Strategy to Hide Emails During Affair Didn't Work

General Petraeus and Paula Broadwell saved messages as "draft" in a shared email account to avoid sending them, thinking they would be less traceable. A technique used by Al Qaeda terrorists (and teenagers), not sending emails prevents them from being tracked to IP addresses that are linked to specific computers and their users.

Another possible strategy to hide one's identity through email is to use public computers that don't keep permanent records. It's unclear which strategies were used-and failed-between the other players in this unraveling story: General John Allen and Jill Kelley. General Allen succeeded General Patraeus as the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, and Kelley is described as a "Tampa socialite." More than 20,000 pages (or hundreds) of "flirtatious" emails between the two are also under investigation.

Image source.

Related: "Trying to Keep Your E-Mails Secret When the C.I.A. Chief Couldn't" 

Discussion Starters: 

• What are the many ways in which draft emails can be made public?
• Critics question how well General Allen is managing the situation in Afghanistan as he sends so many pages of correspondece with Kelley. What's your view?

Nestle Recalls Chocolate Powder

Nestle has voluntarily recalled its powder used to make hot chocolate because of a possible Salmonella risk. Although no illnesses have been reported, the company is taking precautions because its supplier of calcium carbonate, an ingredient in the mix, announced a recall.

On its website, Nestle posted this statement about the decision:

At the end of its recall notice posted on the FDA website, the company apologized:

"Nestlé is dedicated to the health and safety of its consumers. For these reasons, the company initiated this voluntary recall. We apologize to our consumers and sincerely regret any inconvenience created by this incident."

Discussion Starters:

• After reading the recall notice, would you avoid similar products, or are you convinced that this is an isolated event?
• As of this writing, Nestle hasn't posted anything on its Facebook page. Why do you think that is? Is that a good decision?

The Week of Sex Scandals

'Tis the season of sex scandals, apparently. Four stories in the past two days perhaps show the prevalence of sexual harassment and other improprieties at work-and the danger of false claims:

1) CIA Director David Petraeus resigned, admitting to having an extramarital affair with his biographer, a reserve Army officer. The affair was discovered, predictably, as the FBI was monitoring General Petraeus's email. In a resignation letter to CIA employees, Petraeus wrote, "After being married for over 37 years, I showed extremely poor judgment by engaging in an extramarital affair. Such behavior is unacceptable, both as a husband and as the leader of an organization such as ours."

2) Lockheed Martin's new CEO was asked to resign before he officially took office. Christopher Kubasik's "lengthy, close personal relationship" with an employee at a defense contractor was revealed by an "internal whistleblower." In a statement, Kubasik said, "I regret that my conduct in this matter did not meet the standards to which I have always held myself."

3) Waffle House CEO Joseph Rogers Jr. is mired in accusations of impropriety from his former personal assisant.  The woman claims that he sexually harassed her and tried to force himself on her throughout the nine years of her employment.

4) The BBC has issued an apology for broadcasting false claims of sex abuse by a senior political figure in the 1980s. In an on-air statement, the network admitted, "We broadcast Mr. Messham's claim but did not identify the individual concerned. Mr. Messham has tonight made a statement that makes clear he wrongly identified his abuser and has apologised. We also apologise unreservedly for having broadcast this report."

Anheuser-Busch to Paramount: Remove Budweiser Logo from "Flight"

In the new movie, "Flight," Denzel Washington's character, a pilot, is drinking a Budweiser beer while he lands a plane. Anheuser-Busch doesn't like the publicity and has asked Paramount to omit its logo from digital and future versions of the film.

 

In a statement to the Associated Press, Rod McCarthy, vice president of Budweiser said, "We would never condone the misuse of our products, and have a long history of promoting responsible drinking and preventing drunk driving. We have asked the studio to obscure the Budweiser trademark in current digital copies of the movie and on all subsequent adaptations of the film, including DVD, On Demand, streaming and additional prints not yet distributed to theaters."

A distributor of Stoli vodka, another alcohol represented in the movie, also is unhappy with the depiction of the brand. A representative of William Grant & Sons told the Associated Press, "Considering the subject matter of this film, it is not something in which we would have participated."

