tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309354809775228047.post7483800340240928293..comments2015-04-27T18:51:40.484-07:00Comments on Spin This: Matt Lauer, meanieJonathan Pottshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18433924194960127561noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309354809775228047.post-64312148032751373292011-11-04T18:26:00.834-07:002011-11-04T18:26:00.834-07:00I interpret Matt's question differently: Star...I interpret Matt's question differently: Starbucks had no intention of really helping jobs, it was just lip service in exchange for earned media. <br /><br />Like Krista, I think Gini is right -- PR has a terrible reputation as an industry and as PR pros we ought to be very concerned about it. After all, how can you help someone else manage their reputation if you cannot manage you own?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17630355598682684689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309354809775228047.post-60575609121258835022011-11-04T16:44:52.360-07:002011-11-04T16:44:52.360-07:00I spoke of my time as a journalist -- although rep...I spoke of my time as a journalist -- although reporters chafe at some negative stereotypes about them, they also cultivate their outsider status. (Even though some of them are the ultimate insiders, but that's another story.) In other words, the negative perceptions of journalists serve to reinforce the romanticized view that some journalists have of themselves as crusaders of truth, often working against the system. I exaggerate a bit, but you get the point.<br /><br />The problem that we have in PR is that we struggle to be more than mere communicators. We want to be strategic counselors -- well, the best of us do -- but the perception that all we do is spin, when it is internalized by our clients and organizations, diminishes our effectiveness. So from that standpoint I understand the problem. But we don't solve it by asking people to take us seriously. It's the equivalent of your mom telling the school yard bully to quit picking on you. It's likely to make the problem worse.Jonathan Pottshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18433924194960127561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7309354809775228047.post-7661417506191544932011-11-04T06:06:47.663-07:002011-11-04T06:06:47.663-07:00I like your line of reasoning, especially because ...I like your line of reasoning, especially because I read another post by Gini Dietrich on Spin Sucks that takes more of the defensive angle in the whole PR perception discussion (http://www.spinsucks.com/communication/what-is-public-relations-we-have-a-perception-issue/).<br /><br />Basically, Gini is calling for PR folks to be more proactive in doing PR for PR's sake. I understand your reasoning too, that we shouldn't get too ruffled over these perception issues because our job is to do good/ethical work our clients or companies.<br /><br />But my question is where does any profession draw the line? There are plenty of other professions with perception issues, but their worlds don't stop spinning. Could you say that Matt Lauer was simply perpetuating the perception of journalism as confrontational and skeptical? It's all relative, I guess, and there's no one solution to the issue. It's always good to read these kinds of posts that make me as a communications person (and former PR pro) really think about what I do and how others perceive my work.Kristahttp://prinpink.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com