Comments on: PR’s Ridiculous Identity Crisis http://www.livingstonbuzz.com/2007/12/12/prs-ridiculous-identity-crisis/ Musings and analysis on marketing, buzz and communications. Wed, 17 Mar 2010 08:01:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Sarah http://www.livingstonbuzz.com/2007/12/12/prs-ridiculous-identity-crisis/comment-page-1/#comment-78525 Sarah Fri, 23 Jan 2009 05:06:46 +0000 http://www.livingstonbuzz.com/blog/2007/12/12/prs-ridiculous-identity-crisis/#comment-78525 I am a Student at Georgia State University. I am in Dr. Joseph Trahan's Public Relations course. Public Relations is the management function which evaluates public attitudes, identifies the policies and procedures of an individual or an organization with the public interest, and plans, executes, and evaluates a program of action to earn public understanding and acceptance. I am a Student at Georgia State University. I am in Dr. Joseph Trahan’s Public Relations course.

Public Relations is the management function which evaluates public attitudes, identifies the policies and procedures of an individual or an organization with the public interest, and plans, executes, and evaluates a program of action to earn public understanding and acceptance.

]]> By: Public Relations… What’s the definition again? « Columbia Sportswear blog http://www.livingstonbuzz.com/2007/12/12/prs-ridiculous-identity-crisis/comment-page-1/#comment-37866 Public Relations… What’s the definition again? « Columbia Sportswear blog Fri, 29 Feb 2008 06:00:50 +0000 http://www.livingstonbuzz.com/blog/2007/12/12/prs-ridiculous-identity-crisis/#comment-37866 [...] one can seem to clearly agree on a set definition. Take for example Geoff Livingston post about “PR’s ridiculous identity crisis.” He pulls PR definitions from PRSA, the Institute for Public Relations, First World Form for [...] [...] one can seem to clearly agree on a set definition. Take for example Geoff Livingston post about “PR’s ridiculous identity crisis.” He pulls PR definitions from PRSA, the Institute for Public Relations, First World Form for [...]

]]> By: Strategic Marketers See PR as a Function » The Buzz Bin http://www.livingstonbuzz.com/2007/12/12/prs-ridiculous-identity-crisis/comment-page-1/#comment-37780 Strategic Marketers See PR as a Function » The Buzz Bin Thu, 28 Feb 2008 06:03:59 +0000 http://www.livingstonbuzz.com/blog/2007/12/12/prs-ridiculous-identity-crisis/#comment-37780 [...] cases, PR is an internal or hired function to execute a portion of a marketing campaign. And yes, PR is clearly undefined or over-defined, depending on how you see [...] [...] cases, PR is an internal or hired function to execute a portion of a marketing campaign. And yes, PR is clearly undefined or over-defined, depending on how you see [...]

]]> By: A new definition for marketing « Online PR course blog http://www.livingstonbuzz.com/2007/12/12/prs-ridiculous-identity-crisis/comment-page-1/#comment-31908 A new definition for marketing « Online PR course blog Tue, 22 Jan 2008 01:54:07 +0000 http://www.livingstonbuzz.com/blog/2007/12/12/prs-ridiculous-identity-crisis/#comment-31908 <!--%kramer-ref-pre%-->[...] PR was struggled with this for years. Another interesting post along these lines is the one by Geoff Livingston referred to on our program blog last [...]<!--%kramer-ref-post%--> Kramer auto Pingback[...] PR was struggled with this for years. Another interesting post along these lines is the one by Geoff Livingston referred to on our program blog last [...]

]]> By: Defining Public Relations « The Word http://www.livingstonbuzz.com/2007/12/12/prs-ridiculous-identity-crisis/comment-page-1/#comment-26765 Defining Public Relations « The Word Fri, 21 Dec 2007 00:44:51 +0000 http://www.livingstonbuzz.com/blog/2007/12/12/prs-ridiculous-identity-crisis/#comment-26765 [...] out the recent blog posting by Geoff Livingston, author of the recently published Now Is Gone, to read more about the inconclusive debate on [...] [...] out the recent blog posting by Geoff Livingston, author of the recently published Now Is Gone, to read more about the inconclusive debate on [...]