These companies may be out of luck. As the Associated Press explains, courts have ruled that movies can use representations of brands without permission:

"Trademark laws 'don't exist to give companies the right to control and censor movies and TV shows that might happen to include real-world items,' said Daniel Nazer, a resident fellow at Stanford Law School's Fair Use Project. 'It is the case that often filmmakers get paid by companies to include their products. I think that's sort of led to a culture where they expect they'll have control. That's not a right the trademark law gives them.'"

Image source.

Discussion Starters:

• What's your view of how alcohol is depicted in the movie? Do these companies have a right to try to protect their brand in this way?
• How do you think Paramount decided to use these brands? Did the movie producers not think about the impact on brands, did they consider the consequences and ignore them, or something else?
• How could this type of situation be prevented in the future? What are the responsibilities of filmmakers and brands?

Did Trump Go Too Far on Twitter?

Apparently, Donald Trump was quite angry last night as he watched the presidential election results. He tweeted a series of comments criticizing the president and the electoral process.

A look at Trump's current Twitter feed shows that he deleted a few tweets, particularly those calling for a revolution. But others, such as calling the election a "travesty" and "disgusting injustice," remain.

In addition to these comments, Trump got into what seems like a one-sided debate with Brian Williams, NBC News Anchor. BloombergBusinessweek highlighted a few of his "taunting comments": 

There's this: "Brian, if I'm ‘well past the last exit to relevance' how come you spent so much time reading my tweets last night?" And this: "Brian-Thanks dummy-I picked up 70,000 twitter followers yesterday alone. Cable News just passed you in the ratings." And this: "Wouldn't you love to have my ratings?" An NBC spokeswoman had no immediate comment on Trump's tweets.

More than 1,800 people have signed a petition encouraging Macy's to drop Trump products from its stores.

In response to criticism, Trump said, "The fact is that there's a large group of people who like Donald Trump and what Donald Trump says. I have no regrets."

Discussion Starters:

• What's your reaction to Trump's tweets?
• Why do you think he choose to delete some tweets but not others?
• Also in response to the criticism, Trump cited his number of followers: almost 2 million. What does it mean to have followers on Twitter? Do you consider this to be a strong defense?

Raymour and Flanigan Updates Customers

Furniture store Raymour and Flanigan sent an email to update customers on how Hurricane Sandy is affecting operations. Appropriately, the email begins with empathy for those affected by the storm. 

 

But buried in the middle of the third paragraph is perhaps what many customers most want to know: "We will continue to do our best to respond to each and every inquiry and keep you informed." The company acknowledges, "We have received many calls, emails, and social media posts from our valued customers, inquiring about deliveries and when stores will be open again." Are many outstanding? Perhaps a separate email could be sent to people who are waiting for a response, (although the company does sound strapped for resources).

The company's Twitter feed seems disconnected from this email. Other than this one tweet, between October 29 and November 6, no other tweet mentions the storm or its impact on operations:

Discussion Starters:

• What similar emails did you receive from companies during the storm? How do they compare to Raymour and Flanigan's?
• What else, if anything, should Raymour and Flanigan tweet during this time?

Turnabout on NYC Marathon Decision

Hopeful NYC Marathon runners received the bad news: the 2012 Marathon has been cancelled. This reverses Mayor Bloomberg's decision announced during the week.

The initial decision to continue the marathon received harsh criticism, with New Yorkers concerned that resources needed to rebuild the city after Hurricane Sandy would be redirected to the event. Organizers of the marathon became increasingly concerned about divisiveness over the decision and announced a cancellation, after all.

George Hirsch, chairman of the board of Road Runners, which oversees the marathon said, "The marathon is about uniting the city. But all it was doing was dividing it. Is that what the New York City Marathon is all about? No, not at all."

In an email, the Road Runners organization explained the decision. The positioning is interesting and a topic of criticism on Twitter: organizers defend the initial decision and blame the media and controversy in forcing the decision:

It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that the 2012 ING New York City Marathon has been canceled.

The decision was made after it became increasingly apparent that the people of our city and the surrounding tri-state area were still struggling to recover from the damage wrought by the recent extreme weather conditions. That struggle, fueled by the resulting extensive and growing media coverage antagonistic to the marathon and its participants, created conditions that raised concern for the safety of both those working to produce the event and its participants. While holding the race would not have required diverting resources from the recovery effort, it became clear that the apparent widespread perception to the contrary had become the source of controversy and division. Neither NYRR nor the City could allow a controversy over the marathon to result in a dangerous situation or to distract attention from all the critically important work that is being done to help New York City recover from the storm. 

