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Crisis Content Messaging And PR Tips

November 15, 2020 By Nancy McNulty Leave a Comment

*This blog originally appeared on The Southern C blog in March 2020 by contributor Nancy McNulty, owner/president, Forest Home Media. 

 

On the night of March 2, deadly tornadoes swept through Nashville devastating lives in a matter of seconds.  By Thursday of that week, the first coronavirus case was confirmed by Tennessee’s governor. Rightly so, the way in which public relations and social media is conducted is changing drastically.

 

Content And Messaging In Times Of Crisis, Forest Home Media

 

Messaging Sensitivity In Times Of Crisis

For my company, Forest Home Media, one client’s entire four state operation was on an annual awards cruise in the Bahamas and a second client was hosting a media/ influencer event that week unveiling a new partnership with Martha Stewart.

 

California Closets TN, Martha Stewart, Forest Home Media
Forest Home Media assisted California Closets TN launch of the Martha Stewart new product line.

 

Immediately, all Facebook scheduled posts were reviewed for any sensitivity issues while any cruise celebration posts were postponed. At the end of the cruise, several groups got off the boat and went to work for Nashville.  This was shared immediately.

For the media/influencer event, California Closets Nashville unveiled the new Everyday System designed nationally with Martha Stewart. However, a giveback element was added with donations accepted at the event for the Red Cross and a percentage of any future sales in March are earmarked for tornado recovery efforts.  This was reflected in email blasts, during the event and event follow up.

This all sounds so elementary but, spending any time on social media, frivolous posts remained and felt very tone deaf. But, this is only the beginning.

 

Crisis Social Media

As our country faces this pandemic, each company and person can play a role. The news outlets are handling the crisis updates and social media channels monitoring for misinformation.  Take a look at your company or brand and determine any positive energy you can inject into your social media posts. Right now, people are looking for comfort and hope.

 

For the home industry, we’re focusing on things that can be controlled by the individual like the peace of mind found in an organized and clean home with stories soon appearing with California Closets Tennessee as a source.  For my other clients, we are highlighting ways to safely expend energy, make your environment comforting and healthier while spending quality time with your family.

Consider these elements to weave into your messaging:

-Encourage social distancing by highlighting in-home projects which bring comfort.

-Create hopeful social media posts.

-Acknowledge the present while planning for the future.

-Determine if your company offers an alternative or activity for isolation.

 

Public Relations Positioning – Carmen Johnston Gardens

Now is NOT the time to back away from public relations.  Smart business owners are evaluating ways to strengthen their company’s operations and positioning themselves for post-crisis business while determining any relevant role they might play in this current situation.  Here’s an intriguing example.

Moments away from launching nationally an Alexa, Google Home voice assistant initiative, garden lifestyle expert Carmen Johnston is redefining her public relations messaging.  Preparing to launch her spring gardening and DIY projects with Alexa and Google videos, we are working with Carmen to evaluate her role in this crisis and what positive contribution she can make. Her intriguing, pioneering moment with Alexa and Google will still happen; it will be pitched and revealed a bit differently. Check out this demonstration on Nashville’s Talk of the Town.

 

Carmen Johnston Gardens, WTVF Talk of the Town, Forest Home Media

 

What we know for sure is social distancing and self-isolating is critical and we are all going to try to fill our time constructively. Carmen is preparing to launch a series of home garden activities for the entire family; activities which can be done to provide stress relief, be a positive use of energy and a creative outlet.  In her lessons from the garden series, she has created content for the next 14 days from creating a beautiful project to brighten up the home to self–care ideas like hydrating drinks and hand moisturizer. She’s emphasizing health tips beyond washing your hands.  Follow her on Facebook and Instagram for full details.

 

Find A Role

It is definitely better to give than receive and one of the ways we will all survive this crisis mentally and emotionally is if we spend our time trying to make the lives of others better.  Today is the day to check in on an elderly neighbor by phone.  Engage your neighborhood Facebook group to determine any needs of folks with existing health issues.  And, be clear on how you can bring light.

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Blog, Public Relations, Social Media Tagged With: California Closets TN, Carmen Johnston Gardens, crisis communication, pandemic PR, social media messaging

PR Field Trip To TN Governor’s Residence

December 20, 2014 By Nancy McNulty

We’re all about the home….garden and food! As home lifestyle industry PR/marketing professionals, Forest Home Media took some #influencers on the ultimate Tennessee home field trip last week – the Governor’s Residence in Nashville with a tour by First Lady Crissy Haslam. We love grabbing our creative friends for fun outings and were happy to have along garden lifestyle expert Carmen Johnston, Nashville Entertainment Journalist and TV Host Kelly Sutton and NYC PR practitioner Jennifer Zawadzinski (whose firm reps Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook).

