PR Lab: Australian PR

O'Dwyer interviews puzzling

2009-12-05T14:46:00.001+08:00

I just watched two puzzling video interviews at propenmic.org with the legendary Jack O'Dwyer.

In one he talks about how PR deals with public. Correct, Jack. No arguments from me. But in another he talks about how PR people should only deal with journalists, in the same way lawyers only deal with lawyers.

Suddenly, I'm confused (by Jack). What the heck is he saying? Am I reading his comments incorrectly? It's a problem when someone as learned as this makes contradictory statements, particularly when it's on a web site for students.

He goes on to say PR should not be dabbling in social media. Well, I'm not sure Jack's been paying too much attention lately.

While I'd like to follow his approach, and just deal with journalists, it's a bit late to pull up the drawbridge. The "heathens" have already entered.

Bikies' PR company taking a risk

2009-10-17T06:58:00.001+08:00

The Brisbane PR company that represents bikies has this to say on its web site: "We will not support business activities that we believe cause fundamental harm to people, communities, or the environment."

With reputation management a cornerstone of PR, I wonder if they're risking their reputation by having the bikies as a client?

Whatever the effect this will have on the PR company (whose ethics I find hard to fathom) certainly the bikies are spending up big. The campaign they're running has all bases covered, including a raft of web sites (national and State bodies in NSW, SA, Qld and WA). Some are on Twitter. However, I do wonder why one of the links leads to a gang in Norway.

The angle they're taking is that the proposed legislation, curtailing the right of freedom of association, will affect everyone in the community. Certainly, they have a point. But, as WA Police Commissioner Karl O'Callahan pointed out, it only applies to groups with criminal leanings. Scouts, fear not.

Australian professional sport a turn-off

2009-10-11T15:39:00.002+08:00

Several items on the TV news this week made me wonder whether Australian professional sport is heading for extinction.

First you had the Socceroos asking for more money when playing for Australia. Given the relatively small financial balance of soccer in Australia, that's a BIG ask. There's only so much money you can wring out of a competition that doesn't really deliver the spectator numbers that equate with wages. I thought it would be enough that the players would be honoured to turn out for their country, rather than make financial demands.

The Wallabies were at it, too, wanting to be paid for what amounts to training, for a Possibles versus Probables match prior to their tour of Japan and Europe, complete with a fourth irrelevant Bledisloe Cup match in Tokyo. So the national rugby union players also seem to have lost their pride in the gold jersey. On this season's performances they are lucky they're getting paid anything at all.

The national cricket team, fresh from victory in a seven-game, one-day series in England, had no sooner won last week's World Cup in South Africa, yet here the players were (in contrived regional teams) at it again in some limited-overs tournament in India. More money. Maybe that can work financially, as it seems the Indians have an unlimited supply of money to throw at a sport played in a handful of countries, just like ...

Netball. Last night I watched as some ridiculous international tournament was being played. It's ridiculous because, it's always the same few Commonwealth nations that play one another, so it's boring. But they have now given "fans" a shortened version of the game, the World Netball Series, complete with rolling substitutions, shooting from outside the goal circle and power plays. God help us. Never mind the "world tournament" has only six teams, including those "powerhouse" sporting nations of Malawi, Jamaica and Samoa. Interesting, no South Africa.

I'm just not sure where sports watchers can find the energy to watch this too-often-repeated diet of mediocrity. If they're like me, they have long ago switched off. I'm going for a swim.

Good one, Mal

2009-10-02T20:18:00.001+08:00

I'm no fan of Mal Turnbull, but his no-nonsense language this morning was welcome.

Finally a politican who can say it like it is. Yes, Mal, those smart arses should put up or shut up.

The trouble is, Mal is showing no political nous. I reckon he's got a month before the "mad monk" takes over.

-- Posted from my iPhone

Advertised PR jobs increase in September

2009-09-30T06:13:00.001+08:00

The number of advertised PR jobs in Australia and New Zealand rose in September.

There were 134 jobs advertised, which was almost double that of August, which recorded only 70.

The worst period for job seekers was November and December last year and July this year, with only 52-54 positions each month.

The increase may indicate that PR reflects what a lot of people are saying about the economy: that it's picking up.

If you're in PR and looking for work, the best places to be are Sydney (38 per cent share), Melbourne (21%) and Brisbane (16%). The worst places are Perth and Adelaide, with only three per cent of advertised positions. New Zealand, with eight per cent is a better choice.