NYRR, in partnership with the Rudin Family and the ING Foundation, has established the "Race to Recover" Marathon Fund to aid New Yorkers impacted by the storm. Over $2.6 million has been raised, including a $1 million donation by NYRR. We are asking you to join us by making a $26.20 donation, or whatever you can afford, to help bring recovery and hope to those communities and families most affected. Proceeds will go to Hurricane Sandy Relief, administered by the Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City. You can also donate to the relief effort through NYRR's fundraising platform, CrowdRise, which includes the American Red Cross and other charities.

NYRR will redeploy the marathon resources and materials toward the recovery effort. We will share the details of this project as they are finalized in the days ahead.

We all recognize this has been a very challenging time in New York City that has impacted so many people, including you, our runners. Please know that this is one of the toughest decisions we have ever made, and that we deeply appreciate your support.

According to one New York Times article, the cancellation will cost the city an "immense" amount of money.

(Image source of the finish line before the marathon was cancelled, showing a fallen crane in the background.)

Discussion Starters:

• What's your view of the email from Road Runners? How well does it explain the decision, and how convincing is the rationale?
• What this the best decision for NYC? Why or why not?

Mayor Bloomberg's Messages and Delivery Style in Hurricane News Conference

To provide an update on Hurricane Sandy's impact on New York City, Mayor Bloomberg held a news conference on October 30.

The mayor began by thanking the signer and by saying that the conference is "an update on our progress in recovering from Hurricane Sandy." Immediately, he is framing his message as looking forward. However, he does, up front, acknowledge the severity of the storm:

"I don't think it's any secret, but Sandy hit us very hard. It was a storm of historic intensity, but New Yorkers are resilient, and we have seen an enormous outpouring of support from people eager to volunteer, donate, and help out." 

Bloomberg emphasizes the recovery plan in place,while, again, acknowledging that it will be a long process. His message is clear throughout the 24-minute conference: efforts to restore power, transit service, and business operations are under way. Throughout the news conference, Bloomberg shows appreciation for these efforts and provides phone numbers and other ways to get information and resources (e.g., disasterassistance.gov). 

The mayor's delivery style is appropriately serious throughout the new conference, but he shows little affect and tonal variation. At times, his messages are difficult to distinguish; the speech sounds like a laundry list of items, and we have to listen closely to digest all of the information. 

The mayor's style changes when he emphasizes one important point:

"I can't repeat this message often enough: stay away from city parks; they're closed until further notice. And report down trees and tree limbs to 311, not 911. Please, 911 will just have to remain free for making and receiving emergency calls about life-threatening issues."

During the Q&A period, the mayor becomes marginally more animated-using more hand gestures, smiling where appropriate, and making more eye contact (as expected when he's off script). During the section, his voice modulation is more natural, and we see more of the mayor's personality.

Today, the mayor addressed criticism for allowing the NYC Marathon to proceed this weekend.

Discussion Starters:

• What other observations do you have about the mayor's messages and delivery style?
• What's your view of Con Edison CEO Kevin Burke's segment? How effective are his messages and delivery style? How do they compare to the mayor's?

Criminal Charges for False Rumors About Hurricane

@ComfortablySmug may not be laughing since New York City Councilman Peter Vallone is pushing for criminal charges for spreading false information about Hurricane Sandy. Shashank Tripathi, who owns the Twitter handle, has since resigned as campaign manager for a congressional candidate. Tripathi also was a former assistant district attorney in Astoria, Queens.

Tripathi's tweets included false and accurate information, a mix that Vallone says is dangerous because it gives more legitimacy to the falsehoods.

Although Vallone admits this is a difficult case to prove, he's hoping it will deter similar behavior in the future. At a minimum, the criticism inspired Tripathi to issue this apology:

Tweets image source.

Discussion Starters:

• What's your view of Tripathi's tweets: harmless fun, potentially dangerous, or something else?
• Is the councilman taking the right approach in trying to press charges? What, if any, other consequences should Tripathi face?

Car Wash Company Tries to Balance Aid with Promotion

After American Apparel's failed attempt to capitalize on Hurricane Sandy, other companies are trying to do a better job. Splash Car Wash's email at least offers a service to people affected by the storm.

