Comments on: PR Isn’t The Enemy

By: Back In Action « Melissa’s PRagmatic Post

Back In Action « Melissa’s PRagmatic Post — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 04:46:51 +0000

[...] My initial reaction was to get defensive, but I decided to delay my response and listen to his argument before putting in my two cents. As I was listening to this fellow, and how passionately and aggressively he spoke about the subject, I suddenly thought of a blog post I read a few months back by Dave Fleet titled, “PR Isn’t The Enemy.” [...]

By: Do The Right Thing. « Cara Mitchell

Do The Right Thing. « Cara Mitchell — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 17:17:27 +0000

[...] this post Dave Fleet touches on this subject by telling us that “PR isn’t the enemy”, [...]

By: RT @madisonfisher PR isn’t the enemy… BAD PR IS… davefleet.com - Twitoaster

Fri, 17 Apr 2009 03:44:33 +0000

[...] days ago RT @madisonfisher PR isn’t the enemy… BAD PR IS… http://davefleet.com/2009/04/pr-enemy/ [...]

By: The Squeaky Wheel of PR « Method + Moxie

The Squeaky Wheel of PR « Method + Moxie — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 05:35:50 +0000

[...] The same people who publicy act indignant and insult you when you pass along some constructive criticism; the same people who make the industry look like ambulance chasers with the news; the same people who will never admit that they are wrong, nor learn from their mistakes; and just give the PR industry a bad name. [...]

By: Danny Brown

Danny Brown — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 14:49:51 +0000

It’s like any industry – you’ll have your good with your bad, the professionals with the unprofessionals. The problem with PR – bad PR – is that it’s more likely to be publicized because of the nature of the industry itself.
I’m starting a project with PRNewswire that looks at bringing journalists and bloggers together more, which will also improve (hopefully) ways that these are pitched by PR people. I’ll let you know how it goes.

By: J Fowler

J Fowler — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 03:33:19 +0000

I guess I struggle often with how the origins of movements and industries become established – and how those foundations become embedded in the nature of that cultural pool – the question I struggle with in PR is: at it’s core is it merely efficient public communications or is it embedded with a core understanding of human society that betrays us as objects to be influenced or manipulated (yes I am an Adbusters junkie and media ecologist wannabe.

All in all,though, I think you’re right Dave, that as we abstract a concept or vilify large segments of people (in this case PR folks) we trample on the reality that we are individuals not a conglomeration of our origins or industry.

That being said, what if Robert Scoble really has something to say to the PR industry: trust is the new currency and there are new rules for the game.
Social media is driving this flattening of the info-hierarchy and the marketplace of ideas.

I am desperately tossing around these questions about the nature of PR as I watch multi-national corporations like Monsanto turn PR into propaganda like Edward Bernays original vision.

Astro-turfing abounds.

Maybe I need to hang out at your blog more and get a taste of how PR can be used for good.

Thanks for the balanced and patient conversation.
Kudos!

By: Dave Fleet

Dave Fleet — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 02:32:03 +0000

@Murat – that’s a good point, and is another very valid way of reaching people. Just as emails aren’t right for everyone, and just as not everyone wants a phone call every time, I don’t think any one approach is going to fit everyone’s needs though.

I don’t see email pitches going away; I do, however, see a GREAT deal of room for improvement in how they’re used, as plenty of people have pointed out to me via Twitter today.

By: Dave Fleet

Dave Fleet — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 02:29:32 +0000

@J Fowler – that may be true, but the role played by individuals involved at the start of an industry doesn’t mean that everyone in that industry should be tarnished forever. As far as I’m concerned, that’s largely irrelevant at this point and does little to further this discussion. I’d love to hear your thoughts on the current state of affairs, though.

By: kionsanders (Kion Sanders)

kionsanders (Kion Sanders) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 01:28:10 +0000

Twitter Comment

RT @TomOkeefe1 PR Isn’t the Enemy (Bad PR is) [link to post] by @davefleet in response to @scobleizer (via @Narciso17) #PRAdvice

- Posted using Chat Catcher

By: Roland Cailles

Roland Cailles — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 00:39:42 +0000

Thanks for defending the industry, Dave. I don’t see how a person can degrade an entire class of working people and ignore the fact that good PR has had a positive impact on the world. (Ex. Obama’s campaign, not-for-profits, community outreach efforts of the NFL, NBA, etc.)

@ Peter Thanks for posting that resource.