The Flak Over Flacks

In The Wake Of Scott McClellan's New Book, Legal Analyst Andrew Cohen Says PR People Are Aghast At The Truth

(CBS)  CBS News Legal Analyst Andrew Cohen offers an opinion this morning about a certain new book …

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There is nothing funny about this past week's revelations that former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan lied to the American people about certain vital policy decisions within the Bush Administration.

It's a confession which supports the worst suspicions that millions of Americans have about the current leadership in Washington.

But in every tragic drama comes a moment of comedic Zen. And in L'Affair McClellan, that has come from the public relations community, where some now wonder whether the former flack violated the "ethics" of his craft.

Apparently, an industry the very essence of which is to try to convince people that a turkey is really an eagle has a rule that condemns lying.

The Public Relations Society of America states: "We adhere to the highest standards of accuracy and truth in advancing the interests of those we represent..." This clause strikes me as if the Burglars Association of America had as its creed "Thou Shalt Not Steal."

Show me a PR person who is "accurate" and "truthful," and I'll show you a PR person who is unemployed.

The reason companies or governments hire oodles of PR people is because PR people are trained to be slickly untruthful or half-truthful. Misinformation and disinformation are the coin of the realm, and it has nothing to do with being a Democrat or a Republican.

So McClellan is a liar. Big deal. Thomas Jefferson was a liar, and so was Franklin Roosevelt. John Kennedy lied and so did Richard Nixon.

During the time it took me to write this essay I'll bet dozens of PR people blatantly lied to their audiences, despite the presence of proclamations declaring that they should not.

You can't try to convince someone that a milk cow is really a racehorse without lying. You can't build a profession based a deceit and spin, then create "ethics" rules that call for honesty, and then criticize McClellan.

He did what his predecessors had done and what his successors are doing and will continue to do until no one listens to them anymore from the podium. It's as American as Apple Pie and indictments - as book deals, and perjury.

And that's the truth.

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Click here to read Andrew Cohen's follow-up to the response this essay has received.

[irliberal]

Andrew thinks that all PR people outright lie and that''s ok because it''s their job.

I think Andrew is wrong.

PR people may put the best possible light on something but to outright lie is quite something else entirely. To say that the two things are the same, as this article does, is absurd.

The American people were OUTRAGED when Bill Clinton lied about monica - something that affected them NOT ONE TINY WHIT and had nothing to do with anyone else or governing the country.

Now you''re saying that because we were LIED into a multi billion dollar war with Iraq (to say nothing of the lives lost) it''s just STATUS QUO?

You''re a fool Andrew. It''s not right. It never will be. And there have been far, far more people put to DEATH for far, far less.

Once you lose your sense of proportion, you don''t really have anything left. Or are you simply a Bush administration apologist as well?

[gorney1515]

Andrew Cohen''s wrong-minded essay makes a quantum leap from recognizing that some communicators lie on behalf of their clients to insisting that the entire profession of public relations is "based on deceipt and spin." In other words, there aren''t just unethical practitioners, the public relations practice itself is inherently unethical.
This is an undeserved slap in the face to tens of thousands of professionals who put their jobs on the line every day to convince their clients to do the right thing, because it is not only in the best interest of the public, but in the best interest of the client. Cohen forgot to mention that Nixon lied, and we know what happened to him.
Cohen has it all wrong. Public relations by definition must be ethical, that is, fair, accurate and truthful. If a practitioner lies or distorts or manipulates opinion with dishonesty, he or she is practicing the antithesis of public relations.
As a legal analyst, Cohen certainly is aware of the unethical practices of many attorneys. According to his line of argumentation, the entire legal profession also should be labeled as unethical.

[prevprof]

In 1918, U.S. Republican Senator Hiram Warren Johnson is purported to have said: "The first casualty when war comes is truth." During the Nuremberg trials, Hitler''s Reich Marshall Hermann Goering said in an interview %u201CNaturally the common people don%u2019t want war. But after all, it is the leaders of a country who determine the policy, and it%u2019s always a simple matter to drag people along whether it is a democracy or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. This is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and for exposing the country to danger. It works the same in every country.%u201D I don''t know who said "The truth hurts" but it is often true, especially when you are talking about truths that shatter myths about our leaders, our country, our parents, our long-held beliefs or ourselves. While I agree that Andrew Cohen comes down hard on PR professionals who are paid to put best face forward, one would hope that our government has not become such a business, special interest group, or private concern, that allegiance to truth and the public is not considered a higher calling than allegiance to an individual or an administration. I''d prefer Truth & Reconciliation hearings to a string of "lie and tell" books. I also believe that despite the pain the truth will set us free.

