I Want My TV

New studies by the University at Buffalo and Miami University of Ohio found that watching TV can drive away feelings of loneliness and rejection. The studies are reported in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology and suggest that watching TV provides viewers with the illusion that their social needs are being met. The 'social surrogacy hypothesis’ tested in these studies posits that people can use the media to provide the experience of belonging when no real belongingness has been experienced. The studies found that subjects felt less lonely when viewing their favorite TV shows; subjects’ belongingness needs were aroused when viewing their favorite shows; thinking about favorite TV shows buffered subjects against drops in self-esteem, increases in negative mood and feelings of rejection, and subjects verbally expressed fewer feelings of loneliness after viewing their preferred TV shows. Researchers concluded that a viewer's fictional bond with TV characters can help ease their need to connect with others. The study authors noted, however, that it remains an open question whether social surrogacy suppresses belongingness needs or actually fulfills them. They acknowledge that the kind of social surrogacy provoked by these programs can be a poor substitution for 'real' human-to-human experience. Television viewership is up in this down economy, which isn't all that surprising. TV is, after all, a cheap form of escapism. But before you tune in to tune out the realities of recession, remember that prime-time TV is full of pretty people and even prettier things. All this glamour affects how you think about your position in the world. According to Boston College sociologist Juliet Schor, "Television viewing results in an up-scaling of desire, and that in turn leads people to buy." Her study found that every additional hour of TV viewing per week boosts spending by roughly $200 a year. So a handful of sitcoms and a reality series or two can cost you more than a grand a year. Forget keeping up with the Joneses; now people are struggling to keep up with the Kardashians. If you can't bring yourself to give up TV entirely, then at least stop watching shows centered on the lifestyles of the fictionally rich. Try COPS or The NewsHour With Jim Lehrer. No one ever looked at the PBS anchor and said, "I've got to get a blazer like that!"

Crisis Management

Crisis management is a comprehensive subject that encompasses all aspects of business, including operations, marketing and media relations, distribution and legal matters. As such, extensive interpersonal communication is needed among the affected groups. Over the past 18 months, it has been said many times that crisis management planning is more urgent now than ever. This is not true; it should have been urgent earlier. The risks have been known for some time-the difference is that public perception has been heightened. What constitutes a crisis? Any incident that can focus negative attention on a company and have an adverse effect on its overall financial condition, its relationships with its audiences or its reputation in the marketplace. Crisis management involves planning, organizing, leading, and controlling assets and activities in the critical period immediately before, during and after an actual or impending catastrophe to reduce the loss of resources essential to the organization's eventual full recovery. The goal of a crisis management plan is for the company to survive the crisis with its reputation and assets intact. This may seem a rather simple and obvious goal. However, experience shows that many organizations do not address the planning process adequately enough to prepare for response. The importance of proper planning is demonstrated after a crisis has occurred. Many organizations fail following a significant crisis due to poor planning; others survive because of their plans and their response. A company must constantly identify risks, assess the risks, plan and prepare for a crisis, mobilize and respond to the crisis immediately, and test the planning. A point person should have the responsibility of being the spokesperson and only one. Given the importance of the subject and the need to involve personnel from all levels of an organization, the responsible individual must have the appropriate authority to ensure success. Crisis management planning is a complex subject that requires a multidisciplinary approach. Many resources are available to help organizations develop these plans. If done correctly, developing a plan is a time-consuming process that thoroughly evaluates and quantifies risks and provides a framework for response. Each plan will be unique to the business entity that develops it. Business decisions must be made with respect to risks to be retained and risks to be insured. Control measures can be implemented, but risk cannot be eliminated. Proper planning and effective response can significantly minimize the impact of a crisis on any business.