--- title: Inconvenient truths from social media description: Inconvenient truths from social media image: https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/hs-fs/file-3403286599-jpg/blog-files/bigstock-newspaper-and-magazine-headlin-26217005.jpg --- [![Bluechip_Logo](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/325503/Bluechip%20Assets/Images/Bluechip_Logo.svg "Bluechip_Logo")](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/) ![Search-9](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/hubfs/BlueChip%20website/Bluechip%20Assets/Images/Search-9.svg "Search-9") ![Close Icon (3)-1](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/hubfs/Bluechip%20Assets/Images/Close%20Icon%20(3)-1.svg "Close Icon (3)-1") This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached. - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. ** ![Close Icon (3)](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/325503/Bluechip%20Assets/Images/Close%20Icon%20(3).svg "Close Icon (3)") ##### Knowledge Shared # Insights ##### All Articles ![](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/hubfs/BlueChip%20website/Bluechip%20Assets/Images/down-filled-triangular-arrow.png) - [Financial Services (168)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/financial-services) - [Public Relations (133)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/public-relations) - [Marketing (111)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/marketing) - [Social Media (101)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/social-media) - [Integrated Marketing (87)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/integrated-marketing) - [Reputation Management (79)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/reputation-management) - [Crisis Management (61)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/crisis-management) - [Growth (46)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/growth) - [Profile (41)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/profile) - [COVID-19 (40)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/covid-19) - [Protect (14)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/protect) - [BC Team (9)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/bc-team) - [Blog (7)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/blog) - [Leadership communication (6)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/leadership-communication) - [Cyber Security (3)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/cyber-security) - [Client In The News (2)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/client-in-the-news) [Client In The News](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/client-in-the-news) ### [Melos Sulicich shares SME success tips on Money News’ “Let’s Talk Business”](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/melos-sulicich-shares-sme-success-tips-on-money-news-lets-talk-business) Melos Sulicich, CEO of Bank of Sydney was interviewed by 2GB’s Money News "Let's Talk Business" segment with Scott Haywood. He shared tips for family-run businesses to make sure ev... [Client In The News](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/client-in-the-news) ### [Target hostile countries, not us, drug giant CSL tells Trump](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/target-hostile-countries-not-us-drug-giant-csl-tells-trump) This is an extract from an article written by Michael Smith and Jessica Gardner in The Australian Financial Review. Published on the 10th July 2025. “It is weighing on the share pr... - ##### [Public Relations](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/public-relations) - ##### [Reputation Management](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/reputation-management) ## [Inconvenient truths from social media](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/inconvenient-truths-from-social-media/) ###### By The BlueChip Team ###### 03 Oct 2013 [Social Media](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/social-media) [Financial Services](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/financial-services) [Growth](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/growth) ##### [Reaching High Net Worth Individuals Through Social Media Marketing in 2025](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/how-target-high-net-worth-individuals-social-media) [Public Relations](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/public-relations) [Reputation Management](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/reputation-management) [Crisis Management](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/crisis-management) ##### [The Science of Crisis Communication: Proactive and Reactive Strategies](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/proactive-and-reactive-crisis-communication-strategies) [Profile](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/profile) ##### [Affluence. Effluence. Influence. Do you know the difference?](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/affluence-effluence-influence-do-you-know-the-difference/) [Public Relations](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/public-relations) [Reputation Management](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/reputation-management) [Crisis Management](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/crisis-management) ##### [Introduction to Crisis Communication](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/introduction-to-crisis-communication) # Insights. [Back to all articles](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog) - Share - [![](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/hubfs/Bluechip%20Assets/Images/facebook.svg) ](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bluechipcommunication.com.au%2Fblog%2Finconvenient-truths-from-social-media%2F) - [![](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/hubfs/Bluechip%20Assets/Images/linked%20in.svg) ](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/inconvenient-truths-from-social-media/) - [![](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/hubfs/Bluechip%20Assets/Images/twitter-1.svg) ](https://www.twitter.com/share?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bluechipcommunication.com.au%2Fblog%2Finconvenient-truths-from-social-media%2F) [![Newspaper and magazine headlines detailing the economic recessio](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/hs-fs/file-3403286599-jpg/blog-files/bigstock-newspaper-and-magazine-headlin-26217005.jpg?width=740&height=493&name=bigstock-newspaper-and-magazine-headlin-26217005.jpg)](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/hs-fs/file-3403286599-jpg/blog-files/bigstock-newspaper-and-magazine-headlin-26217005.jpg) Managing reputation risk in the world of social journalism is an exercise in planning, vigilance and swift execution of your plan. Oh, and even then, be prepared for the unexpected. Take a look at this 16 second [video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zECtWM-__Vs). Sixteen seconds of footage has the potential, if not managed well, to extract many hours of viral chaos, on and offline reputation damage and a whole litany of unforeseen consequences to your brand. The footage shows a piece of Australian shopping centre iconography (the Miranda Westfield star) being toppled by a demolition company. The rough footage has been something of a local hit – with nearly 12,000 views to date. The star has sat atop the shopping centre building, now being redeveloped by its owners, since the 1960s. It was a revolving, illuminated icon, and part of the landscape for decades. It clearly has some sentimental significance to quite a few local residents. The YouTube postings beneath the video post give a flavour for how sentimental, even enraged, certain people are about the decision to remove it. The lesson? Well, anyone with a smart phone is now also a journalist. Risk – from a reputation viewpoint – is all about us. Any brand with a contingent risk must plan, strategise and have ready to roll a swift response to head off the downside issues. Oh, and be a worthy adversary in the conversation. In this case, what positives are being planned? What is the other side of the story? What were the hazards of keeping a 50-year-old piece of infrastructure flapping on top of a public space? There are always two sides to every story. Getting your truth, your response out swiftly, concisely and with a firm target on protecting your overall reputation objectives is vital. Bruce Madden is a BlueChip co-founder, media trainer and message development expert. Follow him [@madd_23n](https://twitter.com/madd_23n) or email [mediatraining@bluechipcommunication.com.au](mailto:mediatraining@bluechipcommunication.com.au) if you’d like to know more about media training. 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How To Stay Ahead in Financial Services](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/navigating-regulatory-changes-financial-services) [Public Relations](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/public-relations) [Financial Services](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/financial-services) ###### 27 March 2024 #### [Maximise your PR Partnership: 5 Tips for Successful Collaboration](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/maximising-your-pr-partnership) [Public Relations](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/public-relations) [Reputation Management](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/reputation-management) [Crisis Management](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/crisis-management) ###### 07 March 2024 #### [Introduction to Crisis Communication](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/introduction-to-crisis-communication) [Public Relations](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/public-relations) [Crisis Management](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/crisis-management) [Profile](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/profile) [Leadership communication](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/leadership-communication) ###### 21 February 2024 #### [Talking to the media? Sean Aylmer shares his top 5 tips](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/talking-to-the-media-5-tips) [Public Relations](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/public-relations) [Profile](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/profile) [Leadership communication](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/topic/leadership-communication) ###### 03 August 2023 #### [Sonder and Leadership: Realising We're All in This Together](https://www.bluechipcommunication.com.au/blog/sonder-and-leadership) ## Stay up to date ### Marketing insights you’ll want to read. Sign up for our newsletter ## Stay up to date ### Marketing insights you’ll want to read. 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