Strategic Public Relations? : The Flights Heard ‘Round the World

November 24, 2008 • 2:00 pm • POSTED BY ddewolf

I know I’m a few days late, but I’m curious whose extremely poor executive decision it was for the Big Three to fly to Washington – via separate private jets – to beg for $25 billion to help them out with their $100 billion debt problem. Are the Big Three’s public relations teams to blame, or the stubborn CEOs? Either way, in one fell swoop they have managed to enrage a disheartened American public and now have an astronomical PR crisis on their hands.

Current damage control will be difficult, as GM, Chrylser and Ford are walking a fine line. They have to maintain some semblance of their image as the “good ‘ole American-made” car company and still appear to be in dire need of money that they must prove they are smart enough to use for a true turnaround.

GM announcing that it is getting rid of two private jets came days too late for most, and leaves the public wondering what other moves the Big Three will play to get the public’s support back. Will Chrysler and Ford follow suit and eliminate expensive travel methods? Might the Big Three issue a public apology? Will they issue daily press releases detailing further expenditure cuts or press releases highlighting their philanthropical ties?

Stayed tuned to see if this ongoing crisis will become the early 21st century’s crisis PR equivalent to the 80′s Exxon oil spill.

*Photo courtesy of Reuters Africa – from: http://africa.reuters.com/newsimages/2008/11/21/tn_2008-11-21T001305Z_01_BTRE4AJ1JBM00_RTROPTP_2_OUKWD-UK-AUTOS-BAILOUT.jpg