PR Whistleblower Reveals Truth Behind World's Real Life PR Disasters

PR industry insider, Gerry McCusker, has written the world's first ‘A to Z' compendium of PR disasters, which is being publicly launched to bookshops in the UK and the USA on 13 January 2005.

The book - entitled ‘Talespin: PR disasters' - documents many of the famous and the previously unreported PR gaffes, and shows the lessons that businesses and marketing and PR professionals can learn from PR mistakes.

Using 79 real life case studies from the worlds of branding, business, media, music, politics and sport, the book entertainingly and informatively depicts some of the world's most calamitous PR cock-ups, including:

- Ford Explorers: even though evidence suggested that vehicle design and defective tyres were causing vehicle rollover, Ford & Firestone tried to stonewall any concerns, so creating huge public distrust.
- Starbucks pressed 9/11 rescue workers to pay $130.00 for water to help those injured in the terrorist attack; a store boycott was threatened.
- Coca-Cola and Pepsi in India were accused of using pesticides in their drinks; moving to sue the government, they created a national PR storm.
- Volkswagen declined to halt a direct mailing campaign with an envelope labeled, "Suspicious Package' even though a recent terrorist bombing had put consumers in the UK on high alert.

Talespin's author, Gerry McCusker MSc PR, has over 20 years experience in PR and advertising. His client credentials include BMW, Dunlop, MINI, Tennent Caledonian Breweries, Ultra-Fresh, Unisys and Vauxhall GM.

He has published academic research into audio brand identity, presented at conferences in Australia, the Middle East and Singapore and is a former lecturer at Glasgow Caledonian University.

Ends

More info/


Talespin reviews:
"The lessons learnt…should be required reading for all PR consultants.' —Alan Capper, former Chairman of Rowland Worldwide.

"A thoroughly good read for all students of public relations…'
Professor Tim Traverse Healy, OBE, Director of Centre for Public Affairs.

Talespin GBP18.99 is published on 13 January 2005 by Kogan Page.
For further information, to request a review copy or interview the author, please contact Martha Fumagalli on 020 7843 0433 or by email: e-mail protected from spam bots or check www.prdisasters.com.