Americans are losing confidence in newspapers and television news.

According to a recent Gallup Poll, there has been a somewhat steady decline for the past twenty years – one that has been particularly dramatic with respect to television news. Only 25 percent of Americans have a “great deal” or “quite a lot” of confidence in these traditional news sources, thus putting them on par with “banks” when it comes to public trust.

This is certainly unfortunate, but not at all surprising. In fact, in light of yesterday’s revelation that Fox News’ parent company gave an unprecedented $1 million check to the Republican Governors Association, the only thing that would be surprising is if that level of confidence does not dip even further.

Objectivity has long been a hallmark of American journalism. It is not always a given. It is not always evident. Yet, a premium on impartial, balanced reporting has long been a defining characteristic and a standard by which news coverage has been measured.

Yesterday’s blatantly partisan “gift” from Fox News, however, has lowered that standard and with it, the quality of American journalism.

Granted, Fox’s media bias is not new. The case against Fox News is deep and dates back many years. From its 1996 founding under the leadership of longtime Republican operative Roger Ailes to its bevy of well-known conservative reporters to its undeniably slanted reporting, Fox News has long been suspected of being "a wing of the Republican Party".

But now we have the proof… it’s now official … Fox can stop masquerading as a legitimate news source and can finally stop pretending that it’s “Fair and Balanced.”

Further, this latest transgression crosses a line. It sets a terrible precedent, and it sets us on a potentially dangerous course. In the swipe of its pen, Fox News has literally torn down the firewall that had existed between politics and journalism – a firewall that had long placed a necessary and credible check on government power … a firewall that had been critical to maintaining the trust of the American people.

For that reason, we are particularly excited, because we just released our 2nd annual Corporate Citizenship Report – a document filled with the good work being done by our firm, our employees, and our clients in the communities we serve.

The theme of this year’s report, “Promise – Practice”, speaks to our very real, very tangible commitment to integrating corporate responsibility in all that we do. It underscores our fundamental belief that the choice between sustainability strategy and business strategy is a false choice – that doing good and doing well can and should go hand-in-hand. And it embodies the pride and passion that leads us to “walk the talk” on corporate citizenship while carrying out the firm’s core business.

The report is divided into four main sections:

• Protecting Our Valuable Natural Resources
  
• Building Healthier Communities
  
• Fostering Social and Economic Opportunities
  
• Empowering Our Employees

Please take a moment to read through our report … and come back to us with any questions or suggestions. We value your input….

Our country is observing a significant milestone this week – one that has literally transformed the lives of millions of Americans over the past twenty years.

In fact, the 1990 Americans with Disability Act (ADA) has proven to be a landmark civil rights law. It has outlawed discrimination. It has opened doors of opportunity. And it has given millions of Americans with disabilities -- and their families -- a new lease on life.

On the most basic level, the ADA is all about access – access to public places … to employment … to transportation … and to communication. It is also about justice, equality, and the right of every American to reach her / his God-given potential.

Taken together, the ADA is about a better way of life.

The impact of the law has already been widespread and meaningful. Curb cuts for those with mobility challenges. Captioning for those with hearing loss. Workplace supports for those with physical impairments. But the impact is perhaps most evident in the change in attitudes – towards people with disabilities and by people with disabilities. Increasingly, Americans – across the board – are recognizing that the right to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” belongs to everyone, regardless of a person’s abilities or disabilities.

But like any civil rights effort, the ADA is a work in progress. It takes time to change old behaviors. It takes resources to tear down physical barriers. And It takes patience to tear down social ones.

It also takes leadership.

Fortunately, we now have a President who “gets it” when it comes to the topic of disability and is willing to use his office to address the issue thoroughly, effectively, and honestly. In fact, in a clear departure from many of his predecessors, Barack Obama has made disability rights a key component of his presidency. He spoke often and in unprecedented fashion about it on the campaign. He created senior-level disability positions in his administration, including the first Special Assistant to the President for Disability Policy. He even signed an international convention designed to promote the rights of people with disabilities – a convention that his immediate predecessor refused to support.

Needless to say, the ADA is an important law. With 54 million Americans with disabilities, it is a law that affects nearly every family, every community, every neighborhood – either directly or indirectly. It is a law that spans across every race, religion, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. It is a law that impacts the lives of every age group and every socio-economic class.

