Day: November 6, 2003

PR there’s only winners and losers. Ross Irvine writes that PR is war and that as a result there are always winners and losers.  He makes specific mention of PR for NGO’s.  Whatever about activism, I’m afraid I don’t believe PR battles are as clear cut as that.  I share his belief that PR people should be competitive, but simple winners and losers? Nah. 

Press Releases by Robots.  The twenty first century has arrived.  PR|Pro automates the process of brainstorming and writing press releases and PR programs. Well that’s what the literature says. all for only $99. If anyone has tried it let me know.  I have my sceptical hat on.

PR Newswire Founder Herbert Muschel, has passed away.  He was 85.

The PR challenge of being Hacked.  PR Fuel points to an article on ZDNet which looks at the issue facing organizations who have been hacked.  It points out that many companies don’t report the electronic break-in because of the possible adverse PR. It reminded me of a post earlier in the year when the UK’s National High Tech Crime Unit launched a media relations program to help companies with that very issue.

Further to the discussion last month on Industry analysts, Information Week have a story that questions whether companies should be worried that Silver Lake Partners has taken a 38% stake in Gartner.

The story questions whether Gartner’s independence will be affected by the fact that Silver Lake’s backers include over 150 executives from large technology firms.

Gartner deny that investors have any influence over research and given the importance of Gartner’s objectivity I doubt this investment will affect future reports in any way.

Interesting read though.

The prolific Elizabeth Albrycht  tackles the question of a PR person’s role in a media interview.

She concludes that the PR person’s role is as a facilitator.

I agree and I find that most journalists and analysts have no issue with a PR presence in an interview.  There are rare moments where you may have to interject to correct a misunderstanding but as Elizabeth writes we’re there to track the conversation, note actions, points of follow up etc.

Of course there are a number of journalists who object to the presence of PR people in a meeting. But in many cases I have found executives are more comfortable with a PR representative present.  That’s a good thing. It also should ensure that action items are followed up – which won’t always be the case if the harrassed executive is on their own and of course that the executive will turn up in the right place at the right time….

I sympathize with journalists who complain when PR people try and drive an agenda in a meeting. It’s not our role. Back off and let your spokespeople speak.