[prevprof]

In 1918, U.S. Republican Senator Hiram Warren Johnson is purported to have said: "The first casualty when war comes is truth." During the Nuremberg trials, Hitler''s Reich Marshall Hermann Goering said in an interview %u201CNaturally the common people don%u2019t want war. But after all, it is the leaders of a country who determine the policy, and it%u2019s always a simple matter to drag people along whether it is a democracy or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. This is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and for exposing the country to danger. It works the same in every country.%u201D I don''t know who said "The truth hurts" but it is often true, especially when you are talking about truths that shatter myths about our leaders, our country, our parents, our long-held beliefs or ourselves. While I agree that Andrew Cohen comes down hard on PR professionals who are paid to put best face forward, one would hope that our government has not become such a business, special interest group, or private concern, that allegiance to truth and the public is not considered a higher calling than allegiance to an individual or an administration. I''d prefer Truth & Reconciliation hearings to a string of "lie and tell" books. I also believe that despite the pain the truth will set us free.

[lbw111]

I have been a public relations professional for 37 years. I have never lied and never will. Why in the world would I do such a thing? My job is to represent the truth, as seen through the eyes of the public, to the company I work for, and to represent the truth, as the company sees it, to the public. I should also add that I have never been asked to lie. I was once asked to shade the truth by a middle manager but the senior officers of the business supported me when I refused. Why do people make ridiculous blanket statements like all PR people lie, as Mr. Cohen did? I bet Mr. Cohen one day complains about the lack of civility in the world and the next day calls thousands of decent people liars.

[lbw111]

I have been a public relations professional for 37 years. I have never lied and never will. Why in the world would I do such a thing? My job is to represent the truth, as seen through the eyes of the public, to the company I work for, and to represent the truth, as the company sees it, to the public. I should also add that I have never been asked to lie. I was once asked to shade the truth by a middle manager but the senior officers of the business supported me when I refused. Why do people make ridiculous blanket statements like all PR people lie, as Mr. Cohen did? I bet Mr. Cohen one day complains about the lack of civility in the world and the next day calls thousands of decent people liars.

[lbw111]

I have been a public relations professional for 37 years. I have never lied and never will. Why in the world would I do such a thing? My job is to represent the truth, as seen through the eyes of the public, to the company I work for, and to represent the truth, as the company sees it, to the public. I should also add that I have never been asked to lie. I was once asked to shade the truth by a middle manager but the senior officers of the business supported me when I refused. Why do people make ridiculous blanket statements like all PR people lie, as Mr. Cohen did? I bet Mr. Cohen one day complains about the lack of civility in the world and the next day calls thousands of decent people liars.

[ammianus]

The Sorrows of Young Dumus, Art. XXI:

The Oligarchs took great care to prepare the minds of the people for abject slavery. A system of education comprising dull repetition, training in obedience and neglect of science enfeebled the critical faculties. By manifold deceptions, the people were brought to identify themselves with their oppressors. They were taught to emulate the haughty disdain for truth, the proud and willful ignorance, and the devious hypocrisy of the Oligarchs.

With such preparation it was inevitable that the people, although heirs to a great republic, swallowed whole the crude fabrications of Dumus designed to justify the conquest of Mesopotamia. Dumus proclaimed that Nur ud Din, the bitter enemy of Al-Ghazna, was the lieutenant of ibn Shaitan and that a country reduced to desperate poverty by the elder Dumus threatened the Hegemon with hyper-lethal weapons. That these myths, so flatly contradicted by the most accessible knowledge, were accepted by every class of citizen cannot be ascribed wholly to credulity. Not a few winked at the fictions of Dumus, conceiving that by his promised conquests, they would, together with the Oligarchs, become lords over all the peoples of the Earth. Little did they foresee that the war of plunder, so lightly embarked upon, would be the grave of their power and of their liberty.
Opposition within the Hegemon cowed, and the opinions of ancient allies spurned, Dumus launched his invasion.

[jon2012-2009]

As a legal analyst, Cohen certainly is aware of the unethical practices of many attorneys. According to his line of argumentation, the entire legal profession also should be labeled as unethical.

