A Google search for the words ‘public relations’ will produce 99.100.000 links to choose from. Add the word ‘bad’ in front and 27.400.000 links will appear. These links offer everything from examples of good and bad PR moves to instructions on how to write a press release or plan an event. I admit I did not open all 99 million links but I can’t help but wonder what it is about PR that causes such massive interest.
The PR industry is not really meant to be at the forefront and PR practitioners are supposed to stand in the back and make sure everything looks good. That is why I find it hard to believe these PR stories and websites are created by the interested public.
What I think is going on here is that PR professionals can’t get enough of sharing their ‘wisdom’. When they are done writing another press release and making sure the client is scandal free they sit down in front of their computer and tell the world how interesting and exciting the PR industry is.
They are essentially promoting the field using all their writing and technological skills. It is actually sort of brilliant because what kind of professionals would they be if they couldn’t even gather interest in their own company and field?
It seems to have worked really well cause the phrase ‘bad PR’ has become something of a standard saying whenever a public persona or company behaves badly. The phrase in no longer confined to the PR office but can be heard by the water cooler in any given firm or even college.
PR comics are also increasingly popular and you know you’ve picked the right line of work if there are comics mocking you on the internet.
I would say that the massive amount of positive articles written about PR by PR people is probably ‘good PR’.
Íris Alma Vilbergsdóttir
I really don't know if PR is promoting PR himself. But I have an interesting idea of how PR development. PR wasn't as connect as nowadays before US gives scholar to every body who can contribute PR industry. Most winner of this scholar is coming from journalist student. I mean, it is possible that journalist gives some idea to PR and make them connect together. If that is true, the first explore of PR industry is coming from student who wants scholar, and the second explore is the people around those student. Then, a lot of people know PR and getting interested in it.
ReplyDeleteIt just a possibility of why so many people are interesting in PR.