The Public Relations "Influence"
Eunice Asantewaa Ankomah, MCIPR, CDFP
Award winning PR & Communications Professional || Fintech || Digital Finance Consultant || ESG & Sustainability || Digital literacy & Financial inclusion Advocate
It was at the height of a conversation around the Minister of State. She slipped in her nephew instead of a young lady who qualified for a job in her office. As the conversations around the rationale behind the minister’s decision ensued among myself and my colleagues, one of my colleagues interjected
“Don’t mind these people, they always do the wrong things and then use PR to deceive us into believing their side of the story”.
Honestly, his words struck me hard. That wasn’t the first time someone used Public Relations (PR) in the wrong context. Unfortunately, people confuse PR with manipulation, power and propaganda (ideas, facts, or allegations spread deliberately to further one's cause or damage an opposing cause) among others.
As an Accredited Member of the CIPR Qualifications , I firmly believe in the definition of Public Relations as indicated by the Chartered Institute of Public Relations. According to the CIPR's definition: “Public relations is about reputation — the result of what you do, what you say and what others say about you. Public relations is the discipline which looks after reputation, with the aim of earning understanding and support and influencing opinion and behaviour.
Influence as used in relation to PR, is not control, it is not about manipulating others to get your own way. Rather, influence as associated with PR is about identifying what motivates people’s commitment and using that knowledge to drive behavioural change.
PR leverages an environment of openness and mutual understanding, to establish trust and credibility that influences behavior and enables organizations to thrive.
Like my colleague, many people liken Public Relations to manipulation. But manipulation has no place in PR practice. While manipulation involves deceptive tactics, spreading misinformation, or twisting facts to achieve selfish objectives. Public Relations thrives on honesty and transparency.
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One area that PR usually suffers such image crisis, is during crisis. When an organization or an individual faces a crisis, people are quick to associate any act of manipulation and deceit with Public Relations. But in reality, effective PR practices prioritizes authenticity in crisis situations. In that, proper PR principles will acknowledge facts, admit mistakes, and showcase genuine efforts towards resolution and improvement. This approach brings "the PR influence" that humanizes an organization, making it relatable and approachable. Organizations that prioritize authenticity in their PR efforts build a loyal and engaged stakeholders.
Ethical Public Relations does not encourage manipulation or propaganda. It empowers public opinion based on mutual respect. Public relations is a powerful force for positive change when guided by ethical principles.
Dear Reader, Thank you for your time. As always, I welcome your feedback. Let's continue the discussion
With gratitude
Eunice
Digital Marketing| Public Relations | Social Media Marketing|Graphic Design. Passionate about driving results through digital marketing, PR, and Graphic Design. Elevating brands to new heights in the digital realm.
1 年I really stand stand with your opinion, the PR sector is gradually losing its relevance in the business industry due to some misinformation about it. A good step to change the perception of publics.
Business Development Support Manager at Hundfold Global
1 年Hi Eunice, Thank you for sharing your insights on the topic of Public Relations and its association with influence. I completely agree with your viewpoint that influence, in the context of PR, is not about manipulation or deceit. Rather, it involves understanding what motivates people and using that knowledge to foster meaningful connections and engagement with stakeholders. Your clarification on how PR leverages strategic communication, fosters trust, and prioritizes authenticity is well-articulated and helps dispel the negative perceptions some may have about the field. Additionally, considering the prevalence of misinformation and propaganda in today's digital age, you may want to touch on the challenges that PR professionals face in maintaining ethical standards in an era of fake news and social media echo chambers. Discussing how PR practitioners can navigate these challenges while staying true to their values would add depth to this discussion. Thanks, Amos
Project Management, Strategic Communication, Campaign Management, Client Engagement, Brand Development, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
1 年I like how you put it, "PR is about leveraging strategic communication to inform, educate, and engage various stakeholders." I think the perception might be because of some activities of PR practitioners in "spinning" stories. But as you said, if our practice is guided by ethical principles, we can help debunk this misconception. I cannot wait to read more EUNICE ASANTEWAA ANKOMAH, MCIPR, CDFP.