Mike Paul's Blog - November 2007

Will Michael Jackson's Reputation In Crisis Tarnish The Jackon 5 2008 Reunion Concert Tour?

I was interviewed on Wednesday morning on Fox Business Channel's morning show about the Jackson 5 reunion concert tour which is being planned for 2008. The major questions: Will Michael Jackson's reputation in crisis affect the tour? Is this a smart business move for the record label and for sponsors?

Let's begin with a little background on the tour. Michael Jackson is set to rejoin the Jackson 5 for a world tour next year, according to his brother Jermaine through a BBC interview.

The brothers--Tito, Jermaine, Michael, Jackie, Marlon, and Randy--last toured together as a six-piece in 1984 before Michael left, in between his massive-selling Thriller and Bad albums.

Jermaine said: "We feel we have to do it one more time. We owe that to the fans and to the public."

Asked whether Michael would be involved, Jermaine told BBC 6Music: "He has to be, he is a Jackson. He was at the meetings. Michael will be involved."

The reunion had been delayed by Michael's infamous 2005 court case, but the brothers are currently recording some new material as well as finalizing details for their tour. As the world remembers, Michael was on trial in 2005 for alleged sex crimes against children. Some had labeled him a pedophile. Although he was not found guilt in the court of law, many today still believe he is guilt in in the court of public opinion.

I said clearly in the interview that Michael Jackson must try to regain public trust to participate in the Jackson 5 reunion tour. He must denounce his earlier opinion that it is O.K. and "beautiful" to go to bed and sleep in the same bed with children, specifically young boys. A few things Michael Jackson should say now:

* I made some big mistakes in the past regarding my personal life, especially as it relates to children.

* I know now that it is best for children to sleep in their own beds to encourage independence and maturity.

* As I seek psychological counseling, I can assure all my fans and all the people around the world that my personal life, especially as it relates to children, would pass ever moral test for maturity today.

* I had to learn to grow up myself. I have learned a lot from my past pain and move forward with new changes each day.

* My fans asked me to refocus my energy on my career and this tour with my brothers, as well as my own upcoming album, will offer many surprises and excellent music. Stay tuned!

* I am working on some new dance moves that are top secret and will not be revealed until the concert tour. I think every old fan and many new younger fans will enjoy them.

* Let's just say if you thought the moonwalk was special, wait until you see some of my new moves.

I would also counsel Michael Jackson that if he does not truly believe all of the above regarding serious changes needed in his personal life, it will all backfire. It must be much more than words. It must be true change and be truly heartfelt. As I say often, the business of reputation management is more about heart work than head work.

There will also be a challenge to gain excellent sponsors for the tour, especially family-friendly sponsors/corporations. I would be shocked if Pepsi were a major sponsor again. The controversy surrounding Michael may invite protesters, especially from children's groups. Thinking through all from a worst-case scenario perspective is crucial for not only sponsorships, but for the entire tour and the potential impact on the family name and record label brand.

The reputation bricks for an excellent reputation always include truth, honesty, transparency, accountability and consistency. Spin is a lie and a four-letter word. It does not work. Never has and never will. Lean on truth to build, maintain and repair a reputation for life.

Remember, do the right thing when your reputation is in crisis and seek the counsel of an experienced reputation management expert. It will be a major challenge, but ultimately the rewards of repairing your reputation will be great. Why? Because Your Reputation Is Everything!™

Mike Paul is editor of The Reputation Doctor blog. The Reputation Doctor is a nickname given to him by various clients. Mike's blog is located at www.ReputationDoctor.com. He appears regularly on Fox News Channel, CNN, MSNBC, Court TV, ABC News, ESPN, CBS News, BBC, and others as a weekly contributor and expert in the global news regarding corporations, CEOs, celebrities, athletes, politicians and other public organizations and public individuals with reputations in crisis. Mr. Paul is also president and senior counselor of MGP & Associates PR (www.mgppr.com), a leading strategic public relations and reputation management firm based in New York. For interview requests, speeches, senior counseling or other business opportunities with Mr. Paul, call 212-595-8500 or email info@mgppr.com.

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Comment from: Sandra [Visitor]

Doctor's aren't always our salvation. They can also mess up as they're humans too. It's sad that Michael died and we can't know for sure if it was his treatment or not....
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May Jackson's soul rest in peace.This case examines the rise and fall of Michael Jackson.His family life was unstable and he had to face a lot of criticism in the media.

