BPI, makers of pink slime, announced this week it has permanently closed three plants after the public outcry over the additive led to dramatically decreased demand. Oddly, BPI and the beef industry blame the media for the job losses and continue to defend pink slime, saying it is perfectly safe for consumption. They are dodging the real issue for consumers: “Why did you lie to us?”

BPI and the beef industry spent a lot of money on lawyers and lobbyists to fight government regulations that would require them to label products containing pink slime. Their argument was basically “hey, it’s safe, right, so why tell anyone?” Obviously, they knew the public was not about to accept that their 100 percent ground beef contained ammonia-treated scrap meat that was once considered suitable only for dog food. So they lied.

I don’t believe that “lie … get caught … say it’s no big deal” is considered a viable crisis communications strategy. Has it ever worked for anyone on any level? For example, your kid tells you she’s going to a friend’s house, she’s spotted at to the mall instead, but then says “hey mom, it’s no big deal.” Guess who doesn’t get to use the car for a week?

Teenagers, major U.S. corporations, take note. Here’s a simple strategy that works: admit the truth, sincerely apologize, fix the problem if you can and promise never to do it again.

Meantime, BPI? You’re grounded.

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Our friend and New York Times columnist Mark Bittman will discuss his book “Food Matters: A Guide to Conscious Eating” on Thursday, May 10, at Temple Emanu-El in Dallas. He will discuss the culture, ethics and economics of food at this year’s Lefkowitz Lecture.  Mr. Bittman will also appear on Good Day Dallas (KDFW) and KERA radio’s Think with Krys Boyd on May 10 prior to the lecture.

Follow the link for more info https://participate.tedallas.org/sslpage.aspx?pid=451

In case you missed every single news broadcast this week (see video below), Dallas-area couple Sean Leonard and Shannon Moore, earned the distinction of being the most despised twosome in the country when Texas Ranger right-fielder Mitch Moreland tossed a foul ball into the stands during Wednesday’s game against the Yankees just shy of three-year-old Cameron Shores and his dad. Leonard, who was seated right next to the Shores, swiped the ball first, much to Cameron’s chagrin. Then he proceeds with what comes off as an in-your-face celebration topped off by Moore posing with the ball while he snaps of pic of her, all while poor Cameron bawls his eyes out.

Hilarious! At least it was to me. I mean the little kid screams, then covers his eyes in the level of extreme melodrama that I thought only my four-year-old could deliver (at which I also crack up laughing because it’s, well….funny.) I have two kids… I get it. No one likes seeing little ones cry, especially at a baseball game, over a ball! But Leonard caught the ball, fair and square! Cameron’s daddy should’ve been a little faster, huh? And no, Leonard’s not three, but it was his first Rangers game with his fiancé and they’re getting married on Saturday for God’s sake! And now instead of picking up his tux, he’s in the national spotlight picking up his face from the ground.

But in what I believe was an excellent PR move, Leonard and Moore quickly took to the airwaves too. They told local media and the world, hey we didn’t even see the little guy! And that everyone who knows them knows they’re the nicest people around and had they seen him crying they would’ve certainly handed over the ball.

Way to come forward! And it worked – all the unscientific twitter polls are saying the couple got a bad deal and should be let off the hook. Had they stayed in hiding America would have come for their heads, forcing the newlyweds to live a life of obscurity, forever known as the people who took a baseball from a three-year-old then rubbed it in his face. But thankfully, now they’re just the couple who took a ball from a three-year-old and rubbed it in his face–but not intentionally. And that, my friends, is infinitely better.

I’m curious…would you have given the ball back? Feel free to weigh in on our Facebook page!

No matter what your politics are it’s always funny when POTUS “slow jams the news” with Jimmy Fallon! #trending

24/7 Wall St. just published a list of the “America’s 9 Most Damaged Brands” that included non-American brands like Nokia (Finland), Airbus (France) and Greece (Greek, obviously.) but it didn’t include some major brand missteps like the Susan G. Komen For the Cure Foundation. The once-untouchable breast cancer charity reports race registration and donations down nearly 25 percent in its hometown alone after the defunding debacle earlier this year.

