Yesterday the Daily Dilbert caused much consternation on www.ukpress.org. The cartoon showed a PR and a journalist 'lunching' together and yet again portrayed our industry in a cynical light - implying that we bribe journalists with boozy lunches and get them just to publish what we give them http://www.dilbert.com/comics/dilbert/archive/images/dilbert2007916360222.gif.
Interestingly, on UK Press, the discussion also centred on lazy journalists who simply cut and paste press releases instead of thoroughly investigating a story.
This clever little cartoon encapsulated all the things that people perceive as bad in both PR and the media.
The cartoon was very timely when you consider the results of a recent PR Week sponsored debate where the motion that 'PR has a duty to tell the truth' was voted out. Martin Moore makes the point on his excellent blog (http://mediastandardstrust.blogspot.com) that If this is the view across the industry it does not bode well for a constructive dialogue between PR and the media.
It also does not bode well for our profession as a whole.
I saw the Dilbert cartoon and thought the same thing, Jacki. As you know the media and PR have had a longstanding love-hate relationship (similar to the one Ed and I have). While we can try to educate the media and public about the symbiotic relationship we have with journalists, the fact remains that many reporters resent us and refuse to acknowledge how much they depend upon us.
Posted by: steven cody | February 23, 2007 at 07:59 PM