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Doctor's can be usefull, but I will never totally do what they say, if I think it was wrong fore me. Everyone has too take their own way, right ore wrong.

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His death is really a huge pain. was the best!

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Mr Jackson was designed and built over forty years ago as part of a joint venture between Motown Records and Boeing. Originally conceived as a black program me, he was developed at the top-secret Neverland test facility in California.His death is really a shock to all world..But nobody can sop the nature activities...Hope so..he will be remember for a long time..

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The Reputation Doctor Says Unethical Supply Chains Put Global Corporations at Risk

According to Integrity Interactive(R) Corporation, a company that helps leading global corporations build ethical cultures that reduce risk, recently announced the results of a September 2007 survey of 108 Global 2000 companies, which shows corporate ethics and compliance programs and controls do not extend to their global supply chains. The survey found that 78 percent of companies do not include suppliers in their company compliance and ethics programs, and nearly 58 percent were not sure if their company regularly assessed ethics risks in the supply chain, the network of companies that collaborates to deliver a product or service to customers.

Many corporations around the world are unaware of how effective supply chain ethics and compliance programs can help them avoid costly recalls and brand damage that results from a supply chain ethics scandal. Supplier ethics management (SEM) is a relatively new business practice that enables companies to manage their suppliers and supply relationships through strategies, programs and metrics that better align supplier business conduct with purchaser standards. The goal is to reduce a purchasing company's overall risk of corporate integrity failure in the supply chain by aligning supplier conduct with purchaser standards in three major areas of corporate integrity: compliance, ethics and corporate responsibility.

In the global economy, most companies outsource much of their manufacturing to a network of external suppliers. While many large U.S. companies have implemented some degree of ethics and compliance programs and training, the survey indicates that a great majority of Global 2000 companies have not extended these programs and practices to their supply chain. This is a significant risk to the financial health and reputation of these companies and to their customers.

In addition to the troubling absence of ethics and compliance programs for the supply chain, the survey also found information that points to other areas of significant risk:

-- 88 percent of respondents do not maintain a Web-based portal for suppliers
-- 78 percent of respondents do not include suppliers in their company's Code of Conduct
-- 58 percent of respondents don't regularly assess compliance risk in their supply chain
-- 56 percent of respondent companies do not audit supplier compliance with Code standards

In recent weeks, U.S. consumers have seen a series of stories about tainted food, lead paint in toys and other disturbing developments. All of these dangerous products came through an extended supply chain. Recent product recalls at Mattel and Starbucks underscore the need for corporations to reevaluate their company programs regarding supplier compliance and ethics. Mattel had to recall more than nine million toys because they included millions of tiny magnets that can be deadly if swallowed. Starbucks is recalling 250,000 plastic cups made in China that can break easily and endanger children. Recent negative stories about overseas child labor at outsourced suppliers to The Gap and other retailers have also focused attention on the problem.

"Being an ethical company isn't enough anymore," said Richard J. Cellini, vice president of Integrity Interactive. "Enterprises are being judged by the company they keep, which means the whole supply chain must be ethical. If a dishonest supplier 6,000 miles away disregards manufacturing standards to make more profit, it reflects on the U.S. company which hired that supplier. The public holds the supplier accountable -- not the outsourced vendor. Supplier ethics is a serious and growing problem. It is one of the biggest ethics issues enterprises face today. It impacts revenue and market share because consumers reward companies that deliver a safe product to market and punish those that do not."

The demand for organized SEM programs is being driven by, regulations, business partners, consumers, and media organizations. The changes include stronger import/export standards, product safety rules, and labeling requirements. Ethics and compliance officers can ensure their company creates and maintains an effective SEM program by implementing the following:

-- Make ethics and compliance a factor in supplier selection
-- Create and maintain compliance histories profiles of important suppliers
-- Assign ethics and compliance personnel to major supply relationships
-- Conduct regular assessments of supplier ethics
-- Target and segment suppliers by importance and ethics risks

"These are basic, affordable actions that companies can enact today to ensure they don't make the headlines as the subject of the next supply chain scandal," said Cellini. "The long-term goal of every company should be to supplement these actions with comprehensive SEM programs that ensure a consistent ethics and compliance environment for every member of its supply chain."