By Gini Dietrich

When things go wrong, it’s typically framed as a public relations problem.

Jerry Sandusky abuses boys? It’s a PR problem. Tiger Woods in a car accident? It’s a PR problem. Executives at the Susan G. Komen Foundation defund Planned Parenthood? It’s a PR problem. Paula Deen says the “n” word? It’s a PR problem.

It’s become the default mode for any organization’s crisis…”Penn State has a PR problem,” people will mutter and wait to see what some spin doctor will concoct to make it all go away. We wait with bated breath to see which crisis communications firm the organization has hired and guess at how much they’re being paid.

Human nature requires us to want a brilliant PR strategist to make it all go away, as if any amount of messaging can make the bad facts disappear like the $20 you handed a magician to perform a trick during the company holiday party.

Executives hope and pray perception really is reality as they tout their community efforts and non-profit donations. They begin to talk only about the good they’re doing and choose to sweep the bad under the proverbial rug. (more…)