Maven Communications offers our insight and annual list of the top 11 news stories of 2011. These are the stories that captivated and fascinated the nation throughout the year.

#1. Gabrielle Gifford’s Resilience & Recovery (January 8, 2011)

#2. Arab Spring: A Path of Protests Throughout the Middle East (January 25, 2011)  

#4. Great Quake Shakes Japan (March 14, 2011) 

Undoubtedly the most well-known wedding of the year, the Royal Wedding garnered media attention around the world.  An estimated 2 billion people in more than 180 countries around the world were expected to see the Royal Wedding on April 29th.  The event was covered by more than 8,500 journalists in London alone. Facebook calculated that 2.8 million people in Britain and America alone had written status updates about the royal wedding in the 24 hours before the event began.

On May 1 at 11:35 pm, President Obama announced to world that the leader of Al Quada and Public Enemy #1, Osama Bin Ladin, had been killed. Even as traditional news outlets struggled to confirm the reports, the news became global instantaneously, bringing a surge of patriotism among Americans and an outpouring of global support.

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#7. Casey Anthony Trial (July 5, 2011)

Young mother Casey Anthony was charged with first-degree murder when the remains of her 2-year-old daughter Caylee were found in a wooded area near her home in Orlando, Florida. A jury found her not guilty of killing her daughter in a Florida trial that attracted immense media attention and top billing on many year-end search engine rankings.

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#8. 10 Years After 9/11 – Remember, Reflect & Never Forget (September 11, 2011)

It’s hard to believe that it’s been 10 years since the 9/11 terrorist attacks. 10 years later, the country is still trying to make sense of it. On September 11, 2011 remembrance events were held across the country. It’s clear that we will ‘never forget’ but it’s also clear that we have and will continue to move on.

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#9. The Occupy Movement Monopolizes Wall Street and Cities Across the US (September 17, 2011)

In the last quarter of the year protesters, beginning in New York and then spreading across the country, camped out (literally) in what was dubbed the Occupy Wall Street movement. While their message was foggy at best, the Occupiers maintained a nonpartisan focus on economic inequality and tried to connect a diversity of issues that impact the 99%. The target of their movement was at big banks, foreclosures, evictions, and housing. While they claim the movement is still alive, it’s on life support at best. Most camps have been evicted from their occupy spaces as cities cracked down on the protesters.

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#10. iCon: Steve Jobs’ Legacy (October 5, 2011) 

On October 5, 2011, Steve Jobs passed away at the age of 56. Even a long life would seem too short to hold the sum of his successes.  However, with his passing the world recounted and relived his achievements and legacy. As founder of one of the world’s most valuable brands, he revolutionized technology, communications, media, music, education and more. An outpouring of emotion and condolences resounded throughout the media, social media, world leaders, celebrities and Jobs’ peers.

“Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose.”

~ Steve Jobs, 2005

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#11. Penn State Scandal: Litany of Trouble for Nittany Lions  (November 1, 2011)

This will be a story that we will see well into 2012. The allegations are that former Pennsylvania State University football assistant coach Jerry Sandusky sexually assaulted or had inappropriate contact with at least eight underage boys on or near university property. The story hit the media on November 4th and within two days both famed football coach Joe Paterno and University president Graham Spanier were both without jobs. As this shocking and sad story unfolds, we will undoubtedly see more victims emerge.

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MAVEN’S FAVORITES: Our favorite stories of 2011 that did not make the list, but made it into our hearts:

The back story is that for “business reasons” the company decided to discontinue their “ultra” product, known for its high-flow absorbency. Over the past year, users of o.b. ultra were finding it harder and harder to locate their favorite tampon, until it was
eventually gone from shelves all together. Enraged and upset, o.b. ultra fans created an “I want my o.b. ultras” facebook page, (which I believe you have to be a true fan to like), and created a website to collect signatures. Now that’s a dedicated customer base.

Realizing that they had made a mistake, the folks at Johnson & Johnson (makers of o.b. tampons), announced that they would be bringing the product back next year. But just to show that they were truly sorry for their misguided ways, they also created an apology video, which can be personalized, and is overly dramatic and hilarious.

Kudus to the o.b. tampon folks for admitting they made a mistake and then doing something to let their customers know that they count.

Click here to watch your own personalized apology video.

