Spin, Lies, Propaganda, Buearacracy.
Four words which recurred often when I surveyed the public with the question: "What do you think of when I say 'Public Relations'?"
Those who answered 'Buearacracy' must have been public servants, or people who worked closely with the government. 'Propaganda' must have been the traditionalists; those who adhere to an Edward Bernays philosophy. 'Spin' and 'Lies', I can assume were some general public perceptions. (Keeping in mind there were also plenty of good reviews of PR)
So how much of PR is actually lies and deceit?
I believe people like Max Clifford do the PR industry no favours. However, I can understand how the bending of truth is a necessary part of the industry.
Although, to me, bending the truth involves giving people the same message, but with an emotional twist. Humans are emotional beings, and their emotions need to be tended to carefully.
Many people would say emotional positioning is wrong, because any message that isn't objective is somehow deceitful. I don't believe it is 'wrong' or deceitful. Nothing in this world is entirely objective, and if it were, we would all be robots.
It is considerate to be aware of audiences emotions, and as long as everybody is happy in the end, and the truth has been stuck to, what harm has been done?
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