Online Public Relations Thoughts

The prisoner swap with Russia raises the issue of celebrity and its effects on public policy.  The US said it wanted two prisoners in exchange for a notorious Russian arms dealer.  It got one, the basketball star. The other, Paul Whelan, remains in jail, accused of spying. Would the outcome have been the same had Brittney Griner not had such a high profile?  There is criticism in the press and social media that makes that claim. It is true that constant publicity since Griner was taken into custody kept her in the public eye.  Her family, teammates, coaches and friends wouldn't let the government forget or stop working for her release.  Whelan does not have such an impromptu PR effort.  So, he sits behind bars.  One lesson here is that keeping an issue in the forefront of public awareness does work.  It is not a discovery.  It is as old as Caesar and his book on the Gallic wars, but it is good to be reminded.