The subject line, however, sounds like an overstatement: "Public Service Announcement From Splash Car Wash." Is the company offering financial assistance? And, is a car wash necessary following a major hurricane? I would think that people affected are seeking shelter if they're displaced and food if they're hungry.

On the other hand, Business Insider describes streams of people wanting cellphone power and Wi-Fi access. Located in Stamford, CT, Splash could attract the 39% of Connecticut Light & Power customers without power in Connecticut.

Discussion Starters:

• What's our view of Splash Car Wash's email? Is this a successful advertisement for the company?
• What improvements could you make to the email? Consider the text and graphics.
• What emails have you received from companies about Hurricane Sandy? Which have been successful and why?

American Apparel Capitalizes on Hurricane Sandy

American Apparel has learned a hard lesson after using Hurricane Sandy to promote a sale. With this graphical subject line, the company sent an email to customers:

☁ ☂ ϟ Hurricane Sandy Sale! ϟ ☂ ☁ 20% Off Everything!

The email encourages customers to take advantage of the sale if they are "bored during the storm."

 

Backlash on Twitter was fast and fierce, with tweets promising to boycott the stores, telling the brand to "shut up about your #Sandy sale," and speculating that the company "will soon be hiring a new marketing director."

As of this writing, American Apparel has not responded to the complaints.

Gap made a similar but less serious faux pas. The company did respond to critics-sort-of:

UPDATE: In an interview with BloombergBusinessweek, American Apparel CEO defends the ad.

Discussion Starters:

• What's your view of American Apparel's ad campaign: a clever marketing approach, insensitive, or something else?
• Should American Apparel respond to the criticism, and if so, how?
• How effective is the Gap's second tweet in explaining the first?

Chase Emails Customers About Fees During Hurricane Sandy

Chase bank is communicating with customers about Hurricane Sandy. Before the storm hit land, the company emailed customers about plans to waive fees. It's an interesting email and shows the company's kinder side.

On its website, Chase repeats a version of the open paragraph and provides customers with information about open branches. The branch locator allows customers to search for branches and see the status of each.

As of this writing, neither Bank of America nor HSBC have similar messages on their websites.

Discussion Starter and Assignment Idea: 

• What is your reaction to Chase's email to customers?
• Go to the websites of other major banks. Do you find messages similar to that of Chase? How do they compare?

Apple's Ad Sounds More Like an Attack

Apple followed the court order to post the Samsung lawsuit ruling, but the company followed only the letter of the law. Information Week and other sources call the notification on Apple's website a mockery.

Apple sued Samsung for copying its iPad design too closely when creating its tablet, the Galaxy. But the company lost the patent infringement lawsuit and, as a result, was required to communicate the decision, according to  Information Week:

"The court gave Apple seven days to post notification of the ruling in a font of no less than 11 pixels, with a link to the ruling, that must remain on Apple's U.K website for six months or until the court orders otherwise. It also required Apple to publish the same notification in the first five pages of the Financial Times, the Daily Mail, The Guardian, Mobile Magazine, and T3 magazine, in a font of no less than 14 pixels."

In the notification, however, Apple takes several stabs at Samsung. Apple quotes the judge's ruling about the Apple design:

"It is an understated, smooth and simple product. It is a cool design."

"The informed user's overall impression of each of the Samsung Galaxy Tablets is the following. From the front they belong to the family which includes the Apple design; but the Samsung products are very thin, almost insubstantial members of that family with unusual details on the back. They do not have the same understated and extreme simplicity which is possessed by the Apple design. They are not as cool."

Apple posts a link to the ruling, as required, but then ends with another blow to its competitor:

"However, in a case tried in Germany regarding the same patent, the court found that Samsung engaged in unfair competition by copying the iPad design. A U.S. jury also found Samsung guilty of infringing on Apple's design and utility patents, awarding over one billion U.S. dollars in damages to Apple Inc. So while the U.K. court did not find Samsung guilty of infringement, other courts have recognized that in the course of creating its Galaxy tablet, Samsung willfully copied Apple's far more popular iPad."

Image source.

UPDATE: After being reprimanded by the UK court, Apple has replaced its notice with a revision.

Discussion Starters:

• Did Apple take the right approach for the company? Did the company do the right thing? What are the arguments for and against this approach?
  
• Should the judge have been even more specific in instructing Apple how to post the decision? Why or why not?

