Enron: Responding to a crisis

Convictions of Lay and Skilling offer another case study in business ethics

The corporate powerbrokers behind one of the largest financial scandals in U.S. history face the prospect of at least 25 years in prison after being convicted of fraud, conspiracy and insider trading.

Kenneth Lay, former chairman of Houston-based Enron Corp., and his chief executive, Jeffrey Skilling, were found guilty Thursday of dozens of charges in connection with the 2001 collapse of the energy giant that wiped out $68 billion in share value and eliminated the jobs of 5,600 people.

Scatterbox publisher Steven Silvers reflects on this story from a crisis management perspective.

Silvers writes, "For chief executives everywhere, the convictions of Enron chiefs Lay and Skilling prove again that the cost of a crisis is ultimately determined by your reaction to it."

To read the entire post, click here.


Tags: Enron, Crisis Management, PR, Media by Sistrunk

Senate could pass immigration bill on Thursday

Clash with the House expected

A bill that would toughen border security while giving millions of illegal immigrants a chance to earn U.S. citizenship cleared key test votes in the U.S. Senate on Wednesday, setting the stage for passage this week and a big battle with the House of Representatives.

The Senate voted 73-25 to limit further debate on the bill as a bipartisan coalition withstood several attempts by opponents to unravel the legislation. Lawmakers now expect the bill to be passed, most likely on Thursday.

Supporters said Wednesday's strong bipartisan test votes should help in negotiations with the House, which has already passed a vastly different enforcement and border security bill and where many Republican lawmakers see the Senate legislation as tantamount to an amnesty for people who violated U.S. laws. Details from the New York Times.

Meanwhile, Mexican President Vicente Fox used the second day of his four-day U.S. trip to highlight support for what he called an "orderly" guest worker program. The Los Angeles Times has more.

Related: Proposals for immigration reform


UPDATE: Senate passes immigration bill

Tags: Illegal Immigrants, Guest Workers, Birthright Citizenship, Politics, Current Affairs, Media by Sistrunk

iPod teams up with Nike's running gear

Tracking workouts

Apple and Nike have unveiled an iPod gadget to put more rhythm into your run. Say hello to the Nike + iPod Sports Kit.

The wireless kit lets Nike's new footwear send fitness data to your iPod Nano - using a sensor you tuck inside the running shoe and a small receiver that attaches to the Nano. As you run, the sensor records your distance, time, pace and calories burned in real time and displays data on the Nano. Details: MSNBC/AP.

Related: Nike


Tags: iPod, Apple, Nike, Fitness, Exercise, Media by Sistrunk

Wired for deception

Why we lie

People lie all the time, experts say. Why? It may have to do with self-esteem. Robin Lloyd explains at LiveScience.com.


Tags: Lying, Communication, Culture, Psychology, Media by Sistrunk

In pursuit of happiness

The joy of delusion

At some point in our lives, most of us have talked about it, or we've heard our friends talk about it: what would make us happy. What prompts humans to predict what would bring us joy? Are we setting up ourselves to be unhappy?

Recent research by Harvard University professor Daniel Gilbert (pictured above) suggests that we're equipped with a kind of emotional thermostat that keeps our level of happiness steady. Find out more by reading a New York Times review of Gibert's book, Stumbling on Happiness. Click here to read the book's first chapter.

Tags: Happiness, Psychology, Culture, Books, Daniel Gilbert, Media by Sistrunk

Clichés: The follow-up

Don't Throw the Baby Out with the Bathwater
By D. C. Sistrunk

(This article first appeared here in August of 2005.)

Admittedly, I beat up clichés rather badly in my last post. However, in all honesty, I had a blast doing the research on this topic. The “groaners,” which you often hear in news broadcasts, made me laugh and convicted me. Yes, it’s true. I, too, can be lazy when it comes to writing. By the way, if you want to snicker and read dozens of offending clichés, you’ll find them at http://www.newswriting.com/groaners.htm

I had just as much fun checking out what I call garden-variety type euphemisms. Most of the phrases I know originated in the United States, but some surface from other countries.
For instance:

Cliché: If you get the sense, then chuck the tense
Explanation: If you understand what the other person is trying to say, don't bother worrying about how they say it.
Country: India

Ah, the color of language. Here are some of my favorite clichés:

Life is a bowl of cherries

God willing (and the creek don’t rise)

Working my last good nerve

Dogs have masters; cats have staff

His mouth is writing checks his body can’t cash

Got a favorite euphemism? Consider this “Cliché Central” for the day. Post your favorite (or least favorite) figure of speech, along with an explanation, if needed.


