Giving PR People Heartburn
I have been asked to present a luncheon keynote presentation at a PR conference, of all things: PR Online Convergence 07. I predict a lot of upset stomachs, and I may be dodging utensils once the food fight breaks out.
I will most likely be speaking on the topic "Bloggers and PR People: Why Can't We Just Get Along?" and it's a good topic: here's one of the sentences from the copy for the conference:
Suddenly the image you have worked so hard to create and nurture is under attack.
Should be interesting, if I get out alive.
Jason Calacanis is keynoting the lunch on the next day, so at least no one will fall asleep, face down in the minestrone.
Please do let us know how it goes.
Reading your post my first reaction was "That's probably an East Coast conference". I based that on the fact that the (non-tech) PR people I've come across in for ex California, Oregon, Arizona, and Washington State seem to have if not embraced blogs than at least started accepting them. Less so over here on the East Coast.
Clearly the conference is in L.A., and I wonder if you'll encounter different responses from the attendees based on their geographical location, in addition to industry, tech savyness, etc etc.
Best of luck.
Posted by: Jaan | February 14, 2007 at 06:46 AM
Blogging and PR are often the same thing. Some of the top bloggers are PR people. Steve Rubel's Micropersuasion is an example of a professional PR blog. And most other top bloggers, at least in the business arena, are simply trying to drum up paid consulting gigs via free PR from their blogs. Nothing wrong with that; but I don't expect to see food flying, as long as everyone is honest that blogging = PR for the most part.
Posted by: Lynda | February 14, 2007 at 08:14 AM
I'll be speaking too. I'll see you there.
Not sure what this post has to do with the social media press release (noting the use of the tag), but you've clearly learned that the topic gets attention.
Posted by: Phil Gomes | February 14, 2007 at 04:44 PM
The question is, do PR people care? Do they really grok the sea-change occurring around them? And if they do, why are there efforts in the space failing or muted?
Moreover, are they willing to accept that the central tenets of their profession are being challenged not just by new mediums but new messengers?
Inducing heartburn should be regarded as a sign of success.
Posted by: Andy Lark | February 14, 2007 at 08:36 PM
It shouldn't be a bad experience at all. Not for you. Not for the people, your audience.
The key may be to not use the term "PR" and the phrase "public relations" as universal and general terms. Recognize the breadth and depth of PR practice across all sectors, not just tech PR - and characterize it as representative of all PR. Do that and your message may get through.
This is particularly important with regard to your views on blogs and press releases. But, it carries to all other areas of PR practice, too. The most important aspect is the actual reaching of your people, or audience. If your area of practice does not involve an identifiable or reachable online audience, the idea of blogging will seem quite the unfortunate path to follow.
Respectfully, close scrutiny of the wide scope of PR practice will tell you that there are many more instances of that than you seem to envision.
Posted by: Robert French | February 15, 2007 at 12:29 PM