The survey has been running for the past 11 months and looks at fulltime jobs advertised nationally on line by Seek, Career One and Randstad.

@prlab

Wounded soldiers deserve recognition

2009-09-26T12:26:00.002+08:00

The decision by the government (via the Department of Defence) not to name 83 Diggers wounded in Afghanistan is a disgrace. So disgraceful is is that on Monday I will tender my resignation from the Defence Force.

Defence says it is acting in the interests of the soldiers: protecting their privacy. Well, that's the spin, isn't it?

The real reason for the cover-up is the government doesn't want the public to know about the injuries. There's an election due soon. It doesn't take a genius to know what the continual reporting of battle casualties will do for for Rudd's popularity.

As reported on today's front page of The Australian, this is at odds with the wishes of soldiers serving in Afghanistan. They want the public to know the truth. Their view is backed by former Chief of the Defence Force, Gen. Peter Cosgrove, and Lt. Col Dave Lewis, from the SAS Association.

I've spent 23 years in Army PR (for of them in the Regular Army) and served in East Timor in 2001. Sorry to say that ends on Monday.

And now, mobile blogs

2009-09-20T13:04:00.001+08:00

Today's episode coming straight from the park down the street. I'm just trying a nifty new iPhone app called Blogger. Now everything is in my phone - email, calendar, Twitter, camera, video, music, etc. For someone who's 53, it really is amazing. The technology, that is.

-- Posted from my iPhone

Twitter can keep my material

2009-09-18T06:40:00.002+08:00

Some people are getting into a lather over Twitter's new terms of service. They're worried Twitter has right to use your material. I'm not one of them.

If you don't like the terms of service, shop elsewhere.

For me, Twitter is about sharing, and that implies you're not putting a commercial value on your contribution. If you think your material is worth dollars, go somewhere where they'll pay.

Twitter gives you something for nothing. Surely they're entitled to some return (particularly as they still haven't worked out how to make money).

How to pitch to media

2009-09-15T06:29:00.002+08:00

There's been some discussion on Mumbrella about emailing media releases to journalists. It was prompted by the suggestion of what type and size of files to attach.

Well, here's a tip. Don't email. Just call the journalist. Of course, that depends on whether or not you have a working relationship with them. But, hey, that's what you're supposed to do if your a PR person.

Simply calling a journalist makes it more personal (something we seem to be losing in PR). You can have a chat about the weather, sport, film, and then run the storyline past your contact. You'll at least save yourself the time of having to write the release.

As for attaching files, I wouldn't recommend it. But check with the outlet you're sending to. If in doubt, don't send anything but your words (six paragraphs maximum).

I would think most country publications and radio stations would not enjoy receiving large attachments (the paper at Denmark, WA, sure doesn't). Better to send a simple link to a multi-media rich web site and let the receiver decide what to use.

As an aside, when I was working on the Gold Coast three years ago, ALL media outlets wanted their releases by fax. Strange but true. It may have changed. However, the thinking was they received so many emails, that anyone serious about PR would go to the trouble of faxing.

I couldn’t understand that logic, though, as you can fax from a computer.

Women on the front line a nonsense

2009-09-10T06:01:00.001+08:00

The Department of Defence has done it again: producing that old PR angle of pushing of women to serve on the front line.

The PR blitz hit the media yesterday, with the story even reaching the 7.30 Report. Neil James from the Defence Association was interviewed, and so was some obscure Liberal who served as a grunt for 10 years. They even had some grey-hair libertarian-type woman who said it didn't worry her if women wanted to be killed in battle.

The only reason Defence takes this position is because they can't get enough blokes to fill the ranks. Air Force TV ads currently focus on female mechanics, technicians and heavy-lift loadmasters.

The Army was even saying women could serve as commandos and in the SAS. Imagine the guffaws from the Regiment at the prospect.

The Brigadier in charge of 1 Brigade supports the move. Sure he does. Yes, he said the ladies can share the same risks in Afghanistan. Hmm. I wonder what would happen to GI Jane when she is captured by the Taliban?

Whatever you think about having women serving in direct combat roles, the actual clumsy approach in promoting it in in dire need of a rethink. They're still using the same PR methods employed in 2001, when I was serving in East Timor (and A Current Affair pursued it, without success).

The female reporter, who had a brother in the Army, wanted to go the the "front line" (the border with West Timor). The deal was if she could carry a standard pack up some stairs to the helicopter pad we'd take her. She never got it off the ground.

