I've been tracking some stories of late, collecting ideas of what people refer to "PR Nightmares" or "PR Disasters". I do find it odd how people bandy these terms around in the supposition that the earth will fall apart if such idiocies are allowed to destroy corporate reputations.
However, I do think that Bodycare in the Wigan have totally missed the point and the public opinion on this one www.news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/manchester/8342958.stm
To ban the wearing of Royal British Legion Poppies at this particular time is simply madness. To then refuse to answer press questions and finally say it is all down to policy beggars belief and shows a complete lack of PR skills by the company.
Policies are usually there for a good reason, but the value of a policy is that it should have a principle and the ability to be flexible when unusual situations arrive. Bodycare have jumped feet first into a full blown PR crisis reputation management situation that, for once, is worthy of being called a PR Disaster.
Wednesday, 4 November 2009
At a recent PR Conference in Leeds I got to ask Alastair Campbell http://twitter.com/campbellclaret the question I posted on my Blog on June 9th. Specifically I asked him if Gordon Brown will lose the next election on PR, policy, performance or personality?
As you would expect from a fervent labour supporter and an excellent interviewee, he quickly turned the question round to put David Cameron under the spotlight. His belief is that Gordon Brown will now come into his own and expose the Tories for their complete lack of policy, which is where he sees the PM has having overwhelming strengths.
Far be it from me to question the insight of the former Labour communications maestro but I'm beginning to wonder just how long it will take Brown to step up to the mark and win the policy PR battle - let alone the inescapable one of personality.
Yesterday Cameron was seen in television news footage striding the streets of the country with purpose and ease. I only caught sight of him at glance as I left the room but was struck by the similarity of his manner, demeanor and physical appearance to that of Tony Blair in the run up to the 1997 election. Much has been said about the shady copying of Blair by Cameron, in particular the lessons he has learnt in PR and presentation. Equally, much comment has been passed on the flimsy nature of his policies and how his spin is masking that vacuum.
I think Campbell has a point, there is much to be said for the staid Brown and his ability to hold fast to a tiller in a storm. He also seems to have found a great new ally in Peter Mandelson who has brought a renewed vigour to the Labour public relations machine.
Brown may have the solid experience and value of being in office during troubled times, he may have the past policy trophies to polish up and display before the electorate but now is the time for casting before them the promise of the future. Now is the time, if Campbell is right, for him to step up to the mark and run a solid PR campaign based on HIS policies for the future of the country. Campbell could be correct in that the Tories have exposed their flanks in recent announcements about tax and pensions - the question now is whether or not Brown and his PR machine can turn that cut into a running sore that will bleed them dry before the election.
As you would expect from a fervent labour supporter and an excellent interviewee, he quickly turned the question round to put David Cameron under the spotlight. His belief is that Gordon Brown will now come into his own and expose the Tories for their complete lack of policy, which is where he sees the PM has having overwhelming strengths.
Far be it from me to question the insight of the former Labour communications maestro but I'm beginning to wonder just how long it will take Brown to step up to the mark and win the policy PR battle - let alone the inescapable one of personality.
Yesterday Cameron was seen in television news footage striding the streets of the country with purpose and ease. I only caught sight of him at glance as I left the room but was struck by the similarity of his manner, demeanor and physical appearance to that of Tony Blair in the run up to the 1997 election. Much has been said about the shady copying of Blair by Cameron, in particular the lessons he has learnt in PR and presentation. Equally, much comment has been passed on the flimsy nature of his policies and how his spin is masking that vacuum.
I think Campbell has a point, there is much to be said for the staid Brown and his ability to hold fast to a tiller in a storm. He also seems to have found a great new ally in Peter Mandelson who has brought a renewed vigour to the Labour public relations machine.
Brown may have the solid experience and value of being in office during troubled times, he may have the past policy trophies to polish up and display before the electorate but now is the time for casting before them the promise of the future. Now is the time, if Campbell is right, for him to step up to the mark and run a solid PR campaign based on HIS policies for the future of the country. Campbell could be correct in that the Tories have exposed their flanks in recent announcements about tax and pensions - the question now is whether or not Brown and his PR machine can turn that cut into a running sore that will bleed them dry before the election.
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