Posted by gorney1515 at 11:40 AM : Jun 01, 2008

Let''s not be too harsh on lawyers. They can lose their license for gross misconduct and violation of ethics. Is there a system in place to insure ethical conduct for PR professionals? Also, in a criminal trial the adversary structure that regulates the presentation of evidence and the oversight of the judge provide some degree of assurance of a fair trial in which inaccuracies and sloppiness in the evidence can be challenged. When a PR person goes to work, who represents the other side of the story and who referees any conflict of views?

I think the government should not be allowed any PR personnel on payroll but that if it does any information and news they issue on behalf of the administration should be unequivocally labeled as preliminary until confirmed from other sources.

[skyk-2009]

The courage shown by this guy McClellan will be looked upon by future generations in the say way we today look back on those who "Outed" Joe McCarthy! He has been attacked from EVERY angle except ONE! No one has disputed the FACT that Bush LIED to us, USED Propaganda to get his war. That there is NO doubt about now... TO many people have the same story.

[lobo1031]

I am appalled at Mr. Cohen''s outrageous accusation that all PR people are liars. I have been in PR for 40 years and NEVER lie. In fact I urge clients to tell the truth at all times, as do all my colleagues, whose work I know well. I have refused to color the truth for a client. I am an accredited member of the International Association of Business Communicators, and like PRSA, we have ethical standards that are enforced. There are always a few bad apples in every professional, but the vast majority of PR professionals are highly ethical. It is in our client''s best interest to tell the truth. As for "spin," all we are doing is telling the client''s side ... believe me the media will always jump in to tell "the other side." If we don''t, who will protect our client''s reputation? Not people like Mr. Cohen. His comments perpetuate the blatantly wrong stereotype that PR people lie. I hope that you will see fit to air an equally well-placed rebuttal. We PR people and our clients deserve that.

[pvperson]

That''s it LBW111, repeat it enough and someone will believe it. Isn''t that the mantra of PR?

[pvperson]

prevprof.......Goerings quote proves to me that the republicans learned their lessons well at the feet of the Nazis.

"tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and for exposing the country to danger"

[lbw111]

I have been a public relations professional for 37 years. I have never lied and never will. Why in the world would I do such a thing? My job is to represent the truth, as seen through the eyes of the public, to the company I work for, and to represent the truth, as the company sees it, to the public. I should also add that I have never been asked to lie. I was once asked to shade the truth by a middle manager but the senior officers of the business supported me when I refused. Why do people make ridiculous blanket statements like all PR people lie, as Mr. Cohen did? I bet Mr. Cohen one day complains about the lack of civility in the world and the next day calls thousands of decent people liars.

[lbw111]

I have been a public relations professional for 37 years. I have never lied and never will. Why in the world would I do such a thing? My job is to represent the truth, as seen through the eyes of the public, to the company I work for, and to represent the truth, as the company sees it, to the public. I should also add that I have never been asked to lie. I was once asked to shade the truth by a middle manager but the senior officers of the business supported me when I refused. Why do people make ridiculous blanket statements like all PR people lie, as Mr. Cohen did? I bet Mr. Cohen one day complains about the lack of civility in the world and the next day calls thousands of decent people liars.

[lbw111]

I have been a public relations professional for 37 years. I have never lied and never will. Why in the world would I do such a thing? My job is to represent the truth, as seen through the eyes of the public, to the company I work for, and to represent the truth, as the company sees it, to the public. I should also add that I have never been asked to lie. I was once asked to shade the truth by a middle manager but the senior officers of the business supported me when I refused. Why do people make ridiculous blanket statements like all PR people lie, as Mr. Cohen did? I bet Mr. Cohen one day complains about the lack of civility in the world and the next day calls thousands of decent people liars.

[ioweign]

Posted by LBW111 at 01:56 PM : Jun 01, 2008

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I bet Mr. Cohen one day complains about the lack of civility in the world and the next day calls thousands of decent people liars.
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Mr. Cohen is not Karl Rove.

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I have never lied and never will.
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Then the 935 false statements and lies from this regime should be irritating the hell out of you....

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[requiescat-2009]

Your legal analyst Andrew Cohen was spot on with his editorial this morning. The PRSA tenet he cited was telling in that %u201Cadvancing the interests of those we represent%u201D is the primary concern of any PR firm, as well it should be. Let%u2019s face it; all salespeople are basically in PR. The only reason that the drug companies inform the public that their product could cause narcolepsy, leukemia or death, is that the government has forced them to do so. Having sold 4 homes in my lifetime, I am continually amazed at real estate agents, whom I am paying through my proceeds from the sale, always seeming to be more interested in selling me on accepting the buyer%u2019s pitiful offer than on selling them on getting closer to my asking price. I am also weary of the mainstream media citing %u201Csome%u201D as validation for their stories, as in %u201CSome say taking vitamin supplements is only buying expensive urine.%u201D Who are %u201Csome%u201D and what are their qualifications to give an expert opinion on anything? Whatever the product or service, the rule of thumb is always caveat emptor.