Hello. Men fight wars. Always have, always will. Perhaps Defence should focus on how to attract and retain them. Oh that's right, they have, and failed. So out comes PR plan B.

PR links

2009-08-21T06:58:00.002+08:00

Being a sharing, caring guy, here's 170 or so PR resource links. These have been collected over a number of years, and I don't check them regularly, so some will be "dead", and I don't have the time to make them active links, so you'll have to copy and paste. I've listed them in response to a post (can't remember where) by Richard Bailey, who was responding to another post.

GENERAL PR

http://www.prfirms.org/

http://www.forward-moving.com/

http://aboutpublicrelations.net/aa042901a.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_relations#History

http://www.alternet.org/

http://www.mallenbaker.net/csr/index.html

http://www.b2bpublicrelations.org/

http://www.cios.org/

http://www.disinfopedia.org/wiki.phtml

http://www.issuemanagement.org/

http://www.middleberg.com/home_static_frame.html

http://www.prmuseum.com/

http://www.netaction.org/

http://www.natterjackpr.com/

http://www.patronsaintpr.com/

http://www.poynter.org/

http://www.prnewswire.com/

http://prtalk.prpn.com/

http://www.prweb.com/

http://www.sinicom.com/

http://www.spinproject.org/

http://www.liszt.com/

http://www.globalpr.org/

http://www.managementhelp.org/pblc_rel/pblc_rel.htm

http://www.mediamiser.com/resources/

http://forward-moving.com/contribute.html

http://dmoz.org/Business/Marketing_and_Advertising/Public_Relations/

http://www.gabriellereillyweekly.com/

http://www.jwcom.com/iabcpresent/

http://www.lobbywatch.org/p1temp.asp?pid=30&page=1

http://trevorcook.typepad.com/

US-SPECIFIC

http://www.instituteforpr.org/

http://www.prweek.com/us/

http://www.prnewsonline.com/

http://www.prwatch.org/

http://www.natcom.org/nca/Template2.asp

http://hb.burson-marsteller.com/

http://www.iabc.com/

http://www.ipra.org/

http://www.niri.org/

http://www.prsa.org/

http://www.ontherecordpodcast.com/pr/otro/default.aspx

http://seeit.mit.edu/organizationalpractices.asp

http://www.prsalasvegas.com/rssnews.php

http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/awcmedia.htm

http://www.bulldogreporter.com/ME2/Default.asp

UK-SPECIFIC

http://www.prweek.com/uk/

http://www.cipr.co.uk/

AUSTRALIA

http://www.prinfluences.com.au/

http://prtalkback.com/

http://publicaffairs.alliance.org.au/

http://www.leehopkins.net/

http://www.pria.com.au/resources/cid/1/t/resources#blogs

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/media/

http://www.crikey.com.au/

http://www.pria.com.au/

http://www.pria.com.au/member/links.html

http://www.accpa.com.au/

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Australian-PR-Network/

http://www.anzca.net/

http://businessnetwork.smh.com.au/sales_marketing.html

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/mediareport/default.htm

http://praxis.massey.ac.nz/prism_on-line_journ.html

http://cserver.com.au/mglive/default.asp

http://www.usq.edu.au/masscomm/resources/course_resourses/public_relations.htm

http://www.frocomm.com.au/links.html

http://www.plugger.com.au/news/Public_Relations_Industry

PR PODCASTS

http://www.insidepr.ca/

http://www.edelman.com/podcasts/

http://prjunctionpodcast.com/

http://www.prweek.com/us/podcasts/

http://www.edelmanapac.com/index.jsp?series=21

http://www.mogulus.com/

http://www.bivingsreport.com/2006/pr-firms-that-blog-an-update/

http://prjunctionpodcast.com/

INTERNATIONAL PR

http://www.caslon.com.au/index.htm

http://www.aboutpublicrelations.net/international.htm

http://www.colorado.edu/conflict/peace/treatment/xcolcomm.htm

http://www.cultsock.ndirect.co.uk/MUHome/cshtml/index.html

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/10/g912/globalization.html

http://www.globalisationguide.org/07.html

http://www.globalpolicy.org/globaliz/cultural/

http://www.abc.net.au/global/default.htm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/reith/

