Age of Irrelevance

From left to right: Dick Grove,+++, Katy Leakey+, Philip Leakey ++
Relevant contributors on a global scale inspiring change

Where the media gets it wrong…

As many of us know, growing older is a double-sided coin. And those of us in PR, still laboring and not yet retired out of desire or necessity, know that this coin spins and lands heads up or down daily as a reminder of our vulnerabilities and strengths… as well as our irrelevance to many. This blog post will probably not resonate with those readers that don’t remember a world without MTV or for that matter, Michael Jackson…a time long ago when all great music on TV came from either American Bandstand or Soul Train. However, if you’re willing to indulge an inhabitant of what must seem like “the old days,” you might learn something.

That double-sided coin landed on both sides this week. My company, INK inc. PR, was in the final stages of being mentioned in a story being written for Entrepreneur Magazine when it was discovered in the fact-checking stage that the founding CEO’s age was sixty-four. Not a big deal and certainly never hidden since it was never thought to be relevant. Aha and alas! It may not be a big deal, but it is important…at least to the editors of Entrepreneur. It seems under the old regime that no CEO was profiled over the ancient age of 50 to 52. We await (with our pacemakers carefully monitored) to see if the new editors are more enlightened and understand that maybe, just maybe a great business idea might possibly be generated by someone older than the founder of Twitter.

The entire incident reminds me of the great song from the musical hit, Chicago, “Mr. Cellophane”…the ultimate paean of reaching a certain point in your life where you become irrelevantly transparent to the world you still very much inhabit. That is exactly how much of the media and pop culture treats us. We no longer fit the advertising demographics of greed. We’ve hit the “plus or and above” point. You know, that upper level in demographic metrics no longer worthy of a number…just a + or ‘and above’ notation. All of us are lumped as “seniors” or even worse, not lumped at all.

Then just when I’m about to take out my hearing aids and slink off to find a good nap, that fickle coin flips back to heads up. Invited to address an off-site client’s sales force that is facing a crisis of potential media negativity, my age is revered under the guise of “vast experience, knowledge, and gravitas.” I receive a standing ovation as much for the gray in my hair as the words I have spoken. It seems that when a crisis strikes, as they inevitably do, a little “been there, done that” (or a lot, as this case may be) can be more valuable than a whole legion of Twitter followers.

Touché’, Entrepreneur!

As a matter of full disclosure, I readily admit to being an avid if older Michael Jackson fan with no reservations, as well as a proud owner of the Thriller rock video. Of course I did purchase it in 1984 as a VHS tape...

Father Knows Less

Passing the torch to a new generation…

In reading Garrison Keillor's Fathers Day column today my mind wandered to my own feelings about fatherhood and getting older.

One of the really great things about getting older (and there are not nearly as many as popular songs and aging pundits would like you to believe…) is coming to realizations that your kids might just have something in how they’ve chosen to approach their lives… that maybe, just maybe, your way has some flaws or at least is passé, and may not be appropriate for others just because they carry your DNA. And when your kids are no longer kids, chronologically at least, but adults pursuing their own version of life, liberty and happiness, this realization can be even more apparent. But alas, when your offspring choose by design or circumstance to follow into your profession then the admission that it might just be time to pass the torch to a new generation is all the more personal.

Sharing a profession with a new generation is a touchy thing. Sharing a profession with a new generation that shares your name has its own sensitivities… and rewards. Family gatherings and telephone conversations often wander to business discussions and comparisons of technology, strategy, and even pitching techniques… and always the media. However over time one fact becomes undeniable, things have changed and usually for the better. Technology is driving this evolution across the board…it’s forever altered the media landscape, it’s revolutionized the how and the speed in which we communicate, and it’s heightened expectations from all quarters.

