Comments on: Definitions of PR: keeping it honest

By: Introducing a new, maple-infused definition of public relations, in both official languages : PR CONVERSATIONS

Thu, 03 Jun 2010 04:37:11 +0000

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By: tim beighton

tim beighton — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 07:10:29 +0000

Paul:
Have to say an excellent article on what is probably one of the most challenging subjects with relation to how a PR should operate. PR, Spin and propaganda are all terms close in relation to each other, but I think you hit the nail on the head with your definition:

‘…represent – advocate – their employers’ interests. PRs are more like barristers than priests. True, they can – like doctors or management consultants – help fix their employers’ problems. True, they can – like diplomats – bring the wider world to their employers and sensitise their employers to the wider world’s needs.”

As you say a PR is for hire, and so long as they are honest about the outcomes and use two way communication; the employers objectives can be aligned towards the relevant stakeholders.

Sometimes however I believe the danger is when a client requests the message to be designed around the stakeholder rather than put into the public eye to be consumed however a stakeholder sees fit. In essence this is a PR s job however this is also where the morals of a PR come to play. s challenging quandary!

By: Oleksandr Kleshch

Oleksandr Kleshch — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:30:59 +0000

A very well written article! A must-read for both newcomers and seasoned parctitioners in the PR field. I applaud to Paul’s point that ‘the public interest is as hard to achieve as it is to define.’ It seems to me that the notion of ‘public interest’ turned into an unhappy cliche, that is too often overused and profaned due to the perfunctory modus operandi of many these days, who, as Paul rightly pointed out, prefer ‘swimming with the tide of fashionable nostrums’.

By: Anonymous coward

Anonymous coward — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 09:01:54 +0000

Since when has PR for companies been about “serving the public interest”? That’s a load of bollocks. A closer definition of PR would be: Get as close to the edge of credibility as you can, while all the time protesting that you have something new, innovative, fashionable, life-saving, world hunger solving, global warming solving etc. Hence the rash (pun most definitely intended) of PRs punting swine flu stories favoring their clients’ products and services.

I don’t think PR people should tell barefaced lies. But there is a significant difference between “the truth” and “the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth”.

By: PR Conversations » Introducing a new, maple-infused definition of public relations, in both official languages

Sat, 20 Jun 2009 18:58:33 +0000

[...] to this blog post: – The New Canadian Definition of Public Relations (PR-Bridge) – Definitions of PR: keeping it honest (21st-century PR [...]