K Street Cafe

Hi Maddie,

I don’t know if there are any sides related to my post as much as a few professionals in pursuit of the truth. But more importantly, I could love to know what your thoughts are on the topic.

All my best,
Rich

Thanks Rich! I actually consider myself an “observer” on the subject – because I think the traditional PR business model can’t survive the social media revolution. (This is just my personal opinion, I’m no expert on PR!) I think your model is actually a very interesting way to perhaps sell new social ways of working to an industry chained to old ways of working. I think it’s a nice middle ground. I think other end of the spectrum, the elephant in the room, so to speak, is “who needs a PR department if everyone talks to everyone directly?” But the PR industry is well aware of this threat (and certainly it will take time to happen) and that’s why I’m interested in seeing how creative the industry will manage to be to reinvent itself. What do you think?

Maddie:

Great post! Very useful. And welcome to K Street Cafe. I’m one of the older bloggers (kind of a Generation “R” – we really didn’t get a cool letter of the alphabet growing up like you youngin’s). We’re glad to have you aboard (although, we’ll have to chat about your mixing fine Kentucky whiskey with soda pop).

And, in response to your question, I’ve been doing some research for the 2nd edition of “Media Relations Handbook for Associations, Nonprofits, and Congress” (www.mediarelationshandbook.com). With regard to use of social media and PR, and the “death” of PR, there are two distinct trends evolving:

1) In the face-paced, PR-firm-centered world, social media is happening faster than you text-while-driving. Innovation is happening by the minute, experimentation is everywhere.

2) In the public affairs world…not so much. Associations and nonprofits are, by nature, risk averse. They tend to be run by an older generation in their 50’s who saw the Internet arrive around the same time that their hair started to depart. They’ve got their toe in the water of social media, but are still drive by the age-old DC maxim: “Don’t write anything down you don’t want to see in the Washington Post.”

Hi Maddie,

I would agree with you. Public relations needs to evolve, but not to the point where anyone with fans or followers are likely to suddenly seize the title. It cheapens the field.

In some ways, it’s already happening. Other fields challenging public relations concepts on a regular basis and professionals who cannot defend against those challenges.

There is a middle ground, one that includes refreshing the original foundation. So many public relations firms operate as media relations firms (and not very good ones), it seems that they have forgotten the very robust skill sets that public relations can bring to a company.

Look forward to your future observations.

Best,
Rich

@Brad – I do like “on the rocks” too. Perhaps I tend to avoid that drink if I’m feeling a little nervous about being the newbie at the party…

In all seriousness, thanks so much for your comment! I agree with you on the two trends… and as I work in the association industry, I’m all too familiar with the “risk-averse” side of things. What excites me is the idea that associations can learn some lessons (in this fast-moving social media sphere) from the mistakes that for-profit companies make; not only watch and learn, but maybe mix things up a little and use ideas from other industries in order to stay “on mission” while learning to innovate. And of course, my focus is on building community, and associations are lucky to have a built-in community in their member base – which many B2C companies don’t have.

@Rich – great point about the distinction between “public relations” and “media relations”. Would love to hear more about that!