Sure, even us aging PR types can adapt…heck, didn’t we move easily from typewriters to computers… from dial phones to cell phones…from daily newspapers to hourly online updates? Of course, but is there a point where we still want to as badly as before? A point where we look back with pride of our accomplishments and forward with equal pride over what is yet to be from our namesakes. It doesn’t take long to realize that the new generation might just be more inclined if not necessarily better equipped to take on these challenges. They are our best and brightest… time to let them risk it all as we did…fail as some of us did…and succeed as some of us did.

There is one thing that has not changed with technology. Public Relations is still not rocket science in its complexity nor curing cancer in its human importance. There are those in this profession that would love to have you believe otherwise because of their own internalized need for self-importance. These same people that strive to find euphemisms for publicist are the ones that insist that without initials and acronyms attached to their names, they will be considered less than “professional” …hogwash (a nice, very old fashioned word.)

So one bit of sage advice I’d like to pass on as a father, to both mine and others that follow in PR… do so with integrity, but with a sense of perspective and humor.

When Did Integrity Become a Four-Letter Word?

All the news that’s not fit to print

A few days ago a well-respected citizen in the small town I reside in, was unfortunately killed in a bicycle accident. An experienced cyclist wearing a helmet as always, he simply hit a pothole in the dimming light of dusk, and was thrown headfirst over the handlebars. One of those horrible reminders that life and fate are fickle and never to be taken for granted. In the days following however, I have witnessed an absolute outpouring of testimonials to one quality above all others of this gentleman…integrity…his insistence throughout his life of truthfulness and fairness in dealing with others, even to the point of sacrificing his career on occasion.

With a certain article in the New York Times still fresh in my mind. I couldn’t help but wonder what many of our contemporary “blog journalists” will be remembered for when it’s their time. “Integrity” “Truthfulness”… not a chance in hell.

When Michael Arrington openly and proudly boasts that what he reports in his highly popular TechCrunch blog is not always true, but that he “doesn’t want to lose the rawness of blogging.” The article points out that Arrington, with a law degree and no journalism training, sees less importance in credibility and fact checking than in an involved readership. “Getting it right is expensive,” he says. “Getting it first is cheap.” Now there’s a philosophy to live by and be remembered by.

None of this, and certainly not Arrington, his super arrogance, and his less-than credible blog posts, would be of much importance if it wasn’t, unfortunately, indicative of what passes for journalism in these days of blogs, tweets, and YouTube “gotchas.” Just when did reporting backed by solid investigative research become the exception and not the rule? Sure, we all want and demand our news fix quickly and conveniently in this fast paced world. But at the expense of truthfulness? Just when, exactly, did integrity become a four-letter word?

We in the PR profession often get blamed for playing slipshod with facts in defense of our clients. And undoubtedly some of us have. But we look like paragons of virtue compared to those interviewed for this Times article.

It was only a few brief months ago that Arrington wrote his famous blog about his life being threatened and therefore he was going to cease writing and go into hiding after someone deliberately walked up to him and spat in his face.

Arrington stated at the time it was “the right thing to do…and spend time getting a better perspective on what I’m spending my life doing.” Perhaps Arrington should have spent a bit more time on this reflection…or better yet, report in his next TechCrunch blog that he was heretofore going to only print real news…Wink. Wink.

Words of Wisdom

The commencement address for PR grads…

It’s been over forty years since I was preparing for my “orals” at the University of Kansas... in the dark ages of a collegiate post graduate education we were required to undergo both a written and oral exam for graduation…and I still remember sweating out the possible questions that I might have to answer ‘face-to-face” from my professors. Ironically, after these all-to-brief four decades, I only remember one question, delivered straight to the heart by my professor of ethics… “Grove, with all your journalistic education over the last six years, why would you possibly want to become a flack?”

Interesting question…particularly given the reasonably high level of esteem that PR was held in those days. We were actually taught, for example, that another definition for the acronym, “PR,” was performance and recognition, and that journalism and the newsworthiness should be the basis for PR coverage. “Spin” was of course reserved for records (remember those round pieces of vinyl with a hole in the center?) and “counselors” were for legal advice or career guidance.