]]> By: Andy http://www.livingstonbuzz.com/2007/12/12/prs-ridiculous-identity-crisis/comment-page-1/#comment-26012 Andy Sat, 15 Dec 2007 21:38:59 +0000 http://www.livingstonbuzz.com/blog/2007/12/12/prs-ridiculous-identity-crisis/#comment-26012 Been struggling with this myself. I have been actively blogging for three quarters on our corporate web site - one Friday afternoon, about 3 hours after I made a post, I got an inbound lead for our product offering. My efforts to foster goodwill produced an accidental lead...was I explicitly direct marketing? Nope. My organization is small enought to measure cause and effect. As our organizations increasingly blur the lines of how consumers interact with their stakeholders, perhaps PR,Direct Marketing and Advertising will one day be called something entirely new? Been struggling with this myself. I have been actively blogging for three quarters on our corporate web site – one Friday afternoon, about 3 hours after I made a post, I got an inbound lead for our product offering. My efforts to foster goodwill produced an accidental lead…was I explicitly direct marketing? Nope. My organization is small enought to measure cause and effect.

As our organizations increasingly blur the lines of how consumers interact with their stakeholders, perhaps PR,Direct Marketing and Advertising will one day be called something entirely new?

]]> By: Richard Becker http://www.livingstonbuzz.com/2007/12/12/prs-ridiculous-identity-crisis/comment-page-1/#comment-25762 Richard Becker Thu, 13 Dec 2007 18:45:50 +0000 http://www.livingstonbuzz.com/blog/2007/12/12/prs-ridiculous-identity-crisis/#comment-25762 Thank you Bill. Finish the conversation in social media? I'd rather define public relations. :) Best, Rich Thank you Bill. Finish the conversation in social media?

I’d rather define public relations. :)

Best,
Rich

]]> By: Why I don’t trust marketing: Part II « http://www.livingstonbuzz.com/2007/12/12/prs-ridiculous-identity-crisis/comment-page-1/#comment-25753 Why I don’t trust marketing: Part II « Thu, 13 Dec 2007 17:38:29 +0000 http://www.livingstonbuzz.com/blog/2007/12/12/prs-ridiculous-identity-crisis/#comment-25753 [...] Geoff Livingston goes a few rounds with Rich, then does his own post. He morphs the discussion into an “identity crisis” for PR, and he includes a quote from me to sum it up. I’m flattered, but I guess I’m on Geoff’s shit list, as he didn’t include my last name or a link to the original post. No offense taken, Geoff. I’ve been an outcast since high school. [...] [...] Geoff Livingston goes a few rounds with Rich, then does his own post. He morphs the discussion into an “identity crisis” for PR, and he includes a quote from me to sum it up. I’m flattered, but I guess I’m on Geoff’s shit list, as he didn’t include my last name or a link to the original post. No offense taken, Geoff. I’ve been an outcast since high school. [...]

]]> By: Bill Sledzik http://www.livingstonbuzz.com/2007/12/12/prs-ridiculous-identity-crisis/comment-page-1/#comment-25738 Bill Sledzik Thu, 13 Dec 2007 16:12:14 +0000 http://www.livingstonbuzz.com/blog/2007/12/12/prs-ridiculous-identity-crisis/#comment-25738 Sorry. I neglected to mention this excellent post by Heather Yaxley, her first at PR Conversations, back in August. She puts this subject in perspective using a simple analogy. Perhaps she even lays the debate to rest. http://www.prconversations.com/?p=307 Sorry. I neglected to mention this excellent post by Heather Yaxley, her first at PR Conversations, back in August. She puts this subject in perspective using a simple analogy. Perhaps she even lays the debate to rest.

