Female Communicators Say Former H-P Chairwoman Was Treated Fairly in the Press

Business Wire, Oct 4, 2006

Yet, 48% Say Coverage Would Be Different If Patricia Dunn Were Male

NEW YORK -- CEO misconduct has equal-opportunity repercussions, according to a recent survey of female communications professionals. Of 151 members of New York Women in Communications (NYWICI) responding to a September 25-29 survey about recent coverage of the Hewlett-Packard pretexting scandal and its aftermath, 62 percent say that media presented a fair characterization of former Chairwoman Patricia Dunn, who resigned following revelations that she authorized an investigation using dubious methods to uncover identities of Board members who may have leaked information to the press. Yet, when asked if the coverage would have been any different for a male Chairman named Patrick Dunn, a large minority of respondents (48 percent) said they felt that "Patrick Dunn" would have generated a different quality or volume of media reporting.

"Though most responding to the survey said Ms. Dunn was treated fairly in the press, many seem to feel gender plays a role in public perception," explained Betsy Morgan, Senior Vice President of CBS Digital Media and President of NYWICI. "Some said a male Chairman in a similar situation would receive even greater or harsher media scrutiny, while others suggest that all chief executives, regardless of gender, are being held to a higher standard post-Enron."

NYWICI members were also asked about Ms. Dunn's handling of media relations following the revelations of alleged misconduct. Fifty-two percent said Ms. Dunn handled media relations poorly or very poorly, with 43 percent staking out a middle ground, and only 6 percent offering kudos on her media strategy.

Founded in 1929, New York Women in Communications, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization that serves over 1000 women communications professionals in the New York Metropolitan area. The organization offers programs to advance the practice of communications and to meet the professional development needs of those practicing in the print, broadcast and electronic communications fields.

The survey was conducted from September 26-29 via email to over 2000 professional communicators affiliated with New York Women in Communications and yielded 151 respondents.