To recap the issues raised during this week’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, June 29, please email Michael Barry at michaelb@iii.org.
NBC’s TODAY SHOW AIRS SEGMENT ON RISING U.S. AUTO INSURANCE RATES; NIGHTLY NEWS READYING SIMILAR STORY
The I.I.I.’s Jeanne Salvatore appeared in an NBC Today show segment on Monday, June 20, on rising U.S. auto insurance costs. NBC’s Nightly News is readying a comparable story for broadcast later this month. As part of that piece, NBC on-air reporter Olivia Sterns taped an interview on Friday, June 17, with the I.I.I.’s Chief Actuary, James Lynch.
LIGHTNING PROTECTION INSTITUTE (LPI), I.I.I. MARK LIGHTNING SAFETY AWARENESS WEEK (JUNE 19-25)
The LPI’s news release focused on protecting people and property from this often underrated weather threat while the I.I.I. highlighted how insurers paid out $790 million in lightning-related claims in 2015 as well as a release that looked at lightning protection systems. The I.I.I. and LPI are using the hashtag #lightningsafety. An article ran Tuesday, June 21, in Property/Casualty 360. In addition, the I.I.I.’s Lynch spoke with the Tampa Bay Times on Florida’s lightning numbers. The story ran on Wednesday, June 22.
J.D. POWER’s 2016 U.S. AUTO INSURANCE STUDY IS OUT
Overall satisfaction with U.S. auto insurers declined by seven points, to 811 from 818, on a 1,000-point scale. J.D. Power said 17 of the largest auto insurers led the slide. The overall decline was largely the result of a drop in customer satisfaction with pricing. The I.I.I.’s Loretta Worters spoke with CBS Moneywatch’s Ed Leefeldt on Monday, June 20, regarding the study.
STORIES IN THE WORKS
I.I.I.’s Bob Hartwig spoke with CNBC’s Mary Thompson and Bloomberg BNA’s Brandon Ross on Monday, June 20, regarding the Thursday, June 23, Brexit referendum in the United Kingdom.
I.I.I.’s Michael Barry was interviewed on Tuesday, June 21, by Sarah Sell, a Portland, Oregon-based Associated Press reporter. She is writing about what consumers need to know before buying life insurance.
The I.I.I.’s Hartwig was interviewed by The Tampa Bay Business Journal and WSOC-TV (Charlotte, N.C.’s ABC affiliate) on Monday, June 20, regarding the potential terrorism insurance implications of this month’s Orlando nightclub tragedy.
CBS Moneywatch’s Leefeldt is doing a story on “active shooters” and how businesses are countering the threat with the help and advice of insurers.
Craig Guillot, a reporter working on assignment for Risk & Insurance, is doing a piece on employee turnover in the insurance industry. He can be reached at 504-738-0341.
CAPITOL HILL
Jonah Crane, a senior advisor at the U.S. Treasury Department, will succeed the outgoing Patrick Pinschmidt as executive director of the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC).
FSOC held an open meeting Tuesday, June 21, to talk about its upcoming annual report, which will cover potential threats to the U.S. financial system.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued new rules this week governing the commercial use of drones weighing less than 55 pounds.
SOCIAL MEDIA REPORT
Wildfires
The wildfires in the LA area are getting heavy attention on social media. Fueled by intense heat and strong winds, the fires drove residents from almost 1,000 homes. Follow the conversation on social using the hashtag #ReservoirFire and #FishFire.
Lightning Safety Awareness Week
This week is Lightning Safety Awareness Week. The I.I.I. issued a release on Monday, June 20, on lightning-related homeowners insurance claims, and then another one on lightning protection systems. You can review the I.I.I.’s statistical analysis of the lightning claims data in Property Casualty 360’s article on insurers paying more for fewer lightning strikes. You can follow the conversation on social using the hashtag #LSAW and #LightningSafety.
Insurance Awareness Day
Tuesday, June 28, is designated as Insurance Awareness Day, which presents a great opportunity to spread on social the message about the importance of insurance. You can use the hashtag #InsuranceAwarenessDay to join the conversation. The I.I.I. will be promoting its “I’s on Insurance” animated videos to inform consumers about the basics of insurance. Feel free to re-share and link to our videos for the occasion.
NBC Today Show Focuses on Rising Auto Rates
I.I.I.’s Jeanne Salvatore appeared on NBC’s Today show on Monday, June 20, to discuss the topic of rising auto insurance rates. The video can viewed on I.I.I Media’s YouTube channel and can also be shared from the I.I.I. Twitter account.
STATES
California
Improving weather conditions in Santa Barbara County prompted firefighters to divert resources to blazes burning in the San Gabriel Valley foothills and San Diego County, where hundreds of homes remain under threat.
For the first time, scientists have produced a computer image showing huge sections of California rising and sinking around the San Andreas Fault.
As the driverless car gets closer to reality, so too does the dilemma of how to insure the car and its owner.
Florida
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio will seek re-election to the Senate. His announcement marks a 180-degree turn from a month ago, when Rubio insisted he would give up his Senate seat at year-end 2016.
Georgia
A Fulton County Superior Court judge rejected former Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine’s bid to get ethics charges stemming from his failed 2010 gubernatorial campaign dismissed.
Louisiana
The state is increasing its texting-while-driving fines, up to $500 for first timers, instead of the previous $175.
Google will soon help New Orleans drivers avoid difficult intersections with a new app.
New Mexico
Governor Susana Martinez declared a state of emergency in Bernalillo and Torrance counties after the Dog Head Fire burned thousands of acres.
New York
The state Senate confirmed Maria Vullo as superintendent of the Department of Financial Services (DFS). Vullo had been acting superintendent since February.
Oklahoma
Lieutenant Governor Todd Lamb declared a state of emergency in nine counties after weekend storms brought flooding, tornadoes and strong winds to the state.
Virginia
Insurance agents whose licenses either expired, or became inactive, between 1979 and 2004, may have had their personal data compromised by a former State Corporation Commission (SCC) contractor.
MEDIA MATTERS
Robert McMillan, a reporter at The Wall Street Journal’s San Francisco bureau, is now covering all things cyber. He previously covered cloud computing and business technology since joining the paper in 2015.
Sid Verma has been hired by Bloomberg Markets to cover markets. He has been associate editor at Euromoney Institutional Investor since 2013, where he covered emerging markets and global finance as well as social media.
Susie Poppick recently joined Mic as senior money editor to usher in its new finance vertical, which is set to launch in July. She has been a finance journalist since 2010, having spent more than five years with Money.com following a stint with CNBC.
Chris Morris has joined Money Online as a contributing writer covering personal finance and general news.
The Los Angeles Times’ building at 202 West 1st Street, near City Hall, is on the verge of being sold to a Canadian-based developer.
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.
