The Internet has created an environment where hoaxes, myths and misinformation are a daily occurence. There’s no doubt that PR people today deal with more crises than ever before. This of course represents a major challenge for us all and there’s no doubt that monitoring what’s happening online is an increasingly important element of Public Relations.
However, let’s not forget that crises also happen in traditional ways.
New Bedford in Massachusetts recently launched an advertising campaign to promote the town as a tourist destination. The ads feature New Bedford residents and the first ad featuring a New Bedford sanitation worker ran on Sunday. The advert, which you can see at the Smoking Gun, features a full page photo of the worker with the word “Pride” emblazoned across the ad.
Only problem is, the sanitation worker in question is a convicted child molester. That’s a good old traditional crisis.
Here’s a story on the launch of the campaign and a story on the error here.
There’s no mention of this on the New Bedford website. Thanks to AdRants for the link.
Murphy's Law 