Please: Patronize me, I’m a client….
OK, I have worked both sides of the PR divide, I’ve been the consultant and I’ve been the in-house PR (and am presently). From a professional point of view there are significant pros and cons of both roles and I believe that if possible PR people should try both roles so they have an understanding of the different pressures and challenges.
I came across an article today that has made my blood boil. The PR agency-client relationship, probably more than any other in the marketing discipline, relies on a close working partnership. The business world moves quickly and it’s essential that both the agency and the in-house people are comfortable with each other and confident that each is doing their jobs.
This ‘article’ (and I use that word in the loosest possible sense) is one of the most patronizing and ridiculous ‘how to’ articles I have ever read – and I’ve read a few. It throws out the ‘partnership’ ideal and instead propogates the theory that the in-house drone is an inferior being that should ‘do as they are told’.
To quote Mr. Paul J. Krupin:
“If there’s something you don’t understand, ask about it. Do you want to know why they chose a certain news angle, page format, word limit, or media list? Ask. Politely.”
Maybe I am coming at this from the wrong angle, maybe I have overdosed on spam, your can read “Super Client! Getting the Most Out of Your Publicist” here.
Let me know your thoughts, I think its absolute trash….but am open to contradiction!
Murphy's Law 