82: PR Agency Culture & Crisis Communications (with Guest Host Doug Spong)

This week’s episode features a surprise guest host appearance from April’s personal friend, mentor and former colleague: Doug Spong! Tune in as April and Doug discuss the recent Tik-Tok-inspired social media crisis, the “Kia Boyz Challenge.” April and Doug address this news with their strategic recommendations and an analysis of how Hyundai and Kia handled this viral rash of car thefts. Today’s Anonymous PR Horror Story features a write-in from a listener whose boss asked them to do some “reconnaissance” on another colleague. Themes in this story include agency culture, micro-managing, performance reviews, and how to handle inappropriate requests at work. They also discuss the increasing scrutiny of Tik Tok as tensions rise between the U.S. and China and whether the world has hit a point of no return for remote work.

PR NEWS OF THE WEEK:
Read about Hyundai and Kia here.

ABOUT OUR GUEST HOST:
Doug Spong has an Accreditation in Public Relations and is a PRSA Fellow. He is also the founder and CEO of The Doug Spong Co. Prior to founding The Doug Spong Co., Doug was the founder, president and managing partner of Minneapolis- based Carmichael Lynch and Spong, which is owned by Interpublic Group (NYSE:
IPG).

Learn more about Doug’s work here.