it conflicted with holidays.

According to Mantle, last year’s cleanup hosted over 230 project sites, disposed of 1.3 million pounds of trash, 139,540 pounds of recycling and cleaned up 50 parks and recreation centers as well as 763 neighborhood blocks.

“We also hope to see more and more people come out each year,” says Mantle. “Seeing people come out to these [events] and get energized for them is awesome.”

The countdown event takes place today, Wed., March 2, 11:30a.m.-1p.m. at the Village of Arts and Humanities on Germantown Ave. The actual Philly Spring Cleanup will take place one month from today on April 2. Visit phillyspringcleanup.com for information, locations and registration.

Why I Love The Phillies

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There is just something about that P that makes me proud. Is it the success on the field? Can’t be. ‘Cause I filled with pride long before they ever won anything. No, I love the Phillies because of their genuine give-back to the community. They absolutely GET the importance of PR in action. When Ryan Howard shows up to Hunting Park to debut a new youth baseball field, it’s not just lip service, it’s PR in action. When Jimmy Rollins gives his time and money to build computer labs in area schools, it’s no stunt. It’s genuine. Chase and Jen Utley’s commitment to animal rescue is not just a nice poster. It is from the heart. It’s the difference between PR for the sake of publicity and PR that develops public relationships. It’s also why I love the work that I do. I truly believe that business is a great driver of social change. Corporate Social Responsibility—or CSR—is an actual thing now. And that’s very cool. The Phillies were entrenched in the local community way before the CSR acronym came into play. The Phillies have crafted (and drafted) a winning ballclub, but their real success is the result of consistent, sincere community give-back. That’s why I love the Phillies. The rings are also nice.