To recap:  after being fired from his job on Two and Half Men, Charlie Sheen hit bottom after issuing violent torpedoes of truth at the public while bathing us in #tigerblood, goddesses and other strange twitter phrases that fueled a media feeding frenzy.  In a matter of weeks, Sheen went from being TV’s highest paid actor to D-list sideshow most likely to be featured on Celebrity Rehab.  In the process he lost his kids, his family support, his job and seemingly, his sanity. (To see my NBC10 commentary on the meltdown, click here.”

Fast forward to this month’s Emmy Awards, where Charlie Sheen went prime time to present the Lead Actor in a Comedy Series award – his old category – to Jim Parson’s.  Sheen was visibly humbled, even going so far as to extend his well wishes to his colleagues at Two and a Half Men.  Following the warlock-free presentation, Sheen posed for pictures with his replacement, Ashton Kutcher and tweeted that the premiere without him was “Odd, but cool! So far a ton of laughs!”

The former rock star from Mars then appeared on “The Tonight Show,” and the “Today” show, where he talked about his “manic period” and said that he was mellower now.  “Looking back on it…there’s portions of it I might have amended a bit.  It was just so silly and people took it so seriously and I figured ‘all right, I continue to give the people what they want.”  He’s ditched the goddesses, made inroads with both of his ex-wives, and sees his kids more often.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

So which Sheen is the real deal?  Only time will tell.  But the warm reception Sheen’s received proves that words matter, even for mortals with Adonis DNA.  Whether Charlie will be remembered for his erratic behavior or serious comedy chops remains to be seen, but he’s making all the right moves for a comeback.

If you don’t have a policy, or are looking to improve your current plan, click here to download Maven Communication’s social media policy template.

In its most basic form, a corporate social media policy is a set of guidelines that employees can reference when navigating unfamiliar scenarios online.  To be effective, we recommend a carrot vs. stick approach: rather than reinforce what employees can’t do, the policy should offer guidelines for what they can do and outline best practices for how to do it.  The goal is not to hobble employees, but educate and empower them to participate with guidelines and proper training.

There are two schools of thought for developing a corporate social media policy:  The Kitchen Sink or A-La-Carte.  In the first approach, the company develops a comprehensive policy that addresses all available social media food groups outright.  In the second, the company develops specific policies based on current involvement, creating new policies as the need arises.  (If your company uses Facebook, but not YouTube, it may not be necessary to include a comprehensive YouTube policy just yet).  Your company’s size, scope and involvement online can help determine which approach is right for you, but keep in mind that both will evolve as new platforms and rules of engagement emerge.

Regardless of your approach, below are a few things to consider when developing your own social media policy.  Prior to launch, we recommend familiarizing yourself with the company’s employment agreement and local state laws to ensure the policies are consistent.

- Be Transparent:  When participating in any online forum, always disclose your identity and, when appropriate, company affiliation.  Never post anonymously or create an alias for any reason.  Be  truthful and accurate in all communications.  If you are not sure about the accuracy of a statement, confirm the information with the appropriate resource.

- Use Commonsense and Exercise Good Judgment:  Never post comments that will cannibalize goodwill or be construed as racist, insensitive or generally malicious.  Case in point:  As Japan reeled from the impact of a Tsunami and pending nuclear meltdown, former Aflac spokesman Gilbert Gottfried tweeted a series of insensitive missives poking fun at the plight of the Japanese.  This is clearly not a good judgment call.  He was fired the following Monday.

- Be Respectful: Common courtesy and good manners go a long way in diffusing a potential volatile situation.  Be courteous and thankful for customer feedback, even if you think the person is wrong.  Avoid being overly defensive or rude when handling a potentially antagonistic situation.  If you feel a situation is escalating quickly, ask a superior how to proceed and determine the most polite way to address it or appropriately disengage from the discussion.

- Post Relevant Content:  Post content that adds value to your audience.  Avoid posting spam or off-topic discussions or photos.

- Follow Copyright Laws and Trademarks:    Seek and secure approval before posting anything that contains company logos and trademarks.   Make sure you have the right to publish content before posting and always site proper sources when using other people’s work.

- Protect Confidential and Proprietary Info: Employees have an obligation to protect the company’s proprietary and confidential information.  Do not publish or disclose any proprietary information with a third party or online.  Employers should reference their state’s laws governing trade secrets and include these measures in any policy they develop.

- What Happens in Vegas Stays on Google:  Very simply:  Think before you Tweet.  Google can archive news for years, so think about your content carefully before posting.

