The Ugly New World of PR:

First it was Representative Patrick Kennedy ranting about the media not covering important subjects but spending 24-7 on the messy resignation of Representative Massa involved in “snorkeling” and “tickling,” followed by Tiger Woods hiring former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer to help plot his public return to golf, (and then parting company with him after only a couple weeks). Add the front page story about Desiree Rogers, the soon- to- be- gone White House social secretary, that got in trouble for spending too much time on her own publicity instead of watching who entered White House parties. Then, there is the Toyota crisis management team, the gift that keeps on giving, New York's Governor David Patterson's growing PR conundrum and every bank and financial institution all of a sudden waking up to the fact that maybe they should pay attention to PR? And who can forget Scotty Lago, the snowboard medalist sent home from the Olympics? Huh? (shaking my head) What Gives?

What gives is that the round the clock media cycle world we live in today has no room for errors. In the old days, if you said something silly, racist or untrue, you had the liberty of calling your publicist to get you out of the jam. Not today and not ever again. Today, it is remarkable how many CEOs, politicians, celebrities and athletes simply don't get it. Maybe "it" is a sense of entitlement or plain old stupidity, but whatever "it" is, is wearing us out and putting us to the test. It comes back to public relations, ... your relations to the public,.. a time honored practice that, when utilized correctly, can do wonders.

http://sports.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474978058425 looks at what happened to Olympic medalist Scotty Lago when he was asked to leave the Olympics because his tacky photos of his bronze medal below his waist.

“He became the latest victim of the 24-hour news cycle, where nobody in the spotlight can hide. The same circumstances that caught Michael Phelps with a bong at a college party victimized Lago, who had his Vancouver vacation come to an early end.

“Lago no doubt was hoping to be famous for holding a Bronze medal. But this probably isn't exactly what he had in mind.”

Anybody who has seen Patrick Kennedy’s fiery remarks remembers his red face and horse voice and gesturing more than the topic:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Q-VGZiEbrs

www.ESPN.com doesn’t think Tiger should have hired a PR pro to help:

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=wojciechowski_gene&id=4986830&sportCat=golf:

What about when White House social secretary wore a borrowed $3,495 dress with $110,000 diamond earrings for the cover of a glossy magazine, when her boss who happens to the President of the United States is in the midst of fighting one of the worst recessions in history. David Axelrod in last week’s New York Times article scolded her for her discussion of the “Obama brand and her role” in promoting it. “The president is a person, not a product,” he was said to tell her. “We shouldn’t be referring to him as a brand.”

Warren Buffet said: "If you lose money for the company, I will be understanding. If you lose one shred of the company’s reputation, I will be ruthless.”

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/warren-buffett-americas-greatest-storyteller

Maybe we shouldn't be shocked at the PR amateurs because it is really about human nature. We still believe in the goodness of the profession and if the benefits it can bring to every day business.