Reputation Radar

PR, corporate and crisis communications, sourced weekly.

A University Asked Students to Imitate Pat McAfee. Students Called Him “Creepy.” The University Apologized.

Salt Lake Tribune / Scripps News / KUTV · Oct. 24-27, 2026

Before ESPN’s “College GameDay” broadcast from the University of Utah on Oct. 24, the school’s Instagram account posted a video asking students, “Can you do an impression of Pat McAfee?” Some students called him “corny” and “creepy.” McAfee said on his show that he was uncomfortable and “didn’t appreciate the university amplifying like that.” The post was deleted. The university said its goal was “lighthearted engagement,” but it “missed the mark” and took “full accountability” for the decision. It also said, “We sincerely apologize for creating any perception that Pat was unsafe or unwelcome on our campus.” Your own accounts speak for you. If you invite people to poke fun at your guest, what they say becomes your problem. The university took responsibility and didn’t blame the students, which was the right call.

A New Mexico Hospital System Went Dark in a Cyberattack. Patients Were Told to Stay Home, and the Hospital Said Little at First.

Associated Press / Albuquerque Journal / Cleveland19 · Oct. 26-28, 2026

On Oct. 26, a cyberattack forced the University of New Mexico’s hospital system to divert ambulances for about two hours and cancel appointments at more than 30 clinics, leaving the state without an emergency department able to treat the most serious injuries. Patients were told not to come to the main hospital, and health sciences classes were canceled for two days. Employees reported messages on their computers claiming hackers had stolen data. A UNM spokesperson declined to comment, citing an active law enforcement investigation. By Tuesday, UNM said all systems were back online and that the attack “affected some end-user devices but did not penetrate core systems or servers.” In Cleveland, University Hospitals said its patient portal, MyChart, was still down Oct. 28, a week into its own cybersecurity incident. It said most appointments were going ahead as normal, staff were calling patients with reminders, and it apologized. When systems go down, tell patients what to do and what still works, then say what you know as soon as you can. If you stay quiet at first, whoever attacked you gets to tell the story.

Flock’s CEO Told Police Chiefs the Backlash Isn’t Real. The Audio Leaked.

404 Media / Straight Arrow News · Oct. 26-27, 2026

Last week’s issue covered Kentucky towns switching off their Flock license plate cameras. At a private police chiefs’ conference in Orlando on Oct. 25, Flock CEO Garrett Langley said online opposition is “anonymous bots, and so it is not real,” and that chatter about Flock is down 95 percent since July. He offered no evidence. He also reportedly said his wife told him never to apologize, and that he’d rather not do press interviews again. Flock has not publicly commented on the recording. Telling critics that their anger isn’t real tells them you’re not listening. Admit the pushback is real and answer it. And assume anything you say in a closed room will get out.

eBay’s CEO Wrote “Our Strategy Is Working” in a Memo Cutting 9% of the Company. The Memo Leaked.

Reuters / Fox Business · Oct. 22, 2026

eBay is cutting about 1,000 jobs, roughly 9% of its workforce, in its second round of layoffs this year. In February it cut about 800 jobs. Reuters obtained CEO Jamie Iannone’s internal memo, and an eBay spokesperson confirmed the cuts to Reuters. In the memo he wrote, “Our strategy is working.” Affected employees will be notified in the coming days. Write every internal memo as if it will be public within hours. “Our strategy is working” in a memo that cuts 9% of jobs invites an obvious question, and the people losing their jobs will read it first.