Before I share the highlights, I need to disclose I FORGOT my dreamy camera and all pics captured with my iPhone.  Yes, this can be done (and better than below), check out this tour of the White House by acclaimed photog Brooks Kraft – White House Tour with an iPhone 6 for some great tips!

 

Forest Home Media, Governor's Residence Tour, Nashville, TN
Forest Home Media hosted Carmen Johnston, Carmen Johnston Gardens, Jennifer Zawadzinski, NYC PR rep, with Nashville Entertainment Journalist Kelly Sutton for a visit to the Governor’s Residence and tour with First Lady Crissy Haslam, middle, with FHM Partner Nancy McNulty, second to right! We chose our favorite tree, located on the sun porch, themed to all things East TN wonderful.

Years ago as a state agency spokesman and member of the governor’s information staff, I had the opportunity to visit this beautiful home regularly and I was SO happy to see the integrity of the property and the beauty of the home as been nonpartisan-ly maintained over the years.

Stepping into the foyer of the Georgian-style home, the checkerboard foyer always makes me SO happy. The staircase is wrapped with garland, and, throughout the downstairs area, there are multiple trees decorated for Christmas including ones representing Middle, West and East Tennessee. Even though I’m Middle Tennessee born and bred, the East Tennessee tree was my fav.

 

Forest Home Media, PR Field Trip To TN Governor's Residence, Nashville, TN
The Georgian style Governor’s Residence sits majestically off Franklin Road, south of Nashville.

 

Forest Home Media, TN Governor's Residence, Nashville, TN

Forest Home Media, TN Governor's Residence, Nashville, TN

Dickson, Tennessee ornament artist Jim Marvin’s work was on full display and no rest for me until I have some of his holiday work. Nationally recognized, love knowing that the “Tennessee Christopher Radko” has an outlet just down the road from our Forest Home office.

Forest Home Media, TN Governor's Residence, Nashville, TN

Forest Home Media, Dining Room, TN Governor's Residence, Nashville, TN

 

The First Lady gave us a magical tour. We were all so impressed by the measures she’s taken launching school field trips, cultivating a garden with the harvest used for dinner parties and the way in which she has graciously embraced the wonder of Tennessee and displayed it in this beautiful home. We stepped outside for the tour of the garden while reporter Kelly Sutton interviewed the First Lady here for Williamson Source.

 

Garden Lifestyle Expert & Southern Living Contributing Editor Carmen Johnston visit the garden at the Governor's Residence in Nashville with Forest Home Media.
Garden Lifestyle Expert Carmen Johnston visited the gardens of the Tennessee Governor’s Residence as a guest of Forest Home Media.

 

Forest Home Media, TN Governor's Residence, Nashville, TN

 

Forest Home Media, TN Governor's Residence Garden, Nashville, TN
Ornamental Peacock Kale and white kale in the garden of the TN Governor’s Residence. No, we didn’t recognize these. Our thanks to Tommy Johnston, Woodruff’s Chief Grower and hubs of Carmen Johnston.

The First Lady is heading up a green house construction project on the 10-acre estate. We can’t wait to visit again to see project complete. The Governor’s Residence is a Tennessee wonder and be sure to tour if you get a chance. More info here!

And before the tour is complete, there has to be a Nashville celebrity sighting! This vintage pic of Elvis Presley caught our eye.  The First Lady shared a charming story that Elvis dated the daughter of Governor Buford Ellington for two years and visited the residence bowling on the top floor bowling alley – what?! This little known story was backed-up when the flooring was removed to reveal a bowling alley.  Part of the floor is framed here as well as a cute pic of the young couple!

Forest Home Media, section of a bowling alley in TN Governor's Residence, Nashville, TN

Forest Home Media, Elvis Presley picture, TN Governor's Residence, Nashville, TN

 

Forest Home Media has just completed the uber successful Kings’ Chapel Parade of Homes outside Nashville. To stay up on the our latest adventures and to find out how you can be a part – connect with us on Facebook! 

Filed Under: Public Relations Tagged With: Carmen Johnston Gardens, Crissy Haslam, Governors Residence, home tour, Jennifer Zawadzinski, Kelly Sutton, TN First Lady

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what others say:

"Forest Home Media and Nancy were our hands and feet on the ground to execute a flawless media day open house for the HGTV Smart Home 2014 in Nashville. Starting with a strategic end goal in mind, she knew all the right people to contact, all the right outlets to tap and all the right resources to utilize in creating an amazing event for HGTV. In fact, it generated more local and regional buzz for this project than any Smart Home prior. Nancy is anything but cookie-cutter with custom, solutions-oriented approach producing winning results every time." - Kristin Alm, Director Corporate Communications, Scripps Networks (HGTV) To read more client reviews click HERE

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