Piaras Kelly PR - Public Relations in Ireland

The world is full of suffering, it is also full of overcoming it - Helen Keller

One of the main topics coming through numerous channels over the course of the recent sad events in London and New Orleans is criticism of opportunists who seek to profit off tragedy. I agree that it is shocking to think that there are organisations and people out there who somehow think that they can make a few bucks or sell a couple of records off the suffering of others.

However, a line has to be drawn in the sand at some point because at the same time there is far too much unnecessary media scrutiny in the time of disaster.

Why criticise Pepsi for an ad campaign featuring large waves in the wake of the Tsunami? It’s not like they planned the creative aspect in the wake of the disaster. There is a fine line between sensitivity and oversensitivity, and it is the media who are often the ones who cross it.

For example, look at the recent criticism Venus Williams has suffered because she appeared uninformed about the events in New Orleans. However, Venus revealed in the meantime that she doesn’t watch the news regularly because of the death of her half-sister who died in a gangland shooting in 2003. So in their efforts to champion moral values, the media have been left with egg on their face.

Some say that the disaster in New Orleans breathed new life into the US media. It may have in some respects, but in many others it revealed the same flaws that existed beforehand across the profession worldwide.

This is one case where PR isn’t required, just simple common sense.

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