http://www.globalization101.org/

http://www.globalpolicy.org/

http://www.culture-at-work.com/

e-PR

http://www.propenmic.org/

http://www.socialmediatoday.com/

http://sncr.org/

http://blogsearch.google.com/

http://www.online-pr.com/

http://www.newsdigitalmedia.com.au/index.html

http://www.wilsonweb.com/cat/cat.cfm?page=1&subcat=mp_PR

http://blog.e-fluentials.com/

http://badpitch.blogspot.com/

http://technorati.com/

http://vids.myspace.com/

http://www.ctvperth.com.au/

http://www.globalprblogweek.com/

http://searchenginewatch.com/

http://simplespark.com/

http://doodle.ch/main.html

http://aboutcommunicatie.nl/Search_Engine_Watch

PR STUDIES (for students)

http://www.nku.edu/~turney/prclass/index.htm

http://www.journoz.com/pol.html

http://www.cuttingedgepr.com/free_articles.asp

http://www.instituteforpr.com/

http://www.nku.edu/~turney/prclass/readings/

http://lamar.colostate.edu/~pr/

http://lamar.colostate.edu/~aejmcpr/teach.htm

http://lamar.colostate.edu/~hallahan/research.htm

http://faculty.buffalostate.edu/smithrd/

http://aboutpublicrelations.net/basics.htm

http://prbooks.pbwiki.com/

http://www.uwgb.edu/clampitp/

http://www.managementclarity.com/big_bibliography.htm

http://www.comm287.com/handouts.htm

http://www.comm387.com/

http://www.ipra.org/

http://carbon.cudenver.edu/~mryder/itc/comm_theory.html

http://www.tcw.utwente.nl/theorieenoverzicht/

http://comm.colorado.edu/deetz/commtheory.html

http://www.pria.com.au/resources/cid/76/parent/0/t/resources

http://www.cuttingedgepr.com/free_articles.asp

http://www.prinfluences.com.au/index.php?theParent=6&pagMan=1

http://www.corporatewatch.org/?lid=1570

http://sarkoracaille.blogspot.com/2007/06/century-of-self-14-adam-curtis-bbc-2002.html

http://www.uiowa.edu/~commstud/resources/

http://books.google.com/

http://podcast.prtopics.com/

http://www.toprankblog.com/

http://badpitch.blogspot.com/

http://www.edelman.com/summit07/

http://www.newcommreview.com/

http://lamar.colostate.edu/~pr/

http://www.nku.edu/~turney/prclass/index.htm

http://www.comm.umd.edu/people/faculty/lgrunig.html

http://www2.hawaii.edu/~tkell/

http://www.comm.umd.edu/

http://www.aber.ac.uk/media/

http://www.evancarmichael.com/Public-Relations/

http://teaching.berkeley.edu/compendium/

http://www.marin.edu/buscom/index.htm

http://lamar.colostate.edu/~hallahan/resources.htm

http://prbooks.pbwiki.com/

http://com.hilbert.edu/curriculum/

http://www.khake.com/page66.html

http://www.socialpsychology.org/teaching.htm

PR RESEARCH

http://slate.it.utk.edu/~dob/index.html

http://www.cios.org/www/tocs/JPR.htm

http://www.quantcast.com/

http://attentionmeter.com/

http://lamar.colostate.edu/~pr/

http://journalsportsmedia.blogspot.com/

http://www.cios.org/www/tocs/JPR.htm

PR BLOGS

http://www.prlab.com.au/prblog/

http://www.problogger.net/

http://www.irishblogs.ie/categories/e-pr/

http://lmighton.wordpress.com/tag/e-pr/

http://blog.holtz.com/index.php

http://www.mwwstraighttalk.com/

http://glasshouse.waggeneredstrom.com/blogs/frankshaw/default.aspx

http://www.globalprblogweek.com/

http://prblog.typepad.com/

http://prstudies.typepad.com/

http://greenbanana.wordpress.com/

http://corpcomm.prblogs.org/

http://nakedpr.com/

http://www.wallydownundy.com/

Gas deal a sell out

2009-08-20T07:45:00.001+08:00

This has nothing to do (directly) with PR. But then again, it does, as it deals with a perception ... my perception.

Surely it says something that we’ve signed a LNG deal with China, followed by the provision that is has to pass environmental scrutiny.

Logically (and morally) shouldn’t the environmental studies come before the deal is sealed? It shows how much importance this government places on the environment, and our future. Does this make Peter Garrett superfluous?

It’s also disturbing that all this takes place amid the continuing detention of Australian mining executive Stern Hu.

