Online Public Relations Thoughts

The Supreme Court's decision to allow a football coach to pray at the end of games at the 50-yard line opens a communications puzzle for public schools.  How far must administrators allow teachers to go without restricting their First Amendment rights?  It was a simple message before the decision.  No prayer.  Now school districts must ask if a teacher starts and/or ends a class with a head bowed, is that going too far?  What are the limits that should not be crossed?  The court's ruling places a new burden on principals and superintendents, one that must be distilled into policies that guide the action of staff.  The court's decision carries a weight of its own in extending free speech. 

Anti-abortion activists have won a key battle in the Supreme Court but by no means have they won the war.  They are facing 50 to 60 years of struggle to communicate, persuade and take action in American society in order to convince a majority of women that their position is right.  it is a public relations effort that will put the decades-long struggle to stop smoking to shame.  Most importantly, it will be a one-on-one battle woman by woman to convince each that a pregnancy should be continued to term.  This requires resources in counselors, help for nine months and post-birth aid -- all of which are lacking today.  And, it demands an extensive system for caring and raising unwanted children in a humane manner with extensive adoption services, orphanages and foster homes.  All this is needed while fighting state by state battles in legislatures to ban the procedure.  It is a daunting task.  Are they up to it?

The House GOP leadership is communicating a craven disregard for human life in its plan to vote no on the Senate gun control bill.   The proposed legislation, as weak as it is, still moves forward with an effort to keep guns out of the hands of troubled adolescents.  One would think after the mass shootings in Buffalo and Uvalde that GOP Congressmen would be lining up to support a bill.  But no.  Perhaps they are preserving their rating from the NRA and almost certainly they are acting out of fear of their conservative constituents.  Whatever the case, they are against progress and they are stating it publicly with their "no" votes.  If they get re-elected, and they will from safe districts, they can communicate an "I told you so" to the rest of the country.

The dietary supplement and vitamin industry is a case of belief trumping science.   Experts say there is no clear evidence that supplements help in preventing heart disease and cancer but people take them anyway --  just in case.  The industry makes bogus claims to bolster belief and so far, has not been stopped.  This is just one more case in which perception twists reality, even among people with abundant common sense.  The industry is worth billions.  It would be difficult to shut it down, so it continues for now, a modern example of the 19th Century medicine man with his patent cures.  

Why did millions of investors sink fortunes into cryptocurrency when there is no value behind the coins?  The meltdown was predictable but no one paid attention. This raises the question of crowd dynamics.  How is it that people act like sheep, mindlessly following the persuasion of influencers rather than questioning?  A healthy communication with the public should acknowledge skepticism.  Working with media, we are often dealing with reporters' questions and bulls....t detectors, and we accept that as a condition of doing business. In that regard, PR can be closer to truth but not when its practitioners are spinning and deliberately trying to pull the public away from reality.  Too many of us do that.  It's cynical and dishonest but always tempting because there are millions waiting to be duped who don't think on their own.  

The Federal Reserve sent a message to the economy by raising the benchmark interest rate 75 basis points. It demonstrates once again that communications needn't be in words but in deeds, and deeds are most effective.  Such is the nature of public relations.  People want to know what you do more than what you say.  The Fed is making a statement that it is serious about controlling inflation and will do what it takes even if it throws the country into a recession.  Mortgage interest rates are already rising and putting a damper on the over-heated housing market. The predictions now are that the economy will slow dramatically in its growth rate.  There are times to jawbone and times to act.  This is a time for action.  

President Biden took a risky PR move by going on live TV with a tough interviewer -- Jimmy Kimmel.  Fox News had predicted a softball session with the comedian but Kimmel honed in on a number of hot button issues, including gun control and the failure of Congress to pass more progressive legislation.  The question is why Biden would do that when there are dozens of White House reporters who are grumbling that he won't sit with them.  The answer appears to be reach.  Kimmel gets to a broader audience of voters in a format that is easier to handle for the President.  It is no secret that Biden has been a life-long gaffe machine who misspeaks regularly and needs a staff who cleans up after him.  But, the President is getting desperate with midterms approaching.  He will lose all influence with Congress should Republicans take over.  In other words, it is time to enter the lion's den and hope he doesn't get eaten.