Day: August 12, 2003

Using PR in the court of public opinion

The author of a new book entitled “In the court of Public Opinions: Winning your case with Public Relations”, believes the reason behind Martha Stewart’s recent poor financial performance was the failure of her attorneys to properly represent her case in a timely manner.

“The whole thing is very penny ante, and they are very difficult charges to prove, but because the prosecutor got the first bite of the apple here and it took a while for Stewart’s lawyers to get her side of the story out, most people think she is guilty,” James Haggerty said.

The quote comes from an interesting story in the Boston Herald.

Another anti-PR site?

Following in the footsteps of PR Watch, a new self-appointed PR watchdog has been established, this time in the UK. 

Anti-Spin.com describes itself thus:
“Anti-Spin.com is a not for profit organisation for those who believe that our society is being swamped by propaganda, half truth and untruth.”

One thing in this site’s favor, is that it is looking to create dialog.

Where PR Watch just bares it’s teeth at whatever comes to hand, at least Anti-Spin.com is open to discussion on matters relating to Public Relations.

The site includes an article from incoming President of the IPR (UK variety of the PRSA) Anne Gregory (also a colleague of popular PR blogger Richard Bailey):

“It is time that the representatives of both the press and the PR industry has a serious discussion about the rules of engagement. It is not good for society that the critical faculties of the press are being blunted. Neither is it good that the genuine contribution of PR to the public agenda goes unrecognised. There is a mutual responsibility for a respectful distance to be kept between both professions and an equal responsibility for both to act respectfully towards the other, and that means honesty and integrity must prevail if society is to be served.”

Debate and discussion is a healthy way to deal with issues that people are passionate about.  I’m all for it. Standing on the moral high-ground and preaching to the plebs below achieves nothing. I’m interested in how this develops.