PR discussions: Re: [prpoint] Public Affairs / Lobbying

sir,

i have read through various postings.and mr srinivasans nice summary . here are my observations:

1) lobbying is still not considered legal in india though it is in the usa. this is what put nira radia into trouble.

2) is there not a question of propreity involved while lobbying for one client while you are handling so many clients.

3) lobbying should be an independent exercise that is outsourced -- should not even be handled by a susbdiary com[any of the PR agency, i think this is where nira radia made a mistake because the activities of the subsidiary and controversies generated had rebound effect on the parent company ultimately jeopardising its main business operations .

4) corporates do this all the time -- they outsource all activities that are difficult or not sure about its impact or outcome so that when there's a problem, it can wash of its hands. not a very healthy exercisd, but certainly saves the corporate much embarassment.

5) lobbying should be for a just cause -- not for justifying default on corporate taxes or evasion of excise or sales tax levies, i find that coroporates agents throng the corridors of power to do only this kind of lobbying which is for self interest. here i am inclined to agree with mr jagannathans posting that lobbying is not general benefit but individual benefit .

6) lobbying should be legalised and guidelines be prescribed by government in consultation with corporates and legal luminaries and experienced professionals and punishment outlined for violators.

cheers
ashok

On 1 November 2011 19:30, V Jagannathan <v_jagannathan@yahoo.com> wrote:

Lobbying is done through different channels including creating a public opinion through the media. Barring few exceptions lobbying is not done for charity. The statement that lobbying will end in good for the society and will not enrich individuals is not correct. Lobbying is done to change the system or rule to achieve a particular goal. Whether the system is changed or tampered with depends on the way that people perceive it.

Jagannathan

From: Prime Point Srinivasan <prpoint@gmail.com>
To: prpoint@yahoogroups.com; indian-pr-forum@googlegroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, November 1, 2011 7:06 PM
Subject: [prpoint] Public Affairs / Lobbying - Where it went wrong?

hi all

BNK has raised a very pertinent point, while writing about Nira Radia's closing her PR agency. I have read the discussions in other forums too.

General observations

From various views, I have observed the following:

1. Some of the young professionals feel that Radia has not done anything seriously wrong. She has done only her professional job to take care of her clients.

2. Some of the seniors have felt that she should not have closed her shop suddenly throwing the future of a couple of hundred professionals on street. She had brought shame to the profession.

Public Affairs is practised by PSUc

As I wrote in one of the earlier publications of ezine, public affairs is a legal profession across the world. Many developed countries have permitted this. In India also traditionally, we have been practising public affairs / lobbying in a subtle manner for a long time.

Even personally, I have enough experience on this 'public affairs'. As the official Liaison Officer of a PSU Bank at Delhi, I had the opportunity of taking up some issues of common concern with Parliament and the Government through presentations. Even in the past two or three years, as India Vision and prpoint Forum, we have also taken up issues like 'Education Loan' with the Government/Lok Sabha and found solutions.

Even today, almost all the PSU companies and banks have their own 'Liaison Officers' at Delhi. In all the cases, the benefit of lobbying goes to the society and no individual is unduly benefited to the disadvantage of others. .

What went wrong with Nira Radia?

Then what is wrong with Nira Radia, if she was also practising public affairs / lobbying for her clients? This is the question that remains in the minds of few youngsters. As I understand from the reports, Nira Radia was using her position and influence to tamper with the system, to benefit few of her clients or individuals. In the process, some of the media persons also got involved innocently without realising her motive.

It is very difficult to measure in these types of 'lobbying', what is right and what is wrong. BNK raised an important issue of 'ethics and values'. We need to redefine 'ethics' based on the current situation.

What is 'ethics' in lobbying?

It is not possible to rule out the concept of 'public affairs' and 'lobbying' from the scene. Also it is not wrong to represent an organisation as a lobbyist, for their advantage or to represent their case properly before the Government Authorities. We allow lawyers and chartered accountants to represent their clients. Same way, Public Affairs professionals also can represent their clients. I think already, some regulations is in the pipeline.

As long as our practising public affairs or lobbying does not tamper with the system to suit the client and cause disadvantage to other genuine people ( like what Nira Radia has done) . we can consider this as 'ethical'. It is also not possible for any organisation or structured body to monitor individual practises. Anybody practising wrongly will get exposed automatically through media and through their own competitors.

Is it possible to monitor the public affairs practioners?

In my view, monitoring of 'public affairs' practise by any company is very difficult. Advt. bodies can do this, since the output is visible. Here in public affairs, output is not visible and cannot be quantified.

I find that in India, PR is moving towards 'Public Affairs' We cannot afford to ignore this development. We need more and more debate to sharpen the profession.

I invite more views from the professionals.

Srinivasan
Prime Point
9176650273

On Mon, Oct 31, 2011 at 9:48 AM, <naren_vna@yahoo.com> wrote:

Dear sir,

The hindu has said that vaishnavi is trying to place people outside. Wonder why the agency was not sold.

Best regards
Narren
Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone
From: BNK 24x7 <mailbnk@gmail.com>
Sender: prpoint@yahoogroups.com
Date: Sun, 30 Oct 2011 22:30:12 +0530
To: Prime Point Srinivasan<prpoint@gmail.com>; Prpoint Group<prpoint@yahoogroups.com>

ReplyTo: prpoint@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [prpoint] End of Nira era...what Next - that's the question for PR professionals

The shutting down of Vaishanavi shop by Nira Radia comes as a big news!
Normally, PR professionals do not hit headlines, unlike their counterparts in advertising.
Forget newspapers, even the communications related web sites do not feature PR developments. XYZ ad agency bagging ABC kind of an account makes news but the same does not apply to DEF kind of PR agency bagging TVW kind of an account.

Of course, PR agency or professionals did hit headlines in a SEBI case.
But Nira has made the big change. She and her Vaishnavi rocked the profession, thanks to the 2G Tapes.
Outlook and Open mags broke them, serialised them and what happened after that is now part of history.
But it is really sad to see Vaishnavi becoming part of the history.
Questions, therefore, that arise:

1. Is it right to expose several PR professionals to such a risk?
2. Couldn't or shouldn't Nira have given enough notice to her team/s to find alternatives before dropping the bombshell?
3. Is it OK for PR professionals to decide almost overnight that they shut shops and leave even clients in the lurch?
The entire episode/s raise many questions of ethics.
This development coming as it does at a time when even developers/builders or for that matter TV Channels falling head over heels to adopt Coide/s of Ethics, does re-dig the question;

Do PR professionals need A self-regulatory Code of Ethics?
Don't we PR professionals need to have an Ombudsman to address grievances from our clients and stake holders?
I think I have left enough foods for thought for the week.
Let's debate.
After all, its only by communicating that we can perfect communication.
Or as they say in Hindi: Baat Karnay Say Hee Baat Bantee Hai, Dost!

--
Thanks & Regards
BNK 24x7
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Concept PR - Winner of Agency of the Year 2010 & 2007 &
Gold for Case study of the year - 2009