Burson-Marsteller Establishes Global Network of Y2K Communications Command Centers

The Millennium Bug is no longer just a problem of technology, but one of perception.

The stage is already set for irrational consumer behavior. A growing plurality of Americans now say they expect to store food, water and cash regardless of what happens on January 1st. And you can expect the media to feed the excitement for the rest of the year. How can they resist? Y2Ks slow-motion train wreck makes for a sensational story.

More at:

http://www.bm.com/files/insights/y2k_frame.html

-- it'sconfusing (we@are.confused), June 30, 1999

Answers

So what the heck is wrong with storing extra water, food, and cash in case any kind of break in the supply chain occurs -- regardless of what happens in Jan or any other time? This article takes the cake in terms of being anti-preparation.

"It is better to have and not need than to need and not have."

-- King of Spain (madrid@aol.com), June 30, 1999.

Anti-preparation, what a concept. Is there anything that makes you want to prepare MORE than being told that you shouldn't prepare?

"Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain..." What's the normal human reaction to that statement?

-- this is (all@pretty.strange), June 30, 1999.

Isn't this interesting? And you've been told consistenly that the only people trying to take advantage of y2k for their own profit were the so-called "doomers". It would appear that those wanting to "mold public opinion" so they won't rock the boat of the complacent "polly's" aren't adverse to putting a "happy faced spin" on y2k so they can put a few bucks in their own pockets.

-- Nadine Zint (nadine@hillsboro.net), June 30, 1999.

I believe it was Cory Hamasaki who said: "Whenever I hear someone in charge say, 'Don't panic,' I immediately look for someone to push over and beat to the exits."

-- rick blaine (y2kazoo@hotmail.com), June 30, 1999.

I saw a poll the other day where the % planning to put away some extra food & stuff was up to 34%. Thank God.

-- lisa (lisa@work.now), June 30, 1999.

And, here's a "news flash."

This same type of "perception management" is routinely used to control the flow of information to employees of large companies. That fact may have been what inspired Cory's quote. He has seen it first hand.

Some days I get angry about this.

-- it'sconfusing (we@are.confused), June 30, 1999.

These people have no issues of ethics??? Like, just suppose they are wrong and people suffer, maybe even DIE. God bless the spinmasters. Will THEY prepare?

-- Mara Wayne (MaraWayne@aol.com), June 30, 1999.

"The stage is already set for irrational consumer behavior. A growing plurality of Americans now say they expect to store food, water and cash regardless of what happens on January 1st."

This guy's got a wicked time-line problem.

The only thing that would be irrational would be to plan to store food, water, and cash AFTER January 1st regardless of what happens ON January 1st.

Since in reality, storing up must take place BEFORE Jan 1 -- a time frame when no one knows for sure what will happen ON Jan 1 -- his point is moot (See Dave Barry yesterday re: "moot").

This guy talks as if people are storing up despite knowing for sure that no problems will occur on and after Jan. 1.

What a maroon.

Click thru to the site. He's selling a PR service to help companies BS their customers and stockholders about y2k compliancy. Actually being compliant doesn't seem to be a requirement to take advantage of his services.

-- rick blaine (y2kazoo@hotmail.com), June 30, 1999.

And, here's more on the "global reach" of this company. Get ready, Freddy.

Burson-Marsteller Establishes Global Network of Y2K-Dedicated Communications Command Centers

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 29, 1999--

"The Millennium Bug is no longer just a problem of technology, but one of perception," says Burson-Marsteller CEO.

Burson-Marsteller, the leading global perception management/communications consulting firm, has established a special global communications network of 24 Y2K Communications Command Centers that will be staffed by Y2K-dedicated crisis managers throughout the Millennium Weekend. This is in addition to Burson-Marsteller's significant activities devoted to supporting and counseling clients on Y2K-related issues in the months preceding and immediately following January 1, 2000.

"We believe that Y2K has the potential to be a major disruption for companies with public profiles even if not a single computer malfunctions on New Year's Day, 2000," said Christopher P.A. Komisarjevsky, Chief Executive Officer of Burson-Marsteller Worldwide. "That's because the Millennium Bug is no longer just a problem of technology, but one of perception.

"The stage is already set for irrational consumer behavior. A growing number of Americans now say they expect to store food, water and cash regardless of what happens on January 1," said Komisarjevsky. "And you can expect the media to feed the excitement for the rest of the year. How can they resist? Y2K's slow-motion train wreck makes for a sensational story."

The consequence, according to Komisarjevsky, is that irrational behavior has the potential to disrupt business in the fourth quarter of 1999 and negatively impact the bottom lines of thousands of companies.

"The solution," said Komisarjevsky, "lies in guiding public perceptions and creating informed opinion now rather than letting uninformed opinion take the upper hand in the coming months. That's where we come in."

