Recommendation Re: Foster the People

In a recent assignment for my public relations management class, I had to pretend that I am a PR associate at Columbia Records where I was given the task of helping to plan for the May 24 release of Torches, the debut album from Foster the People. Foster the people is an indie band from LA that formed in 2009 and has since enjoyed a growing underground popularity, fueled by the blogosphere, college radio, music critics, and touring small clubs across the U.S.

The assignment was as follows:
An appearance on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” is booked for the night of May 24, in line with the CD release.  Posing a potential problem, however, is the fact that their biggest hit is about an isolated youth who fantasizes about using his father’s gun on other kids.  In fact, you have been assigned to this project because your company received a warning from Mothers Against Gun Violence that they plan to picket the Fallon show.

Below, I have posted my brief recommendation to the company as how to handle the complications. You will see the overall goal, a couple of objectives and some strategies on how to best fulfill those objectives.

Recommendation Re: Foster the People

Goal   

The main goal of what needs to be achieved is an overall feel from the public that the members of the band do not condone violent behavior. It needs to be made clear that not only do they not approve of egregious violence but also they especially don’t approve of the actions that are described in their hit song.

Objective #1

To make clear to the audiences of blogs, college radio stations, music critics and small music clubs that they don’t necessarily agree with or condone the actions taken place in their hit song.

Strategy

1. Prior to the appearance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, the members of the band must go on college radio stations and talk to the listener.
2. Prior to the appearance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, the members of the band or one of their representatives must contact major news outlets to explain what was stated in the objective. That way, when groups protest, the journalists will already have statements ready from the band.

Objective #2

To show the members of Mothers Against Gun Violence that the members of the band are sincere in what they say in the goal and objective #1.

Strategy

1. The band can host an event or have a special place at their next performance where people can donate to a charity or cause that is related to anti-violence.
2. The band can also choose to match donations.

Messages to Media

1. Music is an art just like photography, painting and sculpture. Even though some forms of art and what they depict aren’t agreed with, it does not mean that it’s voice must be held back.
2. The point of art is to make people stop and feel what is going on. That’s what we’re doing with our music. Though we don’t condone what is heard, if art doesn’t make people feel something different, then what is the point of making art at all

Credit: Some of the description of the assignment and it’s ideas belong to David Porges, PR Management professor and U.S. Regional Operations & Pacific Southwest Leader of Community Involvement for Deloitte Services LP.

 

Follow @nicklacroix

Barnes Foundation Assignment

For this post I want to do something a little different. I am currently enrolled in a PR management class that teaches students how to manage a proper PR campaign and many other things. For our first real assignment we were to do research about the Barnes Foundation and the moving of the Barnes art Collection. There is a lot of controversy surrounding its move from the Barnes Institute that I won’t explain in too much detail here but I do want to give a quick summary of the situation.

Basically, the owner of the collection, Albert C. Barnes, did not like the city of Philadelphia at all and did not want his art collection moved, sold or changed in any way after he died. The collection consisted of 181 Renoirs, 69 Cézannes, 60 Matisses, 44 Picassos and other works. All of the details surrounding the art was detailed in his will. Well, the art is being moved even though he did not want it to be. This is the lead into the assignment. A group of six people, including myself, had to come up with a pseudo PR proposal outlying what the movers of the art would do to lower the criticism they are getting for breaking the will.

There is also a documentary that was made about the situation that I watched and thoroughly enjoyed. I highly recommend you give it a watch. It is also available for instant streaming on Netflix. Here is the link to the official trailer. The Art of the Steal Documentary – Official Trailer The video is also posted at the end of the proposal.

Here I have posted the entirety of the proposal. Not all of the writing is mine but  about 1/4 – 1/3 of it is.

PR Proposal Re: Barnes Art Collection

Though most of the people who know the story of the Barnes collection believe that it was in fact stolen and used in ways not outlined in Barnes’ will, our objective is to make those involved believe that moving the collection is a good idea.

In order to do that, the people must bet told what the situation is and be a little transparent, stating that the Barnes Foundation is simply running out of money. One of the best ways to raise money quickly is to go against Barnes’ wishes and display the collection to the public for a short time until there is enough money. Only then must they follow the rules Barnes left behind. The law states that actions can be taken outside of what a will says if those actions indeed make carrying out the wishes in the will possible.

To do this, the neighborhood and the city itself must be notified of what the intended actions are. Furthermore, notifying the art galleries, museums, enthusiasts and the wealthy would most likely be the groups that would be notified first.

Moving the art gallery from a residential neighborhood and into an area where there is more public access will actually help benefit the local economy as well. Relocating will allow the Barnes foundation to gain more exposure by being in a more public area. The move will create an opportunity to help build a world-class museum that will turn out to be a tourist attraction and therefore become an economic driver. It will be an attraction that will bring tourists into the city and provide some economic benefit to Philadelphia. Moving the Barnes collection will turn Philadelphia into a city that lovers of the arts and culture will have to come and see. In moving it’s the collection of 181 Renoirs, 69 Cézannes, 60 Matisses, 44 Picassos and other works to a museum will open the doors to tourist, and it will become a popular venue to visit which will bring in more money to not only the Barnes Foundation, but the state as well.

Also, even though the risk of loss is quite small to the collection in reality, the Barnes institute does need some repair. The people need to be told that collection would be at a huge risk of damage if the collection weren’t moved. Moving the collection to a museum will keep it safe and the staff there will do a great job and preserving it. The previous action would also provide funds to the repairs of the foundation so that the building would not be torn down. We must show that the foundation itself is in dire need of help and that there are no other options. It must be shown that the foundation itself does not want to go against Barnes’ will but it must to carry out his wishes.

Having this collection for citizens to view can also inspire a community. Future artists and art enthusiasts can visit this museum and share a meaningful and potentially motivating experience. Art and culture are important in communities because urban revitalization is created by the creatively minded; giving them more to expand their creativity can only enliven their future works.

Lastly, the collection was only made for students of the Barnes Institute, it can also be publicized that having the collection on display at a museum could make for a great educational experience for all. The young and the old, students and non-students can come to see and learn about the work of the famous artists. If the art stays locked inside of the Barnes Foundation, the public cannot see what it has to offer.

Follow @nicklacroix

Fresh Start

This is the first post of my newly redesigned blog. I’ve been interested in starting a new blog and have had many ideas on what to write about but could not stick to just one. Although I was happy with the content that was previously found here, it was not going in the direction that I wanted it to go professionally.

Being a college student at Cal Poly Pomona that will be graduating soon with a B.S. in communication, I decided it was time to start something new. Here on this blog I will be writing my own thoughts and analyzations on recent news stories that I find on the net that either show great examples of PR gone right or examples of horrible PR that should be avoided. I may also post other things that are closely related to the topics of public relations and communications.

This blog will hopefully not only give me practice for the future, but also be a great example of my work and knowledge of how the public relations world works. Thank you for taking the time to read this post and I look forward to posting new and insightful content for you to read in the future.

Follow @nicklacroix