Welcome to Paul Seaman’s blog. I am a PR and love my trade – challenging it too. PR needs a reality check. We're about helping clients speak honestly, even robustly. People who run things have a lot of explaining to do in the next few years, so PR is crucial. I want a lively debate and I hope you’ll make it so. More »

Latest posts

Capitalism 4.0: The big coming debate

Posted by Paul Seaman under PR issues / Reviews on 3 March 2010. No comments.

Thanks to Richard Edelman I’m flagging an upcoming book every PR should read: Capitalism 4.0 by The Times economics analyst Anatole Kaletsky. Here’s a preview. More »

Buffetted by crisis? Don’t be quick, be right

Posted by Paul Seaman under Crisis management on 2 March 2010. 5 comments.

Warren Buffett said recently on CNBC that the rules of crisis management are get it right, get it fast, get it out, and get it over. For the first time ever, I’m going to push back on Mr. Buffett’s advice. More »

PR should help leaders lead, not listen

Posted by Paul Seaman under CSR reality check / Opinion research / Trust and reputations on 28 February 2010. 6 comments.

Here’s a manifesto in favour of decent top-down adult leadership rather than the febrile fashions of the crowd.   More »

Tyranny of Tiger Woods-type apologies

Posted by Paul Seaman under Crisis management / Opinion research / Trust and reputations on 21 February 2010. 3 comments.

Here’s a critique of the tyranny of apologies and the hypocrisy of sponsors and the general public. It’s a call to all to stop faking it. It is a cry for the return of commonsense, reserve and a mind-your-own-business attitude. More »

Elm Park, the BNP and me

Posted by Paul Seaman under Elm Park / West Ham United on 15 February 2010. 4 comments.

Unlike the BNP, self-respecting political parties don’t hold their Emergency General Meetings in East London’s notorious Elm Park pub. I know. It is where I roughhoused, before I made a bid for respectability and left. My memories of the place are bitter-sweet. More »

Obama’s left: turning on the SM crowd

Posted by Paul Seaman under Media issues / Political spin on 14 February 2010. 7 comments.

Oh! My! God! Organizing for America, the successor to Obama for America, is searching for a Social Networks Manager: apply here. But before you do read this. More »

Let’s not turn media dramas into real crises

Posted by Paul Seaman under Crisis management on 12 February 2010. One comment.

Contrary to popular crisis management mythology, most dramas and disasters aren’t really crises at all. Chin up: things aren’t often really all that bad. More »

Profit and risk need better PR

Posted by Paul Seaman under CSR reality check on 10 February 2010. No comments.

Being socially aware didn’t make Big Pharma innovate. Here’s a risky piece reminding us that profit matters more than seeming nice and safe, whatever the Davos savants pretend or their mantras might say. More »

Social media reality check 2010

Posted by Paul Seaman under Media issues on 7 February 2010. 6 comments.

Social media is looking less glossy after bruising encounters with business, personal and political reality. Here’s three glimpses of how it’s no longer so hip, cool or influential. More »

Where was Mr Toyoda yesterday?

Posted by Paul Seaman under Crisis management on 3 February 2010. 3 comments.

Made public yesterday, the last words from a family of four: “We’re in a Lexus. . . and we’re going north on 125 and our accelerator is stuck. . . we’re in trouble. . . there’s no brakes. . . we’re approaching the intersection. . . hold on. . . hold on and pray. . . pray.” More »

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