- Assign Responsibility to Someone who Understands your Company and Customers:  Many companies hand over the keys to the kingdom to interns, since they are often younger and more familiar with using social media.  However, inexperienced staff members may not recognize inappropriate content before blasting it out to thousands of people.  Assign ownership for your company’s social media initiatives to employees who you trust to be the gate keepers of your brand.  While this role often falls to someone in the PR or marketing department, it doesn’t necessarily have to.  Regardless of who bears ultimate responsibility, make sure there is an approval process for reviewing posts about the company or industry before they are sent.

When creating your own policy, don’t be afraid to solicit ideas from other companies in your industry.  For examples of other corporate social media policies, including IBM, Ford and the American Red Cross, the Social Media Governance website offers an online database complete with company policies and templates.

Posted by @rebeccadevine

To learn more about Maven and our services, including online reputation and social media management, please contact Rebecca Devine at 215.434.7190 or rdevine@mavenagency.com.

We have seen time and time again that people resort to social media to check out what’s going on and who else is talking about it. While it is an effective way to spread false information, it is also an extremely efficient way to get information fast. It is so fast that it is possible to see a tweet about the earthquake before you feel that same earthquake.

This was my first time experiencing a social media melt down, but I can’t say I didn’t enjoy it. It was a little shaky at first, but then I enjoyed the ride. My phone wasn’t working initially, so I just sat back and followed the hashtag #earthquake. Twitter was chirping away during the crisis.  Just check out this awesome map that shows all the tweets from the time the quake hit through 30 seconds after.

Social media gives people the information they can’t get anywhere else, including rumors, lies, personal accounts and jokes, such as photos of quake casualties like water bottles and lawn chairs. If there were real casualties, there would not have been any humor in the situation, but since this is the East Coast, we were lucky and yes, a bit dramatic.

The entire West Coast is cracking up over East Coaster’s shaking in our shoes over a 5.8 magnitude earthquake. However, that’s why I live in Philadelphia and suffer through four seasons including the seismic snow storms and wicked hot summers; I don’t want to live in fear of earthquakes, tsunamis, tornados or wild fires.

Now excuse me, I have to go prepare for Hurricane Irene.

1)      Be sure that the client hears the news from you first. Having them learn about it through a Google alert sent to their in-box, or an email from an old friend is not a good start.

2)      Deliver the news promptly. Let them know what happened right away. If you landed them on The Today Show you would call right away. The same is true when their interview is cut from the front page New York Times article, and in its place is a quote a headshot of their largest competitor.

3)      Pick up the phone. Don’t send an email or worse, a text. They need to hear from you what happened. If all attempts to contact them via phone or in person fail, then, and only then, is it okay to send an email (first explaining that you tried to reach them before sending the email).

4)      Give it to them straight. Don’t try to make the situation sound better than it is. You’re not going to fool them anyway. Be direct and don’t beat around the bush.

5)      Propose your plan of action for dealing with the issue at hand. It’s important that you have this formulated before you call your client. Determine what your next steps are, how you’re going to move forward and if possible, fix the problem. Although it’s likely that your client is going to be pretty pissed, presenting a possible solution can reassure them that you’re a professional who has been through this before. This is not the end of the world.

These steps might need to be adjusted depending on the specific situation and client, but they are good rules to follow. The next time you find yourself procrastinating before sending an e-mail that indirectly delivers the news, stop, get your plan of action together, and pick up the phone.

Fans check their cell phones during a Phillies and Mets game, Sunday, May 1, 2011, in Philadelphia. News broke during the game that Osama bin Laden had been killed. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

It began as a murmur in Citizens Bank Park.  During the ninth inning of last week’s marathon Mets vs. Phillies game, there was a rumbling in the crowd.  (To view video of the moment, scroll to the bottom of this post).  As news of Osama bin Laden’s death spread throughout the ballpark, a chant began rippling through the stadium. Barely audible at first, it spread like wildfire in its volume and intensity:

USA! USA! USA!

Osama bin Laden, the mastermind behind the September 11 terrorist attacks and public enemy number one, was dead.

As President Obama addressed the nation, the news became global instantaneously.  There was no formal announcement about Bin Laden’s death during the game — mobile phones passed the news.  Without the help of technology, players on the field stood perplexed as ESPN continued to narrate the plays as if nothing had happened.  In the age of digital technology, social media scooped mainstream news as networks struggled to confirm reports of Osama’s demise.

The Phillies game is just one of hundreds of examples of the new communications reality in which all leaders – political, spiritual and corporate – are expected to operate.  News travels at the speed of Twitter, and leaders today must be prepared to address questions from the global community in real time.  In the hours and days that have followed Osama’s death, the degree of complexity and years of meticulous planning from every social, political, financial, logistical and, yes, emotional angle, behind this undertaking have started to emerge.

