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Shock: PR person communicates badly… call the cops

6 Comments Published July 13th, 2006 in Uncategorized

This post leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

When a respected PR practitioner, who I have acknolwedged has in many respects been leading the way in online communication (as far as the large agency set go in any respect), takes time to write a pontificating post that takes a swipe at a competitor, I think it smells bad.

Now let’s be clear, GCI were well out of order, whether “Chris” is a Summer intern or an Account Director it doesn’t matter. The comment was ridiculous and shows GCI needs to do a better job educating it’s work force. They deserve a public slapping. We’re clear on that.

However, was that one comment a big enough issue for Mr. Edelman to (shock) publish a second post in a week? Is it an issue that is likely to shake the profession to it’s core? Is it the first time this has happened on a blog? Is there any more room on the pulpit? [Mr. Edelman is not the only one from the agency taking a pop.]

Well the answer to all those questions is no.

It smacks of opportunism.

I think Mr. Edelman should keep the number of a local glazier handy just in case. Maybe he can start writing posts about the everyday “malpractice” that is inflicted on journalists, bloggers and consumers every single day. That would keep him busy.

Chris at GCI, you are a bold boy (and probably not the brightest tool in the box), but I don’t condone the opportunism.

6 Responses to “Shock: PR person communicates badly… call the cops”  

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  1. 1 Frank Shaw Jul 13th, 2006 at 9:36 am

    Totally on target. There is a ton of hypocrisy going on, both in the so-called GCI crisis and the raging over the dell blog…time to grow up people!

  2. 2 Niall Cook Jul 13th, 2006 at 9:47 am

    I agree, Tom. And I’m disappointed that my comment on his post asking what he thinks agencies like mine and his should be doing to ensure it’s not one of our interns next time, has so far gone unpublished and unanswered.

  3. 3 Stephen Waddington Jul 13th, 2006 at 11:22 am

    Of course it smells of blatant opportunism and point scoring. Malpractice is an incredibly strong word. While GCI has since admitted to being the source of the posting, Edelman made the original posting after a WHOIS lookup on the source of the IP address of the comment, yet anyone with a web browser can spoof and IP address.

  4. 4 Tom Murphy Jul 13th, 2006 at 3:29 pm

    OK,

    I’m just glad that I’m not on my own with this issue.

    After I posted it, I wondered was I being a little harsh. I’m glad it strikes other people in a similar manner.

    TM

  5. 5 Frank Shaw Jul 13th, 2006 at 3:46 pm

    I’ve tried to post comments to the edelman blog as well….i think if you disagree they just don’t let them through…

  6. 6 Owen Lystrup Jul 14th, 2006 at 12:21 am

    Could this be a testament to the future owning of the blogosphere.

    Eventually. Way down the line. I’m talking decades upon decades here. Unless something drastic happens, the entire Internet, like much of everything else, will be privatized. Blogging included.

    Does this show a hint of what that will look like in the future?

    As soon a company begins a blog and conducts it in a way others don’t like, we oust them vehemently and question the company’s integrity?

    Then the “pundits” jump on board and criticize everyone else involved?

    Isn’t this blogosphere supposed to be a helpful, welcoming place to help communication advance?

    Am I just delusional.

    Either way, good post.

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