After last week, I was wiped out during the weekend, and am now just getting around to feeling better about being in public relations. I mean, it was getting pretty darn depressing.
Don’t know what I mean?
Take a look at the assualt the public relations industry came under.
First, the author/s of strumpette.com made PR to be on the same level as prostitution, among other derogatory sentiments.
Then, those sentiments were backed up by at least a couple commenters on the site: here and here are a couple examples. Mind you, at least one of these commenters actually works in communications.
Finally, there was John Wagner’s Friday post. Yes, I understand John’s point. But, maybe his timing (coming at the end of last week) combined with his implication that “PR message points” cannot be compassionate about a disastrous event, are insincere and serve as a wall to hide behind, just didn’t sit well. (John’s point was an excellent one and his blog is very educational and worth visiting. Just that post didn’t sit well with me at the time.)
Is the PR industry really that full of uncompassionate, uncaring, money-grubbing low lifes?
The (naive?) optimist in me says a defiant and resounding . . . no.
PRSA has its code of ethics. Plus, from my own professional experience and contact with others in the business, I have to believe that the vast majority of those in public relations are honest, ethical and have sound judgment. Not everyone makes the right choices all the time, but most of us do most of the time.
(See http://www.sxc.hu/photo/485960.)
My faith in our industry received another boost Monday from Philippe Borremans:
PR is about influencing. But I do see a shift in the approach of PR people towards communications. They (we) start to understand that transparency is key and I can tell you that the next generation of PROs will have a different approach than those who started their career 15 years ago.
A change for the good…
So, as I’ve always done, I can go to sleep with a clear conscience . . and believe the majority of fellow PR practitioners can as well.
– Mike
Technorati tags: public relations, PR
