高盛集团(Goldman Sachs Group Inc.)在它要应对的各种财务风险名单中加入了一种新的东西：负面新闻。
Goldman Sachs Group Inc. added something new to the laundry list of financial risks it faces: unflattering attention.
这家位于纽约的公司在年报中说，“负面宣传”(adverse publicity)可能“对我们的声誉和我们员工的士气与绩效产生负面影响”，进而有可能“对我们的各种业务和运营成绩产生负面影响”。
In its annual report, the New York company said 'adverse publicity' could have 'a negative impact on our reputation and on the morale and performance of our employees, which could adversely affect our businesses and results of operations.'
12页篇幅的“风险因素”章节中，谈到了从金融市场动荡到自然灾害的各种风险，罕见地把“负面宣传”包含其中，再次凸显高盛面对竞争对手、国会 议员和因该公司巨额利润而愤愤不平的美国人的替罪羊地位。
The unusual disclosure in a 12-page section of 'risk factors' ranging from rocky financial markets to natural disasters is the latest sign of Goldman's whipping-boy status among rivals, lawmakers and angry Americans because of the firm's giant profits.
特拉华大学(University of Delaware) 温伯格公司治理研究中心(John L. Weinberg Center for Corporate Governance)负责人埃尔森(Charles M. Elson)说，高盛已经成为“代罪羔羊”。埃尔森还说，他想不起以前有哪家公司把负面宣传当成是自己的业务风险。“它反映出我们所处的相当怪诞的政治环 境。”
'Goldman has become one giant pinata to whack,' said Charles M. Elson, director of the John L. Weinberg Center for Corporate Governance at the University of Delaware, adding that he couldn't recall a previous instance where a company cited bad publicity as a risk to its business. 'It's reflective of the rather bizarre political climate in which we operate.'
高盛一位发言人拒绝置评。
A Goldman spokesman declined to comment.
一些公司治理研究专家表示，考虑到金融危机爆发以来高盛公司受到的各种负面关注，此举并不出人意料。去年7月份，《滚石》杂志(Rolling Stone)一篇文章把高盛比作“附在人类脸上的吸血鬼乌贼”。这种说法被其他出版物和网络广泛引用，还配上高盛首席执行长贝兰克梵(Lloyd Blankfein)去年11月对一家英国报社所说的一句话：公司是在做“上帝的工作”。
Some corporate-governance experts said the move isn't surprising given all the unwelcome attention Goldman has received since the financial crisis erupted. In July, a Rolling Stone article compared Goldman to a 'great vampire squid wrapped around the face of humanity.' The phrase has been widely repeated in other publications and online, along with Chief Executive Lloyd Blankfein's comment to a U.K. newspaper in November that the firm is doing 'God's work.'
长期以来，高盛就将其公关部门视为一种与风险相关的职能，其高管意识到，如果应对媒体或处置问题出现偏差，则可能对公司的品牌造成不必要的损 害。因此，高盛公关部门负责人高度涉身管理高层、并深度参与公司的内部运作。
Goldman has long viewed its communications department as a risk-related function, meaning executives realize that a misstep in how it deals with the media or an issue could cause unnecessary damage to the company's brand. As a result, Goldman's communications chief is heavily involved with top executives and the firm's inner workings.
高盛曾积极回应它认为属于虚假或夸大的报道。但这种办法引起了毁誉不一的评价。在年报中，该公司再次反击挑毛病的媒体报道，同时承认这种关注可 能让其员工和客户感到紧张。
Goldman has aggressively responded to stories it views as false or exaggerated. But the approach has drawn mixed reviews. In its filing, the firm took another swipe at fault-finding coverage, while acknowledging that the attention could rattle employees and customers.
高盛还表示，其董事会拒绝了股东提出的让公司调查薪酬过高、采取措施回收部分高管薪酬的要求。
Goldman also said its board rejected demands from shareholders that the firm investigate excessive pay and take steps to recoup some of the awards given to executives.