Employer Dezenhall Resources Role Consultant Name Eric Dezenhall | Website Dezenhall.com Title Founder and CEO | |
Residence Washington, D.C., United States Books Damage Control, Glass Jaw: A Manifesto, Nail 'em!, Money wanders, Jackie disaster | ||
Eric Dezenhall. Skype lecture for PR students
Eric B. Dezenhall (born September 9, 1962 in Camden, New Jersey) is an American crisis management consultant, author, and founder of Washington D.C.-based public relations firm Dezenhall Resources. His aggressive tactics on behalf of his clients have made him both a target of criticism and a quoted pundit on crisis communications.
Contents
- Eric Dezenhall Skype lecture for PR students
- Eric Dezenhall 2011 National Book Festival
- Career
- Writing
- Criticism
- Nonfiction
- Fiction
- References
Eric Dezenhall: 2011 National Book Festival
Career
Dezenhall grew up in New Jersey and studied news media and political science at Dartmouth College. Dezenhall worked briefly in President Ronald Reagan's White House communications office. After a four-year stint at Porter Novelli, Dezenhall and boss Nick Nichols left to form Nichols-Dezenhall Communications Management Company in 1987. The company's name was shortened to Dezenhall Resources Ltd. in 2004 after Nichols retired in 2003. Dezenhall and fellow principal John Weber oversee offices in Washington DC, Sacramento, Los Angeles, London and Brussels.
Writing
Dezenhall writes both non-fiction and novels. His non-fiction works include Nail 'em: Confronting High-Profile Attacks on Celebrities and Business and he co-authored Damage Control: Why Everything You Know About Crisis Management is Wrong.
Dezenhall's novels include Turnpike Flameout, Shakedown Beach, Money Wanders, Jackie Disaster, and Spinning Dixie.
Criticism
Kevin McCauley from O'Dwyer's PR Report called Dezenhall "the pit bull of public relations", and journalist Bill Moyers, discussing Dezenhall's firm's involvement with the chemical industry stated, "I consider [Dezenhall Resources] the Mafia of the industry." Dezenhall has been criticized for being a "spin doctor" who lowers the quality of public debate for the sake of protecting business interests. His effort on behalf of Exxon to pressure the Internal Revenue Service to revoke Greenpeace's tax exempt status was condemned by environmental advocates. His efforts on behalf of traditional publishers to combat open access to scientific research have been an ongoing source of controversy in the academic community.