Barb Paynter talks about Tiger Woods' televised apology (2 videos) here.
Barb Paynter shares her views on the Toyota recall with
Stuart Varney on the FOX Business Network's Varney & Co. here.
Hennes Paynter Communications and Stevens Baron Communications Win "Best of Show" at the 2009 Public Relations Society of America
Cleveland Rocks Awards Luncheon
Hennes Paynter Communications and Stevens Baron Communications won the coveted "Best of Show" award at the Greater Cleveland Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) annual Cleveland Rocks Awards luncheon Friday, Dec. 4.
The award recognizes an outstanding crisis communications program done for King Nut Companies.
The two agencies together also won the Gold PRSA Award for Crisis Communications in Business Products & Services.
Both awards recognize their work assisting King Nut Companies with a peanut butter recall that attracted significant national media attention. King Nut distributed peanut butter manufactured by Peanut Corporation of America, and was the first company publicly-linked to a salmonella outbreak. King Nut immediately issued a recall and adopted a proactive communication strategy that, in the long run, protected the company's reputation with customers.
"We are delighted to receive top honors," said Barbara Paynter, partner with Hennes Paynter Communications. "We were actually surprised because this is the first time in the seven-year history of the Rocks Awards that a crisis communications project was recognized as 'Best in Show.' The fact that the judges recognized us is truly a testament to our firm's passion for strategy and execution, demonstrating the effectiveness of a proactive approach during times of crisis."
Judging for the 2009 competition was done by the PRSA Nashville chapter to ensure unbiased results. To read the award application summation, please click here: http://bit.ly/4SzEZS
"Best of Show" is an especially important accomplishment for Hennes Paynter Communications as the criteria for the award set the highest standards for public relations professionalism, specifically acknowledging exceptional public relations programs incorporating reliable research, thorough planning, execution and evaluation.
PRSA's Greater Cleveland Chapter received 75 entries for the Rocks Awards - but only one entry was named "Best of Show."
Ohio's Only Crisis Communications Firm Changes Name
Hennes Communications is now Hennes Paynter Communications, recognizing Barbara Paynter's inclusion as a full partner in the firm and because of the contributions she has made to the firm's growth over the past three years. For full details, click here.
Norman Wain
Adjunct Professor, Mass Media
Case Western Reserve University