This is an opinion piece I wrote for The Palm Scribe: Supermarket Iceland’s banning of palm oil in its own brands – laudable or misguided effort? by Ong Hock Chuan | Apr 11, 2018 | Opinion, Videos | 0 comments Iceland Managing Director Richard Walker’s announcement that the frozen food chain will be banning the […]
Author Archives: unspun
Why doctors are pissing themselves silly over an illustration of the controversial Dr Terawan
Been told by a doctor friend that the medical profession in Indonesia is pissing themselves silly over the infographic on the front page of Tempo above. The source of this derision? Stroke specialist Dr Terawan has been in the news lately for his controversial “brain cleansing” procedure, resulting in him being kicked out of the […]
Crisis Management Observers: Watch how Pertamina manages the Balikpapan oil spill
So far so bad. The company for four days ruled out the possibility that it was responsible for the oil spill. It only admitted late yesterday that a raptured undersea pipe belonging to the company caused the oil spill that caused the deaths of several fishermen when part of the spill caught fire. To jump […]
Why one should never repeat an emotionally-charged negativism, even in denial
In media training we tell our clients that they should never repeat an emotionally-charged negativism, even when denying it. This, appearing on the cover of the latest edition of Tempo, is a very obvious reason why. Former Armed Forces Chief General (Retired) Gatot Nurmayanto has been jockeying to get into big-time politics in the upcoming […]
Trending Topics Exposed
I remember a colleague coming up to me with pride in his voice, saying that we managed to get our event last night on the Trending Topic of Twitter. I applauded his enthusiasm but then asked him what did it mean for our company and the event? He couldn’t really explain, apart from saying that […]
Warning to PR firms: Dubious client in search for someone to handle their business
Think of what’s the worst a client can do to you (apart from not paying you for work done). That client is now looking for a PR firm for Indonesia. Be careful if you are thinking of taking them on just because they are a big brand and in a popular industry.
Mystery behind crazies attacking the santri and kyais in Java
Fascinating story in this week’s Tempo of the mystery behind a strange series of attacks on the santri and kyais throughout Java since the beginning of this year. There is also a gem of a line in the story on how Encep Muhaimin, the head of a pesantren in Pandeglang determined that the would-be assailant […]
Tremble Facebook, Google and WhatsApp because the FPI is onto you
The FPI is known for many things but not exactly for digital or intellectual prowess. But no more. The FPI’s Secretary General for Jakarta Novel Bakumin has a novel suggestion for the faithful to avoid those Satan-inspired search engines and chat platforms with good ole Indonesian ones. Novel imparted the information for the interview with […]
That ahensi influencer blacklist
A blacklist, apparently compiled by communications agency professionals of social media influencers, caused a stir last week when it began to be circulated over Whatsapp groups and then on social media. The list divided these influencers, aka KOLs (Key Opinion Leaders) aka Buzzers into those with Bad and Good Behavior and invited comments. Since it […]
On why Maverick will not go to Singapore to accept an award it has won
Why, if we have won a regional PR award for Crisis Management, will we not attend the awards ceremony in Singapore next month? I explain why in the post below in the Maverick blog. —– Flushed with our Gold Standard Award for Issues Management and Crisis Communications in Hong Kong in December last year, we […]
