Comments on: Is the company spokesperson facing extinction? http://www.pkellypr.com/blog/2006/0119/is-the-company-spokesperson-facing-extinction/ Irish Communications Consultant - Be Noticed Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:40:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Tom http://www.pkellypr.com/blog/2006/0119/is-the-company-spokesperson-facing-extinction/#comment-1329 Tom Thu, 19 Jan 2006 14:26:51 +0000 http://pkellypr.com/blog/2006/0119/is-the-company-spokesperson-facing-extinction/#comment-1329 A lot of it is down to trust. A) If a 'company spokesperson' suddenly turns out to be from a PR agency trained in dealing with media queries, the answer seems less genuine. While it's technically true that we're a company spokesperson, we don't work directly for them, and we don't have the same relationship with the company's customers. The second point is that PR as a profession is not held in the highest regard. Partially because of the 'PR gaff' culture, but I don't think PR has helped itself either. As an industry, we're seen as being purely defensive, helping companies that have done something wrong cover themselves. I don't think PR highlights the positive work we do, because, if we did, it would take away the gloss from our clients! A lot of it is down to trust. A) If a ‘company spokesperson’ suddenly turns out to be from a PR agency trained in dealing with media queries, the answer seems less genuine. While it’s technically true that we’re a company spokesperson, we don’t work directly for them, and we don’t have the same relationship with the company’s customers.

The second point is that PR as a profession is not held in the highest regard. Partially because of the ‘PR gaff’ culture, but I don’t think PR has helped itself either. As an industry, we’re seen as being purely defensive, helping companies that have done something wrong cover themselves. I don’t think PR highlights the positive work we do, because, if we did, it would take away the gloss from our clients!

]]> By: Stephen Davies http://www.pkellypr.com/blog/2006/0119/is-the-company-spokesperson-facing-extinction/#comment-1326 Stephen Davies Thu, 19 Jan 2006 01:05:05 +0000 http://pkellypr.com/blog/2006/0119/is-the-company-spokesperson-facing-extinction/#comment-1326 True, for a profession that looks after and enhances reputation, it has a hard time doing its own any justice. The media doesn't help - everything that a company, government, celebrity etc does wrong it's labeled a "PR gaff" or "PR blunder". Truth is, it probably wouldn't have happened if smart PR was involved. I know what you mean though. If you're writing a release and you're putting a quote in for a director - even though it's approved by him, there's still an element of, shall we say, "not the full truth" involved. True, for a profession that looks after and enhances reputation, it has a hard time doing its own any justice. The media doesn’t help - everything that a company, government, celebrity etc does wrong it’s labeled a “PR gaff” or “PR blunder”. Truth is, it probably wouldn’t have happened if smart PR was involved.

I know what you mean though. If you’re writing a release and you’re putting a quote in for a director - even though it’s approved by him, there’s still an element of, shall we say, “not the full truth” involved.

]]> By: Piaras http://www.pkellypr.com/blog/2006/0119/is-the-company-spokesperson-facing-extinction/#comment-1325 Piaras Wed, 18 Jan 2006 22:42:20 +0000 http://pkellypr.com/blog/2006/0119/is-the-company-spokesperson-facing-extinction/#comment-1325 I don't think that their spokesperson couldn't be a PR representative, it's just that I don't think the general public knows that it is. I'm just talking in general terms here because I see 'a company spokesperson said...' and it's me they're talking about. I just find it a little funny. I don't think that it should read 'Piaras Kelly said...', but I think the fact that if it read 'the company's PR representative said' that it would come across more as professional representation. It's a tough one to call really and I'm just throwing it out there as a general discussion piece. In my opinion some people are slightly wary when they know that a PR representative is involved, but that's only because they don't know what we do. I don’t think that their spokesperson couldn’t be a PR representative, it’s just that I don’t think the general public knows that it is.

I’m just talking in general terms here because I see ‘a company spokesperson said…’ and it’s me they’re talking about. I just find it a little funny. I don’t think that it should read ‘Piaras Kelly said…’, but I think the fact that if it read ‘the company’s PR representative said’ that it would come across more as professional representation.

It’s a tough one to call really and I’m just throwing it out there as a general discussion piece. In my opinion some people are slightly wary when they know that a PR representative is involved, but that’s only because they don’t know what we do.

]]> By: Stephen Davies http://www.pkellypr.com/blog/2006/0119/is-the-company-spokesperson-facing-extinction/#comment-1324 Stephen Davies Wed, 18 Jan 2006 22:16:50 +0000 http://pkellypr.com/blog/2006/0119/is-the-company-spokesperson-facing-extinction/#comment-1324 What about if it was the 'communications director' who was quoted. Although still a PR practitioner, would that sound better in the press? If the company has an in-house PR team then why can't the spokesperson be in the PR department? After all, that's their job and they probably know more about the situation than anyone else in the company. Personally, I don't think the general public believe companies using PR (either in-house or agency) to communicate to outside publics are trying to hide something. That would be similar to saying people using lawyers to represent them in the courts are trying to hide something. It's just professional representation. What about if it was the ‘communications director’ who was quoted. Although still a PR practitioner, would that sound better in the press?

If the company has an in-house PR team then why can’t the spokesperson be in the PR department? After all, that’s their job and they probably know more about the situation than anyone else in the company.

Personally, I don’t think the general public believe companies using PR (either in-house or agency) to communicate to outside publics are trying to hide something. That would be similar to saying people using lawyers to represent them in the courts are trying to hide something. It’s just professional representation.

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