http://www.prconversations.com/?p=307

]]> By: Bill Sledzik http://www.livingstonbuzz.com/2007/12/12/prs-ridiculous-identity-crisis/comment-page-1/#comment-25736 Bill Sledzik Thu, 13 Dec 2007 16:06:20 +0000 http://www.livingstonbuzz.com/blog/2007/12/12/prs-ridiculous-identity-crisis/#comment-25736 ...and when you come a fork in the road, take it! Gotta love Yogi, but I'll always hate the Yankees. If you immerse yourself in any of the big professional organizations, PRSA and IABC in particular, you won't hear as much of this "debate," nor will you hear ridicule of the profession. That's a problem far more prevalent in the blogosphere, and I guess we're all contributing to it with this thread. Both IABC and PRSA are well focused on the mission of PR and the definitions that embody it. Though I've had my differences with PRSA this past year, I don't disagree at any philosophical level. The definitions and descriptions put forth by PRSA and IABC tend to be abstract, a product of a lot of deep reflection by some pretty smart folks who sometimes get caught up in their own jargon. The Cutlip definition that Lauren cites is another example of it. To a professional it's entirely clear, to my mother, it's total gibberish. But the profession isn't talking to my mom. In the end, PR isn't a complex business, but its reach is broad. Communication, after all, involves all aspects of the organization. As such, it means different things to different people. I just got off the phone with our local IABC president, and he tells me that 70% of the group's members internationally have a major or primary focus on internal communication. You won't find anywhere near that skew at PRSA, which tends to be dominated by factions from marketing and strategic communication (as if we promote communication that isn't strategic). No doubt we need an "integrated communication" function. I just don't think marketing has a broad enough view to do the integrating. Well, it's been fun. Thanks for putting up with my second tome in 12 hours. My good friend Andy Curran may have said it best with his comment over at my place: "I predict that there will be peace in the Middle East, a Cleveland team will win a world championship, and it will snow in Miami Beach in July before a resolution to this debate occurs!" Link: http://toughsledding.wordpress.com/2007/12/05/why-i-dont-trust-marketing/#comment-14121 Andy has to be right, because he loves Yogi Berra and he hates the Yankees even more than I do. …and when you come a fork in the road, take it! Gotta love Yogi, but I’ll always hate the Yankees.

If you immerse yourself in any of the big professional organizations, PRSA and IABC in particular, you won’t hear as much of this “debate,” nor will you hear ridicule of the profession. That’s a problem far more prevalent in the blogosphere, and I guess we’re all contributing to it with this thread. Both IABC and PRSA are well focused on the mission of PR and the definitions that embody it.

Though I’ve had my differences with PRSA this past year, I don’t disagree at any philosophical level. The definitions and descriptions put forth by PRSA and IABC tend to be abstract, a product of a lot of deep reflection by some pretty smart folks who sometimes get caught up in their own jargon. The Cutlip definition that Lauren cites is another example of it. To a professional it’s entirely clear, to my mother, it’s total gibberish. But the profession isn’t talking to my mom.

In the end, PR isn’t a complex business, but its reach is broad. Communication, after all, involves all aspects of the organization. As such, it means different things to different people. I just got off the phone with our local IABC president, and he tells me that 70% of the group’s members internationally have a major or primary focus on internal communication. You won’t find anywhere near that skew at PRSA, which tends to be dominated by factions from marketing and strategic communication (as if we promote communication that isn’t strategic).

No doubt we need an “integrated communication” function. I just don’t think marketing has a broad enough view to do the integrating.

Well, it’s been fun. Thanks for putting up with my second tome in 12 hours. My good friend Andy Curran may have said it best with his comment over at my place:

“I predict that there will be peace in the Middle East, a Cleveland team will win a world championship, and it will snow in Miami Beach in July before a resolution to this debate occurs!”

Link: http://toughsledding.wordpress.com/2007/12/05/why-i-dont-trust-marketing/#comment-14121

Andy has to be right, because he loves Yogi Berra and he hates the Yankees even more than I do.

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