Rick Segal makes some interesting observations about PR culture, and corporations’ relationships with the public. Regarding a recent Delta Air Lines “internal memo”:
I’m not sure who to laugh at first. The company for calling this ‘internal’ and then releasing it? The NYSE for being clueless and not being able to figuring out what’s happening? The reporters who promote this stuff as ‘internal’ deep dark secrets being unearthed for all to see?
[snip]
When you read “we are still in the process of implementing our transformation plan” vs. “there’s still a bunch of shit to do”, the PR department wrote the “internal” memo and it’s meant for public consumption.
He then suggests that blogs can/should be used to fulfill certain PR purposes, such as intentionally leaked memos:
Doc Searls, Robert Scoble, or Jason Calacanis (can’t remember which) made the observation at Reboot7 that companies (like Delta) would do far better to just cough up the facts, blog style vs. these endless reams of PR dribble dressed up as “internal memos.” Amen.
Do PR and blogs have more in common than we realize? Does the recent surge of blog popularity, traditionally seen as a new medium of expression resulting from new technology opportunity, instead signify that the individual is taking on traits of corporations, and therefore seeking a similar relationship with the environment?
More discussion on PR culture here.
Blogs are very much a PR tool - and whilst I agree with whichever of Scoble, Searls or Calacanis said that coughing up the facts blog style would be better - given time (or even immediately if you are very cynical) - the majority of PR blogs will unfortunately be turned into the same PR dibble we see today in general press releases, though hopefully this will still be in a blogger’s style - much more readable than the press releases/news items on official websites.
Slight diversion, but one of the things I have seen recently are blogs as marketing tools - blogs which look like a user’s blog but are actually promoting company X’s product. Again the best of these “shout” about the fact that its a company promotion in subtle ways so that you know its just a bit of fun, others hide the product in photos and videos and its only when you delve deeper do you realise what it is.
Honesty is by far the best policy in my view.. no matter how subtle ;)