Online Public Relations Thoughts

The Vatican has released new rules for determining whether a supernatural event has occurred. They are based on facts and not contentions of an individual who claims to have experienced an otherworldly happening.  The Vatican has a right to be skeptical.  We are in an age when frivolous claims are made regularly and followers are duped into believing.  There are too many innocents who fall for supernatural claims and are misled.  For the sake of its own authority, the Church has to get it right and that is not easy when dealing with individuals who claim to see things.  It could be a PR disaster if the Church is duped as well.

 A private entrepreneur wants to fix the Hubble telescope before it plunges back to earth in a fiery ball.  NASA is not so sure it is a good idea even though it would get the fix for free.  The entrepreneur wants to use a SpaceX capsule and do space walks from it.  NASA  has never done that and is concerned it won't be safe.  The entrepreneur is pushing.  NASA is silent.  Would it be good policy and PR to let him try or an incipient disaster?  No one seems to know at this point.  NASA is on edge. Let him do it -- or not?

Is school integration a failure or the result of a deep economic divide between rich and poor districts?  That is the question after 70 years of mandated integration.  The socioeconomic divide lies in parents wishes for the best education for their children, perhaps more than latent racism.  Change in some behavior proceeds slowly, if at all -- a lesson for communications practitioners.  

If you are not a Tesla owner, you don't like the company.  If you are a Tesla owner, you are positive about it.  Elon Musk is dealing with deeply divided PR.  With Tesla sales dropping, it is a perception to worry about.  Tesla needs a spate of good news.  

What do you do when an ally is behaving badly?  You try to talk sense to him without breaking the bonds of friendship.  Hence, the Biden administration's relations with Netanyahu. 

 Hertz has lost a customer with this PR cockup -- charging a refueling fee for a Tesla.  

Marjorie Taylor Greene, the strident Republican radical, was struck down yesterday by a coalition of Democrats and fellow Republicans when she tried to vacate the Speaker's chair.  As one congressman said, she's great at getting attention but not at getting things done.  She is a publicity hound using any means to roil the calm and get her way.  It was past time to put her in her place.  The best thing that could happen to her would be to lose the next election.