In other words, the ADA is one of the most sweeping civil rights laws ever adopted and put into force, thus making its anniversary a very special, very important cause for reflection, celebration and rededication.]]> http://www.mwwstraighttalk.com/archives/2010/07/the_americans_w.html http://www.mwwstraighttalk.com/archives/2010/07/the_americans_w.html Commentary Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:09:59 -0500 As published on NewJerseyNewsroom.com.

Without question, Tom Robinson would be better off today.

He would be able to vote. He would have access to all public accommodations. He could win a seat in Congress, be appointed to the Supreme Court, and rise to the top of a Fortune 500 company.

He could even be President.

In fact, Tom Robinson could live a life completely unimaginable and unrecognizable to the characters in Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird” – the groundbreaking book, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this week. No lynchings. No all white male juries. No presumption of guilt based on skin color. No state-sanctioned discrimination.

Yet, Tom would realize a sad, but undeniable truth -- that racism is still alive and all too well in contemporary America. He would know it in the economic injustice that has left a disproportionate number of African-Americans -- 25 percent -- living in poverty. He would see it in the criminal injustice that has left a disproportionate number of African-American men - 6 times the number of white, non-Hispanic men -- living in jails and prisons. And he would feel it in the hate-filled, racist rhetoric that still defines too much of our political discourse – rhetoric that questions the Civil Rights Act, rhetoric that questions the birthplace of our President.

Granted, America is a much different place than the fictional 1930s town portrayed in the exceptional 1960 book. Laws have changed. Attitudes have evolved. And we, as a people, have surely progressed.

But race remains a central subject in the American narrative.

Indeed, almost everywhere you turn, racism – in all its ugliness – can be seen, heard, and felt. The hit Broadway play, “Race”, showcases it. Mel Gibson's recent tirade exposes it. Many Tea Party members give voice to it. And absurd race-based allegations about the health reform law ("tan tax") and the U.S. Department of Justice ( the New Black Panther Party allegations ) feed it.

FORTY YEARS of awareness. Forty years of action. Forty years of progress. Suffice it to say, we have a lot to celebrate this Earth Day on Thursday.

But most importantly, we are celebrating the end of a long, divisive dispute about whether we need to do something to protect the environment.

Simply stated, we no longer debate “if” we need to do something; we only debate “what” to do. And, by itself, that’s a huge win.

In fact, despite all of the acrimony over climate change legislation and global warming science, one thing is clear: Our country understands the critical need to protect the environment. That is good news for our environment, good news for our economy and good news for our national security. Consumers demand it, and the private sector has embraced it. And it’s a prime mover in creating jobs and economic opportunity and is a central theme of our foreign policy.

Granted, we may not agree on the science. We may not agree on the causes or remedies. We may not even agree on the terminology. But over the last several years, we – generally speaking — have come to agree that the environment is important and must be protected.

In 1935, they spoke out against Social Security. In 1965, they spoke out against Medicare. And now in 2010, they are taking a politics-first stand against health care reform.

If nothing else, the Republican Party is consistent … shamefully so.

Thanks to President Obama's determined leadership, there will likely be a historic vote on health care reform within the next few days. But thanks to the “say no to everything” Republican party, the support for that vote has been demonized … leaving a significant percentage of the American public confused at best and unnecessarily afraid at worst. Once again, the Party of “no” seems poised to be on the wrong side of history and on the wrong side of decency, fairness, and creating a better America.

Granted, the health care reform proposal is not perfect, but it is an important step in the right direction. It would ban discrimination by insurance companies of those with pre-existing conditions. It would prevent insurance companies from dropping patients’ coverage if they become sick. And, it would include many other provisions to help individuals and small businesses gain greater access to insurance coverage.

Further, the President’s reform proposal would bring down health care costs for families as well as for our overall country. In fact, according to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), insurance premiums for American families could fall by 14 to 20 percent, and equally important, the budget deficit would be reduced dramatically reduced … no matter what the partisan pundits would have you believe. In fact, and this is a very important point, according to the CBO, this plan would reduce the federal deficit by $138 billion over the next decade and $1.3 trillion during the following decade. This – combined with greater health, greater productivity, and fewer emergency room visits – would lead to a significant boon to our economy.