[lbw111]

I have been a public relations professional for 37 years. I have never lied and never will. Why in the world would I do such a thing? My job is to represent the truth, as seen through the eyes of the public, to the company I work for, and to represent the truth, as the company sees it, to the public. I should also add that I have never been asked to lie. I was once asked to shade the truth by a middle manager but the senior officers of the business supported me when I refused. Why do people make ridiculous blanket statements like all PR people lie, as Mr. Cohen did? I bet Mr. Cohen one day complains about the lack of civility in the world and the next day calls thousands of decent people liars.

[akmcgee]

Shame on you, CBS. A PR professional caught lying by a reporter will quickly destroy her only real asset -- her own credibility -- thereby jeopardizing her reputation, her effectiveness, and her career. In most industries, dishonest PR consultants quickly find themselves unemployed, or, at the very least, irrelevant. So, anyone who states that PR consultants are inherently liars clearly has no knowledge of how the world of PR actually works.

Perhaps only in the morass of lies in Washington DC can an adequate curtain be drawn, allowing blatant lies, and liars, to flourish. These are good cases of "what not to do" in PR 101 -- but are hardly representative on an entire industry.

For Cohen to so flatly air his ill-informed insults against an entire profession of hard-working professionals -- it makes me wonder how a CBS news producer could rise high enough in the media ranks to allow such tripe to be aired. The attack on PRSA''s tenets was particularly offensive -- those principles are nothing short of sacred to thousands of careers.

I will not, however, make Cohen''s mistake and characterize all TV news producers as lacking journalistic integrity or intelligence, based on one very ill-informed, ignorant, so-called "professional''s" opinion. I''ll leave that kind of idiotic logic to the crew at the "Sunday Morning" program -- a program I will be very unlikely to watch again in future.

[lbw111]

I have been a public relations professional for 37 years. I have never lied and never will. Why in the world would I do such a thing? My job is to represent the truth, as seen through the eyes of the public, to the company I work for, and to represent the truth, as the company sees it, to the public. I should also add that I have never been asked to lie. I was once asked to shade the truth by a middle manager but the senior officers of the business supported me when I refused. Why do people make ridiculous blanket statements like all PR people lie, as Mr. Cohen did? I bet Mr. Cohen one day complains about the lack of civility in the world and the next day calls thousands of decent people liars.

[lbw111]

I have been a public relations professional for 37 years. I have never lied and never will. Why in the world would I do such a thing? My job is to represent the truth, as seen through the eyes of the public, to the company I work for, and to represent the truth, as the company sees it, to the public. I should also add that I have never been asked to lie. I was once asked to shade the truth by a middle manager but the senior officers of the business supported me when I refused. Why do people make ridiculous blanket statements like all PR people lie, as Mr. Cohen did? I bet Mr. Cohen one day complains about the lack of civility in the world and the next day calls thousands of decent people liars.

[lbw111]

I have been a public relations professional for 37 years. I have never lied and never will. Why in the world would I do such a thing? My job is to represent the truth, as seen through the eyes of the public, to the company I work for, and to represent the truth, as the company sees it, to the public. I should also add that I have never been asked to lie. I was once asked to shade the truth by a middle manager but the senior officers of the business supported me when I refused. Why do people make ridiculous blanket statements like all PR people lie, as Mr. Cohen did? I bet Mr. Cohen one day complains about the lack of civility in the world and the next day calls thousands of decent people liars.

[lbw111]

I have been a public relations professional for 37 years. I have never lied and never will. Why in the world would I do such a thing? My job is to represent the truth, as seen through the eyes of the public, to the company I work for, and to represent the truth, as the company sees it, to the public. I should also add that I have never been asked to lie. I was once asked to shade the truth by a middle manager but the senior officers of the business supported me when I refused. Why do people make ridiculous blanket statements like all PR people lie, as Mr. Cohen did? I bet Mr. Cohen one day complains about the lack of civility in the world and the next day calls thousands of decent people liars.

