Janey Bishoff Honored with Prestigious John J. Molloy Crystal Bell Lifetime Achievement Award from the Publicity Club of New England

We are thrilled to announce that CEO Janey Bishoff has been recognized with the prestigious 2011 John J. Molloy Crystal Bell Lifetime Achievement Award by the Publicity Club of New England at the organization's recent Bell Ringer Awards. With this Annual Award, Janey is now one of a very select group of New England communications trailblazers who have been so honored over the past three decades.

In a ballroom packed with public relations and communications professionals from all over New England, Bishoff staff past and present gathered to celebrate Janey's extraordinary career and the innumerable ways she has influenced those who have been lucky enough to work with her.

"Janey Bishoff has been a leader and significant contributor to the public relations community for many years, both across the region and the country," commented Lauren Howe, president, Publicity Club of New England. "Her long-time dedication to the industry made her the ideal candidate for this year's Crystal Bell Lifetime Achievement Award, and we are proud to recognize her for this exceptional work."

This is the second year in a row that Bishoff received top honors from the Publicity Club. In 2010, the firm won the Platinum Super Bell Award for executing the "best communications campaign of the year," presented for its crisis communications work on behalf of the Melrose YMCA.

Over the course of her career, Janey has provided guidance, mentorship and friendship to those who have worked with her. Because of this, we who work with her continue to grow as professionals and as members of the community.

Congratulations, Janey!

Janey Bishoff Featured in WBA Chronicle

Protecting Clients’ Reputation Beyond the Courtroom

2010: Volume 5
Reprinted with permission from Chronicle, An Annual publication of the Women’s Bar Association, Boston MA.

In today’s world of instantaneous communications, individuals and companies involved in disputes, litigation, or crises must also worry about protecting their reputation far beyond the legal system.

Litigants or those in crisis (including those facing a potential crisis), not only need strong legal counsel, but also skilled, experienced communications counsel.

The reasons are abundant. One small news story, whether fact or fiction, travels across the internet and the world in just a few minutes. As newspapers shrink, and even fold, and as broadcast news increasingly becomes “infotainment,” journalistic ethics are on the wane. Most bloggers do not consider themselves journalists and offer no differentiation between fact and opinion (or even falsehoods present as fact).

Sensational TV news stories which report alleged wrong-doing are rarely given the same attention when allegations prove false or when innocent companies or individuals are wrong accused. Corrections are infrequent, and apologies, even rarer, do little to repair a damaged reputation.

Effective crisis counsel always begins with the objective of controlling the message. The best way to counter the rampant distribution of misinformation is to give media information to report. Determining whether the message(s) will be communicated proactively, or only in response to media inquiries, is the first order of business. Response must be timely and provided in a format appropriate to the medium. As we’ve seen in the past year, a bunker stance often backfires.

Even when the legal strategy precludes communicating substantive information, having a skilled professional manage the media enables the attorney to focus on the case. It tempers distractions and offers assurance to the client. It also helps to calm a client eager to speak. A poor spokesperson can do more damage than no response.

Treating media outlets even-handedly is critical. While the smallest local weekly paper may not seem significant in the context of complex litigation, it is often the most important outlet. News about a local company or resident prompts a natural interest in the story and a greater commitment of resources to covering it.

Attorneys trying to protect their clients no longer just have to worry about reporters. Anyone with a computer of phone/camera becomes a citizen journalist. And sadly, the ability to post comments online anonymously empowers individuals to make false and slanderous accusations. Monitoring not only media, but online chats and postings is part of the crisis advisor’s job.

Protecting your client’s reputation and ensuring the best climate for the legal case or negotiations is money well spent. An effective communications strategy in concert with the legal strategy will ensure the best representations for the client.

Bishoff Communications Earns Top Honor at Publicity Club of New England’s Bell Ringer Awards

Crisis Communications Work Recognized As Best Communications Campaign of the Year

Bishoff Communications LLC, a Boston-based independent public relations firm, was presented with the Publicity Club of New England’s highest honor, the 2010 Platinum Super Bell Award, given to the organization executing the best communications campaign of the year.  The accolade was presented for the firm’s crisis communications work on behalf of the Melrose Family YMCA of Melrose, Mass. 

The Super Bell was presented to Bishoff Communications at the Club’s 41st Annual Bell Ringer Awards at the Westin Hotel in Waltham, Mass.

Since 1969, the Publicity Club of New England’s Bell Ringer Awards have recognized excellence in the public relations and communications industry.  The awards ceremony honored public relations and communications professionals from more than 40 agencies, companies, and other organizations across New England. .

Ralph Yohe, Interim CEO of the Melrose Family YMCA, said “Bishoff Communications’ work on behalf of the organization was exemplary,” and the Bell Ringer Judges agreed, giving the firm the highest recognition among more than 300 entries. 

Accepting the Award, Janey Bishoff, CEO of Bishoff Communications, and a recognized expert in crisis communications, remarked, "we were very gratified that our counsel was a vital part of helping an organization facing the most difficult situation of its 100+ year history."