Media /// Forward

Legend has it that early PR man Ivy Ledbetter Lee issued the very first press release in 1906 on behalf of the Pennsylvania Railroad, after a derailed train plunged into a creek in Atlantic City, resulting in 53 passenger deaths; The New York Times printed it verbatim.

If the same thing happened today, we’d all be looking for @nytimes to RT @PennsylvaniaRR’s real-time spin.

No question. On a small scale, the Columbia Business School Events Committee is moving from primarily email-based communication — repetitive and inbox-filling — to Facebook to share not only upcoming events, but also updates as things happen.

For example, we had a hiccup with an afterparty last week. Usually rumors would have swirled until the snafu receded into memory. This time we put an explanation on Facebook to quickly set the record straight in a way that a mass email just can’t.

I often think of something an old client said; he was the CEO of a private jet company. Paraphrased: “We strive for a perfect flight but, failing that, perfect communication.” Meaning, if we’re not going to take off on time, we’ll tell you exactly why and when we think we might take off. 

I think pretty much every business could be improved by adopting the “perfect experience and/or perfect communication” maxim.

(Source: soupsoup)