Class Project Leads to Publication « PR-Bridge…

Integrated Communications Examples « PR-Bridge…

I bristled at “the baggage of the public relations nomenclature” reference. Let’s not become our own worst enemy is this menage a trois with marketing and advertising by losing our professional identity. That’s how feminisim got to be a four-letter word.

Nonetheless, great discussion of the issues that matter.

I’ll suggest only one thing: when we talk about being in the content business, we need to make clear we are content creators, not content managers. Sure, we manage content as well, but first it has to be created. Messages have to be developed and presented clearly, concisely, accurately and effectively.

The ability to create the right message for the right situation is what sets us apart from everyone else.

The way to make sure everyone understands and values that unique contribution is to train ourselves and everyone in our business to create those effective messages.

This new model also raises questions about where, within the academy, to place this new strategic communication discipline. I haven’t solved that one yet.

As you know, I was a longtime opponent of integrated marketing until a few years ago. The explosion of the social web — combined with data mining and precision message targeting — makes this more than inevitable. It’s fait accompli.

I’m just trying to point out why PR needs a PR campaign with the remark about PR as a “female profession.” For better or worse, the truth needs highlighted and the PR business is full of contradictions — like the “manly” idea that Marketing is a good major, but PR isn’t. And, how about the disparity between male and female salaries in PR? So, it’s supposedly a female profession, but men in it still make more money for comparable work.

As far as popular culture is concerned, PR is either evil, spin, unethical, immoral, publicity, splashy, party-planning, insignificant, pushy, or celebrity-obsessed. Maybe some of all…Another area where PR professionals have lost sight of themselves and their industry.

In my role at a large agency, I spend about 5% of my time on editorial outreach. Sure, I have quite a few colleagues who spend 80% of their time doing media relations, but there are just as many – if not more – who do member outreach, internal communications, crisis prevention and management, strategy development, creative design and digital development, event production, campaign execution… the list goes on and on.

I’ve noticed more and more PR firms calling themselves “communications consultancies” rather than PR agencies. Interesting, and appropriate, shift in nomenclature.

I do take slight offense to this remark! “…particularly given pop culture’s role in pushing PR as a female profession.”

Ouch!

I have seen online programs prosper over the last few years and now, especially after President Obama’s State of the Union Address, the interest in these programs is growing even faster.

Time for a new computer!