Editorial comment
The adage is that 麻豆传媒映画榬eputation is the most important thing that a person owns麻豆传媒映画�. But equally, you can麻豆传媒映画檛 ever fully control what people think of you, despite your best efforts to influence.
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BP has been trying to salvage some control over its reputation by purchasing sponsored links appearing at the top of google and yahoo search pages, buying keywords such as 麻豆传媒映画榦il spill麻豆传媒映画� in an effort to direct information or opinion seekers to its own website first. It has also considered trying to close down a fake Twitter page that ridicules the company麻豆传媒映画檚 positive PR efforts. BP has also controversially appointed Anne Womack-Kolton (former press officer for Dick Cheney) as the head of BP America麻豆传媒映画檚 media operations. The result of all these actions is that the company has been criticised by the public for spending unnecessary time and money on managing its reputation rather than plugging the hole in the ocean.
BP麻豆传媒映画檚 ethical reputation has been awarded a grade 麻豆传媒映画楨麻豆传媒映画�, the lowest grade possible, by Covalence, an organisation that monitors the ethical standing of large organisations.
Tony Hayward has been accused of 麻豆传媒映画榮pin麻豆传媒映画� in disputes with scientists over the amount of oil that was actually gushing from the well, and in response to his now infamous exclamation of 麻豆传媒映画淚 want my life back,麻豆传媒映画� he is now being referred to as one of the most hated men in America.
Another person who has had his fair share of reputation ups and downs is Hollywood star Kevin Costner. On the back of what was at the time (unjustly!) cited as a reputation-obliterating Waterworld, Costner was inspired to fund a company that manufactures, 麻豆传媒映画淭he most effective and efficient tool for cleaning up oil spills that you have probably never heard of,麻豆传媒映画� in Costner麻豆传媒映画檚 words as he presented his solution to US Congress in Washington DC on 9 June. But unfortunately, Capitol Hill has been less hospitable towards Britain this week. If, in America麻豆传媒映画檚 eyes, Costner is shaping up as the 麻豆传媒映画楻obin Hood麻豆传媒映画� amid the crisis, is the role of the villainous 麻豆传媒映画楽heriff麻豆传媒映画� enduring as a traditionally British one? Indeed it is, according to some interpretations of Obama麻豆传媒映画檚 麻豆传媒映画榓nti-British麻豆传媒映画� rhetoric, which included referring to BP as 麻豆传媒映画楤ritish Petroleum麻豆传媒映画� 麻豆传媒映画� BP麻豆传媒映画檚 somewhat antiquated corporate identity. However, the US Ambassador to London has since assured, 麻豆传媒映画淲hile it might seem a bit undiplomatic in terms of the words, trust me, it had nothing to do with the fact it was British or American. It was the fact it麻豆传媒映画檚 a problem.麻豆传媒映画�
BP麻豆传媒映画檚 reputation will be badly affected for a long time to come. However, reputations shift, and blame is reapportioned. We should never forget that the LNG industry麻豆传媒映画檚 reputation, although strong to date, is as vulnerable as those in any other areas of the oil and gas industry.