The MySweetCharity morning shift of elves was hard at work when they heard pounding outside the MSC headquarters. Lo and behold, they discovered Queenie building a doghouse next to the MSC compost pile. On their chocolate milk and graham cracker break, they scurried outside to see the new puppy, but there was no dog. And they wondered why Queenie would put a puppy near the stinky heap.
A vote was taken and Ellery Elf was elected to ask Queenie if the pooch was on its way.
Without losing a beat in her pounding of nails, Queenie responded, “What makes you think we would be getting another dog?”
Ellery said it was the doghouse that she was constructing.
Queenie stopped her work and turned to look at Ellery. “Why would we ever put an animal outside and away from us?”
Ellery then asked what the doghouse was for.
Queenie told all the elves to gather around for a story.
It seems that last week a nonprofit put a shout-out to the media to gather for an announcement about the organization’s future plans. Following the press conference, a release was distributed quoting the head of the nonprofit.
Only problem? The statements were made by a man, not the female head of the group. She was out of town.
When the person who issued the release was asked about the misidentification of the speaker, no response came.
In another case, there was a presentation by another major nonprofit. Following the big event that had a number of the area’s leaders presenting others with awards, the PR person distributed the release with the wrong information about those involved. Two media outlets ran the articles based on the release. Luckily, MySweetCharity was not one of them.
“Oh, sweet Queenie, how can this be?” Ellery said, as tears of guacamole started streaming down the faces of the elves. They had never heard of such a thing.
Feeling sorry for the elves for losing their innocence, Queenie explained, “Public relations people are hardworking folks, who try to be the go-between their client and the media. That is not an easy job at all. However, when they knowingly provide totally incorrect information, they are ill serving their clients and damaging their credibility with the media.”
Seeing the elves shaken by such news, Elder Elf asked, “Oh Most Benevolent Queenie, what does this dastardly dilemma have to do with the doghouse?”
As Queenie turned around to hammer the last of the nails in place, she was heard to say, “It’s for those who think misinformation is acceptable.”