[p-syrus]

I have been a public relations professional for 37 years. I have never lied and never will.

Posted by LBW111


For the second time within a week:"The lady doth protest too much, methinks". - W.Shakespeare

[element51]

With all due respect I must say that although there may be "honest" PR people out there they are certainly in the minority. It is their job to put a positive spin on the company or people they work for and let''s be honest here...people do lie. When you watch the oil company CEOs testify before a congressional committee it is a sure bet that they have been briefed by their PR people as to what to say. The same goes for the tobacco people. It''s the PR people who tell the public to go ahead and smoke. Sure it might kill you but it feels soooo good! I admire Scott for having the guts to out this bunch of jerks in Washington. All he is doing is telling us what we already knew but it took cohones to do what he did. And to you "honest" PR folks out there...maybe you never lied knowingly, but if you put out what your bosses tell you then it is likely that you were just used to fatten the bottom line.

[feelfree4u]

Re: "There is nothing funny about this past week''s revelations that former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan lied to the American people about certain vital policy decisions within the Bush Administration."

Oh, I don''t know about that, Mr. Cohen.

I got a few laughs out of it.

[feelfree4u]

Re: "The Public Relations Society of America states: "We adhere to the highest standards of accuracy and truth in advancing the interests of those we represent..."

Well, as Hitler said, if you are going to lie, you are better off making it a big one, and the regime seems to agree, as they have told a series of non-stop whoppers!

[feelfree4u]

Re: "My job is to represent the truth, as seen through the eyes of the public, to the company I work for, and to represent the truth, as the company sees it, to the public."

In other words, lies all around.

Show my a PR person that claims that they have never lied, and I''ll show you one that posts the same dubious nonsense, 12 times.

[noloyalisti]

I have not heard much about the fact that the cheerleading mainstream media are owned by the war-profiteering corporation who stood to make and are making vast profits on the invasion/occupation.

I am ashamed of McClellan, his mainstream media enablers and this shameful chapter of American history. You can''t make this stuff up.

[sebastian27-2009]

There is lying,and there is parsing the truth a la Bill Clinton. Not bragging (yes I am), but my now-deceased brother-in-law and I had this administration''s war figured out almost from the day that it started. How sad that the American public is so gullible. A politician that uses patriotism and fear to satisfy is own ego is as sorry as it gets. So many lives, and so much money going to waste. How I wish my brother-in-law was here to see how right we were.

[it_oldtimer]

Quote LBW111:

"I have been a public relations professional for 37 years. I have never lied and never will. Why in the world would I do such a thing?"
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

In business, PR people lie to make their employer more money. In politics people lie to buy votes.

Perhaps you DO lie (maybe just a little, maybe a lot) but, just as McClellan says Bush is able to do: you somehow convince yourself FIRST that whatever it is you are saying (or believing) IS actually true, even when it isn''t?

Maybe all PR people (and politicians) possess a natural, innate ability to lie directly to THEMSELVES and ''truly'' believe their own lies. Self-deception first, then mass deception afterward, in other words.

As long as your own self-delusional version of "the truth" - as you see it - remains intact, you''re perfectly free to claim (and actually believe) that you always operate entirely from a position of absolute honesty. "Truth" becomes relative.

"Oh, what a tangled web we weave: When first we practice to deceive!"

Liars lying about lies. What a flippin'' bunch of self-deluded circus clowns.

[rvorhaus]

Wow, Mr. Cohen, isn''t there something inherently wrong w/ an attorney (did you hear the joke about the attorney...oh, never mind) categorically smearing an entire industry? Kind of like the kettle calling the pot black; although I bet you''re nothing like those other lying attorneys. And does your over-arching generalization apply to the CBS flak promoting your show? No, I''m sure he/she is different.

You are correct, some PR people lie. So do lawyers, journalists, producers, executive producers, our kids and the garbage man. But let''s not set an industry standard by a Bush flak who sold his soul and now wishes to express regret by writing a %u201Ctruthful%u201D account of his foibles.

We are both in professions with vulnerable reputations. Let%u2019s make sure you don%u2019t sound too judgmental of an entire profession that is based on truth and telling honest, compelling and truthful stories, just because you have the luxury of the pulpit.

And, don%u2019t forget, Mr. Cohen, truth is always the ultimate spin.

[drjohnnyspin]

Judging by the uproar and backlash I''m reading from the PR community, my guess is that Andrew Cohen and CBS will both need to engage PR services for some crisis communications help... and that''s no lie.