A report in the Globe and Mail (20 Aug) said: “The LNG deal shows that China’s growing demand for gas, uranium, iron ore and coal – and Australia’s investment needs – will overshadow any short-term political rows.”

Indeed. Doesn't it always?

PR fighting a losing battle?

2009-08-19T11:01:00.003+08:00

UK-based academic Richard Bailey always produces provocative comments. In his latest post he examines why PR is losing the battle to get people to understand what it is.

I can't understand what the problem is. It must be the academics who teach PR. After all, they form the opinions of most people practising PR today - apart from some of those who came from the era when journalists entered PR (and some still do).

At the University of Notre Dame Australia (Fremantle) we have a combined marketing/PR degree, situated in a School of Business - an ideal combination. In their first PR lecture (2 hours) there are two topics - the history of PR (a US perspective) and the difference between PR and marketing. One of the first essay topic choices is on the difference between marketing and PR.

It's a simple process ... unless academics just don't get it (which I imagine many don't). Then again, I heard a senior PR "professional" talking about PR as just being about media. Hmmm. Maybe we are losing.

Professional sport not worth a zac*

2009-08-12T07:16:00.001+08:00

Clearly, the boss of Aussie Home Loans, John Symond "gets it": reputation management, that is. It's also quite clear the that boss of the ARL and CEO of the Melbourne Storm don't.

How many more times do rugby league players have to transgress normal levels of decency before something is done to reverse the situation?

Storm player Greg Ingliss, it seems, can do no wrong, despite allegedly assaulting his girlfriend. As the Storm chief said: "He has a future in rugby League."

What I can't fathom is why this behaviour continues to be tolerated. These are (apparently) "professional" sports people. Sport is their job. If it was you or I, we would have been sacked long ago.

As a society we really do have to question our own values when we continue to be part of this sham that is "professional" sport. I certainly wouldn't give a zac to watch the game.

Of course, other sports are no better. Over here in WA we have the case of State and Australian player Luke Pomersbach allegedly running amok in two alcohol-related hit-and-run incidents. They weren't his first run-ins with the law.

It seems the attitude of administrators are to let these people continue to play. Winning, it seems, is all that matters.

At least the Cronulla club has the "guts" to sack their troublemakers. The club now is in last place. But coach Ricky Stuart says it was the right thing to do for the game.

Stuart obviously "gets it".

*A zac is sixpence (now five cents)

Where the PR jobs aren't

2009-08-07T07:29:00.001+08:00

For those in the profession, the latest (fulltime) job trends in public relations may be of interest.

I've been tracking them since November last year, through Seek and Career One.

They provide some insight into the state of the industry.

These figures do not take into account jobs that are advertised in local newspapers. And, of course, there are many jobs that aren't advertised.

There were a total of 670 jobs advertised from November 2008 up to last week. The pie chart shows the percentage distribution.

The bar chart shows the national monthly breakdown, and the trendline shows, well, trends on each city (Sydney green, Brisbane pink, Melbourne blue).

Twitter not for students

2009-07-30T17:40:00.001+08:00

All this talk about Twitter. Just who is using it? Certainly not young university students, if my research this week is correct.

I asked for a show of hands in all my PR and business communication classes this week. Of the 180 or so students, perhaps 15 of them were using Twitter. Most just stared blankly at me when I mentioned it.

Facebook, it seems, is the social network tool of choice among this demographic. The question remains: why? Some more research needed.

Twits on Twitter

2009-07-29T10:45:00.001+08:00

The excellent Mumbrella site recently began a conversation about people you don't/shouldn't follow on Twitter.

Because of the limited space on Twitter, here's my list of those I don't follow, which really makes my paltry 58 follows lame. But I'm choosy.

1. People who use Twitter with the aim of building their business, simply by asking people for referrals. How dumb is that?

2. People who don't have a decent biography.

3. People who tweet during movies/TV shows.

prLAB

Rudd's blog fails the democracy test

2009-07-17T08:41:00.001+08:00

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has dived deeper into cyberspace with his blog. This follows his folksy tweeting.

Unfortunately, the blog is a cynical and futile exercise because (a) it is not really his blog, and (b) it is not democratic.

Is anyone gullible enough to believe he produces it? Sure, he may write the occasional post, but he has plenty of PR people to do the technical hackwork, and reading and vetting comments.

I joined the throng and made my first comment on climate change ... and was rejected – presumably because I had a link to my web site.

