B usinesses, just like politicians, live and die by the news coverage they receive.  Positive press coverage translates into more sales, better customer relations, and it fosters a favorable image that makes an indelible impression on a wide audience.
 
Bad press does the opposite.  When you see stories singling out a business for polluting, worker safety concerns or being fined by the federal government for a myriad of violations, it doesn’t help the cause. It doesn’t matter whether the media coverage was justified or not. Once it appears, the damage is done.
 
Unfortunately, too ...