Rick Chambers & Associates, LLC
Strategic Communications
  • Home
  • What We Offer
  • Guiding Values
  • Blog
  • Books
  • Contact Us

Public Relations: All Have Sinned?

3/17/2012

 
I found myself drawn to a fascinating online discussion spawned by a presentation by Dr. Bob Batchelor, assistant professor at Kent State University's School of Journalism and Mass Communications. The topic: "Is PR Evil?" Dr. Batchelor's answer is "yes." My good friend Sean Williams at Communication AMMO took exception to this, and thus the dialogue began. I encourage you to check it out here.

Since I did not attend Dr. Batchelor's lecture and thus don't know all the details, I'm on shaky ground if I take a firm stand for or against his statement that, yes, PR is evil, and that one cannot redeem it merely by stating, "But I'm working ethically." His point is that the profession is in disarray, largely because of the widespread misuse of public relations to manipulate and deceive.

And yet I'm troubled by the conclusion. As I look back on the discussion, it seems the opinion of whether or not PR is evil is a bit like deciding whether a Glock-17 handgun is evil: It depends what you do with it. If I'm using the Glock to, say, become good at target shooting, or as a means to defend my family against attack, that's one thing. If I use the Glock to relieve the local convenience store of its financial gain, or a disagreeable person of his life, that's something else.

Likewise, PR itself is neither inherently good nor inherently evil. It is a function, a tool for sharing information, creating relationships, and influencing perspectives and action. If it's done honestly and transparently, that's good. If it's done with the intent to mislead, that's wrong.

I do think Dr. Batchelor makes an excellent point about the misuse of PR. It happens often, and it's surprising how easily even the most "ethical" practitioner can be drawn into it. Matt Friedman, co-partner at Tanner Friedman, has pointed to the example of press releases and company spokespersons insisting that a 60-something CEO's sudden departure is merely "to spend more time with family." It's a lie, we know it's a lie, and yet we perpetuate it because that's the reason we're given, and we still want to have a job to go to tomorrow.

Where I'm willing to agree is that evil certainly exists within public relations, just as it exists within the human race. And even if we individually practice the highest ethical standards, we cannot simply rest upon that laurel. We need to preach the gospel, as it were--fairly easy to do--and call out those who defy that gospel--not so easy to do, for we'll surely face persecution for doing so.

And yet, I certainly agree with Dr. Batchelor's other conclusion: Public relations is worth saving.



Comments are closed.
    Picture

    Rick Chambers

    Rick is the owner and president of Rick Chambers & Associates, LLC.

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    December 2021
    September 2021
    April 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    August 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    September 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012

    Categories

    All
    Accuracy
    Code Of Ethics
    Communication Ammo
    Communications
    Digital News
    Fairness
    Firefly
    Integrity
    Internal Communication
    Lie
    Loyalty
    Matt Friedman
    Media Relations
    Pr
    Print News
    Prsa
    Public Relations
    Radiance
    Recognition
    Sean Williams
    Serenity
    Spin
    Star Trek
    Star Trek Phase Ii
    Tanner Friedman
    Truth

    RSS Feed

About Us

Rick Chambers & Associates, LLC, brings a solid track record of strategic, diverse, objective-based communications and public relations services. RC&A works closely with clients to understand their business, develop stakeholder relationships, build meaningful dialogue and help share their stories effectively.

Picture
Rick Chambers & Associates, LLC
1514 Kingsbury Drive
Portage, MI 49002-1664
USA
269.873.5820
info@rickchambersassociates.com