Archive for November, 2010

A tale of two news stories

Tuesday, November 30th, 2010

Compare and contrast: There are fears of (more) deaths, particularly of pensioners and the homeless, as Ireland undergoes below-freezing conditions. (That's not a metaphor for the economy!) Local authorities are struggling to keep roads gritted, with limited budgets available for this purpose (and effect still being felt from repair costs after ...

More DoE hypocrisy

Friday, November 26th, 2010

The Irish educational system has some strange features. One is that while school staff have their wages and conditions set - and paid for - by the Department of Education - they are not viewed, in law, as employees of the Department. Historically this has been used as a fudge ...

Buddy Pack program packs nutrient punch

Friday, November 26th, 2010

The Buddy Pack program in Missouri provides food from a food bank direct to school-age children. Children pick up food at the end of the school week - packaged in backpacks chosen to blend in with those of other children, in order that children participating not stand out and look ...

Communicating in a crisis – what the Irish government did wrong (part 1 of 80-180 billion)

Sunday, November 21st, 2010

When I talk with my students about PR I explain that the first rule of crisis communication is to 'fess up - get out in front of the rumours and claims, admitting the truth (in order that you can have a say in framing that truth). This week the Irish government ...

Time for an Irish election

Friday, November 12th, 2010

Minister for Health Mary Harney has criticized protestors who throw things at her - today it was eggs, last week paint - as she visits different parts of the country: "'I think it's a great pity that in a democracy people don't use the opportunity to put their perspective forward in ...