In Defense of Public Relations

When you hold a shell to your ear, you hear the ocean.  But not from this kind of Shel.  If you listen to this Shel, you’ll hear some really smart insights.  I especially enjoyed Shel’s post on why we can’t have celebu-bimbo Kim Kardashian represent the PR industry.  I can’t believe I’m giving self-proclaimed booty queen, K-Kard this much space on my blog, not that she’d care what an unknown anonymous PR blogger thinks. Frankly, like her, I don’t care.

PR Queen: No Booty Queen: Yes

In truth, I’m a fan of some reality shows even if we all know that they’re as real as the tooth fairy.  The problem is a majority of the average (IQ) viewer still believes reality shows are as real as the couch they sit on.  I remember when Lizzie Grubman’s Power Girls premiered on MTV and every non-PR friend I knew gave me an amused look saying, so that’s what you do.  I already had a hard time explaining what I did, and here comes Lizzie with her so-called PR gal pals making it look like the P in PR stood for Pimp.

P stands for Public not Pimping

So what do we do as PR folks when this reality show debuts with the two PR boys (I mean ‘gurus’) from Command Public Relations.  (I’m thinking they named it that because they both go ‘commando’ from the break of dawn into the night. See commando definition here.)  I’d like to think we’ll all heed Shel’s call to action.  Maybe even go on a campaign to petition the show off.  Though, I’m sure many of us will be glued to the TV to see how this firm operates and whether it’s like the agency you work for.  Not surprisingly, it may just be.  As the great PR mind, Josh Sternberg, succinctly replied to me in a tweet.

So the PRWeek/PR Newswire Media survey came out yesterday to practically no fanfare. Maybe I was blind or plain crazed yesterday that I didn’t see any PR pro tweet about the findings save for Shel Holtz who challenged technology blogger/editor Robert Scoble to respond to his open query.  Apparently, Shel takes issue with some of Scoble’s attitude towards PR pitches and PR people in general.

Shel got his answer. Scoble ain’t backing down and posted this in response.

My take.  Both have valid points, but as a PR pro, I’ll have to side with Holtz on this one. Yes, there are crappy pitches out there, and it’s in your inbox, so simply click delete. It’s nothing personal. If reporters only knew the kind of pressure PR people are under and the amount of time we have in a day to service clients.  We try to be as smart and strategic as possible, I hope, but do we really have the time to research every reporter’s and/or blogger’s past articles to ensure pitches are targeted? In front of clients, we say YES, but in reality, who’s got the time?

If I had to research every reporter/blogger and figure out whether they’re an appropriate target, I’d be 7/11, that means working 24/7.  No one wants that even in this sad economy.  To put it mildly, be happy we’re pitching you, and the fact that you work in the media means you’re a target.  Just think of yourselves as celebrities, but not as pretty, and PR pros as the paparazzi, but not as sleazy.