How would you handle the crisis surrounding the Dalai Lama as a PR professional? The situation, as it unfolded is such: On April 11, a video of the Dalai Lama asking a child to suck his tongue emerges. Worldwide reaction was swift and many people accused the Nobel Laureate of being a pedophile and a... Continue Reading →
Will PR be more or less relevant in the age of AI Rising?
One of the questions PR professionals are wrestling with is whether our profession will be more or less important as Artificial Intelligence gains further ground. AI can already perform many tasks traditionally assigned to PR professionals and with time it will get better and be able to more things. AI, however, is not AGI -... Continue Reading →
Jesus, critical thinking and public relations
A question that I ask that gets attention whenever I teach Critical Thinking at my workplace is what was Jesus Christ's most likely appearance. Would he have looked swarthy and middle-eastern like the image on the left, or fair-skinned, with aquiline nose and Caucasian? Inevitably, there's be quite a few people (sometimes in the majority)... Continue Reading →
The dangers of deductive thinking to solve the Rafael Trisambodo problem
At the place where I work, we make sure that every PR consultant is familiar with Systems Thinking. Why? Because the world is complex and interconnected and deductive thinking usually addresses the symptoms and not the cure. Deductive thinking assumes that the world is a simple place. When problems crop up, find an immediate solution... Continue Reading →
Did the Jakarta Post malign the PR profession?
What's the difference between publicity stunts and PR? One is focussed on looks and cosmetics, the other is focussed on substance and reputation, I argue in this post.
When everyone sounds sassy and is an expert
Remember that iconic cartoon from the early days of the Internet in the New Yorker? The Internet has moved on a lot since then. Apps and other services now make it so much easier to create and upload great looking content. So much so that I think the saying “On the Internet, nobody knows you’re... Continue Reading →
Mining for trouble
This is a post I wrote for our company's blog Those who have an interest in media handling skills would find this interview — between the BBC’s Rebecca Henschke and Terry Filbert, the CEO of Baru Gold Corp that runs Tambang Mas Sangihe — a masterclass on what and how not to say things. The... Continue Reading →
Clubhouse is all the rage – and the likely site of the next business crisis
Don’t get me wrong. I think Clubhouse, the audio chat app that is taking the world and Indonesia by storm is fantastic. Here you have an app that makes interaction easy among people with same interests. And because its audio only it also creates a feeling of intimacy and ability to network during sessions. Another... Continue Reading →
Eiger IV: Wow, what a turnaround – in a good way
CEOs are like the rest of us. They make mistakes. But because of their elevated position and their egos many times its easier for them to bluster and get defensive over these mistakes. And it takes a really big man to admit theirs and ask for an apology. After the Eiger letter berating Youtubers reviewing... Continue Reading →
Eiger II: A lame apology and more trouble coming
Latest update on Eiger saga here Yesterday the outdoor adventure gear brand Eiger got into a hot mess when its Leagal Eagle went a step too far and dissed off YouTubers reviewing their products. (See post here) By late afternoon the Eiger CEO Ronny Lukito had had enough and decided to take matters into his... Continue Reading →
KPAI isn’t all wrong about PB Djarum
Something important is lost in the rancour against KPAI (The Commission for the Protection of Children) for calling out PB Djarum's (Djarum Badminton Association) badminton auditions. KPAI, as we know has accused the cigarette maker Djarum of using its foundation, PB Djarum (Djarum Badminton Association) to exploit children. To be sure, KPAI has chosen its... Continue Reading →
Maverick’s views on the Garuda fiasco
This is what I co-wrote with my colleague Marsha Imaniara on the fiasco surrounding Garuda after it issued a circular banning passengers from taking photos and video clips on board its airplanes. https://m.kumparan.com/marsha-imaniara-1563432131140003103/alasan-garuda-indonesia-terjepit-akibat-menu-tulis-tangan-1rUXfXMLbKX?utm_source=Mobilesite&utm_medium=copy-to-clipboard&utm_campaign=Share And this is the English version in the Maverick blog https://maverick.co.id/the-reason-why-garudas-in-a-tight-spot-over-hand-written-menu/