Archive for: PR

Last week’s edition of Radio 4’s Media Show caused outrage across the PR community and many have spoken against it, defending the industry.

Criticism of the show was that it was an inaccurate portrayal of PR, suggesting the profession was all about publicity stunts and doing anything to get your clients’ news out. The show jumped from making PR sound like a ‘fluffy’ profession, to calling PRs ‘bullies’ and ‘liars’.

Both the CIPR and PRCA have spoken out accusing the show of misrepresentation of the profession.

Emma Leech, CIPR president, said: ‘Public relations is not a dark art. We are not bullies and we are not liars. What we deliver goes far beyond media relations.

‘The truth is tens of thousands of public relations professionals provide ethical and strategic support to businesses of all sectors. We help build trust in organisations by establishing and improving relationships with key stakeholders – not just journalists. Many aspects of PR such as community engagement, digital communication and internal communication involve no media relations.

‘It’s wholly unfair and somewhat naive to label an industry of 70,000 people as dishonest. CIPR members are bound by the Institute’s Code of Conduct and adhere to the highest standards of professional practice. Media broadcasters have a responsibility to accurately reflect the reality of modern public relations. We have contacted the show’s producers to offer our help with definitions, research and guests for future shows.’

Francis Ingham MPRCA, Director General, PRCA, said: ‘BBC Radio 4’s show, The Art of Public Relations, was shockingly inaccurate in its representation of the PR and communications industry as we know it today. The fact that the BBC failed to contact the PRCA, the CIPR, or any other valid representative bodies for their insights is bad enough, but to continuously misrepresent PR as publicity is incredibly embarrassing for the broadcaster.

‘PR and communications is a £13.8bn UK industry, with 86,000 people working in it, and growing every year. It is a creative industry and a success story in that it continuously draws in new skills to stay credible and relevant. This is why the show was a huge disappointment.’

Industry bodies weren’t alone in speaking out, many PR professionals have taken to Twitter to share the truth about public relations:

For anyone who listened to The Art of PR episode on @BBCRadio4 The Media Show this week, and would like a real understanding of the art of PR (which isn’t the manipulation and fluffery this episode reinforced stereotypes of) I have some suggested listening:

— Lisa Potter (@crystal23tipps) January 5, 2019

I’d be up for taking part and explaining how PR strategies I’ve delivered have led directly to the arrest and conviction of killers, kept people safe from fire & other incidents and helped public bodies like police & fire deliver their essential services to communities #PR #comms

— Bridget Aherne (@BridgetAherne) January 5, 2019

In this country, we have 2 main membership organisations: @CIPR_UK and @PRCA_UK; and
some eminent academics such as @DrJonWhite @GregsAnne @PRstudies.
Media relations & publicity are tactics. PR is about strategy, leadership and ethics, value and purpose – ask them ??@BBCRadio4

— Ella Minty (@EllaMinty) January 5, 2019

I’m just catching up with this episode. ‘They bully, lie and block you getting the story’ is nothing I recognise or have experienced in the profession. Such a shame so many people will hear this.

— Nicole Kenny (@Nicole_Kenny) January 5, 2019

So true. Craft. Art. Science. Profession. Not spin and fluff! ?

— Amanda Waugh (@waughietalkie) January 5, 2019

Not all opinions were wholly negative though, as PR as publicity is obviously one aspect of the profession, which is familiar to many:

Just finishing now and I don’t know, it sounds mostly like PR as I know it – reputation (& ultimately £) orientated PR for clients. It’s missing org body voices, for sure, and is publicity-heavy (it only touches on press as a channel), but don’t know about complete miseducation

— Rich Leigh (@RichLeighPR) January 5, 2019

Darryl Sparey, business development director at Hotwire, went into detail about the shortcomings of the show in the Hotwire blog, but was unsurprised a 27-minute broadcast was unable to represent the full industry.

What did you think of the show? Let us know in the comments below, or on Twitter @Vuelio.

This year, the Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA) turns 50 and is celebrating with activities throughout 2019.

Founded on 5 November 1969, the membership body now represents over 30,000 PR and communications practitioners across 66 countries.

To mark the 50th anniversary, the PRCA will be using a special logo throughout 2019, releasing a celebratory book, hosting a birthday party in November, alongside a host of other regional and national activities.

Francis Ingham, director general of the PRCA, said: ‘The PR and communications industry has changed fundamentally since the PRCA launched in 1969. But our mission remains the same – to be its voice. And now that the PRCA is the largest PR professional body not just in the UK, or indeed in Europe, but in the world, that voice has never been louder or clearer.

‘The professionalisation of the industry, combined with the proliferation of new skills, means that we face the next 50 years with enormous opportunities. We’re celebrating our 50th anniversary with pride and optimism, and look forward to a year of reflection, celebration, and discussion.’

Last week the CIPR National Conference brought together 200 PR and business professionals to explore social purpose and the role of business in creating a better world for society. Among the speakers was Richard Walker, managing director of Iceland.

Iceland is in the spotlight following its ‘banned’ Christmas advert, which highlights the environmental impact of palm oil products. Walker claimed the Greenpeace-created cartoon has been viewed more than 65m times online, making it the most viewed Christmas advert ever.

Keen to outline the responsibility each individual has when it comes to social purpose, Walker said: ‘We’re all focused on Brexit but we’re sleepwalking into an environmental crisis. From deforestation to plastics and palm oil. As businesses invested in those debates, we can find solutions and alternatives that make a difference to our world.’

PR responsibility was advocated by Josh Hardie, deputy director general at CBI, who said: ‘90% of the public want businesses to speak out on social issues that matter to them. That makes it a business imperative.

‘A lack of trust in business often stems from bad communication. Mistrust fills the void when people don’t know what a business does. There’s a huge responsibility for PR pros in today’s world.’

As any business’ primary communicators, PRs must lead from the front when it comes to social purpose and responsibility. They’re also facing an uphill battle – John O’Brien, European managing partner at ONE HUNDRED, explained that corporate social responsibility had become ‘defunct’ as businesses tend to think of it as distinct from their core strategy.

For M&C Saatchi PR’s global CEO Molly Aldridge, this isn’t good enough. She said: ‘Purpose has to be authentically rooted into a brand’s DNA. It can’t be superficial or difficult to understand. It’s then down to businesses to find and engage the right people to deliver on that purpose.’

Having genuine purpose – and one which matters both to your business and your clients – is not something that can be manufactured. While it may not be the role of PR to determine that purpose, it’s certainly their job to advocate its need, engage the right people and communicate the message – embodying the brand’s values and making sure the right story is being told in the right way.

Sarah Hall, president of the CIPR, said: ‘As PR professionals, we have a tremendous opportunity to shape the way our organisations operate in society. This conference showcased the value we can offer in helping businesses find their why and define their how, to deliver long-term benefits for all.’

The CIPR National Conference took place at the British Library on Thursday 29 November.