March 4, 2022 - Source: MIRS.news ˆ
In the last two years, the country faced a once-every-100-year health pandemic, historic labor shortages and a riot inside the U.S. Capitol. The word “crisis” has been attached to all three events, but the use of the term doesn't stop there. Not by a long shot.
A review of this year's press releases, MIRS 2022 headlines and shared Michigan news content from the last seven months found the word “crisis” attached to more than 40 different categories. The term was used to describe the state of political polarization, opioid use, parental jurisdiction over education, the supply chain, the economy, inflation, the Ambassador Bridge blockage, COVID-19, the teacher shortage and healthcare worker shortage.
According to advocates, we have a crisis in gun violence, nursing home care, mental health access, excessive nutrients in the Great Lakes, our climate, Benton Harbor water, Flint water, public safety, microchips for automobiles, road funding, our democracy, affordable housing, immigration, catastrophic care, school bus driver shortages, election accessibility and public health.
MIRS also found declared crises for battery fires, child care, civil rights, domestic violence, gambling, Line 5, Michigan's prisons, PFAS contamination, prescription drugs, reproductive rights, unemployment, the Governor traveling out of state, the University of Michigan's president being fired and low female representation.
Russian President Vladimir PUTIN's invasion of Ukraine made up 4.8% of issues attached with the word "crisis."
Concerns around the supply chain, overall economy and inflation – which is at a 40 year-high of 7.5% – was used in more than 7.3% of crisis-word uses.
Last month's blockade of the Ambassador Bridge over COVID-19 vaccine mandates for truckers made nearly 4%. The event ended within a week and resulted in an estimated $299.9 million of direct losses to Michigan and Ontario automakers.
COVID-19 made more than 7.3%, the teacher shortage made up 5.6%, the healthcare worker shortage made up 3.5%, mental health made nearly 4%, nursing homes made 2.6% and violent shootings made around 3%.
Water and the Great Lakes stood at more than 20%, primarily related to the ongoing aftermath of the Flint Water Crisis and the elevated lead levels found in Benton Harbor – this also derived from the permanent title of "The Flint Water Crisis" and general references to it.
The opioid crisis came in at less than 2%. Immigration concerns were at 1.7%. Parental jurisdiction over education also reached more than 1% of the congested pool.
When asked if the word "crisis" is overused or exploited in any manner, John TRUSCOTT – the chief executive officer at Truscott Rossman and press secretary for former Gov. John ENGLER – told MIRS, "Oh sure, yes."
"Anybody who's worked truly in crisis management and crisis issues knows what a true crisis is," Truscott said. "But, yeah, the word is used pretty loosely."
For Truscott and other Capitol-bubble public relations firms in Michigan, a crisis issue is recognized when there are lives at risk as well as a fundamental negative change to how individuals operate day-to-day.
For example, Truscott said while roads can be a major inconvenience and "a royal pain to deal with," it hasn't reached a crisis status. Meanwhile, when infrastructure includes lead contamination in people's drinking water, then a crisis label is necessary.
In response to the varying categories, Truscott said "if there's no consensus over what it is, that's a really good thing – that means there isn't one thing that's rising to the top."
"We've unfortunately had the opportunity in the last couple years to witness two very legitimate crises – the pandemic and now what's going on in Ukraine," said Matt RESCH, the head of Resch Strategies in Lansing. ". . . And I think it puts what the political sector might call a crisis on any other given day some real stark perspective."
Angela MINICUCI, a partner at Martin Waymire, expressed a bit of optimism that "crisis" is not an overused word. However, she did say "we reached a point where people and organizations have become much more attuned to what emergencies their industry may have."
"People are just more attuned to being more emergent in their communications. That said, I think there's definitely some exploitation of what the scale of what a crisis may be. So when it comes to whether or not a crisis is a statewide issue – or if it's something that could be handled with some more direct communications and outreach – I think we could use some refinement there."
Resch said by putting the word "crisis" on the header of a mail piece, it "signals fear and that's something people should pay attention to and be afraid of…and I think that drives clicks, it drives eyeballs and it drives people to read what you're saying."
He said while the COVID-19 pandemic was a legitimate crisis, it can be unfortunate when news professionals, politicians or public relations professionals use the pandemic "to tie it into whatever their pet crisis might be of the day."
"When someone comes to us and says they have a crisis. Again, to them, that may very well be a crisis…but all that really means to me is that they have an important decision to make," Minicuci said. "Things that have to do with our economy and our ability for families to be financially stable and secure, safety issues…those are major, major crises."
Communications leaders in Michigan agreed that 2022 possesses all of the qualities to incite the use of the word "crisis."
Michigan's debut citizens redistricting commission created brand-new districts for lawmakers to battle it out for. "Crisis" could be used in a fundraising mailer to nudge a voter to cough up $5 – whether the tactic be used by a Democrat trying to protect the Great Lakes from a Line 5 oil spill or a MAGA conservative campaigning off the promise of a forensic audit for the 2020 general election.
Additionally, Michigan holds a historic surplus of cash – both with $5.8 billion in forecasted extra state revenues and $15 billion still untouched in federal COVID-19 recovery dollars and infrastructure funds.
Granted, many Republican lawmakers view the Governor's $74.1 billion spending plan as being insubstantial…but if stakeholders can level-up the urgency around their cause, they can attract some dollars their way.
