I am determined not to blog for the sake of it, so that’s why I have not written for a while. I guess you could say I am taking a leaf out of one of the current debates around PR and journalism and not spamming myself into oblivion.
PR and journalism are, as I have often said, two sides of the same coin. We need each other. But the arrogance of some journalism colleagues leaves me wondering if they understand this. There are some very bitter and twisted souls out in the world of journalism – or should I say about to launch themselves on that world.
PR folk need to be mindful of what journalists do and journalists need to appreciate the role of PR in this world. PR exists to promote its subject matter, journalists are there to put balance into the story and check the other side. Sometimes there will be a negative aspect to the story but there will be times when it genuinely is all good news! It is not a battle, and it should not be personal. We are each doing our job to the best of our ability.
I am hopeful that the distasteful world of ‘spin’ is on the way out and PR is about to embark on a brave new world of real engagement with the publics. Why do I say this? Well the advent of social media, the influence of the citizen journalist and the power of the individual to publish their thoughts to the world as they ‘click a little button’ means PR must listen as well as inform and PR must respond constructively.
Spring is well and truly in the air so maybe PR and journalism can bury the hatchet as the snowdrops nod in the breeze and daffodils push through the frozen earth. The sunshine of the last few days must surely be capable of lifting the spirits of even the most embittered PR or journo?
3 comments:
Brillant post Jane :-)
You've hit the nail on the head - however do you think this can be achieved, what's more do journalists want this producitve relationship?
Hey Jane- seems this is a particularly popular topic at the moment. Check out the discussion on LinkedIn Public Relations Professionals group at http://www.linkedin.com/groupAnswers?viewQuestionAndAnswers=&gid=58031&discussionID=5817146&goback=%2Eanh_58031 It's been going for seven months with over 100 contributions (more than just comments) from all over the world, with ex-Journos now in PR getting all up in arms about people (like me) who think they bring a narrow perspective on PR and fail to deliver on the big picture. Well worth getting involved.
;)
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