I have previously talked about PR being so cloel linked with reputation - The CIPR defines Public Relation as "about reputation - the result of what you do, what you say and what others say about you"
I have seen this so clearly recently with the papers. Obviously the threat of Swine Flu hs dominated the front pages but when you look further it seems to just be people taking swipes at each others reputation. The most obvious example of this has to be in the political sphere. It seems now to be a lot less about coming up with ways to mke your party better, but more to see how much you can slate the opposition.
One of the stories in the tabiods today was about one of the contestans on the TV show Britain's Got Talent. It is an "exclusive" of the wannabe DJ by his ex girlfriend telling of what a foul human being he is. I have no idea whether these claims are true but whether they are are not, you bet you bottom dollar that he will not be making further in the competition. This may be completely deserved but a small part of me has to say, what if it is not? I mean, his ex had nothing to loose from telling this stories but much to gain financhially.
Once a reputation has be destroyed, it is much harder to rebuild and this makes me think long and hard becasue of the profession I am going into. PR does have the power to floor people in minutes.
Saturday, 2 May 2009
Tuesday, 7 April 2009
Chris Brown
I can but wonder what is going through the head of pop star Chris Brown's PR officer?!
I imagine it must be a nightmare. He was the golden boy of music not long ago, failing to drop out of the charts, gaining countless top ten hits and then two months ago this all changed. He has been accused and is currently standing trail for the alleged attack on his supersar girlfriend Rihanna.
So far he has pleaded not guilty to the charges in court, however, at the time he apologied very publicly. This clearly poses an issue for his PR team. Mixed messages to the public is not a good thing for a celebrity, this does not look very convincing as a story.
In any culture hurting people is not seen as right and people take a very dim view on it. Guilt or not, people form their own opinions very quickly, right or wrong.
This is what is so difficult for them, positive opinions can change to negative very quickly but a bad repuation can be gained so quickly and are impossible to shake.
Damage control is the minimum they can hope for I think!
I imagine it must be a nightmare. He was the golden boy of music not long ago, failing to drop out of the charts, gaining countless top ten hits and then two months ago this all changed. He has been accused and is currently standing trail for the alleged attack on his supersar girlfriend Rihanna.
So far he has pleaded not guilty to the charges in court, however, at the time he apologied very publicly. This clearly poses an issue for his PR team. Mixed messages to the public is not a good thing for a celebrity, this does not look very convincing as a story.
In any culture hurting people is not seen as right and people take a very dim view on it. Guilt or not, people form their own opinions very quickly, right or wrong.
This is what is so difficult for them, positive opinions can change to negative very quickly but a bad repuation can be gained so quickly and are impossible to shake.
Damage control is the minimum they can hope for I think!
Friday, 20 March 2009
PR is essential
Through my degree course so far, we have learnt about PR and when it is used by companies or individuals. We have looked at the theory behind PR, it's background and what we are looking to achieve. I have enjoyed learning about all of these aspects but it has only ben very recently that I have realised just how essential PR is in the organising of so many things.
Don't get me wrong, I understood that it is a necessary function in business, but it has really struck me that it is the smaller companies and charities that really need PR at the moment. I mean, the big coperations like the banks are relying on PR everyday but I , wrongly, assumed it was more a comodity for large organisations.
Over the last few weeks I have been talking to a good fmily friend who, along with a number of other ladies, is planning to climb the immense Machu Picchu, to rasie money for Together in West Essex. This is a relatively small charity helping provide facilities and help for those with breast cancer.
They have to each raise a substantial amount of money and esspecially in the current financhial climate, this is no easy task. They have all been organising events left, right and centre to try and get as many people involved as possible to suppot his fantasic cause but they have reached a wall. They have already been to all family and friends to get involved and sponsor thm and donate so are needing to look further a field.
This is why I was talking to my friend. I suggested that I could put out a press release to the local papers to help promote a certain event, which would widen the audience. I have subsequently done so, and we are now awaiting pulication.
This is the moment my eyes were opened. It is these smaller charity events that need publisising the most. They need people just to know they exsist.
Don't get me wrong, I understood that it is a necessary function in business, but it has really struck me that it is the smaller companies and charities that really need PR at the moment. I mean, the big coperations like the banks are relying on PR everyday but I , wrongly, assumed it was more a comodity for large organisations.
Over the last few weeks I have been talking to a good fmily friend who, along with a number of other ladies, is planning to climb the immense Machu Picchu, to rasie money for Together in West Essex. This is a relatively small charity helping provide facilities and help for those with breast cancer.
