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Topic: pr - maintaining the integrity
| Author | Message |
| publicrelatejob | Posted – 8/1/2007 2:17:45 PM | show profile | email poster I am new to the profession of public relations, and honestly I am mostly still trying to learn as much as I can in hopes for testing for the advanced APR designation. I'd really like to know people's opinions about the ways in which we can maintain integrity and professionalism in the PR world. This means, theoretically, that spin will be subtracted. Do you spin? Be honest! Also, if you ever encounter clients that are trying to access our media lists, I have a wonderful page with valuable advice from seasoned PR professionals. |
| publicrelatejob | Posted – 8/1/2007 2:19:14 PM | show profile keeping our media lists safe http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/SmallPRAgencyPros/msearch?query=sharing+media+list&submit=Search&charset=utf-8 |
| dribbledrive1 | Posted – 8/1/2007 5:12:59 PM | show profile There's nothing wrong with spin. Public relations is advocacy, after all, not neutral reporting. It's about presenting a client to the world in the way the client wants to be presented, using the media to meet business goals. The problem isn't with spin, but when the spin is so far removed from reality that it looks foolish. --I'd really like to know people's opinions about the ways in which we can maintain integrity and professionalism in the PR world. This means, theoretically, that spin will be subtracted. Do you spin? Be honest!-- |
| publicrelatejob | Posted – 8/1/2007 10:40:25 PM | show profile spin Oh, if you like to spin, more power to you, really. I'm just noting that it is viewed by many as a negative. Do you believe that it is a necessary component to being a highly successful PR professional? Or do you believe that some clients are asking for unreasonable "spin"? PR seems to get a bad rap on the news and in the minds of some people. We were warned in a class or two in my senior year that this is a negative for the profession as a whole. For example, this is the definition of "spin" from Wikipedia Spin In public relations, spin is a sometimes pejorative term signifying a heavily biased portrayal in one's own favor of an event or situation. While traditional public relations may also rely on creative presentation of the facts, "spin" often, though not always, implies disingenuous, deceptive and/or highly manipulative tactics. Politicians are often accused of spin by commentators and political opponents, when they produce a counter argument or position. |
| dribbledrive1 | Posted – 8/1/2007 10:55:59 PM | show profile Forget the word "Spin" because that turns this thread into a discussion of semantics and defining the term. As I said: Advocacy = part of the job. Deceit = bad. The issue isn't those broad concepts, but the point at which advocacy becomes deceitful, which you can only judge based on the specifics of the situation. And, sure, that point can be deabatable. That happens all the time. --spin Oh, if you like to spin, more power to you, really. I'm just noting that it is viewed by many as a negative. Do you believe that it is a necessary component to being a highly successful PR professional? Or do you believe that some clients are asking for unreasonable "spin"? PR seems to get a bad rap on the news and in the minds of some people. We were warned in a class or two in my senior year that this is a negative for the profession as a whole. For example, this is the definition of "spin" from Wikipedia Spin In public relations, spin is a sometimes pejorative term signifying a heavily biased portrayal in one's own favor of an event or situation. While traditional public relations may also rely on creative presentation of the facts, "spin" often, though not always, implies disingenuous, deceptive and/or highly manipulative tactics. Politicians are often accused of spin by commentators and political opponents, when they produce a counter argument or position.,, |
| Cyrus | Posted – 8/2/2007 9:11:29 AM | show profile I think PR is too often associated with spin, mostly because that's what people see the large companies doing in times of crisis, so they associate PR as being "spinning" during times of crisis. IMO, if you have good clients that do good work, you have a value proposition that can stand on its own and there's no need for spin. I think a bigger problem than spin is stupid jargon that makes its way into PR-related communication, doesn't enhance value and detracts from the legitimacy of a client. All that could be removed and everything would look much better. A lot of this also depends on the kind of work you do. I don't do consumer-oriented work and a lot of my work has come from law firms and legal organizations who have to adhere to strict state-mandated ethics rules in any kind of marketing they do. For example, you can't even technically call a lawyer you work with an expert if you want to stay clear of any ethics issues. As far as media lists, it depends on your contractual agreement with your clients. If you have a clause that considers those "work for hire," then your client, who paid for them, has a right to them anytime they so desire. Good luck with the APR. My issue with that designation is it is completely controlled by the PRSA and you lose your right to use it if you're ever not a member. I personally would prefer some form of licensure over accreditation controlled by one group, but it's relatively common. People don't realize that the CFA designation is the same way, as are many others commonly used. ------ Cyrus Afzali Astoria Communications www.astoriacomm.com |
