Ageism, sexism, bad management, and incredibly poor messaging, today’s PR crisis has it all!
This week’s podcast focuses on Bell Media’s ousting of Lisa LaFlamme and her replacement by a younger male, shortly after the beloved CTV Anchor allowed herself to go gray.
Let’s discuss Lisa’s PR masterpiece of a response video and Bell Media’s well-written but completely inadequate response statement. While a private company has the right to hire and fire whomever they choose, decisions like these affect the public, and if not handled correctly, this could be detrimental to a company’s continued support and ultimately their bottom line. This podcast looks at the importance of truth and transparency in a PR response, and when a statement should be replaced by an apology. Tune in to hear the statement Bell Media put out, why it was a bad statement, why it created such a blowback, and how the statement should have been written to avert a PR crisis.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Today’s topic: the PR nightmare associated with Bell Media’s firing of CTV anchor Lisa LaFlamme and why their statement was inadequate.
- Some previous examples of anchors being let go and the resulting PR crises.
- The implications of how Lisa LaFlamme was fired shortly after allowing herself to go gray.
- The problem of the lack of transparency on the part of Bell Media regarding why they fired Lisa.
- Lisa LaFlamme’s video response and why it’s a PR masterpiece.
- Why does a situation like this call for an apology, not a statement?
- Who was hurt by Bell Media’s decision.
- The biggest problem with Bell Media’s statement.
- The legal implications of making an apology or accepting responsibility.
- How an apology can help you regain trust, reduce liability, and be an effective business decision.
- How Bell Media’s apology should have been written.
- The Indestructible PR tip for the day relating to the importance of the first line in any response statement.
- Closing words on why you should never fire women of a certain age.
Where in the World is Matt Lauer’s Reputation?
173: How Jeff Zucker’s Resignation from CNN Signals a Shift in Crisis Communications
Lisa LaFlamme’s video response
Indestructible: Reclaim Control and Respond with Confidence in a Media Crisis
Indestructible: Reclaim Control and Respond with Confidence in a Media Crisis Audio Book
Listen and Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
© 2022 Indestructible PR
Molly, Thanks so much for sharing this accurate podcast regarding the botched firing of Lisa…I’m still hopping mad at Bell media and their discriminatory double standard. I shared all of your points with my friends and family over the past many days. I’m 64 and have spent the last 50 years witnessing the incremental steps women have fought for on their centuries long journey towards equality…as a young teen listening to Helen Reddy’s anthem for women, I’m shocked that we are still forced to continue to experience backwards steps…it’s 2022 for heavens sake! Lisa’s treatment is unfair and we can’t standby watching unfair treatment of our sisters; I signed the change.org petition last weekend as I was looking for an outlet where my voice will count for Lisa. Please let her know that, as you stated; Bell media hurt all women when they hurt Lisa. May this incident be turned around to count for one more step forward for the equality of women kind. Thank you!
Thank you for your comments, Gail. I share the same hope that the publicity around her dismissal will be one more step for the equality of women. (You truly had me at Helen Reddy.) -MM