Another Premature News Report: Dow Chemical

For the second time in two weeks, bad news was inadvertently released ahead of schedule. Although Dow Chemical had planned to announce 2,400 employee layoffs and 20 plant closings on Thursday morning with its quarterly earnings statement, the news went out as a draft Tuesday night.

On Dow Chemical's earnings conference call, Doug May, VP of investor relations, explained the mishap in his introduction:

"Good morning, everyone, and welcome. Thank you for joining us on such short notice and being flexible with your schedules. As you know, we issued our earnings press release yesterday evening, October 23. This was earlier than usual due to an inadvertent and premature release of our restructuring announcement. Both the restructuring release and the earnings release went out on Business Wire and were posted on the Internet on dow.com."

In this case, the market reacted favorably to the restructuring. However, for Google, in a similar situation last week, the result wasn't nearly as positive.

Google's intent was to release its disappointing third-quarter results after the closing bell, but the draft statement slipped out on at 12:30 p.m. with the text "PENDING LARRY QUOTE." CEO Larry Page briefly said on the earnings call, "I'm sorry for the scramble earlier today."

Google blamed its finanial printer, RR Donnelly:

"Earlier this morning RR Donnelley, the financial printer, informed us that they had filed our draft 8K earnings statement without authorization. We have ceased trading on NASDAQ while we work to finalize the document. Once it's finalized we will release our earnings, resume trading on NASDAQ and hold our earnings call as normal at 1:30 PM PT."

Google shares lost about 9% before trading was halted.

Discussion Starters:

• Why is it important for companies to coordinate disappointing market news, such as layoffs and quarterly earnings?
• What controls should a company have in place to avoid this type of situation?

Fujitsu's Laptop for Women: Sexist or Smart Marketing?

A marketing team at Fujitsu thought that a laptop "aimed at female users" was a good idea, but the company isfacing ridicule. Among the "Floral Kiss" features is "a flip latch that can easily open the display-even by users with long fingernails."

In its press release, the company says that its female employees designed the laptop to include the following: 

1. Elegant design down to the details

2. Custom-designed applications

3. Design collaboration model with the jewelry brand ''agete"

Applications include Scrapbook, Diary, and Horoscopes, presumably activities that interest women.

The design, too, is tailored to the gentler sex:

The top casing has been constructed with an elegant and refined gradation with gold trim, and it features a flip latch that can easily open the display-even by users with long fingernails. The power button is adorned with a pearl-like accent, and the power status LED and Caps Lock key are decorated with diamond-cut stone for a sophisticated look. An exquisite gold ring frames each key on the transparent keyboard, highlighting its elegant style. In addition, the outtake and intake vents all feature a floral motif design.

A writer for Business Insider points out the absurdity of the product:

I can't count the number of times I've been typing away on my Mac Book Pro and thought, wow, this consumer experience sure would be enhanced if my caps lock key were bedazzled and there was a built-in daily horoscope app. … This computer comes with both.

Image source.

Discussion Starters:

• What's your view of the laptop focus: a silly idea, a shrewd marketing tactic, or something else?
• Critics of the product say that women don't need a special laptop, particularly one bejeweled and pink. What's your view?

Obama, Romney Give Funny (Yes, Funny) Speeches

At a dinner for the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation, both candidates showed their humorous side. In quips about themselves and each other, President Obama and Governor Romney had the crowd going.

Here are a few of the highlights of Romney's ten-minute speech:

• "It's nice to finally relax and wear what Ann and I wear around the house." (Formal attire)
• "I was actually hoping the President would bring Joe Biden along this evening because he'll laugh at anything." (Referencing the VP debate)
• "President Obama and I are each very lucky to have one person who's always in our corner-someone who we can lean on and someone who's a comforting presence without whom we wouldn't be able to go into the day. I have my beautiful wife, Ann; he has Bill Clinton."

Obama had his share of laughs in his nine-minute speech:

• "This is the third time Govenor Romney and I have met recently. As some of you have noticed, I had a lot more energy in our second debate. I felt really well rested after the nice long nap that I had during the first debate."
• (About the first debate) "For example, I learned that there are worse things that can happen to you on your anniversary than forgetting to buy a gift."
• "I went shopping in some stores in Midtown. I understand that Governor Romney went shopping for some stores in Midtown."
• "Mitt is his middle name. I wish I could use my middle name."

