REPUTATION MANAGEMENT MADE SIMPLE
Part 3
Continued from:
Reputation Management Part 1 – You and Your Reputation
and
Reputation Management Part 2 – Reputation Management and Trust Deficit (An Apocryphal Story of Wife Swapping and Reputation Damage)
REPUTATION
MANAGEMENT MADE SIMPLE
Part 3
SEX SCANDALS REPUTATION RISK and the MEDIA SHY NAVY
SILENCE IS NOT GOLDEN IN PUBLIC RELATIONS
Musings
By
VIKRAM KARVE
Last night, I watched with
interest, on a leading TV news channel, a debate on the alleged navy sex
scandals which are being reported and discussed in the media.
I was amazed to hear the
astounding allegations of sexual misconduct in the navy.
The allegations seemed
quite specific in nature which gave them a ring of credibility.
The two retired officers
who were taking part in the debate appeared to be totally clueless about the
case under discussion.
They were giving vague
unconvincing answers to the allegations which were specific and lucid in
nature.
Owing to their lack of
precise information pertaining to the Navy Sex Scandals under discussion, the
two retired officers looked quite perplexed and unprepared.
They were unable to give
satisfactory replies to the allegations and kept on uttering platitudes and
vague generalities.
To make matters worse,
they could not give convincing answers to the questions raised by the anchor at
the end of the debate.
Due to this muddled state
of affairs, after viewing this debate, it would be no surprise if a viewer gets
the impression that something is rotten in the navy and that the navy is
attempting a cover up by trying to brush things under the carpet.
The navy has a large
number of “stakeholders”.
There are “internal”
stakeholders like those serving in the navy and their families and “external”
stakeholders like those connected with and interested in the navy.
In fact, the navy belongs
to the people and each and every citizen of the country is a “stakeholder” in
the navy.
The common citizens see
the defence services as the last bastion of ethics, morality, fair play,
integrity and discipline.
The public is proud of
their defence forces.
If the reputation of the
defence services is tarnished, the public feels disappointed and demoralized.
I feel very sad that the
good image of the navy is being tarnished due to such controversies, and
undeservedly so, mainly because of inadequate public relations effort.
“Media Shyness” is not
helping the navy’s image.
It is baffling as to why
Navy Public Relation Officers (PRO) are reluctant to appear before the media to
tell the navy’s side of the story, discuss the navy’s point of view and present
the true facts of these alleged navy sex scandals before the public.
Due to the woeful lack of
navy public relations effort, people are hearing only one side of the story.
In the absence of any
other credible version, people have no choice but to start believing what is
presented to them.
Total silence on the part
of the navy is creating a widening information gap.
Such information gaps
create a scope for confusion, speculation and rumours which can damage the
reputation of the navy.
It is high time that Navy
PR stops running away from the media and takes positive steps to restore the
good reputation of the navy in the eyes of all stakeholders.
As far as the current
alleged navy sex scandals are concerned, in order to repair the damage done to
the good image of the navy by such controversies, there is an urgent need for
Navy PROs to interact with the media, appear on TV and, if necessary, take part
in debates and discussions and effectively communicate the authentic facts in a
credible manner.
Responsive Public
Relations are imperative to enhance the image, morale and prestige of the Navy.
In conclusion, here is
quote, maybe apocryphal, made by the late General K Sundarji, a distinguished
former Army Chief, at a media seminar at Delhi
“When commanders fail to
respond to the media, the field is left open to the critics of the armed
forces, then speculation and misleading stories abound”
To be continued in Part 4 …
VIKRAM KARVE
Copyright © Vikram Karve 2013
Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
Copyright © Vikram Karve 2013
Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
NB:
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Copyright © Vikram Karve 2013. All Rights Reserved
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A creative person with a zest for life, Vikram Karve is a retired Naval Officer turned full time writer and blogger. Educated at IIT Delhi, IIT (BHU) Varanasi, The Lawrence School Lovedale and Bishops School Pune, Vikram has published two books: COCKTAIL a collection of fiction short stories about relationships (2011) and APPETITE FOR A STROLL a book of Foodie Adventures (2008) and is currently working on his novel and a book of vignettes and an anthology of short fiction. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories and creative non-fiction articles on a variety of topics including food, travel, philosophy, academics, technology, management, health, pet parenting, teaching stories and self help in magazines and published a large number of professional and academic research papers in journals and edited in-house journals and magazines for many years, before the advent of blogging. Vikram has taught at a University as a Professor for 15 years and now teaches as a visiting faculty and devotes most of his time to creative writing and blogging. Vikram Karve lives in Pune India with his family and muse - his pet dog Sherry with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.
Vikram Karve Academic and Creative Writing Journal: http://karvediat.blogspot.com
Professional Profile Vikram Karve: http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve
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Vikram Karve Creative Writing Blog: http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/posts.htm
Email: vikramwamankarve@gmail.com
If your are a Foodie you will like my book of Food Adventures APPETITE FOR A STROLL. Do order a copy from FLIPKART:
http://www.flipkart.com/appetite-stroll-vikram-karve/8190690094-gw23f9
About Vikram Karve
A creative person with a zest for life, Vikram Karve is a retired Naval Officer turned full time writer and blogger. Educated at IIT Delhi, IIT (BHU) Varanasi, The Lawrence School Lovedale and Bishops School Pune, Vikram has published two books: COCKTAIL a collection of fiction short stories about relationships (2011) and APPETITE FOR A STROLL a book of Foodie Adventures (2008) and is currently working on his novel and a book of vignettes and an anthology of short fiction. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories and creative non-fiction articles on a variety of topics including food, travel, philosophy, academics, technology, management, health, pet parenting, teaching stories and self help in magazines and published a large number of professional and academic research papers in journals and edited in-house journals and magazines for many years, before the advent of blogging. Vikram has taught at a University as a Professor for 15 years and now teaches as a visiting faculty and devotes most of his time to creative writing and blogging. Vikram Karve lives in Pune India with his family and muse - his pet dog Sherry with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.
Vikram Karve Academic and Creative Writing Journal: http://karvediat.blogspot.com
Professional Profile Vikram Karve: http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve
Vikram Karve Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/vikramkarve
Vikram Karve Creative Writing Blog: http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/posts.htm
Email: vikramwamankarve@gmail.com
Twitter: @vikramkarve
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
2 comments:
If the navy does not share the good things which are happening, only negative news which develop a currency and momentum of their own will circulate and damage our image.
I saw this very illuminating advice in my grand daughter's school magazine. "Brag! Do not blow your horn, but toot!"
Wise words. No point in hiding our light under a bushel. One person who fully knows the value of PR is our ex president Abdul Kalam. A good man, a competent man but also a wise man who knows the value of public relations!
@ Mohan Ram:
You are absolutely right sir,
I think the advice you quoted is apt for the navy:
"Brag! Do not blow your horn, but toot!"
I hope navy realizes the damage being caused to its image by keeping quiet on allegations.
Thanks for your comments
Regards
Vikram
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