Corporate involvement in social issues such as racial justice, voting access and climate change is on the rise, but so is demand for corporate leadership on these issues. More than 60% of Americans would like to see major companies advocate to protect the environment; provide food security; end discrimination based on gender, race, sexual orientation … Continue reading In Social Issue Engagement, Major Companies Face Great Expectations — And Greater Controversy
What does it take for a company — or an industry — to get back in the good graces of the American public once it has a poor reputation? It takes more than 380 million doses of a life-saving vaccine distributed free of charge. We know this because the pharmaceutical industry remains the least-trusted industry … Continue reading Despite Providing Millions of Free Vaccines, Pharmaceutical Firms Still Considered Untrustworthy
With just a few weeks to go before Election Day, most Americans have doubts about the fairness of the voting process, reported a new Public Affairs Council poll. In fact, only 29% of Americans have faith that the 2020 elections will be conducted in an honest and open way. Concern about election integrity and/or voting … Continue reading New Poll Reveals Public Concerns about Election Integrity and Government Response to COVID-19
Social distancing and self-isolation aren’t just keeping families apart; they are also separating politicians from constituents and others trying to shape public policy. Over 70% of 245 government affairs executives surveyed in a new Public Affairs Council poll believe that, even after the COVID-19 pandemic is over, it will remain much more difficult to meet … Continue reading Government Affairs Executives Expect Pandemic to Cause Long-Term Decline in Face-to-Face Lobbying
If Washington, D.C., is “The Swamp,” what exactly is swampy about it and who is to blame? According to a new poll from the Public Affairs Council, politicians themselves account for the four most serious problems with politics in the nation’s capital. Of 10 distinct behaviors tested, the number-one concern is politicians more worried about … Continue reading New Poll Explores the Washington “Swamp,” Trump’s Tweets and Attitudes about Business
If a U.S. president tweets in a forest and no one is around to hear him, does he make a sound? Perhaps not. The 2018 Public Affairs Pulse survey shows that nearly 60% of Americans rarely or never read President Trump’s tweets, either via Twitter or the news media, and only 15% read his tweets … Continue reading Few People Regularly Read President Trump’s Tweets — And Many of Them Are Democrats
Many consumers get justifiably upset when a company makes a costly mistake, faces a scandal or is embroiled in a controversy. But why do some controversies grow into crises? And why do some crises “stick” while others fade away in a few days or weeks? There are many variables in play but, for starters, we … Continue reading Fight or Flight: How Americans React to Corporate Crises and Controversies
Every company is concerned about its reputation — for lots of good reasons. But we don’t talk much about the relationship between a company’s reputation and its success in public affairs. If the public doesn’t trust you, are you more likely to be regulated? If Congress likes you, will it pass favorable laws? If your … Continue reading How Public Opinion Affects Public Affairs
Strong majorities of Americans are concerned about all forms of discrimination — whether it’s based on race, gender identity, sexual orientation, gender or other factors. But attitudes about discrimination vary sharply based on political party, age, gender and other factors. The results come from the 2016 Public Affairs Pulse survey, a telephone poll of 1,000 Americans conducted … Continue reading 2016 Public Affairs Survey Finds Most Americans Take Discrimination Seriously
Major corporations are facing growing pressure to weigh in on social issues — and much of this pressure is coming from employees themselves, says a new Public Affairs Council study, Taking a Stand: How Corporations Speak Out on Social Issues. The poll of 92 businesses in a wide variety of industries finds that – over the … Continue reading Who’s Behind Corporate Advocacy on Social Issues? Employees.
A recent decision by an ethics commission in New York is a bad idea built on a flawed concept. And it may foretell new regulatory challenges facing communications and government affairs professionals. In late January, the New York State Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) voted to require public relations consultants to register as lobbyists … Continue reading Don’t Read This or I May Have to Disclose It