Maybe Twitter not so popular

In setting up next semester’s “e-PR” unit for students the the University of Notre Dame Australia (Fremantle), I have created a google group, blog and twitter account. The students will use google as a hub to conduct a range of activities, including surveys and blogs.

In setting up Twitter I have grabbed some of the peope I’m already following from another account. In an effort to inject more local “content” (more Perth PR practitioners) I searched google for “Perth public relations”. In the first two pages of results, 10 companies were listed (not including paid ads).

To my surprise, only two companies mentioned on their web site they had a twitter presence. Given all the hype about the medium as a communications tool, I found this strange. I now feel a survey coming on. But I’ll save it for class.

Bikies' PR a shambles

Events at the weekend, when three Perth bikies from the Finks were injured in a dust-up with the Coffin Cheaters, must all but signal the end of the United Motorcycle Council's PR campaign.

The Council (in WA and nationally) wants to have laws of association abandoned. The Council (aka, the bikie gangs) hired a Brisbane PR outfit, Cole Communications to help with its image and key messages. Frontman was the Finks' Ferret, who, while colourful, was not a great choice.

So the UMC's spokesman is a Fink, of the same club in Sunday's brawl, in which one Fink lost three fingers and another was shot.

How credible now is the bikies' assertion they are just a group of fun-loving bike riders?

Another aspect to this is the WA Police's lack of "intelligence" about the gathering. A quick glance at the Sunday Times' weekly motorcycle column would have told them about the event. Surely it's not difficult to "do the maths" and realise that drag-racing Harleys would attract bikies?

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

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

Time for PR campaign on water

If ever there was a time for PR to demonstrate it's value, it's here in Western Australia.

In Perth we're all sitting around in t-shirts. The dams are at 39 per cent capacity. There has been no rain this year. Indeed, for at least the past five or six years we've had exceedingly dry winters. Global what?

I reckon it's about time the Water Corporation campaigned to ban all lawn watering. If ever there was a waste of water, this is it. After all, lawn is a weed.

Shaky state of PR in Perth

National firm Rowland closed its Perth office this week, apparently without much warning.
Manager Carla Shearman praised staff in an email sent to clients and colleagues, but didn't elucidate on the reasons for the closure. It's sudden, though, because they only just moved offices.
It highlights the tenuous nature of the profession, particularly in Perth.
I've been conducting a longitudinal study of PR job in Australia (past six months) which shows that there are more PR positions in New Zealand in Perth.
Meantime, Carla's half a dozen staff have to find jobs.

Some journalists must be idiots

This has nothing to do with PR, but has everything to do with PR. 

It's all about journalists spreading misinformation. Dangerous misinformation.

We are continually told that Perth's hot weather is ideal beach weather. Channel 9 told us so last night, as Perth heads for a 39C day today – the first of the annual heatwaves.

Bloody irresponsible. Journalists mustn't know anyone that's had skin cancer.

This type of reporting is trite, but is also insidious and irresponsible.

What's it got to do with PR? Well, I'm going to run a PR campaign against idiotic journalism. This could also include things like over-use of unnecessary adjectives (i.e., gruesome murder). But it won't.

It might even save someone's life. 

His Grace? Hickey a dis-grace

I don't know if archbishops can be sacked. But surely the Catholic Archbishop of Perth should be, following revelations he lied about complaints made about a Catholic sect.

Hickey initially said he had not received complaints about sexual misconduct in the sect. Today, it transpires he was personally presented a report in 2000 about the sect.

In essence, he lied. An Archbishop lied.

At the end of the day, it was left to a Church spokesperson to handle the flak.

2007 Yamaha Majesty Scooter for sale in Perth

This is more than a scooter. A cross between city commuter and weekend tourer, this 2007 Yamaha Majesty is a wonder.
Talk about agile. The 400cc engine has plenty of grunt at take off, and loads of high-end power to take you breezing along the freeway at 100km/hr. It’s extremely manoeuvrable in city traffic.
With excellent wind protection and loads of storage in two gloveboxes and under the seat, this bike is practical, and versatile.
The best thing is that it’s almost new, with only 3500km on the clock; so it’s still under warranty and has loads of registration .
At only $8600 (ono) you’re saving $2400 on the new-bike price.