Comments on: Stakeholder relations IS public relations

By: Journovox

Journovox — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 05:27:00 +0000

and of course there is ‘media management’– that makes journos feel like they have landed on the pages of George Orwell’s book 1984.

By: Adedamola Jayeola

Adedamola Jayeola — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 11:21:00 +0000

Great post boss! Its interesting the disciplines that keep making philosophical incursions and derivations from and into the fundamentals of public relations. Project Management (taking on stakeholder relations in Project Communication Management) and CSR practically becoming a body of knowledge on its own.

The role of stakeholder management, especially working in sectors like healthcare which are quite stress-inclined cannot be over-emphasized. Corporate relations managers mindful of this do not joke with programs even as simple as an Employee recognition/reward scheme. In clinics where it is easy to become quite overwhelmed by responsibility, a simple and attractive “Employee-Of-the-week” awareness works wonders.

By: Heuslerpr

Heuslerpr — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 07:03:00 +0000

great piece Craig – the one that drives me nuts is ‘reputation management’ by PR consultancies when it all comes back to grass roots PR anyway. As if you wouldn’t be guarding and advising on reputation as a senior consultanty anyway. keep ‘em coming

By: Helen Slater

Helen Slater — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 04:57:00 +0000

One of my continuing themes – PR for PR – and one which as an industry, we continue to fail at. Some of our colleagues do perpetuate the myth that PR is media relations in their own publicity, which says more about their own practice than the industry reality. However, it affects public perceptions and is frustrating.

By: Dee Crooks

Dee Crooks — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 04:53:00 +0000

Seems to me the PR world needs to do its own PR and explain to the world what it is we do, and why PR isn’t just media relations or spin doctoring!

By: Sara Goldberger

Sara Goldberger — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 22:05:00 +0000

Hello Craig – this might be of interest for you seeing that I make a few references to you. I hope you don’t mind! http://goldkom.wordpress.com

By: Craig Pearce

Craig Pearce — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 10:56:00 +0000

Thanks for all your comments everyone. Obviously this is an issue that raises a number of people’s eybrows. Kristy touches on a quite relevant point, I think, in that if the branding of ’stakeholder relations’ makes it more palatable for the implementation of what is effectively two-way symmetrical communication well, what the hell. It’s only a name. What matters most is that the deeply moral elements of symmetrical comms are put into practice.

The resonance of a brand is generated by what is at its core, not what it’s named or the colours of its logo. Maybe PR/stakeholder relations is another manifestation of this. Sad. Pathetic. But maybe the way of the future….??

By: Kristy Chong

Kristy Chong — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 21:49:00 +0000

Interesting blog. Yes you are right unfortunately many people associate PR with media relations and while the meaning implies more than that, I think we would be foolish to get rid of stakeholder relations and CSR right now.
PR is seen by most professionals as the umbrella term for what we do. I believe stakeholder relations and CSR are functions of PR, like issues management, key message development etc. When an organisation is large enough it may require someone to focus on just these aspects of PR.
Having worked internally for two large international organisations, I have seen CSR done really well but my biggest bug bear is when I see CSR programs that are basically extensions of marketing progams, eek. While in an ideal world we would view all of this as PR, as professionals we still need functions that can have actionable agendas we can monitor for results. Maybe we can all work together to better define what those would be if we were take away terms like CSR and stakeholder relations.

By: Shankar Chelluri

Shankar Chelluri — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Stakeholder Engagement is an integral part of CSR and while organisation take up different activities under them – ability to integrate it with PR/Corp Comm is a larger challenge. Depending on the nature of business – typically CSR is under Project Teams if work is done at the site or under HR if its managed from corporate office.
The issue of control defines whether Project Team/HR Team would like to integrate their work with the PR/Corp Comm Team and is dependent on the organisation policy on Brand & Reputation and is also dependent on maturity of the organisation in appreciating the value communications brings to the table.
In India – CSR is gradually growing out of the shadow of window dressing, publicity stunts and tax breaks and being viewed little more seriously. Am working with three clients in energy, IT & healthcare businesses and helping in developing their Sustainability Reports where am involved even in the strategy stage of the CSR Policy, activities, budgeting and monitoring of activities besides helping in developing & designing the report. As am handling the communication function as an external consultant for them – am instrumental in handling PR for the Stakeholder Engagement function as well and over the last 20 years of being in the industry – there is a perceptible change in the attitude of Indian companies.
However, Public Relations in India is still only about Media Relations and media-centric and concerned about coverage despite the noise being made about evolution of the nascent PR industry. Another dimension in my experience of over 10 years in PR & Corp. Comm. function is as follows: “If a positive story appears in Press – its because company is doing great job and not because of PR team and if there is negative press – media relations of PR team sucks” – sad commentary on how the PR industry has positioned itself for the business. Am working with different clients and trying my best to change this perception and asking clients to align communication to the business plans and take the longer route to brand building than a few press releases, interviews and press conferences.
Am optimistic of some positive change in coming years and constantly on the hunt for new trends and developments and strong academic research on PR & Communication Industry to support & argue my case for giving PR function its DUE under the sun!!

By: Dorian Ilie

Dorian Ilie — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 08:03:00 +0000

Great post!