{"id":26504,"date":"2011-07-21T20:32:48","date_gmt":"2011-07-21T19:32:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/?p=26504"},"modified":"2011-07-21T20:34:56","modified_gmt":"2011-07-21T19:34:56","slug":"theres-no-reason-for-weak-pr-missing-the-real-issues-in-the-news-corp-crisis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/alienbabeltech.com\/main\/theres-no-reason-for-weak-pr-missing-the-real-issues-in-the-news-corp-crisis\/","title":{"rendered":"There’s No Reason for Weak PR – Missing the Real Issues in the News Corp Crisis"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The following is by G. A . “Andy” Marken, President of Marken Communications<\/span><\/a> Inc. He has kindly given us permission to republish his thought-provoking article. As with everything that we publish at AlienBabelTech, the opinions expressed are solely those of the individual writer and do not necessarily reflect the views and the opinions of the rest of the ABT staff.<\/strong><\/span><\/span> \u2013Mark Poppin,<\/span> ABT Senior Editor<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/h6>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Did the PRSA Miss the Real Issues in the News Corp Crisis <\/strong><\/h2>\n

By G.A. \u201cAndy\u201d Marken<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Former APR<\/strong><\/p>\n

Last week Ms. \u00a0Rosanna Fiske, chair and CEO of the Public Relations Society of America<\/a> (PRSA), issued a news release in response to the News Corp. phone hacking scandal.<\/p>\n

\u201cNews Corp.\u2019s misguided response to the escalating phone-hacking scandal will undoubtedly become a case study for business schools and public relations professionals on the potential perils of not properly managing the reputations of all<\/em> of a company\u2019s assets. In trying to make excuses for unethical actions by some News of the World<\/em> reporters and editors, Rupert Murdoch has demonstrated a profound lack of understanding of how his actions and words influence the public\u2019s perception of his company and its employees.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

We found the public pronouncement to be a thinly veiled news hook for the association rather than a condemnation not only of the apparent illegal activities of News of the World<\/em><\/strong> staffers and others in the organization but of the changing view of privacy and personal (forget professional) ethics.<\/p>\n

It reminds us of the scene from Pirates of the Caribbean: At World\u2019s End<\/em><\/strong> where Jack Sparrow uses a gun as a scope to see the enemy sighting down the wrong end.<\/p>\n

If this were simply a public relations crisis issue then Edelman which has suffered through its share is probably better equipped to assess the true situation and assist in responding appropriately.<\/p>\n

We simply do not believe it is in the best interest of anyone at News Corp and beyond that the association should put out a narrowly focused pronouncement on the damage that may be done to the company\u2019s \u201cimage\u201d or the stockholder value.<\/p>\n

Damage Control<\/strong><\/h3>\n

What about the damage that was done to the individuals \u2013 alive and dead \u2013 who were involved?<\/p>\n

Image and stockholder value are minor compared to the larger, more basic damage that has been done to people.<\/p>\n

Ms. Fiske on behalf of the association condemns Murdock for his action or inaction rather than saying fer gawd sake people this type of intrusive action is wrong on way too many levels.\u00a0 Perhaps it is time for us as an industry to help the global community develop\/deliver more respect for organizations\/individuals.<\/p>\n

Ethics and concern begin with the individual and that doesn\u2019t include telling someone how he\/she should run their business or lives.<\/p>\n

News Corp is a closed corporation owned\/controlled by the Murdocks.\u00a0 Ms. Fiske may not like it but it is a fact.\u00a0 This isn\u2019t the first shady, distasteful activity that has been brought to light and it certainly won\u2019t be the last.<\/p>\n

If Ms. Fiske wants to scream at someone (beside Rupert) than give the board of directors hell because they are the shareholders representatives.\u00a0 They\u2019ve got some good people on the silent board like Tom Perkins who resigned from HP\u2019s board because of the chairman\u2019s questionable ethics and dubious legality.<\/p>\n

At this early stage we doubt that Murdock, the board or Edelman have any idea exactly what all was done and the depth\/breadth of the phone hacking.<\/p>\n

What should they say in the name of \u201copen disclosure\/transparency\u201d?\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cGee your wild speculations are as good as the solid information we have at hand!\u201d\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n

Yes that kinda works for us.<\/p>\n

Look Deeper, Inward<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Fer gawd sake there is a deeper issue Ms Fiske and it is the quickest way to grab\/disseminate the information regardless of who or what may be damaged.<\/p>\n

That is why hacking went from a respectable expertise to activity that disrupts business, personal lives and steals.<\/p>\n

The Association seems so preoccupied with the people who should be in charge of social media, a fruitless effort when anyone\/everyone is empowered, that it loses sight of the fact that perhaps they should focus on helping people understand their individual responsibilities as well as taking ownership of their actions and the impact of those actions.<\/p>\n

Murdock deserves\/has PR and legal counsel that might know a little more about what happened\/didn\u2019t happen, who did\/didn\u2019t do something and how far reaching the activity was.<\/p>\n

Saying we\u2019re the professionals who should be constantly attached to senior management to guide them in the right decision doesn\u2019t accomplish much.<\/p>\n

Ms Fiske and the association might serve the entire marketplace and industry by taking a couple of pointers from Mitch Joel, president of Twist Image and author of Six Pixels of Separation<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

There are so many social media and Twitter Trolls out that make people a personal disappointment to us.\u00a0 Behind the mask of the Internet and Web they have no qualms about reaching out and stealing, striking maliciously and simply humiliating someone all in the name of\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m right, you\u2019re wrong, ***** you.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

# # #<\/p>\n

by: G.A. “Andy” Marken<\/strong><\/p>\n

President<\/strong><\/p>\n

Marken Communications Inc.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Andy@markencom.com<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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