The road has not always been smooth. Information initially released about bin Laden’s death was retracted and corrected, drawing criticism and launching hundreds of stories that threatened to derail public perception of the mission.  The administration has had to negotiate and answer some tough decisions on the on fly, including reports dealing with the legality of the operation, whether to release photos of bin Laden’s body, and the degree to which Pakistan, an important U.S. ally, may have been complicit in harboring a terrorist.  Overall, Obama and his communications staff have handled the diversions with aplomb, keeping the central message focused on America’s success.

As constituents, we expect our political leaders disclose information accurately, efficiently, and with enough foresight to tackle tough issues down the road.  As communicators, we expect them to be eloquent, on message, and forward thinking.  We cannot forget, however, that there are sometimes unknown factors at play.

In today’s social media era, our mistakes are distributed across the globe in the matter of seconds. But so, too, are our great successes.  As the scene in Citizens Bank Park illustrated, the public can share the message faster than traditional media models.  But we still look to leadership to help define what that message is.   In an era of unparalleled scrutiny and access to information, the Administration offers a case study in how to navigate the challenges of this new global reality.

WATCH: Phillies Fans React to bin Laden’s Death

At first read I got all fired up, as many folks in the PR industry did. Who does he think he is anyway? What a jerk (which might still be true). But after a second read I started to not blame the client, but the agencies. It appears that both firms made the same mistake: “Success” was never defined. The client didn’t get what he expected because those expectations were never laid out and agreed upon, and the onus is on the agencies for that.

The client/agency relationship is a partnership. At the beginning of a partnership it’s essential that goals are established and agreed upon; and not just goals, but also the method by which they will be measured. It’s amazing how many different definitions of “success” there are.

This blog post also demonstrates that agencies need to be just as picky when it comes to choosing clients, as clients are when choosing agencies.

At one point the author says this about PR people:
“It would be crazy to categorize all public relations people as crazy, so let’s just say that P.R. people drive me crazy. All of them…. What I have finally come to understand is that P.R. people are paid to twist reality into pretzels and convince you that they are fine croissants. At some point, they actually believe their own concoctions.”

If this is his feeling about folks in the PR industry, and it is, then there will NEVER be a firm that he is happy with. As a PR practitioner, it’s not my job to change your mind about PR. It’s my job to deliver results. Measurable, agreed-upon results. If I need to continually “prove” to a client the value that I am providing, it is not a beneficial relationship for anyone.

At another point the author writes about his restaurant: “we would appeal to locals and tourists and transplants and day-trippers and pescadores, locavores and flexitarians. We wanted boomers and Wall Streeters and Gen X, Y and Z’ers. If I had known what Millennials were, I would have wanted them, too.” From this statement, it’s clear that adequate market research hadn’t been done, setting up not only the restaurant, but also their PR agency for failure.

It’s unfortunate that this blog entry is not unique. It’s also unfortunate that some (not all) of the negative perceptions of PR people is deserved. PR practitioners need step up to the plate and take the time to work with clients to determine objectives, define success and develop a measurement plan. We also need to be wary of the client who has the best product/most amazing solution/business that absolutely can’t fail, because at the end of the day, no one will succeed, no matter your definition.

The 2011 Edelman Trust Barometer unveiled some surprising shifts regarding who we rely on for credible company information.  After several years of looking to peers in social networks for trusted corporate information, the pendulum of trust is swinging back toward CEOs.

According to the survey, CEOs now rank among the top credible spokespeople globally – a striking reversal from two years ago when they were in the bottom two.  Conversely, “a person like me” dropped four points globally since 2009, replacing CEOs in the bottom rungs.  Perhaps more surprisingly, trust amongst peers as spokespersons has dropped precipitously among 35-46 year olds since 2006 (68 percent to 31 percent).

Wait – how did this happen? Since when do we as red-blooded American Tweeters and Jersey Shore voyeurs come to value the words of corporate CEOs over our Facebook network?

Maybe we’ve started to crave more meaningful information from our online networks.  Steve Rubel of Edelman Digital shed some light on the results in a recent blog post, and I share his sentiment:

As more of us join social networks, there’s been devaluation in the entire concept of “friendship.” A separate survey found that people don’t know 20 percent of their Facebook friends. Consider that “unfriend” was Oxford’s word of the year for 2009.