Instill fear. Sow uncertainty. Create doubt. Demonize.

These tactics may be the unfortunate norm for campaigning, but they are bad – if not downright irresponsible -- for governing. Yet, since day one of the Obama Presidency, the Republican playbook has not just promoted the use of such tactics … it has glorified them as the central theme of its strategy.

The latest case in point is a recent Republican National Committee powerpoint presentation – a hate-filled document that was used at the February RNC Finance Leadership Meeting.

• One slide is entitled, “The Evil Empire” and includes caricatures of President Obama, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid.
• There is a picture entitled “socialism” that has a sinister caricature of President Obama that has been made to look like “The Joker”.
• There is an unseemly caricature of Nancy Pelosi entitled, “Cruella DeVille” – the fictional villain from “The Hundred and One Dalmatians”.
• And one slide sums up the approach to be used by the RNC by asking a cynical question … “What can you sell when you do not have the White House, the House or the Senate…? … and providing an equally cynical answer: “Save the country from trending toward socialism.”

In a word, this is outrageous.

No reference to issues. No reference to values. Just a blatant attempt to raise money through fear and scorn. After all, why stand for something, if you can just debase, vilify, and belittle the highest offices in the land?

Unfortunately, this has become par for the course for today’s Republican Party. First, there were Dick Cheney’s irresponsible claims about the President’s stewardship of U.S. national security. Then there were the unprecedented displays of disrespect during the President’s addresses to Congress – first by a Republican Congressman who yelled out during a 2009 healthcare speech and then by a conservative Supreme Court Justice who broke with decorum by visibly objecting to the President’s speech. And through it all there has been a blind partisanship practiced by Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

Taken together, these Republican tactics serve no purpose other than to further divide and harm the American people. They do nothing to make our country safer. They do nothing to improve our quality of life. They do nothing to make our country a better place.

This is particularly troubling in light of the many challenges that we – as a nation – are currently facing. People are scared. People are hurting. People are struggling. Yet, the national Republican response has been to breed fear, blame others, and effectively ignore the pain. For some, the 2008 campaign never ended. For some, the campaign is all that seems to matter.

Needless to say, this is no way to run a country.

Disagree with the President. Debate the President. But for all of our sakes, Republicans must start to work with the President.

And as for the media, they must start to report objectively about the Republican’s cynical game. No more blaming both parties for gridlock. No more playing both sides against each other. When the Republican leadership refers to healthcare reform as the President’s “waterloo” or uses demeaning caricatures of the President to raise money, the media must call it what it is – partisan politics at its absolute worse.

In the end, it is impossible to have “unilateral bipartisanship”. President Obama and the Democratic Leadership have continually reached out across the aisle, only to be met by a monolithic Republican opposition that refuses to find common ground and refuses to act in the common good – an opposition that would rather play politics, than do the people’s business.

This is wrong. This is disgraceful. And it urgently speaks to the need for a new Republican playbook.

The old rules no longer apply. In fact, they have not applied for quite some time.

As recent headlines made clear, crisis communications is now driven by digital media. Television. Radio. Newspapers. Rather than leading the public discussion of Tiger Woods or Toyota, these traditional – some would say increasingly archaic – mediums seem more like they are trying to catch up with the drama being played out minute-by-minute on Twitter, on Facebook, and on blogs.

To say that the news cycle moves at a frenetic pace may be an understatement. This is the new normal … and it has been for several years. In fact, shrewd companies implemented corporate social media policies years ago and have incorporated them into their daily marketing and communications activities.

This is particularly true for brands in crisis.

Gone is the focus on the evening news or the morning newspaper. Gone is the ability to craft a single, official-sounding press release. Gone is the ability to control the flow of bad information.

Jobs. Homeland security. Iraq. Afghanistan. Healthcare. Energy. Banking.

Taken together, the Obama Presidency has all the makings of a compelling story -- action, adventure, emotion, suspense, and intrigue -- but it seems to be lacking a key component: a narrative.

Despite a decidedly progressive – and I would suggest laudable – list of policy initiatives, the Obama Presidency seems to be lacking a unifying theme … an organizing principle … an overarching rationale ... a stake in the ground. To the average person, each issue is seemingly pursued for its own sake. Each issue often appears to be addressed in isolation of the others. And each issue is often spoken about in technocratic terms – generally devoid of any emotion, devoid of any interconnectedness, and devoid of any discussion of a “big picture”.