"You're having to really look to differentiate yourself from other issues and try to stand out because the line is getting really, really long of interests and groups that want money…and there's a lot of money to be given," Resch said.
A review of this year's press releases, MIRS 2022 headlines and shared Michigan news content from the last seven months found the word “crisis” attached to more than 40 different categories. The term was used to describe the state of political polarization, opioid use, parental jurisdiction over education, the supply chain, the economy, inflation, the Ambassador Bridge blockage, COVID-19, the teacher shortage and healthcare worker shortage.
According to advocates, we have a crisis in gun violence, nursing home care, mental health access, excessive nutrients in the Great Lakes, our climate, Benton Harbor water, Flint water, public safety, microchips for automobiles, road funding, our democracy, affordable housing, immigration, catastrophic care, school bus driver shortages, election accessibility and public health.
MIRS also found declared crises for battery fires, child care, civil rights, domestic violence, gambling, Line 5, Michigan's prisons, PFAS contamination, prescription drugs, reproductive rights, unemployment, the Governor traveling out of state, the University of Michigan's president being fired and low female representation.
Russian President Vladimir PUTIN's invasion of Ukraine made up 4.8% of issues attached with the word "crisis."
Concerns around the supply chain, overall economy and inflation – which is at a 40 year-high of 7.5% – was used in more than 7.3% of crisis-word uses.
Last month's blockade of the Ambassador Bridge over COVID-19 vaccine mandates for truckers made nearly 4%. The event ended within a week and resulted in an estimated $299.9 million of direct losses to Michigan and Ontario automakers.
COVID-19 made more than 7.3%, the teacher shortage made up 5.6%, the healthcare worker shortage made up 3.5%, mental health made nearly 4%, nursing homes made 2.6% and violent shootings made around 3%.
Water and the Great Lakes stood at more than 20%, primarily related to the ongoing aftermath of the Flint Water Crisis and the elevated lead levels found in Benton Harbor – this also derived from the permanent title of "The Flint Water Crisis" and general references to it.
The opioid crisis came in at less than 2%. Immigration concerns were at 1.7%. Parental jurisdiction over education also reached more than 1% of the congested pool.
When asked if the word "crisis" is overused or exploited in any manner, John TRUSCOTT – the chief executive officer at Truscott Rossman and press secretary for former Gov. John ENGLER – told MIRS, "Oh sure, yes."
"Anybody who's worked truly in crisis management and crisis issues knows what a true crisis is," Truscott said. "But, yeah, the word is used pretty loosely."
For Truscott and other Capitol-bubble public relations firms in Michigan, a crisis issue is recognized when there are lives at risk as well as a fundamental negative change to how individuals operate day-to-day.
For example, Truscott said while roads can be a major inconvenience and "a royal pain to deal with," it hasn't reached a crisis status. Meanwhile, when infrastructure includes lead contamination in people's drinking water, then a crisis label is necessary.
In response to the varying categories, Truscott said "if there's no consensus over what it is, that's a really good thing – that means there isn't one thing that's rising to the top."
"We've unfortunately had the opportunity in the last couple years to witness two very legitimate crises – the pandemic and now what's going on in Ukraine," said Matt RESCH, the head of Resch Strategies in Lansing. ". . . And I think it puts what the political sector might call a crisis on any other given day some real stark perspective."
Angela MINICUCI, a partner at Martin Waymire, expressed a bit of optimism that "crisis" is not an overused word. However, she did say "we reached a point where people and organizations have become much more attuned to what emergencies their industry may have."
"People are just more attuned to being more emergent in their communications. That said, I think there's definitely some exploitation of what the scale of what a crisis may be. So when it comes to whether or not a crisis is a statewide issue – or if it's something that could be handled with some more direct communications and outreach – I think we could use some refinement there."
Resch said by putting the word "crisis" on the header of a mail piece, it "signals fear and that's something people should pay attention to and be afraid of…and I think that drives clicks, it drives eyeballs and it drives people to read what you're saying."
He said while the COVID-19 pandemic was a legitimate crisis, it can be unfortunate when news professionals, politicians or public relations professionals use the pandemic "to tie it into whatever their pet crisis might be of the day."
"When someone comes to us and says they have a crisis. Again, to them, that may very well be a crisis…but all that really means to me is that they have an important decision to make," Minicuci said. "Things that have to do with our economy and our ability for families to be financially stable and secure, safety issues…those are major, major crises."
Communications leaders in Michigan agreed that 2022 possesses all of the qualities to incite the use of the word "crisis."
Michigan's debut citizens redistricting commission created brand-new districts for lawmakers to battle it out for. "Crisis" could be used in a fundraising mailer to nudge a voter to cough up $5 – whether the tactic be used by a Democrat trying to protect the Great Lakes from a Line 5 oil spill or a MAGA conservative campaigning off the promise of a forensic audit for the 2020 general election.
Additionally, Michigan holds a historic surplus of cash – both with $5.8 billion in forecasted extra state revenues and $15 billion still untouched in federal COVID-19 recovery dollars and infrastructure funds.
Granted, many Republican lawmakers view the Governor's $74.1 billion spending plan as being insubstantial…but if stakeholders can level-up the urgency around their cause, they can attract some dollars their way.
"You're having to really look to differentiate yourself from other issues and try to stand out because the line is getting really, really long of interests and groups that want money…and there's a lot of money to be given," Resch said.
