Sports mandate sparks PR challenge

It’s been a tough week in the media and PR world. If we say that too often, I promise you that smart minds are trying to make things right.

Today I hit on risk vs. reputation, but in a blog. What we do and say always matter when those two get together. That’s why I’m including a link to what I recently posted about sports organizations’ input regarding memorials and dedications instead of rewriting it here.

I edited the thing like crazy so I wouldn’t be misunderstood, although I’m sure some will still miss the point 🤷🏻‍♀️. Like a text to a crush, words on a screen aren’t always easy to understand.

The gist of the blog is that decisions carry reputational weight if you’re public-facing, so it’s important to consider all options when presented with a blank slate. Thoughtful publicity and strategic PR shape long-term trust. Contradiction erodes it. How organizations handle these moments — sports and beyond — communicates far more than any public address script can — and they’re worth getting right.*

You can read the piece here: https://gpublicity.com/2025/09/18/nfl-mandate-sparks-sports-pr-challenge/

After that, please take a couple of minutes to read USA Today’s Jarrett Bell, whom I also linked in the blog. His column about a tough subject is as balanced as anyone could ask of a writer.

ALL feedback is welcome. I want to know what you think, too.

*Despite what you read about what tips off an AI-written post, the em dashes are allllll mine — I think in them … and elipses, too.

If you want a good giggle (sorry, Bears fans), this one runs away with it. Ahem.

Run, Chase, Run!🐻

©2025 Gail Sideman, gpublicity.com, SIDEbar

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