Response to CEO editorial

Last month, I posted an item about relationships between chief executive officers of companies and business journalists based on a column written by outgoing CEO editor in chief William Holstein.

Corporate communications expert Steven Silvers comments on what Holstein said and adds a few more suggestions to improve the relationship.

Silvers writes, “No, the world has not ‘moved on’ from the abuses that spawned SOX and the Enron trial. Quite the contrary. And to say that business coverage is ‘anti-CEO’ is exactly the kind of myopic rationalization that many executives use to justify not talking to the press about issues that increasingly define corporate reputation – things like transparency, accountability, social responsibility and fairness.

“Spread the word … It’s risky to put too much stock into a single reporter or media outlet. Jobs and agendas change, relationships go sour and media consumers move around. Instead, start by listing the 10 editors, producers, reporters and columnists who most influence those who matter most to your bottom line. These are the people you need to be talking to, in good times and bad. Start now.”

Read more here.