June 4, 2020
PMI Brought to the local & global media, a webinar that was held on June 2, 2020, and led by Philip Morris International’s Senior Vice President of Communications Marian Salzman. It discussed the shift in communication strategies, and current trends regarding the current Covid-19 pandemic. Attending the webinar were PMI’s stakeholders, as well as global, and regional media personalities.
The webinar covered several topics on how larger corporations should act, rather than to voice their support to their audiences. With several service-related industries shifting their services to manageable virtual arrangements, and the increased attention to media, the webinar highlights the importance of the effective communication of empathy during a time when people are paying close attention.
Acts of kindness from corporations to their workers increased, as they are showing support to smaller causes, as well as smaller businesses. Salzman explained that these acts are a result of the current pandemic and that they should be normalized moving forward. Other questions that were answered were the importance of discussing racial injustice today, as well as gender inequality.
PMI’s Senior Vice President of Communications explained that instead of voicing their solidarity, brands should be showing it. Brands today are supporting the communities in which their customers, and employees are a part of and they are also allowing them to consider adopting feasible solutions to cope with the global economic crisis.