As the oil spill continues to threaten Gulf coast beaches and tourism, BP is going into overdrive to contain the mess -- the public relations quagmire, that is.
One thorny issue is what to do about BP's second quarter dividend, slated to be announced July 27.
How unseemly would it appear to be for BP to hand out a fat dividend to shareholders when some Gulf Coast hoteliers fear for their businesses as tar balls wash up on shore.
The Wall Street Journal reports that BP is mulling its options on the dividend and could consider trimming or delaying it.
Meanwhile, the BP website trumpets Gulf of Mexico Response at the top of its homepage, emphasizing how much oil has been contained and downplaying the ongoing slimy nightmare. Here's an image of the BP homepage:
Speaking of image, BP's crisis communications handlers have advised the company to get the word out on US national television and YouTube, as well.
BP CEO Tony Hayward takes to YouTube, apologizes for the spill and outlines how the largest environmental response in US history is under way.
And, it all will come with no cost to US taxpayers, Hayward claims.
As he makes his pitch, wholesome images of teams of workers -- all unsmudged -- cleaning the beaches fill the screen.
Here's the YouTube clip:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKcrDaiGE2s
BP, however, is facing an uphill fight in the realms of public opinion -- and social media.
Check out this YouTube spoof, BP Spills Coffee:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AAa0gd7ClM
And the very unofficial BPGlobalPR Twitter account savages BP, as well.
With all of this social media and public relations back-and-forth, local tourism boards are struggling to set the record straight.
For example, here's today's update from VisitFlorida:
Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Update: Dime to six inch-sized tar balls continue to be found in widely scattered areas from the Alabama-Florida state line east to Okaloosa County. Cleanup teams continue to be on scene. Escambia County Health Department issued a health advisory for the area extending from the Florida-Alabama line to the entrance of the Perdido Unit, Gulf Islands National Seashore. There have been no reports of Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill-related oil products reaching the shore beyond the Northwest Florida region. There is no indication that the rest of the state will have impacts from weathered oil products within the next 72 hours. At this time, there are no beach closures and Florida's state waters remain open to recreational fishing.