PR discussions: [prpoint] Is it 'ethical'?

hi all

In the past three or four days, there was a discussion about ethics and values, arising out of Nira Radia's episode. The debate was held in three PR online groups. Many of our Corpcom and PR agency professionals shared their views frankly.

While, this debate was going on in all the online groups, two senior PR professionals called me over phone and shared the following two instances independently. They have requested me to share this instance with their members, suppressing the identity. I am sharing this, to show, where we are heading to?

Case Study No 1 - About Corpcom

A new Corpcom Manager joined one of the reputed companies. Immediately, he invited one of the leading PR agencies for a discussion. The Corpcom Manager gave the agency the company profile and the background. The PR Agency sincerely prepared some strategies and made a presentation before the Corpcom manager for pitching the account. After 10 days, the PR agency got surprised when they found media reports in the same angle, in which they suggested during the presentation.

On discreet enquiry, it was found that the company did not engage any PR agency for their services. After listening to the strategies presented by the PR Agency, the concerned Corpcom Manager presented the same strategies to their CEO and the top Management as if it was his own. Highly impressed with the strategies, the CEO advised the Corpcom Manager to go ahead with internal team, without knowing the fact about the presentation by PR Agency.

Even earlier, in our forum, we had discussed about some well known companies inviting many PR Agencies for pitch and finally not selecting any one. The Corpcom Managers get all the strategies from various experts of PR Agencies free of cost and implement them with their internal team.

I understand such unhealthy and unethical practises are practised even by some well known companies. Those companies invite few PR Agencies and make them to present the strategies. These companies get the ideas 'free of cost' from the experts. Finally, they do not engage any company quoting some reasons.

If such unethical instances (making few PR agencies to make presentation without appointing any one) are happening in future, the aggrieved agencies can write to us with full details. We will also seek the views from the concerned company's CEO and Corpcom Manager. We will publish the instance with the company's name in the group openly, even if the company does not respond within reasonable time. The agencies also should 'black list' those companies.

Case Study 2 - About PR Agency

Two well known PR Agencies A and B were trying to capture a prestigious account C. Agency A was trying to 'bribe' the official of Agency B, who was involved in preparing the presentation. Very sadly one of the top persons of Agency A himself tried to bribe the official of Agency B, for getting all the secrets. The official of Agency B is a very honest and loyal person and he refused to oblige, in spite of heavy bribe. Further, the official of Agency B, reported this instance to his CEO.

In this case also, the unethical practise of Agency A is to be condemned. I have suppressed the names of Agency A and B and the customer C.

Both the incidents have happened last month. . The people behind such unethical practises should understand that all the achievements gained through such dubious methods may be only temporary. Once, if their 'tricks' get leaked out in public domain through some sources (like what I have now), what will be their reputation and credibility?

Earning money is necessary. Earning money, by any means is not good.

Srinivasan

Moderator

9176650273

__._,_.___

Reply to sender | Reply to group | Reply via web post | Start a New Topic

Messages in this topic (1)

Recent Activity: