Skip to main content
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • ’Cuse Conversations Podcast
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • University Statements
  • Syracuse University Impact
  • |
  • The Peel
  • Athletics
Sections
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • University Statements
  • Syracuse University Impact
  • |
  • The Peel
  • Athletics
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • ’Cuse Conversations Podcast
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit

Grisham Out-a Public Relations Perspective

Tuesday, April 7, 2020, By Hailey Womer
Share

April 7, 2020

If you are writing about Stephanie Grisham stepping down as White House press secretary, please consider the comments below from Tony D’Angelo. D’Angelo is a public relations professor at Syracuse University’s Newhouse School and former director of the Public Relations Society of America. He offers a PR point-of-view regarding one of the nation’s top PR positions. If you care for an interview please contact kkobland@syr.edu.

Before signing on to a job like this the communications person should know who is actually going to be in charge of the communications function—not on the org chart, but in daily life. If you don’t have some real decision-making ability you can easily find yourself in a compromised position or be scapegoated.

I presume experienced professionals have a good sense of what they’re signing up for. They should ask themselves if they’re prepared to manage through it, and to pay the price if organizational communications aren’t credible or don’t turn out well.

Grisham was wearing three hats: director of communications for Melania Trump, and communications director and press secretary for President Trump. That signals a diminution of all three roles, not a positive signal if you’re in them. Also knowing that Hope Hicks is back in the picture and Pence’s staff is handling pandemic communications makes me ask “who’s on first?”

With any organization, this lack of clarity is a fertile environment for palace intrigue—and for dysfunctional communication that erodes trust among stakeholders. Ultimately the chief reputation officer of an organization is the CEO, and Trump is that for the federal government. All official communication will be as effective and trusted as he enables it to be. Leaders, companies and brands don’t get to decide if they’re trusted—their audiences do—so communications professionals must decide thoughtfully which ones they’ll join. That decision has material consequences for organizational and individual reputations.

  • Author

Hailey Womer

  • Recent
  • Newhouse Creative Advertising Students Win Big at Sports and Entertainment Clios
    Friday, May 30, 2025, By News Staff
  • Syracuse University Libraries’ Information Literacy Scholars Produce Information Literacy Collab Journal
    Thursday, May 29, 2025, By Cristina Hatem
  • Syracuse Spirit on Display: Limited-Edition Poster Supports Future Generations
    Thursday, May 29, 2025, By News Staff
  • Timur Hammond’s ‘Placing Islam’ Receives Journal’s Honorable Mention
    Tuesday, May 27, 2025, By News Staff
  • Syracuse University, Lockerbie Academy Reimagine Partnership, Strengthen Bond
    Friday, May 23, 2025, By News Staff

More In Uncategorized

Syracuse Views Summer 2025

We want to know how you experience Syracuse University. Take a photo and share it with us. We select photos from a variety of sources. Submit photos of your University experience by sending them directly to Syracuse University News at…

Syracuse Views Spring 2025

We want to know how you experience Syracuse University. Take a photo and share it with us. We select photos from a variety of sources. Submit photos of your University experience by sending them directly to Syracuse University News at…

Syracuse Views Fall 2024

We want to know how you experience Syracuse University. Take a photo and share it with us. We select photos from a variety of sources. Submit photos of your University experience by sending them directly to Syracuse University News at…

Syracuse Views Summer 2024

We want to know how you experience Syracuse University. Take a photo and share it with us. We select photos from a variety of sources. Submit photos of your University experience by filling out a submission form or sending it directly…

Syracuse Views Spring 2024

We want to know how you experience Syracuse University. Take a photo and share it with us. We select photos from a variety of sources. Submit photos of your University experience by filling out a submission form or sending it…

Subscribe to SU Today

If you need help with your subscription, contact sunews@syr.edu.

Connect With Us

  • Facebook
  • @SyracuseUNews
  • Youtube
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
  • @SyracuseU
  • @SyracuseUNews
  • Social Media Directory
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy
  • Campus Status
  • Syracuse.edu
© 2025 Syracuse University News. All Rights Reserved.