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Notable PR Disasters

By : Christopher Reinhold 9 or more times read

Submitted: 2009-08-27 09:38:43 Number of Times Read: 10

Although the aim of public relations companies can be seen as to increase the popularity of a company to its consumer, unfortunately, things do not always go to plan. Whether it is a retail public relations campaign that backfires on the company due to a bad product, or a general public relations campaign that fails as the service offered by the company was dreadful, the following are just some of the most infamous public relations campaigns in history.

Interference. Throughout January 2007, PR company Interference were hired by Cartoon Network to promote their show Aqua Teen Hunger Force. The show itself was something different, super heroes who were styled around different types of fast-food and Interference were determined to carry out a PR campaign in the same different-yet-appealing style.

The company set out placing several metal plates with LEDs on them in the shape of the shows characters in cities all around the United States. In theory, the idea was great as it was appealing, eye-catching and drew peoples attention to the object. However, when in practice, the campaign turned sour.

Problems began when a worker on the Boston subway saw a piece of metal by the side of a track with a range of lights on it. Suspecting it may be a bomb, he called the Police and the device was safely and securely blown up, followed by the closing down of several major roads and transport stations, as well the thorough searching by Police of Interferences Head Quarters.

After being criticised by the media, within a matter of days Interference had paid a substantial amount of the $2 million dollars compensation that was to be paid to Boston city by Turner Broadcaster, the owner of Carton Network.

Heathrow Airport Terminal 5. The hype behind Heathrow Airports new Terminal 5 was massive. The public relations company behind the new terminal promoted it extensively, to the point where people who would not even be using the terminal were aware of how successful it was to be.

Unfortunately, rather than a fantastic addition to the airport, the terminal failed miserably and when opened, offered passengers mass-crowding, untrained staff and weak technology. In addition, cancellations were numerous and eventually expected, with the company explaining that 20 percent of all flights were to be delayed.

Heather Mills McCartney. Seen at one time as one of the most hated women in Britain, primarily due to the fact that she divorced one of Englands national treasures, Sir Paul McCartney and requested substantial amounts of his personal fortune, Heather Mills McCartney, as part of a PR campaign to positively boost her image, had an interview on breakfast TV show GMTV.

The interview has become synonymous with the phrase PR disaster, as it turned from a somewhat respectable interview to Heather Mills McCartney slating the media in an emotional and embarrassing rant.

Needless to say, her PR advisor deserted her, something which most professionals in the public relations industry have said was the best move he ever did.

Author Resource: The Spa Way Retail Public Relations has created a number of well devised successful campaigns for a range of businesses to help them seek the right exposure in the market.

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