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, March 19, please email me at michaelb@iii.org.
I.I.I. ISSUED MEDIA ADVISORY IMMEDIATELY AFTER EXPLOSION LEVELED TWO BUILDINGS IN NEW YORK CITY
The advisory was distributed soon after the Wednesday, March 12, explosion, which killed eight people and injured dozens more in the East Harlem section of Manhattan.
CONSUMER FEDERATION OF AMERICA ISSUES REPORT ON WAYS TO REDUCE THE PERCENTAGE OF UNINSURED MOTORISTS IN THE U.S.
The CFA’s Monday, March 10, findings received limited media interest (Insurance Journal, Insurance Compliance Insight). The I.I.I. developed the attached talking points in response.
I.I.I.’s STEVE WEISBART APPEARS IN AM BEST VIDEO ON HOW LONGER LIFE EXPECTANCY IS IMPACTING THE LONGEVITY RISK MARKET
The A.M. Best segment was posted on Monday, March 10, and offers insights on this topic from the I.I.I.’s chief economist and other industry subject matter experts
CAR INSURANCE.COM SURVEY FINDS ABOUT ONE IN THREE MOTORISTS DO NOT TELL THE TRUTH ON THEIR AUTO INSURANCE APPLICATION
Information about miles driven and where a vehicle is parked are not always accurately reported, according to this Thursday, March 6, article.
STORIES IN THE WORKS
Consumer Reports’ Jeff Blyskal fact-checked with the I.I.I.’s Mike Barry a passage about additional living expenses for a story he is writing on homeowners insurance.
WBEZ’s Chicago-based Odette Yousef (Phone: 312-893-2917) told the I.I.I.’s Loretta Worters she is interested in hearing from insurers who want to provide coverage for Uber or Lyft drivers.
CAPITOL HILL
A U.S. Senate subcommittee convened publicly on Tuesday, March 11, to discuss Finding the Right Capital Regulations for Insurers.
Deborah Hersman, chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), is leaving the NTSB next month to become president and CEO of the National Safety Council.
STATES
Alabama
Huntsville and Montgomery are two of the 10 safest cities in the U.S. to drive, according to a Birmingham News article that appeared on Monday, March 10.
Arizona
Governor Jan Brewer will not seek re-election to another term in November 2014, a decision she announced on Wednesday, March 12.
California
A 6.9-magnitude quake, 50 miles off-shore and west of Eureka, occurred on Sunday evening, March 9, according to this next-day story in The San Jose Mercury News.
Ride-sharing services face an uncertain regulatory road as they become more popular, this Monday, March 10, San Francisco Chronicle article explains.
The state’s Department of Motor Vehicles held a public hearing on Tuesday, March 11, to discuss DMV oversight of driverless vehicles on public roads.
Connecticut
House Bill 5502 calls for keeping insurers from denying property coverage to policyholders without permanent storm shutters, the Hartford Courant reported, on Monday, March 10.
Florida
The I.I.I.’s Florida subcommittee met on Tuesday, March 11, in Tampa, discussing among other things the insurance issues arising in the current state legislative session.
David Jolly was elected to a vacant Tampa-area seat in the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday, March 11.
Louisiana
Since the call, the U.S. Senate affirmed, 72-22, the U.S. House’s decision to modify 2012’s flood insurance reform law, according to this Thursday, March 13, Times-Picayune article.
Jefferson Parish is receiving $2.1 million from FEMA to finance the property elevations of 16 homes, according to this Tuesday, March 11, FEMA news release.
Montana
Governor Steve Bullock declared a statewide flood emergency on Monday, March 10, amid concerns about snow melt and run-off conditions in the Yellowstone River.
New York
The Department of Financial Services has fined Relay Rides $200,000 for violating state insurance law, according to this Monday, March 10, gubernatorial news release.
North Carolina
Stormy weather caused power outages for tens of thousands of High Point area residents over the past week, Greensboro’s Fox affiliate reports.
Ohio
Two earthquakes were felt near a fracking operation, which prompted the state to shut the site down, according to a Monday, March 10, story in The Columbus Dispatch.
South Carolina
South Carolina Realtors are backing Senate Bill 569, a measure they believe would reduce homeowners insurance rates statewide, The Post and Courier reported on Monday, March 10.
Wyoming
Ice-jam flooding was reported along the Big Horn River, which prompted evacuations in the town of Worland on Friday, March 7.
SOCIAL MEDIA REPORT
The disappearance of Malaysian Flight 370 has dominated social media since Sunday morning, March 9. The conversation ranges from news updates on the whereabouts of the jet to conspiracy theorists offering opinions on what could have happened to the plane.
The 6.9 magnitude earthquake that struck off the coast of Northern California on Sunday evening, March 9, was another popular topic on social media topic—mostly news coverage of the earthquake as well as people tweeting their description of the earthquake, and its aftershocks.
Winter weather is back in the conversation due to the imminent arrival of Winter Storm Vulcan.
The Severe Weather Preparedness Week campaign (March 2-8) was very successful in social media. Two of the top tweets that I.I.I. sent out prompted readers to download our “Know Your Plan” and “Know Your Coverage” apps.
The I.I.I. is also making great progress towards having the I.I.I. brand be a part of the social media conversation, especially with our coverage of Bike Week in Daytona Beach, Florida. The I.I.I.’s Facebook post on the topic of motorcycle insurance garnered a great amount of interest.
Finally, I.I.I. executive vice president Andréa Basora’s Saturday, March 8, panel at SXSW, which focused on ways digital and social technological advances are improving disaster preparedness, received coverage in social media. Our promotion of the panel on Twitter gave us additional exposure, and attracted new followers.
MEDIA MATTERS
Sharyl Attkisson, whose stories often appeared on the CBS Evening News, is leaving CBS after 20 years with the network.
Jamie Gangel is retiring from NBC News after 31 years as an on-air reporter there.
Alisyn Camerota, a 16-year veteran of Fox News Channel, is leaving FNC later this month.
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.
