Cindy Rakowitz, PR 101: 'No Comment' Is Not A Solution
“No comment!”
Unfortunately, the speaking of these two words or this physical action of inaction is the most common response for those in the Public Relations career field.
Does this truly help anything? Or is this just pouring salt into an open wound?
Cindy Rakowitz is a long time Public Relations veteran; she served as the head of Playboy Enterprises Public Relations for almost two decades. Needless to say, she can definitely deal with crisis management and knows a thing or two hundred plus about the proper ways in avoiding PR disasters.
Cindy has just co-authored a new book with Alan Bernstein entitled Emergency Public Relations: Crisis Management in a 3.0 World. This book is a must-have for PR professionals. By reading it, not only will it serve as a tool on the “what to do” and “what not to do” arena, everyone will be able to benefit from the mass wisdom of a pro in the art of dealing with the public.
In one of the best conversations to-date, Cindy will talk about the need for more professionalism in the care and handling of the press, the ultra importance of conforming to a social media driven world as well as stating examples on PR disasters and how they could’ve been avoided.
Currently, Cindy is the CEO of Blackman Rakowitz Public Relations located in Encino, California. She is also a radio host with VoiceAmerica Talk and editor of Trusted Advisor, the newsletter for ProVisors.
She is among the very fortunate few who have been able to work with the guy best known for his infamous silk pajamas; Mr. Playboy himself, Hugh Hefner.
Cindy recalls how she got the job of a lifetime and her beginnings of being the crisis management pro that she is today.
“I started looking for jobs while I was on maternity leave to fill the time because I was bored. I was living in New York at the time, so I found an ad in the New York Times. The ad said ‘publicity manager needed with great New York contact for #1 men’s magazine.’ I was thinking it was GQ or Esquire. I wasn’t thinking it was Playboy; I never thought of it as anything but my father’s walk-in closet.” Cindy laughed.
Cindy then would receive “the voicemail message:”
“Hi, Cindy. I don’t know if this sounds strange to you, but this is Playboy magazine calling, we’re responding to your resume and we’d really like to see you.”
It’s pretty apparent that to say Cindy’s jaw hit the floor would be the understatement of 1986. Of course, the job would become hers. No surprise here!
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