Observed

What is it about Frank Rich?  What could he possibly have to say about media and politics and public affairs?

Here’s a guy who has spent most of his career as a film and theatre critic.  A guy who studied American history and literature on his way to his bachelor’s degree.

Not a lawyer, scientist, engineer or big-thinking PhD.  Or any other vaunted professional with *hard* credentials.

Yet, I invite you to read his column in this morning’s New York Times.  Regardless of what you might think about his bias, I bet you’ll finish feeling more respect for Rich’s facility with hard issues.

Rich can navigate the vagaries of Gen. Stanley McChrystal and our war in Afghanistan as easily as the plays of Moss Hart and life in post-WWII New York City.  Rich is an embodiment of what we used to regard as a well-educated person.

Is that because he pursued a liberal arts education?  Probably not…or probably not just because he pursued a liberal arts education.

But it didn’t hurt.

The recent story of Gen. Stanley McChrystal reminds me of a PR truism. As a rule, it’s better to publicize any bad news yourself.

Why?  First, remember that bad news will very probably get out with or without you…eventually.  There are just too many disgruntled employees, competitors and other forces beyond your control.

Next, don’t wait for a leak or let an enterprising reporter beat you to the punch.  When — not if — a bad-news story gets out without you, it will tend to make you look arrogant (or more arrogant) and as though you have something to hide.  These will only worsen matters.

So, be the one to deliver your own bad news.  Let your customers, constituents, employees and others know before they learn about it from someone else.  Someone other than you who’s in charge of the facts and the truth — your message.

I don’t know what might have saved his job.  Who knows?  Maybe General McChrystal told the president and his other superiors that the cat was on the roof before the news got out.

As for the general’s chances of saving anything else, your guess is as good as mine.

Here’s a clear, practical, before-and-after tip that addresses a common content issue on a lot of law firm Web sites. It offers a way to present lists of representative engagements without sounding self-centered and monotonous.

There’s a companion post.

We tend to make major, lasting impressions based on the smallest, seemingly insignificant details.

This morning’s New York Times has an excellent article by Matt Bai offering a political angle to this truism.  While the hook was President Obama’s handling of the Gulf oil spill, the piece mentioned how other presidents have suffered from (or dodged) negative public perceptions…or, how well they’ve projected a sense of control over the chaos of events around them.

Bai’s piece reminded me of Jimmy Carter and how a potentially obscure wildlife encounter helped further tip things in favor of Ronald Reagan in the 1980 presidential election.  While the Attack Rabbit Incident might have appeared otherwise innocent or silly, it fanned doubts about Carter’s  strength as much or more than the Iranian hostage crisis, economic woes and the like. (more…)

My heart stopped briefly this morning.  It resumed beating when I realized I had NOT written the Web copy pilloried by Seth at 6:28  a.m., Eastern.

My sympathies go to Marshall, Dennehey, Warner, Coleman & Goggin, an otherwise fine law firm in need of better editing.  (A testament to the power of Google that I found the firm merely by pasting in the offending copy.)

So what?  (more…)

Last night…

HENRY (four years old):

Mama?

JENNIFER (working at her computer):

Yes, dear?

HENRY:

Can I get on the network?