However, that's where the democratic nature of the web is being usurped by the PM. Allowing a free and frank flow of information is essential on the Net, and in any healthy democracy. If the PM can't stand the heat, the he should get out of the kitchen.

As I mentioned, he's not really monitoring it, as any blogger worth their weight in words does.

Personally, I'm not really interested in what simply appears to be another PR exercise, aimed in re-election.

prLAB

I'm outa here

2009-07-05T07:36:00.002+08:00

Craig Pearce's blog has echoed my sentiments. There is must not enough time to do all this social media if you want a normal life.
Apart from getting some useful information (like how social media is ruining my social life) I find that all this really comes to naught. So what? People read my blog or tweet. But what action do they take and does it influence their lives? Anyway, I’ve mastered to tools, so now I can teach them and let the younger generation worry about their time. I’m off for a bike ride and a (real) surf. Catch you @prlab

Rubel abandons blogging ... almost

2009-06-30T05:08:00.000+08:00

One of the (apparent) world experts on social media, Steve Rubel, says he is abandoning blogging because it's not instant enough. "Blogging feels old. Publishing today is all about the flow," says Rubel.

Instead he will focus on what he calls his "lifestream", which incorporates things like Twitter, facebook, etc. In fact, Steve has 15 tools he uses to communicate.

I'm not so sure, Steve. I just posted a Tweet and a Blog within a minute of each other, using the one piece of software, Blogo.

For me, "the flow" needs to slow down a bit. Blogging lets me do that, by making me think a bit more carefully about what I'm thinking.

Sure, Twitter and Friend Feed have their places. But in the end, they're all just tools which serve different purposes and audiences.

When is enough?

2009-06-25T11:22:00.001+08:00

Just when is enough social media too much? That's the question I'm pondering now. To tell the truth, I'm just flat out keeping up with reading newspapers and watching/listening to broadcast media. Oh, my aching eyes.

Reputations at stake in Rudd car deal controversy

2009-06-20T12:41:00.001+08:00

In all the hubbub about whether or not the Prime Minister (or his office) was allegedly involved in giving a car dealer mate a good deal, spare a though for the Public Servant at the centre of the controversy.

Sure, someone's going to be a political reputational winner and someone a loser. But what will be the effect on Treasury official Godwin Grech's career once the dust has settled?

I'm betting he may come out of it with his reputation (and job) intact. He doesn't strike me as someone prone to making such damaging insinuations.

It's urine ... and you're drinking it

2009-06-16T18:39:00.000+08:00

The Water Corporation in WA has started to introduce the notion of people drinking recycled sewage.

Last night's TV news carried a spot, so it's a safe bet the frequency of media coverage will increase in proportion to the sinking levels in our dams (currently 39%).

It will be interesting to see who's first to oppose the move, and who runs a strong "anti" campaign.

From the PR Lab

Another image problem for PR

2009-06-14T11:11:00.003+08:00

Here we go again. Another TV sitcom portraying PR as being full of party girls, glitz and glamour.

The City, a US show, follows the dramatic life of a young PR woman in New York. Whitney Port and Olivia Palermo seem to run the public relations department, work at the fashion shows, network - and still have time to spend time each day shopping and creating drama while wearing 9 inch heels and having perfect hair.

No wonder PR has an image problem and only seems to attract females. This was the core of my PhD study (soon to be published as “The Feminisation of Public Relations - but an old web site at http://people.aapt.net.au/~net/study).

What is it that attracts TV producers to put out shows on PR, anyway? We’re up again being called spin doctors in the news media, and as being fluffy events people in the entertainment media. It’ simply a lose-lose situation.

Time for national PR campaigns (US, UK, Australia, Canada) to battle this. Maybe that means attacking the TV shows.

See more at the PR Lab

Rugby League's ham-fisted approach to PR

2009-06-11T06:02:00.001+08:00

The National Rugby League's attempt at smoothing over its clubs' lamentable treatment of women could not have come at a worse time.

Apart from being an all-too-obvious attempt at trying to win back favour with fans and the media, the timing was ruined by yet another sex scandal: this time involving the CEO of the Cronulla club.

The NRL says it wants to attract women to the game. Well, there's a little more to it than having lunch at a pub (of all places) and saying women should be in leadership roles ... in a male sport, mind you.

The sport first has to tackle the cultural problems (notably alcohol and sex) that beset it, and many other sports codes. This is clearly not happening. Of course, it's a tall order, given that these problems come from society as a whole.