Discussion Starters: 

• Watch both speeches. Do any of the jokes surprise you?
• In what ways, if any, do the speeches sway your thinking about the candidates?

Nordstrom Email Supporting Gay Marriage

After the Chick-fil-A controversy this summer, companies are on edge about the issue of same-sex marriage. Rather than oppose the issue, the Nordstrom brothers have taken a strong stance, supporting a Washington state "Freedom to Marry" referendum.

In an email sent to all employees, three Nordstrom executive brothers declared their support:

From: Nordstrom, Blake

Sent: Thursday, October 11, 2012 8:03 AM

To: Leadership 2012

Subject: Freedom to Marry

October 11, 2012

To all employees:

We have long had a philosophical approach to our business to be inclusive about the way we serve customers as well as how we work to create a workplace where every employee is welcomed and respected. It's simply how we operate.

With respect to our gay and lesbian employees, Nordstrom was an early adopter of adding sexual orientation to our anti-discrimination policy, which means we guarantee the same legal rights and protections in our workplace to gay and lesbian employees just as we do for other employees regardless of sex, race, color, creed, national origin, religion, age, marital status, pregnancy, physical, mental or sensory disability, and gender identity. This goes beyond the Federal government's protection in Title VII, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which still excludes sexual orientation. In 1998, we began offering life partner benefits to employees.

We feel the next step in this journey is to now support freedom to marry, also called marriage equality. There is a lot of awareness of this issue across the country and we've heard from many employees and customers. We gave this thoughtful consideration and felt the time was right to come out in support of this civil rights issue. It is our belief that our gay and lesbian employees are entitled to the same rights and protections marriage provides under the law as our other employees. We also believe supporting freedom to marry will help us create a more attractive and inclusive workplace for our current and prospective employees. Again – this decision is consistent with our long-time philosophy of inclusivity and equality for our customers and employees.

We recognize there are differing opinions about freedom to marry. We hope we've been clear about why we made this decision. To all of our employees – if you choose to talk about this with each other, please do so respectfully. We want you to be informed about our position so you can also respectfully answer any customer questions that come your way.

Thank you.

Blake, Pete, Erik

Blake Nordstrom, President, Nordstrom, Inc

Pete Nordstrom, President of Merchandising, Nordstrom

Erik Nordstrom, President of Stores, Nordstrom

According to GLAAD (The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation), several companies have shown active support of same-sex marriage:

"Nordstrom joins many Washington-based companies who have come out in support for marriage equality, including REI, Expedia, Amazon, Starbucks, Microsoft, and Nike. In Minnesota, General Mills and Thomson Reuters have come out agains the proposed marriage amendment that would limit the freedom to marry. Carlson Company Chairman, Marilyn Carlson Nelson has been actively campaigning against the amendment. Additionally, GOP Hedge Fund billionaire Paul Singer made a donation to advocate for marriage equality in Maine."

GLAAD also cites a Washington poll showing support for Referendum 74 at 55%, compared to 40% opposed. Although this isn't a huge spread, the data may indicate that Nordstrom and other supporting companies are on the popular side of the vote.

Discussion Starters:

• What are the benefits and risks to Nordstrom, as a company, of showing its support for the referendum? 
• In the email, how do the Nordstrom brothers connect their beliefs to the mission and values of the company?

NYT Article: BlackBerry Is Like an "Embarrassing Relative"

A New York Times article delivers a harsh blow to Research in Motion (RIM), the maker of Blackberrys. Several quotes from users paint a sad picture of the BlackBerry as a public embarrassment:

• "I'm ashamed of it."
• "I want to take a bat to it."
• "You can't do anything with it. You're supposed to, but it's all a big lie."
• "I feel absolutely helpless."

The article tells stories of people hiding their BlackBerry underneath their iPad, not using their BlackBerry at cocktail parties, and getting "disgusted" looks when asking a hotel concierge for a charger.

These aren't great testimonials for the product that was called "CrackBerry" when first introduced because of its popularity and additive qualities. Now it seems people can't wait to trade it in for an iPhone 5.

The article quotes an investment analyst saying that RIM's recent video, a play on REO Speedwagon's "I'll Just Keep on Loving You," is "a sign of a desperate company."

RIM clearly is not happy with the article. Amy McDowell, senior director of corporate communications at RIM, said that the company wasn't asked for input on the story. In response, CEO Thorsten Heins wrote an opinion letter in The New York Times:

"BlackBerry as Black Sheep in Smartphones" (Business Day, Oct. 16) lacks the balance your readers expect.