[catlipz]

Interesting how those posting comments are convinced that all PR people lie. Since there are hundreds of thousands of public relations people, that is like saying all fish jump or all flowers smell good. How the hell do you know all PR people lie? Because all posters are psychic? Look, some PR people lie and most do not. Sorry Mr. Cohen. Without PR people, you and your other journalist friends would not have stories to write nor experts to quote. It''s a symbiotic thing whether you like it or not though I doubt you''ll get any more PR pitches.

[uppy13-2009]

As an accredited PR professional and proud member of PRSA, I take exception to your blanket statements, Mr. Cohen. In actuality, an overwhelming majority of PR professionals do engage in truthful practices, and work diligently to ensure an accurate, free flow of information between the companies we represent and our key stakeholders. Many of us have put our careers on the line by refusing to provide false or misleading information on behalf of our employers or clients. The word "spin" is degrading and not used within our industry...it is a term created by the media - the very media we forge positive relationships with to ensure facts are reported accurately and in a timely manner. After all, all we have is our name and credibility - why would we damage our personal reputations to protect our employers or clients. Believe me, we don''t. It''s not worth it. Lastly, every profession has its own bad apples, and yours is no exception. How often do you hear "PR profession" jokes? Not nearly as often as "bad lawyer" jokes. In fact, I''ve never heard one. But I can tell you how many lawyers it takes to screw in a lightbulb.

[uppy13-2009]

As an accredited PR professional and proud member of PRSA, I take exception to your blanket statements, Mr. Cohen. In actuality, an overwhelming majority of PR professionals do engage in truthful practices, and work diligently to ensure an accurate, free flow of information between the companies we represent and our key stakeholders. Many of us have put our careers on the line by refusing to provide false or misleading information on behalf of our employers or clients. The word "spin" is degrading and not used within our industry...it is a term created by the media - the very media we forge positive relationships with to ensure facts are reported accurately and in a timely manner. After all, all we have is our name and credibility - why would we damage our personal reputations to protect our employers or clients. Believe me, we don''t. It''s not worth it. Lastly, every profession has its own bad apples, and yours is no exception. How often do you hear "PR profession" jokes? Not nearly as often as "bad lawyer" jokes. In fact, I''ve never heard one. But I can tell you how many lawyers it takes to screw in a lightbulb.

[shabu23]

Who would know best about lying than a lawyer? or do you just like to watch from the sidelines and comment? That is the easiest and safest place to fire off criticism. Andrew, Mr. Highandmighty, before you put yourself on the pedestal (you can take the empty spot left by Spitzer) you best check yourself and make sure you can''t add "hypocrite" to your own life resume.

[neume1]

This goes to show just how little some members of the media understand about business or the profession of public relations. For decades journalists have held themselves up as the ethical compass for society, but one needs not look very hard to see how very untrue that is.

Simply put far too many folks in the media continue to have illusions of grander. It%u2019s sad that once again a reporter at CBS has shown just how little the profession of journalism understands about the real world.

Oh, I guess it%u2019s too easy to point out that CBS%u2019 Cohen is a lawyer%u2026I%u2019m sure there is a snide comment to be made there, but that would be unprofessional %u2013 Mr. Cohen you should take note of that.

[write4u1]

I have worked in PR for many years. Okay, maybe there are some PR practitioners who tell lies, just as there are presidents who tell lies. But that''s not what our industry is about. I interview customers looking for positive stories that will influence people to see our brand in a positive light. I always share the story just as it was given to me. In my book, that''s not lying. At PRSA conventions and meetings, I hear people talking about the importance of telling the truth in order to create a positive impresson.

[buffynavy]

The only reason I heard Mr. Cohen''s diatribe against public relations today was that I missed Sunday School. I was reviewing my music, since I play at our church''s first Sunday communion service. As an accredited public relations practitioner, I resent the implication that I am not accurate, truthful or unemployed. In fact, quite the opposite is true. As an accredited member of the Public Relations Society of America, I take my responsibility seriously. As I see this, the only liar here is Mr. Cohen. In "the old days" when I was a journalist, I felt I should research subjects carefully. Clearly, he does not or he would have learned something about those of us who adhere to the high standards set for this profession. I have been in teaching, journalism, advertising, and public relations during my career of more than 30 years. I''ve seen good and bad in all of these professions. I can say with confidence that Mr. Cohen''s assertions are simply wrong.

