I have a pretty good record when it comes to getting letters published in the Sydney Morning Herald, even though I’m in Perth.
However, I stopped writing in recent days due to the strike by journalists (see post 28 August).
I believe it’s important that standards in journalism are maintained, yet I can not see this occurring if staff keep getting laid off. As night follows day, the quality will decline, as less people do more work.
The days of Fairfax giving a jot about good journalism are gone. With a non-journalist, Kiwi David Kirk, at the helm, it’s no wonder.
To the staff: stay solid. I know how difficult it is to strike.
PR at http://www.prlab.com.au
Categories: Uncategorized
Tagged: david-kirk, journalism, journalism-cutbacks, smh, smh-strike, sydney-morning-herald
A further round of editorial job cutbacks at John Fairfax will do nothing for journalism and create further opportunities for public relations.
Fairfax announced yesterday it was axing 120 editorial jobs in Australia.
Coincidentally it followed the appearance on Tuesday night on the 7.30 Report of British investigative journalist and author Nick Davies, who argued that journalistic standards are declining the world over as cost-cutting and government pressures take toll on the industry.
Davis also mentioned about the growing influence of PR. This is all to evident.
As newsrooms become leaner, staff are under more pressure to produce material: more often than not, without checking facts too closely. I have had media releases run verbatim (and with a reporter’s byline). You get one happy client, but as a journalist, I still worry about where all this is leading.
Davies’ interview can be read at this page: http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2008/s2348362.htm
More PR at the PR Lab, http://www.prlab.com.au
Categories: Uncategorized
Tagged: newspapers-demise, the-age, pr-opportunity
Many PR programs are long-term. QANTAS has started one that is definitely in this category.
The airline’s chief, Geoff Dixon, last week announced that a merger with another airline is inevitable. It was reported but not followed through anywhere in particular.
Shock, horror. What did he say? One of Australia’s national icons could merge with a foreign carrier.
Yet another economic rationalisation project - a sign of our times. It’s also a clever way to “leak” the idea gradually to get the Australian public used to the idea, so that when it happens there’s not much opposition.
However, it will be interesting to see the various stages this PR “issue” goes through, and what forces are mustered to oppose the plan.
PR at http://www.prlab.com.au
Categories: Uncategorized
Tagged: airline-merger, australian-airline, qantas, qantas-pr
All aboard. The Western Australian election train has left the station, and Premier Alan Carpenter is in the engine-driver’s seat, complete with a full complement of crew in all the carriages.
Stock standard among the traditional government PR tactics is the major weekend initiative. First off was the today’s announcement of the fast-tracking of a major arterial road overpass at Noranda. The $72m project has been brought forward several years. No, it’s not connected to the election, says Carps. Yeah, right.
Surrounded by new Labor candidates and Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannaha MacTiernan, the Premier did the obligatory kerb-side media conference, complete with cut-away shots of himself and the team walking around the “blackspot”.
I don’t reckon anyone buys this vote-buying rubbish in this day and age. These PR tactics should be consigned to the history books.
Categories: Uncategorized
Tagged: Alan-Carpenter, WA-election, western-australia-elction
I’ve seen some pretty pathetic media performances, but Brendan Nelson’s on Wednesday’s 7.30 Report was the epitome. Poor Kerry O’Brien, try as he might, just couldn’t get Nelson to answer the questions.
Nelson just reverted to the tried and trusted bridging statement: “what’s really important, Kerry …” then proceeded to rattle of what he wanted to say, which, in essence, was nothing.
Interesting to note Nelson advertised for a press secretary three weeks ago. I doubt whether anyone could save this lame-duck leader. Now, who’s got the guts to openly run against him?
Categories: Uncategorized
Tagged: 7.30-report, brendan-nelson, kerry-o'brien, liberal-party
There were always bound to be follow-up stories following the emergency with a QANTAS 747 jet (a huge hole in the fuselage prompting an emergency landing).
Initial reports alleged the jet had corrosion problems. Then the passengers said some of the oxygen masks didn’t operate.
When the national broadcaster (ABC Radio) tried to get comment from QANTAS on the masks, there was no comment. Hardly great PR stuff by the national carrier, which is has been under scrutiny in recent years for cutting back and outsourcing maintenance overseas.
Incidents like this do irrepairable damage. But to leave journalists’ questions unanswered, beggars belief. The damage mounts.
Categories: Uncategorized
Tagged: 747-corrosion, faulty-oxygen-masks, manila, qantas
The Australian newspaper today revelead that police forces (services) are spending about $10 million a year on communication programs.
While there are legitimate media demands made on police, such as obtaining information on crimes, much of this money could be seen to be used for pushing a government’s political agenda.
There’s a fine line between a commissioner being seen to promoting new crime-fighting initiatves and supporting a political agenda.
It’s an area that I will take a little more notice of, particularly in Western Australia, where a State election is looming later this year. Hopefull, the “commish” will stick to operational matters.
Categories: Uncategorized
Tagged: police-pr, police-public-relations
I don’t know if archbishops can be sacked. But surely the Catholic Archbishop of Perth should be, following revelations he lied about complaints made about a Catholic sect.
Hickey initially said he had not received complaints about sexual misconduct in the sect. Today, it transpires he was personally presented a report in 2000 about the sect.
In essence, he lied. An Archbishop lied.
At the end of the day, it was left to a Church spokesperson to handle the flak.
Categories: Uncategorized
Tagged: barry-hickey, catholic-church-perth
A PR nightmare. Your Prime Minister is in Japan having high-level talks with that nation’s leaders. At the media conference he gets asked about the behaviour of MP Belinda Neal, who allegedly has threatened restaurant staff and also been found guilty of kicking an opponent (while she was on the ground) during a soccer game.
Incredible. What must the Japanese think of us?
Rudd at least phoned her, presumably dressing her down and saying she had to get anger-management conselling. Not good enough in my books. Hardly decisive. But he can’t run the risk of putting half of his cabinet off side.
In reality Neal should be sacked, except that it would only be from the Labor Party and not from parliament – more’s the pity.
Neal certainly has an image (PR) problem, apart from her behaviour. It seems she has a constant scowl on her face. Her language and intonation sound like they belong on the backstreets of the roughest neighbourhood.
What politicians don’t get it that people want firm leadership. If it was you or I assaulting someone, then allegedly abusing and threatening workers we’d be on a hiding to nothing from our employer and the law.
Honestly. What federal parliamentarian kicks someone when they’re on the ground?
These are the little incidents that mount and can contribute to a government’s undoing. People DO pay attention.
Categories: Uncategorized
Tagged: australian-politics, behaviour, belinda-neal, kevin-rudd-in-japan, standards
The Australian alcohol industry had the temerity this week to ask the Federal Government to conduct a campaign to educate parents about teenage drinking.
While governments have a role to play in this area, if anyone should be conducting the campaign it’s the industry. They’re the ones making wads of money from the product.
See also the PR Lab http://www.prlab.com.au
Categories: Uncategorized
Tagged: alcohol-education, australia