Burson-Marsteller is offering support and counsel in three phases leading up to and following Y2K weekend:

o Preparation Phase - From now through December 31

Burson-Marsteller will help clients develop a Y2K-compliant communications strategy and inform key internal and external stakeholders of their plans for handling Y2K-related issues.

o Communication Phase - Between November 1 and December 31, as media interest in Y2K heightens, Burson-Marsteller will counsel clients on Y2K-specific media relations and crisis communications.

o Response Phase - For the Millennium Weekend itself,

Burson-Marsteller has established 24 Communications Command Centers around the world to help clients respond to Y2K issues as they emerge. These centers are staffed by Y2K-dedicated

Burson-Marsteller professionals who can provide counsel and rapid response in any time zone between Friday, December 31 and Monday, January 3.

Like many companies, Burson-Marsteller is asking select groups of employees to cancel their Millennium plans to help offset the expected increase in client demand as Y2K approaches. Of Burson-Marsteller's Y2K weekend crisis managers, Komisarjevsky says, "think of them as `designated drivers' who can see you through to 2000."

Burson-Marsteller is the leading global perception management/communications consulting firm. A part of the Young & Rubicam Inc. (NYSE: YNR) network since 1979, the firm links, philosophically and electronically, the knowledge and insight of more than 2,000 professionals in 35 countries, operating in multiple functional and industry practice specialties.

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Burson-Marsteller's Y2K Communications Command Centers

---------------------------------------------------------------------- Tokyo, Seoul, Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong, Singapore, Frankfurt, Paris, Brussels, Copenhagen, London, The Hague, Madrid, Milan, Oslo, Stockholm, Sao Paulo, New York, Miami, Washington, DC, Mexico City, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco

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Burson-Marsteller Y2K Communications Command Center Initiative

What Is It?

Burson-Marsteller has established the special Y2K global communications unit in order to support and counsel clients on Y2K-related issues in the months preceding and immediately following January 1, 2000. The centerpiece of the new unit is a global network of 24 Y2K Communications Command Centers that will be staffed by Y2K-dedicated crisis managers throughout the Millennium Weekend. This is in addition to Burson-Marsteller's significant ongoing Y2K counseling activities with clients including several of the world's largest financial institutions.

How Do I Access It?

You can reach Burson-Marsteller on the internet at www.bm.com or contact the following regional leaders:

North America Gerry Elias (New York) 1-877-BM-NY-Y2K New York Washington, DC Miami Chicago Los Angeles San Francisco

Asia Alan VanderMolen (Singapore) 65-331-5287 Tokyo Seoul Shanghai Beijing Hong Kong Singapore

Europe Gerry Griffin (London) 44-171-300-6483 Frankfurt Paris Brussels Copenhagen London The Hague Madrid Milan Oslo Stockholm

Latin America Nelson Fernandez (Miami) 305-347-4303 Mexico City Sao Paulo

-- it'sconfusing (we@are.confused), June 30, 1999.

WWW.BM.COM???

The only URL that would be more appropriate would be WWW.BS.COM!!

-- Hardliner (searcher@internet.com), June 30, 1999.

www.bs.com?

LOL! LOL!

(And I bet some of the people who work there actually call it that! Not publicly though. The fact that many of public relations types "lie for a living" must be kept quiet at all costs!)

-- butit'sstillconfusing (we@are.confused), June 30, 1999.

The solution lies in guiding public perceptions and creating informed opinion now rather than letting uninformed opinion take the upper hand in the coming months.

Yeah, right!

This, of course, is spin, and has nothing to do with truth. The concept of Perception Management is nothing more than the essence of a good propaganda campaign. Got to love the language, though......'informed, uninformed.' If you believe y2k may be trouble, you're 'uniformed.'

Interesting. One of the major poly/troll lines is that y2k 'doomsters' are in it for the money -- bookwriters, consultants.

Now, we have a company dedicated to guiding clients into spinning whatever line is thought to be pleasing. Hmmmmm.

Is this the same outfit that Koskinen hired?

-- uninformed (spin@spinner.corp), June 30, 1999.

Maybe, maybe not. You will note from the company's website that it has a technology public relations group in Washington, D.C.

There is no doubt about the fact that the company is a major, global player.

I wonder if anyone can get his or her hands on a client list?

-- it'sconfusing (we@are.confused), June 30, 1999.

One of Koskinen's two global Y2K "perception" management firms... The Rendon Group...

See...

Check out the Navy's Virtual Community Conversation on 6/15, and a look at who created the .gov Community Conversation series.

http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id= 00106v

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), June 30, 1999.

*Some* customers... big ones... under here...

http:// www.bm.com/files/insights/IN_FRAME.html

Then... click on Knowledge Makes A Difference and then the article... Customer Service Leadership by The Knowledge Development Division.

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), June 30, 1999.

"Burson-Marsteller, the leading global perception management/communications consulting firm, has established a special global communications network of 24 Y2K Communications Command Centers"

"Achtung dunkophts, Here are your tickets, board the steam ship. Once you have entered Belguim, meet up with her Schmidt, proceed to Germany and report straight to Berlin for orders. Schnell!".

-- Mike (midwestmike_@hotmail.com), June 30, 1999.