writing- yeah, it's actually kind of important

So, the professor of one of my classes wrote a textbook. A incredibly educated individual in his realm, his knowledge far exceeds my expectations for a teacher of an entry level elective. The fact that he's personable and funny also works in his favor; my point here being I maintain no qualm with the individual. Now, back to the textbook- it's not published yet, so he provides a draft of each chapter to students in the class via an online administration tool. I've read two chapters of the book thus far, and I pity its future editor. Littered with passive voice and cliches, reading it presents a unique and boring obstacle for a student whose major essentially consists of learning how to write in a manner that won't put your readers to sleep or into a coma. I should mention the first and second chapters of the book brazenly insult journalists and the media, who frankly comprise a group of some of the best writers out there.

As I have learned in my tenure in UGA's PR program, writing essentially constitutes the basis of PR. Communication in the form of the written word requires time and study. Good writing often proves a rare find, and bad writing usually floods in superfluously.

As for the the media- traditional and nontraditional- they play a huge role in the overall function of society; bringing issues of concern to the forefront of public attention. They create forums for public discussion of political and societal issues. And their PR counterparts assist journalists of all kinds in discovering the important information they need to present a fair and balanced perspective. I think I could even get some English majors in on this, after all, it drips with irony- insulting journalists through poor writing.

celebrities- all a pr stunt or the real deal?

I'm sure by now everyone has heard of the controversy surrounding Grey's Anatomy star Isaiah Washington and his comments about costar T.R. Knight. In case you haven't, (because you have better things to do with your time) here's an overview. Supposedly Washington made a derogatory comment about Knight's sexual orientation. Washington reportedly apologized, but then brought the incident up again the Golden Globes. The latest development includes Washington issuing a formal apology for both incidents and seeking help for his problem- which brings us to how PR comes into play in this whole twisted drama. While listening to the radio, I heard some morning DJs discussing their doubt about the sincerity of Washington's apology. They chalked it up to being just a PR stunt to keep his job and protect Grey's reputation.

Well, celebrity PR exists, in part, to help celebrities recover from public embarrassment. Think back to Michael Richards and his Laugh Factory fiasco. After his horrendously long apology on Letterman- which desperately needed scripting by a PR professional, so that at the very least it would have made sense- he eventually enlisted the help of New York based Rubenstein Associates Inc.

PR is not there just to make nice for the mistakes and bad judgement calls Washington and Richards both made. Its role includes helping these celebrities get their message across. They can't sit down field calls from a hundred journalists, nor do they know who to inform about the steps they're taking to make things right. PR levels the playing field; it gives celebrities a chance to say their piece in a world where gossip and rumors oftentimes are more sought-after than the actual truth.