Online Public Relations Thoughts

This is a curious article about Senator Obama's neglect of journalists on the campaign trail. His campaign leader insists that by ignoring journalists, he is trying to avoid "spinning" them. On the other hand, Senator McCain, whom the candidate wants to emulate, talks to the media constantly both on and off the record and insists that he wants "a politics that's not based on PR and spin but is based on straight talk." Let's see. Talking to the media is to spin the media and engage in PR. Not talking to the media is to be forthright and honest unless one is Senator McCain who can talk to the media at any time.

As a PR practitioner, I should be insulted that even Senator McCain has dispatched what I do as twisting truth. On the other hand, PR as practiced in Washington, DC is too often just that. It seems to me Senator McCain is using PR in the way it should be done, but he doesn't see it that way.

I'm glad I don't work in Washington.