They have to each raise a substantial amount of money and esspecially in the current financhial climate, this is no easy task. They have all been organising events left, right and centre to try and get as many people involved as possible to suppot his fantasic cause but they have reached a wall. They have already been to all family and friends to get involved and sponsor thm and donate so are needing to look further a field.
This is why I was talking to my friend. I suggested that I could put out a press release to the local papers to help promote a certain event, which would widen the audience. I have subsequently done so, and we are now awaiting pulication.
This is the moment my eyes were opened. It is these smaller charity events that need publisising the most. They need people just to know they exsist.
Wednesday, 11 March 2009
Portfolio!
It is getting to that time when the deadlines are coming closer and the panic starts to set in!
I have two portfolios to do; one for PACE which is a reflective one and one for PPE which is a presenation of the practical work I have done. I am panicing now. These both have to be handed in straight after easter and I am extremely concerned that they will not be complete. It is not that I have left everything to the last minute. It is that I am waiting on things being published and this is extremely nerve racking!
The reflective portfolio I have found quite interesting to get to grips with. The aim of it is to assess your own skills in different areas such as IT, numeracy, team work etc and reflect on how you can improve on them. This forces you to be extremely critical and honest with yourself and to be honest I have learnt a lot so far.
The one which I am finding more challenging and worrying is the PACE portfolio which comprises of 10 items of work which are to be carried out on behalf of clients. I have done work placements to do this but they have not necessarily produced the necessary work, more valuable work experience. I have completed a number of the items already but I just have a niggling feeling which I will not shake until I have finished it up to a high standard.
I must crack on!
I have two portfolios to do; one for PACE which is a reflective one and one for PPE which is a presenation of the practical work I have done. I am panicing now. These both have to be handed in straight after easter and I am extremely concerned that they will not be complete. It is not that I have left everything to the last minute. It is that I am waiting on things being published and this is extremely nerve racking!
The reflective portfolio I have found quite interesting to get to grips with. The aim of it is to assess your own skills in different areas such as IT, numeracy, team work etc and reflect on how you can improve on them. This forces you to be extremely critical and honest with yourself and to be honest I have learnt a lot so far.
The one which I am finding more challenging and worrying is the PACE portfolio which comprises of 10 items of work which are to be carried out on behalf of clients. I have done work placements to do this but they have not necessarily produced the necessary work, more valuable work experience. I have completed a number of the items already but I just have a niggling feeling which I will not shake until I have finished it up to a high standard.
I must crack on!
Wednesday, 18 February 2009
In the public interest?
Recently, I am sure many people are aware of the latest story to hit the news about the 13 year old Alfie Patten becoming a father. Everybody seems to have an opinion on this and it has been discussed at length between classes, friendship groups and families. But is it really in the public interest to know about this?
Some have said that of course it is. This should be a message to other children (which is what this boy is unfortunately, just a child) to demonstrates the implications of having sex before you fully understand the implications or at least the promotion of safe sex. This story could reach out to some who never in a million years thought "just once" could lead to a baby, before his voice has even broken. It could have an impact on the teaching of sexual education. To make younger children understand sex, but should 12 and 13 year olds be exposed to so much information about sex? Are they ready for that, or shoud they still be playing football with their mates?
There is, naturally, the other side of the debate which says that this one incidence should remain a private affair. It is not just the lives of the new mother and father, but also of a tiny baby to consider. There have been governmental figures commenting on this story! It has become huge and so far, this boy has no even been proved to be the father. Surely this is not of public concern. It is not directly impacting on the public at large is it?
Personally, I think this is a heartbreaking story which makes me feel deep sympathy for all involved. I know I, for one, could not have coped with a baby at 15 (the age of the mother) never mind 13. I do not think this is of pulic interest, used as a tool to teach others a lesson because there is so much to consider, mainly the baby.
Some have said that of course it is. This should be a message to other children (which is what this boy is unfortunately, just a child) to demonstrates the implications of having sex before you fully understand the implications or at least the promotion of safe sex. This story could reach out to some who never in a million years thought "just once" could lead to a baby, before his voice has even broken. It could have an impact on the teaching of sexual education. To make younger children understand sex, but should 12 and 13 year olds be exposed to so much information about sex? Are they ready for that, or shoud they still be playing football with their mates?
There is, naturally, the other side of the debate which says that this one incidence should remain a private affair. It is not just the lives of the new mother and father, but also of a tiny baby to consider. There have been governmental figures commenting on this story! It has become huge and so far, this boy has no even been proved to be the father. Surely this is not of public concern. It is not directly impacting on the public at large is it?