With more than 80 million customers globally, BlackBerry is growing and remains one of the world's most popular smartphones. I've just come from visiting carriers and partners in all parts of the world, and they have told me that there are millions of BlackBerry fans out there who not only find great value in their device, but also pride in being a BlackBerry owner.

While any report of dissatisfaction among our users is a cause for concern that I take very seriously, the comments supporting BlackBerry both online and in calls we've received from our customers in response to your article are encouraging to me.

BlackBerry remains the leader in providing security for corporate customers, which is why more than 90 percent of the Fortune 500 rely on BlackBerry. It's true that some companies put restrictions on accessing certain applications for security reasons, but applications like Yelp and OpenTable are, in fact, among the approximately 100,000 apps available in BlackBerry AppWorld.

We've received excellent feedback from carriers, developers and partners for our upcoming BlackBerry 10 platform and are on track to deliver it in the first quarter of 2013. We appreciate the customers who have remained loyal to the BlackBerry platform and look forward to winning back many who have left.

THORSTEN HEINS
President and Chief Executive
Research In Motion
Waterloo, Ontario, Oct. 16, 2012

Image source.

Discussion Starters:

• Should The New York Times have contacted RIM for comment on the story before publication? Does it have an obligation to do so?
• What examples of logical argument, emotional appeal, and credibility do you find in Heins's opinion letter?

Wyclef Jean's Failed Haitian Charity

Haitian-American rapper Wyclef Jean's charity is now defunct, with questions of impropriety in its wake. A New York Times article, "In Haiti, Little Can Be Found of a Hip-Hop Artist's Charity," cites angry creditors wondering what happened to $16 million in donations and "trail of debts, unfinished projects, and broken promises."

According to the New York Times article, Jean was using funds for his personal benefit: 

"The forensic audit examined $3 million of the charity's 2005 to 2009 expenses and found $256,580 in illegitimate benefits to Mr. Jean and other Yéle board and staff members as well as improper or potentially improper transactions. These included $24,000 for Mr. Jean's chauffeur services and $30,763 for a private jet that transported Lindsay Lohan from New Jersey to a benefit in Chicago that raised only $66,000."

When accused of misdirecting funds, Jean said that he didn't need the money, offering as evidence, "I have a watch collection worth $500,000." This didn't quite endear people to his cause.

In his new book, "Purpose: An Immigrant's Story," Jean denies wrongdoing. Rather, he claims that he is the victim of "crucifixion."

A CEO letter that was posted on the charity's now-defunct website refers to "better accountability, more impact and greater financial transparency" and "a more disciplined Yéle Haiti." It's too late for that now. 

Image source.

Discussion Starters:

•  Read the CEO letter. Which parts are the most and least convincing?
•  Read the New York Times article. Which side of the story do you believe? 

New Yahoo CEO Starts Hunting

Now that Marissa Mayer, Yahoo's new CEO, is back from maternity leave, she is building her new management team. On her first day back, she has hired Henrique de Castro from Google to be the company's chief operating officer. According to Yahoo's press release,  "de Castro will be responsible for strategic and operational management of Yahoo!'s sales, operations, media and business development worldwide."

Yahoo published the usual feel-good statements from both parties:

"'Henrique is an incredibly accomplished and rigorous business leader, and I'm personally excited to have him join Yahoo!'s strong leadership team,' said Marissa Mayer, CEO of Yahoo!. 'His operational experience in Internet advertising and his proven success in structuring and scaling global organizations make him the perfect fit for Yahoo! as we propel the business to its next phase of growth.'

"'The combination of Yahoo!'s unique properties with high quality content, its renewed focus on outstanding user experience and its massive reach bring tremendous value to users, advertisers and partners,' said de Castro. 'This is a pivotal point in Yahoo!'s history, and I believe strongly in the opportunity ahead. I can't wait to join Marissa and the team and get started.'"

De Castro could earn $60 million: a $600,000 base salary plus Yahoo stock and millions to compensate for lost Google stock.  

Image source with credit to YouTube.

Discussion Starters and Assignment Idea:

• Read Yahoo's press release. How is the statement organized? Do you find it well written?
• Write an email to employees announcing de Castro's appointment. How would you modify the company's press release to an internal audience?