This week in PR (6 October)

News in brief

• The issue of copy approval was brought to public attention when journalist Ginny Dougary claimed that interviewee Clare Balding demanded to make changes to an article for Saga magazine. Balding disputes this interpretation.
• Lord Adonis claims he was asked to tone down his criticism of university vice chancellors’ pay in order to receive an honorary degree from Sheffield Hallam University. He declined – and went public with the university’s request.
• More budget airline troubles with the collapse of Monarch. Author Mark Tungate discusses the problems facing the sector.

Calendar

• October is Ethics Festival (CIPR) and Ethics and Professionalism month (PRCA)
• Deadline for the Douglas Smith essay prize for young public affairs practitioners is 27 October
• Next year’s PR Festival is in Edinburgh on 14 and 15 June 2018. You have until 31 October to offer to speak.

Pick of the posts

These are the editor’s pick of posts about public relations this week. Recommendations are welcome to [email protected]

• Laura Sutherland: The next generation of PR practitioners are currently studying… not necessarily public relations. (29 September)
  ‘There needs to be a more collaborative approach, showing students how theory can be put into practice.’
• Olivia Shalofsky: In the female leadership spotlight: Emma Leech (no date)
  ‘I did not really find my confidence until I was around 30 years old, and it was then that I realised fully how much I was capable of.’
• Stephen Waddington: Post Bell Pottinger public relations must focus on its own reputation (2 October)
  ‘The challenge for our profession is to not to let itself be defined by scandals such as Bell Pottinger and [Max] Clifford.’
• Dan Slee: Catalan video: Who wins the PR battle when the police storm polling stations? (2 October)
  ‘In law, the regional poll was declared illegal so the national government held the high ground. But in PR terms, sending in the police to act aggressively feels like a monumental own goal.’
• Richard Evans: Top 50 charities on Twitter (4 October)
  ‘The National Trust is still well out in front of everyone else with 752,692 followers.’
• Scott Guthrie: Influencer marketing is gaming itself to death. Here’s how to stop it. (4 October)
  ‘Influencers game their reach and engagement because marketers do not fully understand the concept of influencer marketing over influencer advertising.’
• Rich Leigh: Checking off my somewhat embarrassing ‘before I’m 30 list’… (5 October)
  ‘When I was 20 (already with a 2 year old daughter), and had only just started working in PR, I wrote this list.’
  

#prstudent #bestPRblogs

Here’s our pick of the best posts by those studying public relations and/or aspiring to work in PR.

• Ellie Tyrrell (Greenwich, 2): Anxiety (1 October)
  ‘Anxiety is an issue which seems to creep up on most people I meet in some form, particularly my female friends.’
• Orlagh Shanks (Liverpool John Moores, 3): #PlacementYear: Month Three (1 October)
  ‘Another pinch-me moment. I attended the launch party for London Fashion Week held by The Evening Standard.’
• Jason Ashford (Ulster, PG): Ribs, Bibs and Blackboards: In At the Deep End (3 October)
  ‘This blog isn’t about the joke itself but about how the company reacted and what I think they should have done.’
• Rosie Heaton (Leeds Beckett, 3): The life of an intern – four months on(?!) (5 October)
  ‘I have developed a more compassionate and empathetic approach to people from all walks of life and a wider world view in general.’