It's been a few days since Chysler fired their head of PR and issued an ominous statement filled with corporate speak.

It's definitely a big step back for PR, as the communications department now has to report to...wait for it...HR! Catching Flack writes:

Now, when every consumer can tell the world what they think via the World Wide Web, is no time to take a giant step backwards in valuing the communications function. If Nardelli was truly aligning Chrysler's operations to more effectively drive corporate strategy, he'd be moving the head of PR into the office next to his.

We couldn't agree more. Even if they truly believe in the stance they're taking, something along the lines of, "we're private now, so we don't have to talk, PR is not important," why spell it out to the public?

Portfolio's "Jack Flack" has also been delivering some excellent analysis on this.