I’ve been watching the painful news unfold as Ford Motor Company announced massive job cuts. In time, over 30,000 auto manufacturing jobs and 14 plants will be a distant memory. Compound this fact with General Motors announcing their own deep cuts and you have a crisis of conscience in the automobile industry.

While most CEOs facing deep cuts make a cursory business press tour and slink back into their corner offices, Ford’s PR team sent their telegenic, 48 year old CEO on a whirlwind media tour. Bill Ford is on the cover of Time magazine this week, speaking with Bloomberg and just about everyone else who will listen to him. In addition, Bill Ford appeared this weekend in a widely-broadcast television commercial touting the strength and stability of Ford Motor Company and the quality of Ford automobiles.

Simply put, Bill Ford’s presence creates the perception that Ford is forging ahead while their competition pauses to lick their wounds. Ford’s PR team ripped a page out the textbook and followed it to the letter – they recognized the intrinsic value of getting their message out in front of bad news, and did what it took to succeed.

Kudos to Bill Ford and his PR team for realizing that a comprehensive communications campaign can minimize damage and shape the opinions of shareholders and consumers.

It’s great to see PR executed so well.

Ronn Torossian

5W PR

With the release of Rolling Stone Magazine today, I have done a bunch of media interviews as we are a leading entertainment PR firm in the hip-hop arena, having represented everyone from Sean “Diddy” Combs, Lil’ Kim, Ice Cube, DMX, Twista, The Source Magazine, leading producers, brands – All across the brand we do more Hip-Hop than any other PR agency in the US. We also work extensively in the Christian world, as I was formerly the media director for the Christian Coalition of America.

Interestingly enough, I have often said I find these 2 groups of people to be very similar – Very intense and focused, viewed as outsiders or extremists by the world, often misunderstood by the media (or characterized by their most extreme, misspoken members)… but once you get to know them, warm, intimate and great to their families… whether you agree or disagree with their point of view on life, politicis, etc.

Anyway… to get to the Kanye cover – From being critical of the Bush Administration on Katrina to creating songs like ‘Jesus Walks’, Kanye West has fashioned himself as a politically conscious artist not dissimilar to Rock & Roll’s coming of age era of the 1960’s and this Rolling Stone cover is all part of that image. He has successfully branded himself as the new voice of young America, one that does not shy from speaking their beliefs.

It’s certainly an interesting stance for an artist and will certainly help his brand visibility… but I am not sure it will help him in the corporate arena. In an era in which artists are making money from corporate America more than from record sales it’s an interesting stance for West to take… I for one will be watching his brand intently.

Ronn Torossian
5W PR

Welcome to my blog – As CEO of the fastest growing PR firm in the US, 5W Public Relations, I am known for speaking the truth… for being honest and for being real, with our clients, with ourselves and with the world.

I believe we are the best at what we do, bar none… and within these pages I plan on sharing some real and honest thoughts of mine… representing me and me alone on PR, communications, politics and the world.

I welcome your feedback and thoughts…

Ronn Torossian
5W PR