My professor may have been simply trying to warn me, though. Manipulation of the media had been going on for decades of course, and shortly thereafter, we all lost our PR naïveté’ and learned of “spin” in the worst way during the war in Southeast Asia. But at that time and even today, I continue to believe that it’s not necessary to practice or make a career in PR by having to sink to that level. PR is no different than other professions where tough choices must be made daily to keep focused on what is right and not what is expeditious…what serves your client and yourself with the greatest respect, not gratuitousness. And to do so in a partnership with the media, not as an antagonist.

Granted, today’s media megasphere is vastly different than the simple printed black and white and analog broadcast world of the late sixties. But isn’t today’s electronic, satellite transmission, Internet enabled social media-crazed global communications world really just an extension of that simpler time? Has the very essence of news, including business news, changed along with the speed in which it is transmitted? Will there be any less of a demand to compromise journalistic as well as ethical principles for short term benefits simply because terms are becoming shorter by the day? Because enterprises are now global (and called “enterprises”) rather than regional or national companies, has it made them any less in need of recognition for good performance? The answer is no… and when the PR class of 2049 graduates, my bet is it will still be no.

My response, by the way, to my professor, was simple… "I didn’t plan on becoming one.” Still don’t.

The Current State of American Business…

It’s called ‘hide and seek’

One of the truly great things about the Internet, and specifically the social media revolution, is the instant sharing of imaginative pieces that you wished you had created yourself. Pieces that express your sentiments, but written or produced with talent beyond our own. This week, two such rolled across my computer screen, that when their vastly different content is combined, eloquently state the real problem with American business today. No, I’m not speaking of recessionary pressures, bankruptcies, or even bailout phobia. I’m talking about timidity and price respect.

Mike Hegedus, the former CNBC correspondent and now media consultant, writes in his blog this week, “This timidity is in full blossom now thanks to the current uber recession.” He goes on to surmise that it’s not just the tightening of budgets, but the simple act of making the decisions to spend what is left that is the real problem. Hear! Hear! As the head of a Pay-for-Performance PR firm that oozes value and accountability compared to the traditional hourly fee model, I can’t begin to state the days and weeks we’ve spent waiting for companies to “meet to discuss,” to “get their ducks in a row,” to “pass this around the management team,” etc. etc. If anyone thinks that the most elusive thing in business today is a profit, you’re wrong…it’s a decision.

As a small business owner, I have complete empathy and respect for the process of expenditure evaluation and prioritizing those services that will provide the greatest return. But I also recognize something my wise grandmother (aren’t they all…) used to say, “you actually going to get something done today, or just sit around and think about it?”

But once that rare decision to move forward is finally made…then comes the real fun…”let’s see if we can squeeze even more out of that tightened marketing or PR budget…let’s make a deal.”
This YouTube piece would be hilarious if not so true.



Has this ugly recession driven companies to the point of treating vendors like used car dealers? Of trying to squeeze and manipulate pricing…often even after the service has been provided? And we in the PR industry are even more vulnerable to this practice because of the subjectivity of the product…and the vagaries of those aforementioned hourly fees.

Yes, I understand the need to derive the most value for least outlay. But if a PR company has actually delivered a tangible result as specified and agreed, not just an invoice for hours in trying to achieve the result, then respect the pricing and don’t ask us to choose what may be behind door number three.

Social Media’s Influence Over PR…

The old chicken and egg conundrum

There is not a moment in my professional life these days that I am not faced with how important social media now is to the planning and execution of any program that dares to call itself, public relations. While that may well be true given that both clients and practitioners are demanding its inclusion in all RFP’s and resulting proposals, it’s being done so with or without much knowledge as to exactly what it is, how it works, or most importantly…what it accomplishes.

