How an association should NOT hold a press conference!

I recently witnessed and frankly should've commented on this before. Those who follow the association scene in Canada might recall back to March 23, 2010 when Dale Ripplinger, the President of the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) on reacting to a ruling of the Competition Bureau of Canada held a press conference in response to a ruling that arguably did not go in their favour. And while my point is not to argue the merits of their position, I must wonder what they were thinking in holding a press conference and who prepared their representative for what would likely be an aggressive media situation.

Some quick background info:

In Canada, the MLS system is operated by CREA, and until recently, nobody but a realtor could put a listing on that system. This upset people who wanted to sell their house on their own. In response, the Competition Bureau has intervened ordering them to open the system up. In a VERY odd decision, the Canadian Real Estate Association decided to call a press conference and then not take questions!

In my humble opinion, they would've been better off just issuing a written statement than subjecting themselves to this PR nightmare. Please take a look for yourself and let me know your thoughts. Click here



Mark A. Buzan, APR
Principal & Chief Magnifier
Action Strategies
#3, 270 rue Champlain
Gatineau, Quebec J8X 3S1
819.770.2899 phone
877-336-2701 toll free fax
http://www.actionstrategies.ca (Action Strategies website)

LinkedIn Group for Government Relations: http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=2465512&trk=hb_side_g
LinkedIn Group for Non-Profit Communications: http://tinyurl.com/nonprofitideas