REPUTATION MANAGEMENT FOR TARGET AUDIENCES

Some Recent Attacks on the Census Bureau

Prepared by Kenneth C. Meyer

United States Census Bureau

RECENT INCIDENTS

DATA MINING

SPECIAL TABULATIONS & EXTRACTS

SPECIAL TABULATIONS & EXTRACTS

ARAB-AMERICAN DATA REQUEST

COMMUNICATIONS COUNTERMEASURES

Notified key staff and stakeholders

Formed communications strategy

Developed messages & conducted media training

Drafted RTQ for interim policy

Pitched interim policy & arranged interview opportunities

Issued News Release announcing policy

COMMUNICATIONS COUNTERMEASURES

(cont’d)

Participated in preparations for:

--- Informational teleconference with key stakeholders

--- Joint Census Advisory Committee meeting

Arranged spokesperson for talk radio show

Issued News Release announcing CPO

Arranged Ed Boards for Director

SUMMARY

IDENTIFY ATTACKS– Monitor the media closely– Be alert to sensitivities of stakeholders

MANAGE REPUTATION– Reactive measures– Proactive measures

CONCLUSION

A good reputation is critical to public confidence

The greatest challenge for national statistical agencies is the loss of respondent cooperation