Comments on: Applying truth in public relations http://craigpearce.info/public-relations/applying-truth-public-relations/ Short-term pain for long-term gain Wed, 22 May 2013 03:30:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Versailles http://craigpearce.info/public-relations/applying-truth-public-relations/comment-page-1/#comment-11468 Versailles Thu, 27 Sep 2012 13:45:00 +0000 http://craigpearce.info/?p=2008#comment-11468 Thank you for your comment Laura.  You are right that people are more concerned about the impact on them than the technical reasons behind the problem. However, 35 years of working with the media bring me to the conclusion that the reasons behind the problem will eventually come out.  It is better for the organisation to explain them than to wait for another person or organisation to frame the issue in its place.  I always advocate transparency. Thank you for your comment Laura.  You are right that people are more concerned about the impact on them than the technical reasons behind the problem. However, 35 years of working with the media bring me to the conclusion that the reasons behind the problem will eventually come out.  It is better for the organisation to explain them than to wait for another person or organisation to frame the issue in its place.  I always advocate transparency.

]]> By: Laura Fayers-Pooley http://craigpearce.info/public-relations/applying-truth-public-relations/comment-page-1/#comment-11467 Laura Fayers-Pooley Thu, 27 Sep 2012 03:20:00 +0000 http://craigpearce.info/?p=2008#comment-11467 Great post Guy. Some of your examples (especially the Montreal water situation) really demonstrate how giving people the whole picture is not necessarily in the public interest. Another more straight forward example would be in community relations for infrastructure projects, for example where an update letter is provided to explain why there have been construction delays. It's not necessary to go into all the technical reasons (especially if your organisation has stuffed up) but I find it helpful to give a high-level overview then if people contact seeking more information you can drill down into specific causes. After all, people are often more concerned about the impact on them (when will the construction noise stop) than the reasons (we laid the conduits incorrectly or ground conditions were not what we expected). Great post Guy. Some of your examples (especially the Montreal water situation) really demonstrate how giving people the whole picture is not necessarily in the public interest.

Another more straight forward example would be in community relations for infrastructure projects, for example where an update letter is provided to explain why there have been construction delays. It’s not necessary to go into all the technical reasons (especially if your organisation has stuffed up) but I find it helpful to give a high-level overview then if people contact seeking more information you can drill down into specific causes. After all, people are often more concerned about the impact on them (when will the construction noise stop) than the reasons (we laid the conduits incorrectly or ground conditions were not what we expected).

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