During the presidential campaign, candidate Obama tapped into something deep and visceral. Americans wanted change – new leadership, new direction, and new hope – and Obama was ready, willing and able to deliver. He spoke about change. He promised change. He embodied change. And people of all political stripes – Democrat, Republican and Independent – gravitated toward him.

The 7.0 earthquake has literally devastated that nation’s capital, Port au Prince

• At least 100,000 dead or missing people.
• Human bodies – perhaps several thousand – trapped under collapsed buildings.
• Widespread homelessness.
• Reports of no food ...no medicine…no drinkable water...and no electricity.

The situation is bleak – very bleak – for our neighbors, who have long suffered at the hands of corrupt government, endemic poverty, and ruthless weather conditions. But, as is now painfully clear, the poorest nation in the hemisphere just became a whole lot poorer. In fact, this may well be Haiti’s darkest hour.

Thus far, the international community’s response has been swift and widespread. Help is coming in many forms --- search and rescue teams ... relief organizations ... media appeals … social networking. Most notably, Facebook and Twitter have been playing an invaluable role in helping Haitians to get the message out to a world seemingly eager to help.

But this crisis is only in its beginning stages, and those of us committed to providing assistance must be prepared to stay in this for the long haul. We need to act fast – today – and we must act again tomorrow and the next day and into the foreseeable future.

For starters, here are some ways in which you can provide quick, meaningful help:

• Action Against Hunger, 877-777-1420
• American Red Cross, 800-733-2767
• AmeriCares, 800-486-4357
• CARE, 800-521-2273
• Direct Relief International, 805-964-4767
• Doctors Without Borders, 888-392-0392
• Friends of WFP, 866-929-1694
• Haiti Children, 877-424-8454
• Haitian Health Foundation, 860-886-4357
• Hope for Haiti, 239-434-7183
• International Medical Corps, 800-481-4462
• International Rescue Committee, 877-733-8433
• Meds and Food for Kids, 314-420-1634
• Operation USA, 800-678-7255
• Oxfam, 800-776-9326
• Partners in Health, 617-432-5298
• Save the Children, 800-728-3843
• UNICEF, 800-367-5437
• World Concern, 800-755-5022
• World Relief, 800-535-5433
• Yele Haiti, 212-352-0552

The U.S. Department of State has also set up two important “hotlines”:

DONATIONS: By texting "HAITI" to "90999", a donation of $10 will be given automatically to the Red Cross to help with relief efforts. The charge will show up on your cell phone bill.

MISSING PERSONS: To obtain information on family members in Haiti, please call (888) 407-4747.

Money. Time. Prayers. Again, now, more than ever.

Not naïve. Not wearing rose-colored glasses. Just optimistic that America will rise to the challenges of a new decade with the same energy, same intelligence, and same drive with which it met the very difficult challenges of the past one.

In fact, in this context, the past ten years have been instructive….

Y2K. Al Gore. George Bush. Enron. Al Qaida. Anthrax. Ipods. Airport Security. Saddam Hussein. Sars. Facebook. Tsunami. Terri Schiavo. Katrina. SUVs. Gas prices. Iraq. Texting. Stem cell research. Guantanamo. SmartPhones. Lehman Brothers. Foreclosures. Barack Obama. Unemployment. Swine Flu. Afghanistan. Marriage equality. Sarah Palin.

By some measures, this was a decade unlike any other -- extreme highs, extreme lows, extreme politics, extreme weather, and extreme measures. Over the past 10 years, we have been rocked by a series of fundamental changes to the way in which we live our lives and the way in which we relate to one another.

By many measures, however, we are ending this decade as we started it. Relatively safe. Relatively strong. And extraordinarily blessed.

In fact, as we turn the corner into the second decade of the 21st century, we should step back and realize that we have a great deal for which to be grateful.

This week, in a very compelling piece in the New York Times, UCLA Professor Jared Diamond, essentially made the same argument.

