To recap the issues raised during today’s conference call, here are the key media stories we discussed, and the messages we’re conveying.
If there is a subject you would like to see addressed on Wednesday, February 5, please email me at michaelb@iii.org.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA SCHOOLS, BUSINESSES CLOSE AS SNOWSTORM BRINGS CITY TO A HALT; WEATHER CHANNEL INTERVIEWS THE I.I.I.
Since the call, the CBS Evening News’ Thursday, January 30, broadcast began with stories about Atlanta. The I.I.I.’s Bill Davis gave a live interview to The Weather Channel the same day.
DURING SUPER BOWL WEEK, THE I.I.I. ISSUES RELEASES ON INSURANCE REPERCUSSIONS OF RENTING OUT YOUR RESIDENCE, HOSTING A PARTY
The I.I.I.’s Jeanne Salvatore was interviewed for this Tuesday, January 28, WNBC-TV segment on Super Bowl rentals. The I.I.I.’s social host liability release also received media pick-up.
AON TERRORISM DATA SHOWS RETAIL, TRANSPORTATION SECTORS FACE THE HIGHEST RISKS OF ATTACK
Aon’s 2014 Terrorism and Political Violence Map report was released on Tuesday, January 28, and found that Brazil faced an increased risk of unrest in advance of soccer’s World Cup this year.
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION HEAVILY REDACTS DOCUMENTS RELEASED IN RESPONSE TO WALL STREET JOURNAL FREEDOM OF INFORMATION LAW REQUEST
The SEC’s response to a request for information about its now-closed investigation into AIG’s London office revealed little, The Wall Street Journal reported, on Tuesday, January 28.
STORIES IN THE WORKS
The I.I.I.’s Bob Hartwig spoke with The Wall Street Journal and Leader’s Edge about the gun liability issues emerging from events like last weekend’s mall shooting in Maryland.
InsuranceQuotes.com is readying a story pegged to a Quadrant study, assessing on a state-by-state level the link between moving violations and the cost of auto insurance. James Lynch, the I.I.I.’s chief actuary, developed our internal analysis of Quadrant’s findings and the I.I.I.’s Mike Barry spoke with reporter Nick DiUlio about this issue.
CAPITOL HILL
The Homeowners Flood Insurance Affordability Act, sponsored by U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-New Jersey), is coming to a vote this week, and would if enacted set aside 2012’s Biggert-Waters Act.
The I.I.I.’s Claire Wilkinson examined the Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) report on the flood insurance program’s finances on Tuesday, January 28.
The U.S. House of Representatives will hold on Tuesday, February 4, a public hearing on the Federal Insurance Office’s regulatory modernization report.
STATES
Alaska
The president declared on Thursday, January 23, that federal disaster aid is available to supplement state efforts in the areas affected by severe storms and flooding in November 2013.
California
Consumer Watchdog (CW) wants to bar auto insurers from selling policies through affinity groups, arguing insurers use these relationships to assess a driver’s occupation and education.
The Insurance Information Network of California’s (IINC) Pete Moraga rebutted CW’s assertions in a Wednesday, January 29, interview with Los Angeles’ ABC affiliate.
The California Department of Insurance issued a statement in response to CW’s Wednesday, January 29, news conference.
IINC’s Moraga was quoted in this Tuesday, January 28, San Francisco Chronicle article about an insurance-related lawsuit filed against Uber and an UberX driver.
A grand jury brought insurance fraud indictments against individuals affiliated with four businesses, according to this Tuesday, January 28, San Diego County District Attorney news release.
Florida
The I.I.I.’s Hartwig delivered a presentation at a Willis Re Summit on the State of the Florida Property Insurance Market on Tuesday, January 28.
The Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) issued a report last week saying most drivers are seeing reductions in their Personal Injury Protection (PIP) premiums because of House Bill 119.
The Palm Beach Post challenged the OIR’s assessment of HB 119’s impact, and said overall auto rates are rising in many instances, according to this Saturday, January 25, story.
The I.I.I.’s Lynne McChristian weighed in on the OIR’s just-released report in a Tuesday, January 28, Straight Talk blog post.
Homeowners Choice, an insurance subsidiary of HCI Group, says it is the first admitted homeowners insurance carrier to provide flood insurance in Florida since mid-2012.
Chris Chmura of Tampa Bay’s Fox affiliate is doing research into insurance agent compensation for a story that will also look at pay schedules in other professions.
Louisiana
The Obama administration is opposed to delaying implementation of 2012’s Biggert-Waters Act, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reported, in this Tuesday, January 28, article.
Citizens may have to return $16 million to policyholders who were wrongfully billed a $65 application fee, the Baton Rouge Advocate reported in its Monday, January 27, edition.
New York
This Monday, January 27, Wall Street Journal article says Superintendent Ben Lawsky is concerned about life insurer access to the Social Security Administration’s Death Master File.
North Carolina
Five individuals have been arrested for their alleged roles in a staged accident scam in Buncombe County, according to this Thursday, January 30, Insurance Department news release.
Virginia
The state’s Corporation Commission will receive written comments through March 14, 2014, on its 2013 report on long-term care insurance laws and regulations.
SOCIAL MEDIA REPORT
Many U.S. senators are taking to social media to urge their colleagues to approve a bill that will delay most of the scheduled flood insurance premium rate increases for four years.
The New York Times’ Wednesday, January 29, print edition article on the debate over the National Flood Insurance Program’s future has also been making the rounds in social media.
Winter weather continues to dominate most of the social media conversation, with the Tuesday, January 28, snowstorm in Atlanta being the most recent topic.
A trending topic today, Wednesday, January 29, has the hashtag #SnowedOutAtlanta.
Many news organizations are posting updates on Atlanta-area school closures and evacuations. In addition, residents in and around Atlanta are posting updates on where people can find shelter, with others even offering up their own home to anyone affected by the storm.
With the Super Bowl coming up on Sunday, February 2, the I.I.I. has started a social media campaign to promote responsible Super Bowl Party hosting. Also, our tweet on how to file an insurance claim gained some attention this week. It was clicked on 45 times as of Wednesday morning, January 29.
MEDIA MATTERS
January 2014 will go down as CNN’s third lowest-rated month ever for total viewers, according to this Tuesday, January 28, Hollywood Reporter article.
The audience for local TV news grew in all three major time slots (5 to 7 a.m., 5 to 7 p.m., and 11 p.m.) in 2013 as compared to the previous year, a Pew Research analysis found.
A Los Angeles Times columnist criticized The Orange County Register’s purchase of company life insurance, with the Register’s pension plan serving as the beneficiary of the policies.
The I.I.I. is cited regularly in the media as an authoritative source of insurance information. To access the current I.I.I. press clips, click here
For an I.I.I. Blog search, click here.
