The Killeen Furtney Group, the PR firm that represented OctoMom, has resigned. We posted last week that they would soon regret trying to cash in on representing this person. They cited death threats as their reason. It is more likely death of their business.
Guess Nadya Suleman will have to represent herself, which means she will be out of the spotlight. We all are winners.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Thursday, February 12, 2009
OctoMom Defies Media Traditions
One thing is for sure, the media love pets and kids. They also love a heartwarming and heartbreaking story. Nadya Suleman, or OctoMom, fits that category perfectly. She has lots of kids and is very needy.
But surprisingly, the media have taken a hard line position on the story. Who is going to pay the bills has been a huge story, and there haven't been many, if any, cuddly stories on the babies.
Kudos to the LA Times for actually cutting loose some investigative reporters and doing their job.
But surprisingly, the media have taken a hard line position on the story. Who is going to pay the bills has been a huge story, and there haven't been many, if any, cuddly stories on the babies.
Kudos to the LA Times for actually cutting loose some investigative reporters and doing their job.
When A PR Firm Becomes The Story
The Killeen Furtney Group, I suspect, was very excited to be retained by "OctoMom" for PR. After all, Joann Killeen said "she is the most famous mom in the world."
That was before the world heard the details.
By all accounts, OctoMom has turned into a PR nightmare for Killeen Furtney Group. The more they do, the more the press and public turn against them and their client. What Killeen Furtney Group probably didn't realize was that OctoMom would become the poster child for everything wrong with the California economy. Not only has her giving birth to eight more kids come into scrutiny, the fact that California taxpayers will be footing the bill has made much of the public rage.
All PR firms like high profile clients. They are fun, exciting and often lucrative. But in this case, I bet Killeen Furtney Group would like to turn back the clock when they signed OctoMom.
That was before the world heard the details.
By all accounts, OctoMom has turned into a PR nightmare for Killeen Furtney Group. The more they do, the more the press and public turn against them and their client. What Killeen Furtney Group probably didn't realize was that OctoMom would become the poster child for everything wrong with the California economy. Not only has her giving birth to eight more kids come into scrutiny, the fact that California taxpayers will be footing the bill has made much of the public rage.
All PR firms like high profile clients. They are fun, exciting and often lucrative. But in this case, I bet Killeen Furtney Group would like to turn back the clock when they signed OctoMom.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
When our leaders don't have a clue
Last night President Obama held his first press conference to plead for passage of his economic stimulus bill. He also made it clear that left-leaning media will get preferential treatment, which I guess is payback for open bias on their part during his election.
As I watched the former Senator turned most powerful man in the world passionately talk about his $800 billion plus bill, I couldn't help but feel that he, nor anyone at the White House or Congress, has a clue how to counter our free falling economy. They are doing something, but do you think they really have a clue whether it will work, or is it more a PR move to make us all think it will work.
By the same token, elections were held today in Israel for the next government. As of this writing, centrist Kadima party candidate Tzipi Livni is edging past Bibi Natenyahu, the favorite. Bibi was prime minister once before and Tzipi has been in the current government for a number of years. Both talk about how they will being peace to Israel. Do you believe either knows?
Leaders need to make their flock feel good. Too bad it is more PR than substance.
As I watched the former Senator turned most powerful man in the world passionately talk about his $800 billion plus bill, I couldn't help but feel that he, nor anyone at the White House or Congress, has a clue how to counter our free falling economy. They are doing something, but do you think they really have a clue whether it will work, or is it more a PR move to make us all think it will work.
By the same token, elections were held today in Israel for the next government. As of this writing, centrist Kadima party candidate Tzipi Livni is edging past Bibi Natenyahu, the favorite. Bibi was prime minister once before and Tzipi has been in the current government for a number of years. Both talk about how they will being peace to Israel. Do you believe either knows?
Leaders need to make their flock feel good. Too bad it is more PR than substance.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Mom of 14 Hires PR Firm
The woman who gave birth to 8 and has been the media curiosity of the month, hired a small PR firm to field the slew of media requests that have been flooding in.
Mother Nadya Suleman reportedly hired publicists Michael Furtney and Joann Killeen to field media inquiries and offers.
My sense is they are doing it for the PR themselves and are spinning the story to make Suleman the most famous and wonderful mom in the world. But they will have their work cut out for them as many reporters openly wonder how the mother of 14 can raise all those kids, especially since she has been living on workers comp for the past 10 years.
Stay tuned.
Mother Nadya Suleman reportedly hired publicists Michael Furtney and Joann Killeen to field media inquiries and offers.
My sense is they are doing it for the PR themselves and are spinning the story to make Suleman the most famous and wonderful mom in the world. But they will have their work cut out for them as many reporters openly wonder how the mother of 14 can raise all those kids, especially since she has been living on workers comp for the past 10 years.
Stay tuned.
SuperGraphics Overtake L.A.
There has been a controversy brewing in LA and other cities pitting building owners against building office tenants against city officials.
Companies are taking ordinary office buildings and turning them into super advertisements by placing huge ads on them. One building even covered up the windows with a super ad for Tropicana, much to the dismay of tenants.
I support advertising. It is my business. But there is a limit. When companies lease space, they should not have their windows covered up and offices darkened. There is something wrong with that.
On the other hand, the supergraphics bring building owners incredible sums of money. So for some they would rather turn their buildings into an ad than have tenants, and some indeed are telling tenants to take a hike if they don't like it.
Companies are taking ordinary office buildings and turning them into super advertisements by placing huge ads on them. One building even covered up the windows with a super ad for Tropicana, much to the dismay of tenants.
I support advertising. It is my business. But there is a limit. When companies lease space, they should not have their windows covered up and offices darkened. There is something wrong with that.
On the other hand, the supergraphics bring building owners incredible sums of money. So for some they would rather turn their buildings into an ad than have tenants, and some indeed are telling tenants to take a hike if they don't like it.
Obama Puts Worst Foot Forward
It's just a couple of weeks since Obama took office and he is off to a disastrous start. Nominating cabinet appointees who don't want to pay their taxes isn't exactly setting the example Obama promised us.
First Richardson drops out because of shady bond deals in Arizona. Then Geithner reveals he oops forgot to pay his taxes, but coughed up the money and all is forgiven. Now Daschle seems to have the same problem with tax amnesia and has dropped out.
Yesterday the president sat down with five networks to say he "screwed up." A brilliant PR move on his part, admitting he was wrong and promising to set things right. Other presidents would have made excuses and stonewalled.
Regardless of what you think of Obama, he has a good sense of portraying an honest and decent image -- until the next screw up at least.
First Richardson drops out because of shady bond deals in Arizona. Then Geithner reveals he oops forgot to pay his taxes, but coughed up the money and all is forgiven. Now Daschle seems to have the same problem with tax amnesia and has dropped out.
Yesterday the president sat down with five networks to say he "screwed up." A brilliant PR move on his part, admitting he was wrong and promising to set things right. Other presidents would have made excuses and stonewalled.
Regardless of what you think of Obama, he has a good sense of portraying an honest and decent image -- until the next screw up at least.
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