Day: September 12, 2003

You know, reading back over this blog, it’s apparent that much of the posting has been negative.  So I am delighted that in time for the weekend I have some good news to report.

After all our struggles defending our profession, proving our value, demonstrating our contribution to the bottom line, PR has at last received the highest form of testimonial available in modern life.  A video game.

EA Sport’s NHL 2004 pays its due respects to the importance of PR 🙂

To quote the producer of the game:

“For example, hiring more marketing and PR specialists will raise your attendance, therefore increasing profits. Buying a new team plane will improve your team�s road game attributes.”

Recognition at last.  If in the future you’re ever asked about the value of PR, you can tell them “it’s in the game”.

Thanks to the moose tickling Darren Barefoot for the link!

Jenane Sessum has kindly posted some detailed comments on yesterday’s story on the evolution of large PR firms. Please have a read.

Once again, I agree with many of her points, my only real point of disagreement is the scale of the effect of this new economy on large agencies.

There’s no question that larger agencies have some serious challenges in both economic terms and clearly defining their value proposition. But I don’t think the shake out will be as severe as some think.

There will always be a large number of clients who want a big name firm, just as others will prefer a medium firm, a small firm, a boutique firm or an independent consultant. Indeed many clients will take PR in-house, a-l�racle.

The PR business reflects the diversity of our clients and will continue to do so, in my humble opinion.

Of course the problem with opinions is they can always be wrong 🙂

On the Ketchum blog, I still think she was hard on them!

PS:
My sincere apologies to Jeneane for incorrectly spelling her name.  I’ve amended all references!