The fact is, CEOs and corporate spokespersons have had to change the way they communicate to earn trust in today’s digital age.  Transparency and accessibility are more important than ever before.  In fact, about 90 percent of those surveyed want to hear CEOs communicate transparently (there it is again) and frequently during a crisis, and want to hear about efforts to protect customers and employees. Gone are the days when CEOs could hide behind a corporate veil of carefully controlled messaging.

For those of you hoping to abandon the social media ship and return to traditional PR outreach, I have some bad news. While people want to hear from your CEO, they also want to access information about your company from a variety of news sources and search engines, some you can’t control, and some you can.  We’ve learned a lot about how to respond, track and create networks online that help us deliver company news while engaging customers and target audiences.  Consumers want to be active participants in the discussion, and this is not likely to change anytime soon.

The report finds that repetition and consistency across a number is the key, but only if you’ve established a relationship with consumers.  Companies that ignore angry customers or clients online do so at their peril: according to survey, positive information must be seen 4-5 times before it’s accepted as truth, while negative information about a distrusted company is believed after only 1-2 repetitions.

Here’s a very simple graphic that demonstrates how the model of trust as shifted over the years.

Today, transparency is the foundation that trust is built on. As corporate communicators, our challenge is not only to earn it, but keep it.

Cheers to all of 2010 and to all that awaits us in 2011.

Maven’s Top 10 of 2010

Our hearts go out to Haiti
Haiti Earthquake – On January 12, 2010, a catastrophic 7.0 MW earthquake rocked Haiti with the quake‘s epicenter just 16 miles west of Port-au-Prince. Record breaking relief efforts poured into Haiti, but almost a year after the disaster, Haiti still needs our help. Click here to Learn how you can contribute.

Toyota’s Issues Accelerate
Toyota launched the largest auto recall in U.S. history after incidents of random acceleration resulting in fatali ties. In January 2010, Toyota announced an additional recall of vehicles, which totaled near 5.3 million worldwide.

Obama’s Health Problems
Healthcare Reform Slowly Rises and Crumbles – On March 6, 2010, President Obama urged Congressional passage of his health care reform proposal within which Obama laid out a myriad of objectives. There seems to be no cure for the reform, but a few strains will survive. Check out its history to date.

iFound: The iPhone 4G ‘drops’
Gizmodo revealed details of an iPhone 4G prototype, from someone who found it at a bar after an Apple employee ‘left it there by mistake’ on the night of March 18, 2010. Cheers to that Apple employee. We hope he finds unemployment leaves more time for boozing and that he likes his new Blackberry.

BP’s Big Spill

The explosion of BP’s drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico left more than 206 million gallons of oil in the Gulf and embattled CEO Tony Hayward wanting “his life back.”  Known as the largest oil spill in the history of the petroleum industry, the full impact may not be known for years to come. Click here to track the oil spill.

Immigration Abomination
Arizona Passes Tough Anti Illegal Immigration Law – On April 23, 2010, Arizona passed the anti-immigration law that crossed the line and bordered on loco. The law would make the failure to carry immigration documents a crime and allow police to detain anyone suspected of being in the country illegally.

Weapons of Mass Construction
Weapons of mass construction- In May 2010, controversy spread upon plans to construct a Mosque just 600 feet from where the World Trade Centers stood. After rallies, riots and threats of bible burning, the building of the mosque has been postponed, perhaps indefinitely.

Free Chile
On October 13, 2010, a 69-day nightmare ended for the trapped Chilean miners and their families. Trapped 2,041 feet under the ground, all 33 miners were saved in a 22 hour rescue mission.

Wiki Leaks It
A data dump of thousands of classified documents on WikiLeaks caused a firestorm of debate on the role of responsible journalism and social media, as well as a man hunt for its founder. Whatever happens, it will not be a secret for long.

Party Like It’s 1773
The Tea Party grass roots movement proved successful in 2010’s Mid-Term Elections – from South Carolina to Wisconsin, candidates endorsed by the party defeated Democrats in states they were projected to win.  This successful movement has been so influential that it is inspiring “the left side” to form a coalition.  That’s right – over 170 liberal and civil rights groups are forming a coalition in hopes that they will match the tea party’s political power on the right.

