Maverick Indonesia
Why Gibran and Kaesang can’t get out of the Spotlight
When media training, we tell participants that one definition of news is something that someone, somewhere wants to cover up. They should therefore never give the impression to journalists (and these days, netizens who act as citizen journalists too)...
How Sec Bowl Overcame the Scandal of a Worker Washing its Dirty Dishes in the Toilet
When news travels at lightning speed on social media, the way a company handles an issue can make all the difference. Sec Bowl, a popular restaurant chain known for its salted egg chicken, recently found itself in the spotlight...
#PRbyNumbers: How a Simple Word Became a Powerful Political Tool
Start of “Weird” CampaignSince July 2024, the Weird campaign against Trump has become central to the Democrats 2024 strategy against Donald Trump and JD Vance. The narrative began with Tim Walz’s critique of Trump during his July 23 appearance...
National Data Center Hack: Lessons Learned in Crisis Communication
Indonesia’s Data Caper: A Cautionary Tale The recent ransomware attack on Indonesia’s National Data Center, which saw hackers demand a cool $8 million, serves as a stark reminder of the importance of effective crisis communication. While the technical aspects...
Measuring Impact in the Age of AI: Why Data is the New Currency of Communication
In the ever-evolving landscape of communications, measuring impact has transitioned from traditional metrics to a sophisticated integration of data and technology. Reflecting on my journey since attending the AMEC Summit in Barcelona back in 2018, I realize how much...
From Likes to Learnings: The Decline of Entertainment Influencers?
You probably go to Instagram or Tiktok mainly for entertainment but remember the feeling you get the last time you learned a surprising fact or picked up a new skill while scrolling through Instagram or TikTok? It might surprise...
A Guide for Businesses Engaging with the Indonesian Media that is struggling to survive
A recent study by the Indonesian Press Council (Dewan Pers) and Universitas Multimedia Nusantara offers valuable insights for businesses navigating the rapidly changing media landscape. The research, titled “Indonesian Media Industry Landscape and the Impact of Digitalization 2023,” highlights...
When Brand Ambassadors can plunge your brand into a crisis
You would think that to be the ambassador of a prominent brand these days you’d be an expert on the mores of Netizens. Common sense suggests that such influencers, who virtually live on social media, would know what sits...
Careful Where You Step: Responding Aggressively During a Crisis Might Cost Your Company Money
It seems intuitive for listed companies facing a crisis-like situation: respond aggressively to defend yourself, tell your side of the story, regain the narrative and thereby reestablish control of the situation. If you’re the CEO or communications head of...
United broke my guitar: A case of missed opportunity in incident handling
In 2009 United Airlines lost 180 million USD in stock value and an untold amount of reputational damage — all because of a disgruntled passenger. Musician Dave Carroll took a United Airlines flight and checked in his $3,500 Taylor...