It also neglected to mention Bank of America’s legendary plummet in public opinion after it famously floated the idea of charging customers a monthly fee to use their debit cards while simultaneously posting record profits. The company dropped the fee after a massive social media outcry, but BofA has become synonymous with finance industry greed.

And, since 24/7 Wall St. opted to include non-American brands, how about News Corp.? The owners of the Wall Street Journal, among many other media properties throughout the world, is embroiled in an ongoing phone hacking scandal that has the Murdoch empire reeling. I’d say that is among the most damaged of the past year.

As a Texan, I’d also have to point to Rick Perry – the list allows for individuals including  both Rush Limbaugh and Keith Olberman (how’s that for fair and balanced) – who famously flubbed repeatedly on the campaign trail. After an unprecedented run as Texas governor, his attempt to rise to a national office flopped on one word. Oops!

Speaking of oops, the makers of a LFTB, a beef filler,  have to feel pretty damaged right now, filing for bankruptcy, closing plants and laying off hundreds of workers after restaurant chains, grocery stores and school districts vowed to stop using it after media reports picked up on an internal term used to describe the product — “pink slime.” The official name of the filler, which for the record is neither pink nor slimy, is “lean finely textured beef,” and has been widely used for years. Who says words don’t matter?

What other brands (which can include people and countries) would you say are the most damaged?

DALLAS, TX, April 12, 2012 /24-7PressRelease/ – Dallas Marriott City Center, which recently unveiled a $14.5 million renovation to its Plaza of the Americas property, has partnered with SPM Communications to reintroduce the iconic hotel at the edge of the thriving Dallas Arts District.

SPM, a 13-year-old Dallas-based PR firm with expertise in food, retail, hospitality and restaurant brands, represents national and regional clients including Chipotle Mexican Grill, Michaels Stores, CiCi’s Pizza, Van’s Natural Foods, Stubb’s Legendary Bar-B-Q and Bruegger’s.

SPM will work to establish Dallas Marriott City Center as a top destination for visitors to the Dallas Arts District as well as for business and leisure travelers. With a complete redesign by internationally-renowned Duncan Miller Ullman Design that showcases an eclectic Texas flair, the hotel offers more than 400 rooms, stylishly modern dining at its restaurant, Centric, 22,000 square feet of meeting space, a state-of-the-art concierge lounge and a spectacular 15-story atrium that opens to a dining and retail complex, complete with an indoor ice-skating rink.

“Dallas Marriott City Center has everything visitors to the Arts District and downtown could want, from our renovated facilities and contemporary, elegant rooms to our excellent dining and ideal location,” said Dallas Marriott City Center General Manager Nour Laasri. “Because this is the first downtown Dallas Marriott, we wanted to partner with a downtown agency that is committed to the area’s development and also understands the hospitality industry.”

“We look forward to working with our new neighbors to spread the news about downtown’s brightest new gem,” said SPM Founder and President Suzanne Miller. “Marriott is a top name in the global hospitality industry and we are proud to have one of its premier properties in our portfolio of iconic brands.”

For more information, go to www.spmcommunications.com.

About SPM Communications
Founded in 1999, SPM Communications is a Dallas-based PR agency that promotes and protects brands through media relations, social media and crisis communications. With offices in Dallas, New York, Denver, Portland and Atlanta, SPM represents iconic brands including Chipotle Mexican Grill, Michaels Stores, CiCi’s Pizza, Van’s Natural Foods and Bruegger’s. In 2008, Founder and President Suzanne Parsonage Miller was awarded the “Make Mine a Million” award by Count Me In, which recognizes top women in business who demonstrate great potential to impact their communities. The company has also received national media coverage for its “No Jerks” policy of mutual respect and trust among clients, team members and company leaders.

“If it’s going to come out eventually, better have it come out immediately.” —Henry Kissinger, on crisis communications

SPMers working in the stairwell aka storm shelter yesterday. No tornado is going to stop us from getting the job done!