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Our favorite stories of 2010 that did not make the list, but made it into our hearts:

Jess –  Hide Yo Kids, Hide Yo Wife: The Bed Intruder

My favorite news story of the year isn’t actually for the “news,” but more for after effect that it had. I’m referring to Antoine Dodson, better known as the “singer” of The Bed Intruder song. In case you’ve been living under a rock, here’s a quick recap: In July a local TV station in Huntsville, Alabama did a segment on a woman who was the victim of attempted sexual assault by a man who entered her bedroom through a window. During that segment the reporter interviewed her brother, Antoine Dodson, and his almost comical interview piqued the interest of The Gregory Brothers, who created a remix, which then went viral.

Because of the sudden fame, Dodson now has two websites, www.antoinedodsonsworld.com and www.antoinedodson.net, over 317,000 ‘likes’ on his facebook fan page, he’s performed his hit “song” live on stage at the 2010 BET Hip Hop Awards, has appeared on Tosh.0, he has a merchandise line, ringtone, personal holiday phone greeting, the Antoine Dodson Halloween costume was one of the most popular this year, and the song has been covered by numerous well-known performers.

I love this story because it demonstrates the power that social media has. Antoine has literally used his Internet fame as a vehicle out of poverty. This story also demonstrates generational differences when it comes to social media. Dodson, 24, embraced the video and “fame” and ran with it. An individual of a later generation may not have done the same. Perhaps The Gregory Brothers would have a lawsuit on their hands instead. Dodson’s 15 minutes are up soon (if not already), but social media provided a door for him that didn’t even exist just a few years ago.

Rebecca – Team Coco moves to TBS
Following his public battle with NBC and the aftermath of the Lenopocalypse, Conan emerged as a clear winner in the battle of media influencers this year. “Team Coco’s” grass roots communications approach confirmed that having a smaller, dedicated following can wield far more influence than a large, uninvolved group.

Rather than whining to the network big wigs and a traditional broadcast strategy, Conan went straight to his fan base.  Following his cross-country “Legally Prohibited from being Funny of Television Tour,” Conan lit the internet on fire and drew millions of fans through Team Coco, his digital and social media team.  In just a few months, Conan and his team attracted more than 1M fans on Facebook and more than 2M twitter followers.  Team Coco fans can check out his Tumblr and Flickr pages, YouTube videos (more than 8M views), and secure the Conan blimp badge on Foursquare. In a stroke of genius, the merry band of misfits launched a poll on TeamCoco.com that let fans vote for Conan’s first guest. (Top Contenders: Jack Nicholson, The Pope and Vladimir Putin and the guy from REO Speed Wagon).  The “Live Coco Cam,” a 24 hour webcast of the mayhem that goes on his L.A. offices, has provided endless hours of entertainment and has further cemented Conan’s quirky, irreverent brand among younger viewers.

Did it work? The proof is in the (virtual) pudding:  the season premier of CONAN garnered 4.15 million viewers, over half of which fell into the coveted 18-35 year old  demographic.  As an unabashed Conan fan, I think the strategy is ingenious.   Time Magazine said it best: “In the nice-media era, it’s not just the size of your audience – its’ how intensely they care.”

Molly – LeBron James Trade Tweets
Basketball superstar LeBron James took social media by storm this summer when he decided to take his public relations into his own hands – by creating a twitter account and encompassing over 1 million followers in a matter of weeks. @KingJames was created when the whole world’s attention was on him – during the NBA free agency period.

Fans and followers alike monitored @KingJames every move for several weeks, where after numerous “teasing” tweets, he finally let the world know of his decision to leave his hometown of Cleveland, where he played for the Cleveland Cavaliers since 2003, to join the Miami Heat.  Fans were outraged by his decision, leading to the burning of his #23 jersey.

Sarah – Jet Blue Attendant Jets

Working class hero? Disgruntled employee? Raging alcoholic? The world still wonders how he will be remembered. On August 9, 2010, on JetBlue flight 1052, flight attendant Steve Slater made a name for himself and the best exit ever. After a passenger was rude to him, he got justice by swearing at them all over the intercom, getting a Heineken from the fridge, activating the emergency chute and sliding into headline news.  Since Slater’s flight to fame, there have been allegations parts of his story have been fabricated or embellished. However, we all enjoyed the jokes and daydreams of how we would go out in style, so I am letting it slide.

As if the slide wasn’t fun enough, Slater then went on every news outlet (within driving distance). JetBlue’s response on its blog BlueTales was cool, collected and kind of perfect. JetBlue made the best of the bad situation, flying under the radar by addressing the situation as an instance, not an issue.

With Slater and a Heine in hand, say farewell to 2010 and slide into 2011 – just remember to enjoy the ride.