Tags: Cliches, Writing, Journalism, Public Relations, PR, Media by Sistrunk

Lead us not into temptation

Resisting the Seduction of Clichés
by D. C. Sistrunk

(This article first appeared here in August of 2005.)

Public relations writers fall for them. Reporters are lured by them. Communications veterans across the spectrum succumb to the sweet talk of the ever-present, easily accessible cliché. No writing style is immune to these overused phrases, even fiction. The media biz coined a term for these expressions - "groaners." If you're looking for a surefire way to annoy your audience, take the easy way out and slip a series of groaners into your copy.

Newswriting.com describes a groaner as "a hackneyed, overblown, stuffy or just plain silly cliché that turns up time after time in news scripts. Groaners show laziness on the part of writers, disrespect for the folks watching, and a general contempt for lively English." I agree. When it comes to many of these euphemisms, I believe in taking quick corrective action. Arrest these overused phrases. Blindfold them, give them a cigarette and place them before a firing squad.

When it comes to groaners, seasoned journalist Abe Rosenberg does a great job of identifying some of the worst offenders, often heard in TV news broadcasts. Here is a sampling of groaners from Newswriting.com:

Area residents - “Shhh, Tommy, don’t play the drums so loud. You’ll wake the area residents!” Normal people don’t refer to their neighbors this way. Why should we?

Famed - “Mommy, mommy, I just saw somebody famed over there!” When did “famous” become a dirty word?

Lay the Groundwork - Doesn’t anybody “prepare” anymore? Too many writers cling to these phrases (“Set The Stage” is another example) when talking about politics, foreign policy, war and peace, etc., as if big phrases made a story important. Important facts make a story important. References to theater and construction belong in stories about theater and construction.

Motorists - Where have all the drivers gone? Don’t fall into the DMV Handbook trap.

Somewhere, some wordsmith is hoping that I'll ease up on folks who like to incorporate clichés into their copy. I'm not completely heartless. As a journalist and PR practitioner, I have fallen into the same trap.

The road to hell is paved with good intentions. If you want your copy to "sing," write as if you're holding a conversation with someone. Put your best foot forward. Work like a dog. Leave a lasting impression. In the end, your copy will be the best thing since sliced bread. Just do it.


Tags: Cliches, Writing, Journalism, Public Relations, PR, Media by Sistrunk

Update: Immigrants flex economic muscle

Millions push for immigration reform

"No work, no school, no spending."

That was the rallying cry for the "A Day Without Immigrants" rallies that took place across the country on Monday, in which immigrants took to the streets in major cities in a show of solidarity and strength as part of their effort to push Congress to act on stalled immigration reform. Millions of immigrants cut short their workday or stayed home in hopes of demonstrating their collective impact on the U.S. economy. The boycott was meant to show the purchasing power of the nation's immigrants, while the work stoppage forced a number of factories and businesses across the country to shut down for the day.

Before the day's events started, a number of major U.S. companies that depend on immigrant labor announced that they would be closed for the day, according to the Los Angeles Times. Among them: Tyson Foods, the world's largest meat producer, which closed nine U.S. beef plants and four pork plants; Cargill, the second-largest meatpacker, which closed some plants; and Perdue Farms, which closed six of its 14 plants.

Though the message was somewhat unified, the demonstrations peaceful and the look familiar (white T-shirts symbolizing peace), organizers were split on the idea of a boycott as the best way to stage Monday's protest. Supporters hoped it would send a clear message about the country's dependence on immigrant workers at a time when congressional leaders are considering whether to allow millions of illegal immigrants to gain legal status, while opponents feared the walkout might be a setback to the protesters' goals.

For comprehensive coverage, check out Voice of America News and Yahoo News.


Tags: Illegal Immigrants, Guest Workers, Birthright Citizenship, Politics, El Boicot, Current Affairs, Media by Sistrunk