Leah Dow

"... but what is Delta really supposed to do here?" Simple. Have a solid, well-tested Crisis Communications Plan bolstered by its disaster recovery processes. What a case study on the importance of #crisiscomms !!!

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You might get a kick out of this: I was quoted in Newsweek about my former side hustle as an airline pilot. Doing my best to serve the traveling public! https://lnkd.in/gvgDnM-A Why Larger Planes Can Handle More Turbulence, According to Aviation Experts Jul 03, 2024 By Soo Kim  Life & Trends Reporter Many might feel scared to fly following recent incidents of severe turbulence, including on an Air Europa flight Monday that injured 30 people, but experts have assured Newsweek larger planes can handle the extreme conditions. The Spanish airline incident unfolded on a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft from Madrid to Montevideo, Uruguay. The incident came not long after other reports of severe turbulence, such as on a Singapore Airlines flight that killed a passenger in May and a Qatar Airways flight that left 12 people injured in the same month. As terrifying as the moments of turbulence are, larger aircraft—such as the ones involved in the recent incidents—are able to withstand more turbulence. Former airline pilot Lenny Lee told Newsweek: "A larger, heavier airplane that's flying in a steady state will be harder for turbulence to shake, rattle and roll than a smaller, lighter airplane." It's no surprise that many may get nervous about air travel, as clear-air turbulence (CAT) was found to have increased over the past 40 years, according to a 2023 study in Geophysical Research Letters. The study found that the increases were largest over the U.S. & North Atlantic, both of which are busy flight regions. According to the study, "severe-or-greater CAT increased the most, becoming 55% more frequent in 2020 than 1979" and CAT is "projected to intensify in response to future climate change." Lee explained: "It mostly has to do with mass. Think of it this way—a leaf is going to get blown around a lot more by the wind than a rock." The former airline pilot noted that widebody, jumbo & superjumbo jets—such as the Airbus A380, the world's largest passenger aircraft—have "considerably more mass" than smaller jets like the Boeing 737, "which in turn has more mass than smaller regional turboprop like the Dash 8 Q400."Regional turboprop planes also fly at lower altitudes, typically 25,000 feet or below, Lee said, "where they are more likely to encounter turbulence. Their big brother & big sister jets can fly up to 40,000' and sometimes even higher giving them more room to find smoother air." While heavier, larger planes handle "light turbulence" better than smaller planes, "it does not mean they encounter less turbulence," Dan Bubb, a professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas who is an aviation historian & former airline pilot, told Newsweek. The professor said that "like smaller planes, they also encounter severe turbulence," noting different incidents throughout history where larger planes that have been impacted by heavy turbulence, including some resulting in fatalities.

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Journalists and comms pros looking for work: Here’s a list of resources, tips and people to follow to help in your search. It’s a tough environment right now but there are still good opportunities out there: 🔷 Follow Daniel Mendez, MBA, Chris Taylor and Kaitlyn Arford who generously and frequently post jobs in comms and journalism. 🔷If you’re applying for roles online through staffing firms or agency recruiters, don’t’ just apply. Find recruiters in your area who work for these firms and connect with them on LinkedIn with a personal note. Ask them about the types of roles they place, market trends, and if you might be a fit for their clients. They get thousands of online applications, but not as many people reaching out personally. 🔷Be open to contract roles, even if your goal is to land full time. Many times these short-term gigs get extended or turn into full-time roles once budget is available (it’s happened to me and many others I know). You’ll meet new people, build your skills and have some current points to add to your resume. 🔷Job searches are not easy and it’s tough not to take rejection, delayed decisions and ghosting personally. Remember that this situation is temporary. You will land somewhere great. What did I miss? What other resources can job seekers be looking at right now? And what other advice do you have for those looking for their next role? #jobsearch #hiring #communications #journalism #recruiting

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Big problems require big solutions and collaboration! That's why United Airlines joined 40+ companies and organizations to form the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Coalition. Working together with policymakers, we can help drive the framework to enable our transition to a low carbon future. Read the Axios coverage here: https://lnkd.in/eVGESeuQ

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As someone who has media-trained CEOs of airlines, tech companies, banks, insurance firms and everything in between, I'm still surprised when leaders balk at the need for training ahead of an interview with a journalist. Reporters aren't "out to get you" but there is a world of difference between conveying a few key messages and really telling the story you want to tell, whether it's about you, your company or some journey or transformation that you're currently undertaking. Media training is a core part of the strategic communications toolkit that any CEO ought to have in their possession. Along with communications planning and strategy, executives need to know how to successfully execute an interview, impact and influence the conversation and ensure the best possible outcome for their stakeholders. To use a clumsy analogy, going to a media interview without training is like getting behind the wheel without a driver's licence - dangerous and unpredictable. Whether it's in-house or outsourced, leaders shouldn't sleep on the opportunity to sharpen their interview skills. Even as someone who's spent a decade of his career as a daily business journalist and another as a communications executive, I still routinely prep and train ahead of most media appearances. Key question: would you rather be a little uncomfortable while rehearsing and training, or would you rather fly by the seat of your pants in a media interview, with your stock price, reputation and personal brand on the line?

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If your holiday weekend travels include a flight, will you watch the airline safety video? A report on United Airlines video reboot got me thinking about my own behavior and the challenges #communicators face competing for audience attention (even a #captiveaudience with seatbelts fastened and tray tables in their upright position). What lessons can we learn about breaking through the noise, balancing information delivery and entertainment, and content repetition?

