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News and insights on brand reputation.

Is all publicity good publicity?

The phrase “all publicity is good publicity” is often linked to the 19th-century showman P.T. Barnum, who believed that even negative attention could ultimately boost visibility and financial success. This sentiment is mirrored in Oscar Wilde’s famous words, “The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about.” The expression gained popularity in the early 20th century, with a notable mention in a 1915 issue of The Atlanta Constitution, stating, “All publicity is good if it is…

Are you cyber crisis ready?

The chances of an Australian company falling victim to a cyber attack have never been higher. In the 2022-23 financial year, the Australian Signals Directorate received one cybercrime report every six minutes, and artificial intelligence is already enabling criminals to target more victims, more quickly. The cost to the global economy is in the trillions, while for individual businesses the impact on operations, reputation, morale and share price can be catastrophic. It’s the risk everyone is talking about (when it happens…

Federal budget 2024: industry reactions and strategic messaging

There is plenty of commentary and analysis of Dr Chalmers’ Third Budget in the newspapers and elsewhere in the media and I don’t intend to add to that. Instead, I thought I would look at the reaction to the budget from civil society and the industry groups that represent the multiple vested interests in our economy and the broader community. It is illuminating to see how they frame their responses, and it is worth thinking about what they were looking…

The benefits of data-driven storytelling

Amidst the clamour of the click, like, and share, where every message is competing for attention, I thought it may be worthwhile revisiting the benefits of data-driven storytelling. It’s a potent tool – one that can raise your narrative above the noise and resonate deeply with your target audience. Utilising data effectively however isn’t just about compiling numbers or accessing information; it’s about weaving them into a story that captivates, informs, and persuades. Indeed, it requires a blend of analytical…

Gender pay gap data… and how employers respond

Shock, horror…we have a gender pay gap problem in corporate Australia! On 27 February, the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) released data on median gender pay gaps* of over 5,000 private sector employers with 100 or more employees noting that publishing employer gender pay gaps aims to help accelerate employer action. This data has been collected for many years but never published in this fashion. Just under a third of employers have a median pay gender gap within the target…

In praise of the rubber chicken

One of the corporate rituals that fell away in recent times was the corporate eight-to-a-table lunch in a hotel ballroom. I am happy to say that the rubber chicken[1] circuit is back! I have noticed that many industry associations are filling their calendars with lunches, breakfasts, cocktail events and this is a good thing. As humans we crave connection and as those working for companies, institutions, universities, governments and consultancies, a corporate event meets that need. It has other benefits…

It’s a New Year so let’s rewrite unhelpful narratives

It is an overlooked strategy when coming out of a sustained period of downward pressure on an organisation’s reputation to consider rewriting unhelpful narratives. Done correctly this can move an organisation from a reactive communications footing – or responding constantly to issues – to a proactive footing where the communications are more on your terms. It is also a great New Year’s activity that can be applied in a personal sense as well as for a business or a business…

What government thinks of ‘company profits’

Daymark recently subscribed to GovConnex, a platform that enables us to monitor and research government activity on issues of relevance to our clients. So, with another company results and AGM season behind us, we thought it interesting to see what politicians think, say, and do when it comes to ‘company profits’. Using GovConnex we searched ‘company profits’ and found: Trends over time – Between 2010-2017, the term ‘company profits’ was rarely mentioned but from 2017 onwards it’s regularly mentioned in…

The importance of values – and the damage when they are not upheld

For the last month, I have been seconded into one of Daymark’s not-for-profit clients for two days a week. Working inside this leading social change organisation with its strong workplace culture has provided a salient reminder of the benefits not just of clear organisational values, but of living them out each day. Over the years, Daymark has helped many clients define their vision, mission and values. Often included in organisational profiles – both written and online – these statements send…

The crucial role of communication strategy in 2024

As we approach the year’s end and gear up for the planning season, it’s important to take stock and recognise the increasingly pivotal role communication strategy is playing in shaping an organisation’s future. Recent times, marked by critical infrastructure breakdowns, cyber-security vulnerabilities, and unforeseen challenges, emphasise the need for organisations, both large and small, to reassess their readiness to respond to issues that can quickly spiral into crises. In the spirit of proactive management, it’s timely to acknowledge the importance…

Year in review reveals additional priorities for Daymark clients

As reputation challenges continue to mount, nothing stands still with the issues and communications needs of our clients. Here we take a dive into the over 60 projects completed in the past year for clients to see what we can learn for you when it comes to building, managing, protecting or restoring reputation. The breadth of stakeholders is increasing We have engaged with hundreds of government and industry stakeholders on behalf of our clients in the past year. They have…

‘Are we right to go?’

This short statement sums up much of Dan Andrews’ communications skills. A line that signalled the start of yet another COVID-era press conference. As people in the communications game, it is worth reflecting on Dan Andrews as a professional, political communicator. The first point to make is that he threw out most of the old rule book on how to manage political messaging. He was effectively the first post-mainstream media Premier. He simply didn’t bother trying to chase the approval…

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