I used to work in PR. If we knew a positive story about us was going to be on the news, the team would crowd around the 14″ with bad reception in the boss’s office, bursting with pride over a job well done. If it was not such a good story, we’d go into full damage-control mode and hope that the boss would know what to do. I’m pleased not to be in that industry any more, mainly because I like what I’m doing now. But I like watching the news for incidents with people and organisations so I can say, “man, I’m glad I don’t do PR for them.” Some that spring to mind:
1. The University of Otago. In the last 12 months the vast majority of their mentions in the news has been to do with murderous economics tutors and alcohol-fuelled student riots.
2. Kanye West. Whether the MTV thing was a hoax or not, he’s always pissing people off one way or another. It would be a never-ending, thankless job.
3. Wanganui/Whanganui mayor Michael Laws. See comment about Kanye West (less the part about MTV).
4. The All Blacks. The best PR they can get is to win. That’s not something they’ve been doing lately.
5. The Government. Choose a nation. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t.