[uppy13-2009]

As an accredited PR professional and proud member of PRSA, I take exception to your blanket statements, Mr. Cohen. An overwhelming majority of PR professionals do engage in truthful practices and work diligently to ensure an accurate, free flow of information between the companies we represent and our key stakeholders. Many of us have put our careers on the line by refusing to provide false or misleading information on behalf of our employers or clients. The word "spin" is degrading and not used within our industry...it is a term created by the media - the very media we forge positive relationships with to ensure facts are reported accurately and in a timely manner. After all, all we have is our name and credibility - why would we damage our personal reputations to protect our employers or clients? Believe me, we don''t. It''s not worth it. We are NOT "trained to be slickly untruthful or half-truthful." We are trained to be honest, forthright and often-times, the moral compass of the company. Companies would be better served by ensuring their PR staff has a seat at the management table and is consulted regarding major decisions so the information can be shared accurately and honestly to internal and external audiences. Lastly, every profession has its own bad apples, and yours is no exception. How often do you hear "PR profession" jokes? Not nearly as often as "bad lawyer" jokes. In fact, I''ve never heard one. But I can tell you how many lawyers it takes to screw in a lightbulb.

[uppy13-2009]

As an accredited PR professional and proud member of PRSA, I take exception to your blanket statements, Mr. Cohen. An overwhelming majority of PR professionals do engage in truthful practices and work diligently to ensure an accurate, free flow of information between the companies we represent and our key stakeholders. Many of us have put our careers on the line by refusing to provide false or misleading information on behalf of our employers or clients. The word "spin" is degrading and not used within our industry...it is a term created by the media - the very media we forge positive relationships with to ensure facts are reported accurately and in a timely manner. After all, all we have is our name and credibility - why would we damage our personal reputations to protect our employers or clients? Believe me, we don''t. It''s not worth it. We are NOT "trained to be slickly untruthful or half-truthful." We are trained to be honest, forthright and often-times, the moral compass of the company. Companies would be better served by ensuring their PR staff has a seat at the management table and is consulted regarding major decisions so the information can be shared accurately and honestly to internal and external audiences. Lastly, every profession has its own bad apples, and yours is no exception. How often do you hear "PR profession" jokes? Not nearly as often as "bad lawyer" jokes. In fact, I''ve never heard one. But I can tell you how many lawyers it takes to screw in a lightbulb.

[uppy13-2009]

As an accredited PR professional and proud member of PRSA, I take exception to your blanket statements, Mr. Cohen. An overwhelming majority of PR professionals do engage in truthful practices and work diligently to ensure an accurate, free flow of information between the companies we represent and our key stakeholders. Many of us have put our careers on the line by refusing to provide false or misleading information on behalf of our employers or clients. The word "spin" is degrading and not used within our industry...it is a term created by the media - the very media we forge positive relationships with to ensure facts are reported accurately and in a timely manner. After all, all we have is our name and credibility - why would we damage our personal reputations to protect our employers or clients? Believe me, we don''t. It''s not worth it. We are NOT "trained to be slickly untruthful or half-truthful." We are trained to be honest, forthright and often-times, the moral compass of the company. Companies would be better served by ensuring their PR staff has a seat at the management table and is consulted regarding major decisions so the information can be shared accurately and honestly to internal and external audiences. Lastly, every profession has its own bad apples, and yours is no exception. How often do you hear "PR profession" jokes? Not nearly as often as "bad lawyer" jokes. In fact, I''ve never heard one. But I can tell you how many lawyers it takes to screw in a lightbulb.

[tpgable]

"Show me a PR person who is "accurate" and "truthful," and I''ll show you a PR person who is unemployed."

Unlike lawyers, who regularly represent the guilty and proclaim their innocence on the record and in courts of law, PR professionals succeed by telling the truth and providing what is known as authentic counsel -- guiding clients in the right direction based on the highest principles. Thousands and thousands of very successful and employed PR professionals help clients grow their reputations and businesses accordingly. It is positive and accomplished through fact-based PR, not spin or hype. Facts and good stories are the coin of the realm. As a former financial journalist (and Pulitzer Prize nominee), I''m very pleased to have joined the PR profession some 25 years ago and watched it grow in many positive ways. One can''t say the same for the legal profession.

