Comments on: PR Gets Lousy PR, But is Getting its Groove Back

By: Mike "FUN!" Keliher

Mike "FUN!" Keliher — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 22:34:12 +0000

Thanks for sharing in the optimism (you, too, Kami). I see no reason not to.

Sure, we face a lot of challenges:

-convincing invoice-payers of the value of new tools
-measuring our work in meaningful ways
-staying on top of new trends, tactics and threats
-…I could go on.

But those challenges and ones like them will never…ever…ever go away. Life if full of challenges, but that’s what makes it great. Each time we win a little victory, overcome an obstacle, we are infused with the rush of success. Makes it all worth doing?

As for the PR biz in particular, even the “challenges” are as exciting for me as the successes. One thing that helps: Having clients that share (or at least appreciate) the excitement and are willing to experiment a little. I’m lucky enough to have a couple of clients who are doing great things and are truly eager to live and learn right alongside Albert and me.

It’s great fun. Why not be optimistic?

By: Mike "FUN!" Keliher

Mike "FUN!" Keliher — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 22:34:12 +0000

Thanks for sharing in the optimism (you, too, Kami). I see no reason not to.

Sure, we face a lot of challenges:

-convincing invoice-payers of the value of new tools
-measuring our work in meaningful ways
-staying on top of new trends, tactics and threats
-…I could go on.

It’s great fun. Why not be optimistic?

By: Kami Huyse

Kami Huyse — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 03:34:52 +0000

True that they don’t have teeth, but they do call out bad practices, and they are the only membership comms organization that does, beyond the bloggers of course. They have an advocacy news room, complete with RSS feed:

http://tinyurl.com/362zh5

That said, I am incredibly optimistic about the future of PR. I have never had more exciting clients or projects. It really is a great time to be in this business.

By: Pamela Seiple

Pamela Seiple — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 02:57:13 +0000

Todd,

I completely agree with you about social media’s effect of “[energizing] the field.” Until I became enlightened about new media’s powerful, emerging impression on PR, I was beginning to regret majoring in PR instead of marketing. Now that PR and marketing are becoming one and the same due to the Web’s impact, I am becoming increasingly excited about graduating and searching for a job at a PR firm that champions participation rather than control (like at a company hell bent on tradition).

PR was always thought to be more credible than advertising. Less control and more authenticity only means more success for PR practice!

By: Todd Defren

Todd Defren — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 22:45:23 +0000

A fair point about PRSA’s lack of teeth, Dave.

By: Dave Fleet

Dave Fleet — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 22:05:55 +0000

Todd,

You cite the “best efforts” of the PRSA, but I’d argue that the refusal of organizations like that to crack down on unethical behaviour by PR firms contributes to PR’s poor state. There are lots of other factors, but this is a contributor. By not calling out questionable practices, they legitimize them. Professional organizations need to hold their members to a higher standard.