Well ok, if that’s what the clients want then those of us on the agency side will be happy to oblige. After all, we’ve heard about it for at least nine months now and it’s been covered in hundreds of “how to” books, and corporate CEO’s refer to it almost offhandedly as an extension of their dependence on their Blackberries. It’s not only the flavor of the year, but apparently may linger now that Oprah, Ashton, and even the Obama administration is utilizing it to readjust our dependence on prosperity to, well…less prosperity.

And while I find it amazing that this demand and fulfillment (at least in the proposal stage) continues to expand at cyber-speed it seems, I also am curious as to how this all started to have such industry significance in such a short period of time. Was it literally someone in the media, a young reporter perhaps used to conversing over the internet rather than over a water cooler or expensive lunch, that first suggested he be pitched via a crowd of his ‘friends and followers’ instead of directly. Or was it some industrious agency type that first realized that this same reporter is probably joining some of these online social communities for personal reasons, and therefore a wandering, open, and vulnerable target for his pitch. Or perhaps it was nothing more a chance meeting online between like minded souls…the reporter doing research, the PR person fishing, and a couple of shareholders and customers ranting or praising, finding themselves in a room together, all listening and talking at the same time… eureka, a new form of communication is born.

And of course, once it was determined that not only reporters and producers communicate and socialize on the Net, but our clients’ customers and stakeholders do the same, often at the same time, that “social media relations” as a brand new PR practice was born. Like much of PR, it’s a little subjective and usually difficult to describe why it’s important beyond, “everyone is doing it.” That’s ok as well. We’ll soon enough all get around to thoroughly understanding social media and its execution in a well structured public relations program. However, measuring its tangible benefits and developing fair compensation may take a little longer. Let’s hope this happens before we aging PR types have to face the next all important thing.

Did PR Kill the American Press?

You are what you eat…

Recently I noticed an article in "The Columbia Journalism Review” expounding on the theory that newspapers can only blame themselves for their imminent demise…and that blame lies with their preoccupation of “chasing the false idols of fame and fortune.” The article goes on to define this “chase” as public relations…and furthermore it states that even while chasing good PR, newspapers have fallen victim to becoming nothing more than shills (my word, not theirs) for PR professionals. That’s it, my fellow PR pros, we’re to blame. We’re killing the American Press.


Well, well, well…so many things wrong with this thesis from this prestigious publication that it’s difficult to summarize them all. Let me try just a couple…

First and foremost to define “chasing false idols of fame and fortune” as public relations is so odd as to be laughable. Newspapers in this country may well have decided that winning awards was important both for its readership as well as its business side, but only a first year journalism student not listening in class would refer to that as “public relations.” As far as “reporters making television appearances”…huh? The few reporters I see on the air tend to be connected to and reporting on a big story (that’s called journalism.) Does the author actually believe that with TV air time so precious even for their very own TV reporters, that broadcasters would relinquish it to a newspaper to promote it’s own? Not.

And the idea that public relations is creating the news everyday for America’s newspapers…and not the editorial staffs, who are preoccupied with advancement up the ranks rather than news gathering…well, we in the PR ranks should be so lucky. Blaming PR however ill defined, for newspapers’ diminishing size, circulation, and influence, is simplistic, and frankly beneath such a prestigious publication. An added insult is the article’s contention that are not enough good reporters with “expertise’ at the bottom rung and therefore newspapers are easy prey for the evil PR types waiting to infiltrate with “worst of all, snappy comments by spokesmen or experts.” Oh God, not that!

If ever an article deserved to be given a toss to the proverbial ‘round file’ or at minimum, a hearty, “Give me a break!” it’s this one. The real reasons for the American newspaper’s demise is both economic and technological and to a great degree, demographic. The Columbia Journalism Review may not be aware, but newspapers and all of journalism share a mutually beneficial and synergistic relationship with the PR profession. We need each other and depend on each other. We share our people and background, we share a desire to maintain journalistic integrity, i.e., news must be news worthy, and we share a distribution system for our product.

PR kill the press? Give me a break!