Amber Mullins Blog: September 2011

PETA Gets Offended

6:05 PM

PETA is at it again. This time, however, they aren’t throwing powder on celebrities wearing fur or posting billboards of nude celebrities who opt to take a stand with them. They are simply opposing an “offensive” ad. Because it’s PETA, this outcry was destined to make front page news.

The Wednesday food section of New York Times displayed a chicken ad. The chicken was posed seductively, almost as if it were a pin-up girl. It was laying on its side with its arm propping up the body and one leg crossed over the other. The headline for the ad said, “Chicken’s Attraction Is Truly Skin Deep.”

Naturally, PETA found this ad offensive.

“When I saw it I just couldn't believe that an editor of 'The New York Times' would find it acceptable,” said PETA’s president, Ingrid Newkirk.

The ad, while positioned a little seductively, seemed perfectly harmless to me. But then again, I am not a member of PETA. I agree that there should be a group that takes a stand against animal cruelty and even the unsafe conditions of most animal feedlots. I do not agree in taking it to the extremes.

The article I read does not say who the advertisement belonged to, nor does it tell its readers if the organization practices unsafe breeding or slaughter. So then, where is PETA’s problem? I think PETA has a knack for going overboard and that the media is partly to blame for this. Every time they do go overboard, they seemed to get a good amount of media attention.

I agree with a lot of what the organization stands for. I don’t agree with its actions. And in this case, I believe PETA is making a mountain out of a molehill. The ad really doesn’t seem all that harmful or disrespectful. It’s an ad. And because of media attention, PETA is getting exactly what they wanted: headline news.

While it may help the organization with awareness, in this case, the coverage is completely uncalled for. PETA’s stance, in my opinion, isn’t really aimed at anything that would require media coverage. It’s funny that the organization is even protesting the ad considering that the article goes on to explain that PETA is launching its own “seductive” campaign in the form of a pornography site. This site will carry the same concept as the billboard ads, showing off naked celebrities to further endorse their message.

Really, PETA? Now isn’t that slightly hypocritical? It seems like the whole complaint for this ad was its focus on sex. Ingrid Newkirk even went on to compare it to “necrophilia.” However, PETA has been known to do the same thing. And thanks to an inappropriate amount of media coverage, their agenda has been pushed and has officially made headline news.

Newsworthy news should make news. Just because it’s PETA, doesn’t mean it’s news.

Sources:

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/food/is-this-chicken-too-sexy-peta-thinks-so-2572348/

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/life/peta-to-launch-its-own-porn-site-does-exploiting-women-promote-animal-rights-2561409

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Classical Theories and Modern PR

11:42 PM

Controversy strikes, and that’s when Public Relations (PR) professionals often times step in. In the realms of Crisis PR, approaching the situation with a method in mind can help to take the impulsive error out of the situation. And when it comes to theories, there are several.

The classic Kantian theory, Deontology, basically states that right is right and wrong is wrong, regardless of the consequences that come from them. This theory, to me, seems severely dated and isn’t really practical in the way of modern-day thinking. Today, actions are painted in either black or white. Things aren’t either good or bad. A lot of the times, actions and their intentions fall in the shaded gray area between the two.

In the case of Crisis PR situations, sometimes a lie can be told for the greater good. Sometimes the truth can be told to initiate trust between the public and the client. Actions are dependent on the cause of the situation, and whatever action taken, whether it be telling a lie or the truth, can be justified if it’s for the greater good of the public.

Last week a story broke about a baseball play lying about his age and name to the media, the team, and on the team roster. In the eyes of Kant, this action is wrong. A lie is a lie. And a lie is back. There is no other way around it.

However, it has not broken yet as to why he lied. There could have been a deeper issue that caused him to take the action. His intentions might have not been harmful or unethical at all. Maybe, to him, it was a harmless action, and he wasn’t trying to make a personal game from it. Maybe he was. But according to the Kantian rule, neither of that matters. He lied, and so he was unethical.

The theory that can apply in today’s modern world of PR is the Virtue Ethics theory, which is also known as the Aristotle’s “Golden Mean.” This theory basically states that a person with a good character and good habits will naturally do what’s right.

This theory applies in today’s society because it deals more with a person’s nature rather than their actions. Though classes are taught to shape PR professional hopefuls in the realms of Public Relations, it still takes natural character to determine a person’s actions. Good and bad; right and wrong vary with each individual. However, if a person as a good character and good habits, he will more than likely do what is right. The Virtue Ethics theory is a theory that will never become dated.

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Leo Nunez is...Juan Carlos Oviedo?

10:35 PM

Florida Marlins pitcher, Leo Nunez isn’t Leo Nunez after all. According to various articles, the closing pitcher has been lying about his name and age since being signed in 2000. Nunez has been placed on the “restricted list” and has left the country. This prompted the media’s curiosity. As the story unraveled, the media found out that he was placed on this list because of his name and age. Nunez’ real name is Juan Carlos Oviedo, and he’s actually 29, a year older than his age listed in the team’s media guide.

I could find no information as to why Oviedo chose to sign and play under false pretenses.