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Are you REAL ID ready? I have my #REALID. Check out this great interview with #TSA’s Simone Davis to find out more about

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What an honor to be included in Edward Segal, CAE's Forbes article on crisis communications today. His piece contains smart lessons from Elon Musk and the recent collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, including this gold nugget (also the opening line): "Communicating effectively about a crisis is as important as successfully managing the crisis." It's well worth the read! #crisiscommunications #strategiccommunications #corporatecommunications Fionix Consulting LLC #ElonMusk

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Most of you might be surprised to hear that my communications career did not begin in a cubicle, office, or boardroom 💼 Many years ago I was a 911 Dispatcher 🚨 🚔 To some, this might seem an odd beginning for a career in Strategic Communications and Media Relations. But, being a 911 Dispatcher taught me the invaluable skill of clear, precise communication under pressure—a skill that has been the cornerstone of my career in communications ever since. From coordinating emergency services instructions for my law enforcement officers, to providing a calm voice amidst chaos to parents with a child in distress, each call brought its unique challenges. It’s a difficult job, demanding unwavering attention and empathy, often without the luxury of seeing the outcomes of the situations you navigate. Today, nearly 20 years later, I still carry with me every lesson from my 911 days—especially the importance of staying calm under pressure and the profound impact of timely and effective communication. To those still in the dispatch chairs, managing crises one call at a time, your work is nothing short of heroic. Here's to the unsung heroes in the dispatch centers around the world. Your dedication inspires, your resilience instructs, and your commitment saves lives. 💗 You set the bar high for all of us in the field of communications. 🌟 #Communications #PublicRelations #CrisisManagement #911Dispatcher #Leadership #ThankYouDispatchers #MediaRelations #CareersinCommunications

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When it comes to crisis - 1) weigh the risks 2) "steal the thunder" as stated in this article 3) be transparent 4) express empathy 5) explain how you are fixing the problem

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HOT TAKE on positioning, for independent communications consultants. I'm currently reviewing heaps and heaps of global communications consultant resumes, websites and LinkedIn profiles for a special project, and it's been super interesting to see the patterns on a macro level. I'm noticing a LOT of generalized descriptions of expertise and services. Don't get me wrong - there's 100% a benefit to describing yourself as a "Strategic Communications Expert" or a "Senior Corporate Communications Strategist" or whatnot. Keywords matter. Searchability matters. I'm guilty of doing this myself. But when you have the opportunity to talk freely about your signature services, and what makes you different - skip the generic terminology. It certainly doesn't do much to "sell" you. Instead, specialize, specialize, specialize. Example: Don't say that you offer "internal communication strategy." Everyone does that. Get specific. Think about which part of IC you do really, really well. Think about the outcomes you provide. Maybe you "Help hard-to-reach employees understand and carry out their role in the company's global strategy." Or perhaps you "Build bespoke qualitative / quantitative employee communications research programs that deliver actionable insights." Just my two cents. Specificity will set you apart.

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If you work in PR, you need to watch the Spirit Airlines (former) CEO Ben Baldanza interview on CBS This Morning. It's 11 years old, but still a master class in navigating a tough interview. A few good lessons can be learned from it: 1.) Stop trying to be liked by everyone. I loved this line from Baldanza: "We're #1 in the things that matter most to our employees, our customers and our shareholders." That is a CEO who is self aware of the brand and its key stakeholders. 2.) Answer the tough questions (don't ignore them) and THEN bridge to your key message. For Spirit Airlines - that key message was crystal clear: They offer the lowest price! 3.) Bring the positive energy. In what could have been a contentious interview, Baldanza was overflowing with positive vibes and his laugh was contagious. These are the things we prepare clients for every day. If you're interested in learning more about media training, drop me a line! Any other takeaways from the interview that I missed? #MediaTraining #PublicRelations #TechPR #PRAgency #Communications

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REMOTE

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Congestion pricing was supposed to start today in New York City. It didn't after Gov. Kathy Hochul earlier this month announced an indefinite pause. My latest article in The Wall Street Journal traces the rise and pause of congestion pricing — a tale that involves 17 years and around $700 million. The abrupt reversal, which some attribute to Hochul’s reluctance to impose a new fee in an election year, leaves metro New York grappling with a historic missed opportunity and fiscal mess. There is no relief in sight for the city’s traffic congestion, which is the worst in the world, according to data published last week. The epic collapse in New York shows how a fear of dramatic change can give the status quo stubborn power over those trying to solve some of America’s most intractable challenges. That leaves policymakers nibbling at the edges of deeply rooted problems, even after investing huge sums of money and political capital. Blown up in a New York minute were plans for around $15 billion of planned improvements to the city’s ailing mass-transit system, the largest transportation network in North America. The reversal cast aside around $700 million in meticulous prep work, including a $555-million contract to install tolling cameras—which are already up and ready to go—and $33 million for a customer-service center with 100 employees who have already been brought on, officials said. Planners invested thousands of hours, including going to London and Stockholm to research their congestion-pricing programs, according to people familiar with the travel. What was supposed to be a transformative moment when New York led the way and boldly tackled traffic congestion, air pollution and transit funding, has instead turned into a surprising loss for a broad coalition that includes major employers, real-estate developers and subway riders. Surprised by the reversal were Hochul’s own lieutenants, including Janno Lieber, a fierce champion of congestion pricing and the chief executive of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The MTA—which carries around 5.5 million passengers each day in the New York metro area—now faces a $16.5 billion-financial hole from the loss of money from congestion pricing and federal matching funds. Just days after Hochul’s announcement, a beleaguered Lieber joined a conference call with advocates in which he said he was equally shocked and remained committed to the program, three people familiar with the exchange said. “This is devastating,” he said, according to a person on the call. Here's the latest from me and Joseph De Avila —>

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