Personally, I think this is a heartbreaking story which makes me feel deep sympathy for all involved. I know I, for one, could not have coped with a baby at 15 (the age of the mother) never mind 13. I do not think this is of pulic interest, used as a tool to teach others a lesson because there is so much to consider, mainly the baby.
Friday, 13 February 2009
What is PR?
Recently we were given this as an essay title and at first I thought this was simple, then I thought harder. PR is definitely not an easy thing to define. There are so many different views floating around from practionners and academics alike. Some list various tasks undertaken byPR officers, others try and pin point where it lies on the manger vs technican debate.
I looked at a number of different views fro a number of well rspected books:
Trench, R and Yeomans, L (2006) Exploring Public relations, Palgrave Macmillan
Theaker, A (2nd ed 2004) The Public Relations Handbook, Routledge
Harrison, S (2nd ed 2000) Public Relations, An Introduction, Thomson
Morris and Goldsworthy (2008) PR- A Persuasive Industry? Palgrave Macmillan
I found it fascinating that one job title could come under so many different definitions. It's hugely varied in it's activites obviously, but this still shocked me.
The CIPR states that:
‘Public relations is about reputation – the result of what you do, what you say and what others say about you.’(CIPR)
Reputations can make or break companies, so the PR is of extreme importance. Bill Gates famously said "If I only had one dollar, I'd spend it on PR". If this is not endorsement enough that even the giants need to build on their reputations I don't know what could be.
I, as a first year student, am still feeling my way through exactly what PR is through assessments and work experience. I am always learnign new aspects of the profession and I think from the initial research to the final press relaease, it is all as imporant. I think I will find itvery hard to ever be able to clearly define "what is PR" because it is such a leadin question.
I looked at a number of different views fro a number of well rspected books:
Trench, R and Yeomans, L (2006) Exploring Public relations, Palgrave Macmillan
Theaker, A (2nd ed 2004) The Public Relations Handbook, Routledge
Harrison, S (2nd ed 2000) Public Relations, An Introduction, Thomson
Morris and Goldsworthy (2008) PR- A Persuasive Industry? Palgrave Macmillan
I found it fascinating that one job title could come under so many different definitions. It's hugely varied in it's activites obviously, but this still shocked me.
The CIPR states that:
‘Public relations is about reputation – the result of what you do, what you say and what others say about you.’(CIPR)
Reputations can make or break companies, so the PR is of extreme importance. Bill Gates famously said "If I only had one dollar, I'd spend it on PR". If this is not endorsement enough that even the giants need to build on their reputations I don't know what could be.
I, as a first year student, am still feeling my way through exactly what PR is through assessments and work experience. I am always learnign new aspects of the profession and I think from the initial research to the final press relaease, it is all as imporant. I think I will find itvery hard to ever be able to clearly define "what is PR" because it is such a leadin question.
Tuesday, 3 February 2009
Reflecting
Yesterday, in our PACE tutorial, we were discussing reflecting. Whether it be on our University work, or friends, or relationships, it struck me that everyone had completely different ways of reflecting. I assumed, naively, that the way I had been doing it was the only way and had had no contact with other methods. Some chose to write down their thoughts, others found talking things out worked best for them.
The challenge we now have, is to experiement with these differing way to find the most effective method to improve our work. To be honest, I don't think that my reflections were anything like as useful as the new types we looked at. I was definitely not honest enough with myself about how I could improve and tried to just ignore the problems.
So, I have started to change my ways! It is quite hard to harshly look at every bit of work and every presentation and not say, powerpoint broke. It was actually my lack of planning that led to powerpoint not putting the slides up. I'm also finding this very difficult in team work, but for other reasons. I tend to solely concentrate on what I could have done that let the team down, rather than what could we have planned that could have stopped any errors in the first place.
It will be a tuff but interesting journey for me to see where I am excelling and where I could really improve but it is most definitely a neccessary one.
The challenge we now have, is to experiement with these differing way to find the most effective method to improve our work. To be honest, I don't think that my reflections were anything like as useful as the new types we looked at. I was definitely not honest enough with myself about how I could improve and tried to just ignore the problems.
So, I have started to change my ways! It is quite hard to harshly look at every bit of work and every presentation and not say, powerpoint broke. It was actually my lack of planning that led to powerpoint not putting the slides up. I'm also finding this very difficult in team work, but for other reasons. I tend to solely concentrate on what I could have done that let the team down, rather than what could we have planned that could have stopped any errors in the first place.
It will be a tuff but interesting journey for me to see where I am excelling and where I could really improve but it is most definitely a neccessary one.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
