From a purely public relations perspective, at least GM is trying to defend its public opinion during the auto mess. One of the hallmarks of PR is that if you don’t define yourself, others will do it for you.

GM introduced a page on their corporate Web site explaining their side of the auto industry meltdown. The site includes bullet points explaining how the demise of the auto industry will affect us all, a section on mobilizing efforts, and a futuristic video set to hypnotic music. Maybe this is what they listened to when they developed the “More SUVs” mantra.

COME FLY WITH ME

Yesterday’s entry, which discussed the ethical high road taken by golfer J.P. Hayes, ended with a tiny barb hurled at the auto industry CEOs who flew to Washington this week in private company jets. Timing Is everything and their little trip will forever more serve as a textbook example of the classic PR blunder.

In response to the uproar, General Motors has decided to stop leasing two of its five corporate planes.

According to GM spokesman Tom Wilkinson, the auto giant (?!?) is "very sensitive" to "the symbolic issue of people showing up in Washington in corporate jets."

Ahhhh hindsight.

WWJPD?

In a move that should trigger discussions of ethics from barrooms to classrooms, golfer J.P. Hayes chose conscience over comfort when he found himself face to face with a moral dilemma.

Is it just me, or does this story take on added impact the day after the heads of the Big Three auto makers all took private jets to DC to cry poor?

Read what went down on and off the golf course.

"Mass" Media

For an institution so steeped in tradition, the Vatican is taking a progressive look at how new technologies and the media can lead to increased readership of the Bible.

Reuters recently reported that an assembly of Catholic bishops has called for the use of mass communications, including the Internet, iPods and DVDs, to help spread the “Divine Word.”

This recent embrace of new technologies is nothing new for the Vatican, which launched one of the first Web sites in Europe. The site, which continues to impress, was introduced under Pope John Paul II, who was considered to be extremely media savvy.

Read the story here.