In his op-ed, “Will Big Business Save the Earth” New York Times Op-Ed, Professor Diamond uses the example of three major companies – Wal-Mart, Pepsi, and Chevron – to demonstrate that sustainability can and is being promoted by some of the world’s largest companies. And he is very clear in outlining the financial reasons for their decisions to enhance fuel efficiency in their truck fleets (Wal-Mart), to conserve water (Pepsi), and to rigorously promote environmental protection (Chevron).

Professor Diamond’s piece, which is a must read, underscores a point that I think is absolutely essential to moving our economy and our nation forward: The choice between making money and making a difference is, in the end, a false choice.

In other words, it isn’t just possible for companies to “do good” while they are “doing well”, in fact it may be essential to drive real and lasting change.

HIGH unemployment. High taxes. And high budget deficits. Without question, Governor-elect Chris Christie's hands are full, and he is inheriting one of the most daunting challenges in the country.

Yet, behind every challenge — no matter how seemingly intractable — lies an opportunity, and this challenge is no exception. In fact, Christie, who was elected on a promise of economic reform, has several opportunities, ranging from an overhaul of the state tax system to a reform of state government.

There is one opportunity, however, that should be seized immediately: the opportunity to make our state the undisputed leader in the green technology revolution.

Simply stated, New Jersey should become the "sustainability state" — home to green investments, jobs, technology and services. We should be the incubator of green ideas about everything from energy efficiency in buildings — which account for about 40 percent of all energy usage in the United States — to energy efficiency in transportation. And we should have a tax structure that incentivizes sustainable businesses to move to New Jersey and create jobs in New Jersey.

My concern, however, is that there will be great pressure to put energy and other non-budget issues on the back burner — that there will be a single-minded focus on short-term budget challenges at the expense of longer term critical thinking and actions.

By now we’ve all heard that President Obama was awarded the Nobel Prize for Diplomacy. In today’s NYT the Nobel prize committee is quoted as saying that the President “has created a new international climate.”

For anyone who doubts the ability of a leader to change reputation – for the better or for the worse -- look no further than a study of the American Presidency and the ultimate brand, the United States of America. In just nine short months, President Obama has materially improved the reputation and stature of America around world. And while I won’t say we’ve completely unraveled the damage that caused the precipitous decline of our nation’s reputation in recent years, we are certainly on the right track. (Funny, that decline had a lot to do with the reputation of our leader, too.)

This is the fundamental principal of MWW Group’s philosophy about reputation management and the role of the CEO and leadership team. Indeed, the White House demonstrated many of the fundamental tenets of the MWW Group CEO EquityBuilder approach…they allow President Obama to be himself – to speak in a voice that is true, to focus on the subject about which he is truly passionate, and to engage in meaningful debate with those of opposing viewpoints. They don’t (and couldn’t even if they wanted to) avoid situations where there might be a difficult question, a tough issue or an opposing viewpoint. They embrace those as opportunities to advance their message – and demonstrate leadership.

Critics of President Obama’s selection by the Nobel Committee will be taking to the airwaves to debate whether he deserves a Nobel Prize, and asking what he had done by the time the nominations occurred to deserve such an honor. To me, this is indicative of the importance of reputation….and how the reputation of a leader, particularly during a transition, can immediately and substantively change the broader reputation of the Company, or in this case, the nation.

It boils down to a simple, obvious truth -- you can’t be a leader without an executive team that demonstrates leadership. It might not win you the Nobel Prize….but it just might do great things for your corporate reputation.

As an organization we believe that without a well-trained workforce, the promise of clean energy is unattainable. Therefore in 2009 and beyond, MWW Group will extend its partnership with Carbonfund.org and support specific, verifiable renewable energy projects that create the infrastructure and skills necessary to drive a global, clean energy economy and further reduce carbon emissions. This year MWW Group will support the Iowa Lakes Wind Energy and Turbine Program, an initiative of Iowa Lakes Community College responding to the growing demand for skilled technicians who can install, maintain, and service modern wind turbines. Information on the program can be found here: http://www.ilcc.cc.ia.us/programs_study/industrial/wind_energy_turbine/index.htm.

MWW Group remains firmly committed to doing our part to protect and preserve the environment. We challenge our peers in the industry, as well as our clients and partners, to join with us in this important work, or to adopt your own programs to help bring about a clean energy economy.