Also adding to the scandal is that the team has known about the lies for months, and until now, has declined to do anything about them. Currently, Oviedo is suspended and isn’t expected to pitch for the remainder of the season.

The issue caused Oviedo to return home to his home in the Dominican Republic, and it is said that two people, other than the Marlins team, has also known about his immigration status. Both the team and Oviedo’s agent, Andy Mota, have declined to comment on the scandal.

I found this article interesting and confusing. It confused me because I could not figure out why the major leaguer would want to make himself seem younger than he was or why he’d assume anything other than his “legal” name. As stated earlier, I could not find any information to answer these questions either.

It was interesting because while researching I’ve read that other players have been guilty of this as well, these players usually only lied about their ages. This, I believe, is one of the first to give a false name and age.

I can’t, personally, understand why any player would want to play under false information. With media scrutiny, it is sure to be found out, so why even try? And what was he trying to hide by lying? Articles have suggested that he might hold a deep, dark past. Not only is it still not known why he chose to lie, but it is also not know if the player will face legal trouble over the lies.

It seems to me that his lie is causing him more harm than good. Not only has he been placed on the restricted list, his contract will soon be up, and now it is unknown if the team will re-sign the pitcher. He also had to leave the country, whether it was by force or will, I’m not sure. But something tells me, he didn’t leave out of his own will.

I hope that through all of this, the pitcher as well as others will learn from the scandal. I hope that they realize that the lie will also come out, and just as it was with Oviedo, the lie will always turn into the next big scandal. It seems silly that the player would live his life telling white lies, especially considering the trouble it’s causing him now.

Sources:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/22/leo-nunez-marlins-juan-carlos-oviedo-name-dominican-mlb_n_977141.html

http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2011/09/marlins_closer_leo_nunez_suspe.php

http://www.sportsgrid.com/mlb/leo-nunez-rea-name-juan-carlos-oviedo/

http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/09/23/2419863/closer-leo-nunez-suspended-by.html

http://mlb.sbnation.com/2011/9/22/2443608/leo-nunez-identity-juan-carlos-oviedo-marlins-closer

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Madonna Shows Her Softer Side

10:14 AM

If Madonna was ever going to try and distinguish her reputation as not being a diva, now is not that time. At the Venice Film Festival, a fan presented her with a bouquet of Hydrangeas. While she accepted the flowers graciously, she was not pleased with the gift, and she was not afraid to make that known. Shortly after the fan walked away, she looked at someone off camera to her left and gave an ungrateful eye role. Then, she turned to a person on her right, and said words that had this video going viral.

“I absolutely loathe Hydrangeas. He obviously doesn’t know that.”

While it is true that every person has their own personal likes and dislikes, Madonna didn’t seem to even take the fan into consideration before expressing her dislike for the flowers. The video was a testament to Madonna’s true nature and a reputation that’s followed her around for years. The video went viral and the entire World Wide Web was talking about the ungrateful remark by the singer. However, the media didn’t seem to scold Madonna when they should have.

While most of the web seems to be making light of the insensitive remark, I found myself appalled by her reaction. Though the remark was uttered under her breath and was supposed to remain among her colleagues, it was still apparently audible enough for a video camera or smart phone to pick up the words.

The flowers were a gesture and an attempt for the fan to show the pop star how much her music affected him. He was a fan. Obviously, she didn’t care.

A representative for Madonna, when asked if she’d planned an apology, opted to give a playful response. He assured the media that the Queen of Pop had no intention of apologizing to the flower that she loathes so much. OK, so if not to the flower, then what about the fan?

No one seemed to consider the fact that it wasn’t about whether or not Madonna was going to apologize for not liking the flowers that she was given, but rather, it was about apologizing for hurting the feelings of the fan who gave them to her. It was tactless move that sealed my opinion in Madonna.

And the chaos won’t stop. Madonna eventually released a video, structured to resemble an old Charlie Chaplin-esq silent film, where she held a bouquet of purple Hydrangeas in her hands. She hugged the flowers tightly, and mimicked a sincere apology. In the end, however, she threw the flowers down, and the video faded to black with the words: I’m still left with the fact I still loathe hydrangeas. And I will always hate them!

This video also went viral, and fans of Madonna responded according. The supporters boasted and “tweeted” their love for Madonna despite her hatred for hydrangeas.

Maybe it’s because I missed the playfulness or because I’m taking in consideration the feelings of the fan—maybe it’s because I, myself, am not a fan—but I don’t think Madonna should have been left off of the hook so easily. Maybe the fan who gave her the flowers isn’t even taking the remark personally, but the fact still remains that it was a thought remark that shouldn’t have been said. I wish I could say that Madonna could learn from the experience, but with how easy the media and fans let her off, it probably only served to encourage more of her behavior.

Blog:

http://amullinsblog.blogspot.com/

Sources:

http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2011/09/madonna-loathes-hydrangeas-obviously/

http://popwatch.ew.com/2011/09/07/madonna-hydrangeas-rep/

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/trending-now/madonna-apologizes-hating-hydrangeas-jim-carrey-rock-star-154903078.html

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