PR--on the dark side

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Comment by Diane Pinnick on October 24, 2009 at 10:22am

Good observation! I last saw this in the early 1990s. PR/Marketing/Advertising is the first to be laid-off and the last to be hired back. (The hiring of FT PR people is a true indicator that the economy is doing better.) I predict, and I am just starting to see, that companies/organizations are starting to hire independent contractors for project work. Then we see the hire of both independent contractors and agencies for more long-term, and many times on-site. At this same time, the companies/orgs are doing the basics in PR/Mktg/Ad while regrouping and try to figure out what they really need in those depts. Finally, we will see more FT hires as the economy gets better.

Comment by David Ebeling on October 23, 2009 at 12:57pm

Obviously, I think this turbulent economy has taken its toll on all PR people. Clients are expecting more for less, especially when it comes to media relations. Unfortunately, with less advertising dollars being spent, causing less number of pages per publication, there is less opportunities for press. On the flip side, I think the good experienced PR people will continue to survive as they are the ones who have the long term relationships with the media. Furthermore, I think many companies are using independent PR contractors as opposed to large agencies because they can provide more return for their PR dollar.

Comment by Diane Pinnick on October 16, 2009 at 3:23pm

PR people, myself included, are doing our best to keep up with the many changes in social media so we can offer them to our clients/bosses. Interestingly enough, many people in business that I've spoken to--especially over the age of 50--feel that it is a passing phase and don't want it. Few small companies have the manpower to tweet, blog and keep up with sites other than their own. The fact that the media is now running stories contra social media's viability is only making business owners dig in heels more. There are always those companies who are on the cutting edge. Have they gotten any more coverage because of social media? I haven't heard that they have. Yet, in the case where non profits use it to raise money or a business wants to generate a large gathering, I have seen that it is very useful.

Comment by Emeraldlorraine on October 16, 2009 at 6:47am

Lets start some conversation about PR on the dark side. How is the PR/marketing employment thriving or surviving in this new age of facebook/myspace/internet social networking? Are there more or less jobs in the advent of these new methods of PR?