Risky Business: Apologies, Silence, and Spin

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Communication Breakdown

OCR Network

56 episodes

1 week ago

Communication Breakdown is a postgame show for PR pros. In each episode, hosts Craig Carroll (fmr. USC Annenberg, UNC Chapel Hill) and Steve Dowling (fmr. OpenAI, Apple) discuss the strategies and tactics companies are using in high-visibility crises and PR initiatives, giving listeners unique insight into how key decisions are made.

The podcast offers two unique perspectives on communications theory and practice, drawing on Craig’s teaching and research at top universities around the globe and Steve’s two decades of experience as a comms leader at some of the world’s most influential companies.

Whether you're a PR professional, marketing executive, or just curious about how companies make key communications decisions, you'll find these discussions insightful and valuable.

All content for Communication Breakdown is the property of OCR Network and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

Risky Business: Apologies, Silence, and Spin

Communication Breakdown

26 minutes

2 months ago

Risky Business: Apologies, Silence, and Spin

In this episode of Communication Breakdown, hosts Steve Dowling and Craig Carroll examine how companies are navigating the volatile communications landscape under Donald Trump’s renewed political influence. From Home Depot’s silence as ICE raids unfold in its parking lots, to Swatch’s mishandled apology for a racist ad, to American Eagle’s choice to double down rather than apologize, the conversation dissects what corporate silence, contrition, or defiance really signals. They also debate the inclusion of Trump’s press secretary Caroline Levitt in PR Week’s “Power 50” list, and close with Campbell’s Soup and Pabst Blue Ribbon’s oddball marketing mashup. For PR and corporate comms professionals, this episode asks: when does silence protect reputation, and when does it erode it beyond repair?

Takeaways

Home Depot’s compliance-focused statement on ICE raids highlights the reputational risks of ignoring the human dimension of crises.
Swatch’s apology fell flat by shifting blame onto “a young motivated team” instead of owning responsibility.
American Eagle showed that doubling down with confidence can be less damaging than a half-hearted apology.
PR Week’s ranking of Caroline Levitt underscores the tension between rewarding influence versus credibility in the PR profession.

Topics Mentioned
corporate silence, reputational risk, crisis communication, industrial policy, Trump-era politics, stakeholder capitalism, ICE raids, values-driven branding, apology strategy, blame-shifting, culture wars, advertising backlash, politicization of campaigns, credibility in PR, brand confidence, marketing stunts

Companies Mentioned
Home Depot, NPR, ICE, Swatch, Reuters, Instagram, American Eagle, Calvin Klein, Campbell’s Soup, Pabst Blue Ribbon

Episode Hashtags
#HomeDepot #Swatch #AmericanEagle #CalvinKlein #Campbells #PabstBlueRibbon #CorporateCommunications #CrisisManagement #ReputationStrategy #StakeholderCapitalism #PRWeek #Advertising #BrandValues #TrumpEra #ShawnPNeal #AdvoCast #OCRNetwork

Produced by Shawn P Neal at AdvoCast