Despite certain foibles, PR’s not responsible for economic decline

Some firms’ outlandish fees and reliance on ‘spin’ makes industry a prime target for public outcries

As the economy worsens and it begins to affect each of us personally, we begin the very human process of finger-pointing and blame-gaming. Lately some of that blame has been leveled at our own profession … public relations. Guess who’s to blame for the recession? It rhymes with “shublic belations.”

I’ve had a few good rants myself on the subject. To be fair, my criticisms have not been directed at the profession overall, but at certain practices and firms that seem determined to blacken our collective eye. And there lies a bigger problem for those of us who practice PR differently … that is, intelligently, honestly and fairly.

In the meantime, headlines squawk about the extravagant hiring of PR firms – such as AIG running amok — as well as the City of Chicago’s recent firing of PR firms.