[uppy13-2009]

As an accredited PR professional and proud member of PRSA, I take exception to your blanket statements, Mr. Cohen. An overwhelming majority of PR professionals do engage in truthful practices and work diligently to ensure an accurate, free flow of information between the companies we represent and our key stakeholders. Many of us have put our careers on the line by refusing to provide false or misleading information on behalf of our employers or clients. The word "spin" is degrading and not used within our industry...it is a term created by the media - the very media we forge positive relationships with to ensure facts are reported accurately and in a timely manner. After all, all we have is our name and credibility - why would we damage our personal reputations to protect our employers or clients? Believe me, we don''t. It''s not worth it. We are NOT "trained to be slickly untruthful or half-truthful." We are trained to be honest, forthright and often-times, the moral compass of the company. Companies would be better served by ensuring their PR staff has a seat at the management table and is consulted regarding major decisions so the information can be shared accurately and honestly to internal and external audiences. Lastly, every profession has its own bad apples, and yours is no exception. How often do you hear "PR profession" jokes? Not nearly as often as "bad lawyer" jokes. In fact, I''ve never heard one. But I can tell you how many lawyers it takes to screw in a lightbulb.

[derville-2009]

Dear Andrew,

I invite you to reconsider your condemnation of the entire public relations profession.

In my experience as a public relations professor and former practitioner, I do not teach students to tell lies, nor have I lied as a communicator.

The previous comment on this post that claims that perhaps practitioners unknowingly lied is both condescending and a poor excuse to account for the other comments in which practitioners attest to their records of telling the truth.

As described in one of the most popular public relations textbooks by Cutlip, Center, and Broom, public relations is defined as the process of establishing mutually beneficial relationships between an organization and the people it depends on to succeed. Long-term relationships depend on cultivating trust, which means that lying is out of the question.

I challenge you to read "Gaining Influence in Public Relations" by Bruce Berger and Bryan Reber and report back to your readers whether you have changed your position:
http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&id=Bmsj9Ev83xsC&dq=reber+and berger&printsec=frontcover&source=web&ots=a0rpWadyPn&sig=TGUBFBscvBwUn-NLIw5AABva7iw

The last part of the book contains a public relations manifesto, which is discussed in a blog by Staci Stringer, a University of Oregon student:
http://stacistringer.wordpress.com/2008/04/19/the-truth-about-public-relations/

[uppy13-2009]

As an accredited PR professional and proud member of PRSA, I take exception to your blanket statements, Mr. Cohen. An overwhelming majority of PR professionals do engage in truthful practices and work diligently to ensure an accurate, free flow of information between the companies we represent and our key stakeholders. Many of us have put our careers on the line by refusing to provide false or misleading information on behalf of our employers or clients. The word "spin" is degrading and not used within our industry...it is a term created by the media - the very media we forge positive relationships with to ensure facts are reported accurately and in a timely manner. After all, all we have is our name and credibility - why would we damage our personal reputations to protect our employers or clients? Believe me, we don''t. It''s not worth it. We are NOT "trained to be slickly untruthful or half-truthful." We are trained to be honest, forthright and often-times, the moral compass of the company. Companies would be better served by ensuring their PR staff has a seat at the management table and is consulted regarding major decisions so the information can be shared accurately and honestly to internal and external audiences. Lastly, every profession has its own bad apples, and yours is no exception. How often do you hear "PR profession" jokes? Not nearly as often as "bad lawyer" jokes. In fact, I''ve never heard one. But I can tell you how many lawyers it takes to screw in a lightbulb.

[uppy13-2009]

As an accredited PR professional and proud member of PRSA, I take exception to your blanket statements, Mr. Cohen. An overwhelming majority of PR professionals do engage in truthful practices and work diligently to ensure an accurate, free flow of information between the companies we represent and our key stakeholders. Many of us have put our careers on the line by refusing to provide false or misleading information on behalf of our employers or clients. The word "spin" is degrading and not used within our industry...it is a term created by the media - the very media we forge positive relationships with to ensure facts are reported accurately and in a timely manner. After all, all we have is our name and credibility - why would we damage our personal reputations to protect our employers or clients? Believe me, we don''t. It''s not worth it. We are NOT "trained to be slickly untruthful or half-truthful." We are trained to be honest, forthright and often-times, the moral compass of the company. Companies would be better served by ensuring their PR staff has a seat at the management table and is consulted regarding major decisions so the information can be shared accurately and honestly to internal and external audiences. Lastly, every profession has its own bad apples, and yours is no exception. How often do you hear "PR profession" jokes? Not nearly as often as "bad lawyer" jokes. In fact, I''ve never heard one. But I can tell you how many lawyers it takes to screw in a lightbulb.