"Anti-Americanism is the internationalism of imbeciles"; someone once said that (can't remember who I'm afraid) and it's a brand of internationalism that afflicts parts of Europe at the moment (there's a US equivalent as well by the way). As for Der Speigel, it's pretty left wing and I'm not sure it reflects the true view of many in Germany.

"PR firms have the right to be advocates for their clients."

Here, so as we are clear as to what we mean by that, let's define more clearly the role of PR. There are four types of basic PR engagements (see http://www.strumpette.com/archives/160-Gimme-Shelter.html):

1. An internal department or a firm is engaged to "Get the word out" about something good for society. This is actually quite rare as there are very few things today that are good for society. Actually, if it's any good, the news tends to pick it up on their own and people find it themselves.

2. Create "buzz" around something potentially harmful. One of the highest paid PR people on the planet works for Philip Morris. Simply said, most if not all of the bad stuff that will surely give you cancer and kill ya, also happens to taste the best and is the most fun. PR is a necessary evil to help downplay the pesky "death" part.

3. Then there's the preverbal "Lipstick on a Pig" situations. All financial transactions are a matter of somebody wanting to get rid of something and somebody silly enough to think it has some value. PR helps gussy up that pig. Without the slippery PR, the financial markets would come to a grinding halt.

4. Lastly, there's "Weasel Couture." Examples of this are all too numerous. Suffice to say simply, Michael Jackson's publicist.

That in mind, I think your statement above would be more accurate if it read “PR firms have the right to compromise their principles on the way to the bank.”

Amanda Chapel
Managing Editor
Strumpette

"PR is about doing good and being recognized for it."

Hmmm, I might buy *one* definition of PR as being "getting recognition for the good you do" but, sadly, too much PR is about creating images of organisations, products and people; of presenting a specific perspective on an issue for commercial advantage; of using statistics to convince; less about building relationships, more about creating perceptions.

So, Richard, you like to focus on one, Der Spiegel has chosen to focus on the other. Two sides of the same coin?

I completely agree with you regarding the way the PR industry is coming off in this case and why DCI was wrong.

I did some investigating on this and blogged about it at http://digitalstreetjournal.com/?p=113.

It turns out that one of Exxon's top lobbyist is a former Bush appointee the the White House Council on Environmental Quality. Philip Cooney. While at the White House, he 'edited out' findings by government scientists that warned of global warming. That was pretty controversial. Before that, he was at the American Petroleum Institute where he the "Climate Team Leader".

the article is absolutely correct.

Mark,

I believe in the power of pr to make change. Our programs can focus attention on female self image or environment or prevention of cervical cancer via vaccine for teen age girls. I acknowledge that there are problems in our industry but many of them are self induced and preventible. Thanks for writing a comment

I have read the Der Spiegel report and the poor translation of it notwithstanding, you misrepresent the original story, Richard--even dragging out the anti-Semitic card--by parsing what the reporter wrote. While I don't agree with everything in the original story, I find your pointing fingers at the tactics of the DCI Group, or any other agency for that matter, ludicrous. Your shop and many others employ many of the same techniques every day--and you have the nerve to do some dissembling of your own, by challenging the veracity of their motives? Get off your throne, Richard, and start practicing what you preach.

Richard:

I enjoyed your post this week on the 6AM blog. Coincidentally I was briefly up against the DCI group in a proxy fight on behalf of Sovereign Bank this year. Sheinkopf was called in to provide aggressive campaign strategy to beat back an activist hedge fund seeking to destabilize the bank.

In my investigation, I found DCI group to be as fascinating as they are devious. They are allegedly behind Bush�s �Progress for America� 527 as well as a number of �Astroturf� faux advocacy websites on behalf of corporate interests. They were the accused culprits in the slam polling of McCain in the 2000 primary calling the Senator a thief and a liar. Thomas Synhorst, founder of DCI, was also behind R.J. Reynolds campaign of distributing �adults only� tobacco literature in schools as a means of enticing underage smokers.

They seem to epitomize the sneaky, manipulative, underhanded side of the PR/Propaganda world.

Thanks for the post.

DV

The poor translation of this report notwithstanding, you misrepresent the original story--even dragging out the anti-Semitic card--by selectively parsing. I certainly don't agree with everything in the Der Spiegel story. But someone out there in the PR industry blogsphere PLEASE tell me that I'm not the only one who finds Richard Edelman pointing fingers at the tactics of DCI Group (or any other agency for that matter) ludicrous? Your shop and many others employ many of the same techniques every day--and you have the nerve to impugn a competitor's motives? Kudos to you for starting and sustaining a blog. But with all due respect, Richard, I would encourage you to get off your blog-throne and demonstrate how you practice what you preach. And when it comes to dissembling, it seems to me that your agency's work for Wal-Mart is not a bad place to start.

BR,

What I don�t like about the DCI action is the dissembling about motive and failure to disclose representation of client

As for my interpretation of the reporter�s basic view of PR, you are entitled to your view and I am going to stick with mine

I am not pulling out the anti-Semitic card, simply the bad memories of WWII and Nazi use of propaganda.