The 'P'owe'R'ful woman !

The three discontinuities or rather the 3 W's this generation is bringing into businesses are - Web , Women and Weather. The web has induced a technological revolution which not all businesses have begun to adapt to. The massive arrival of women in the workforce has not yet been well digested. The issues of climate change and sustainability are also at the horizon for every company. And my title already suggests that in my post I am going to be looking at the second W.

According to recent statistics of the Institute of Public Relations (IPR) female members of the Institute are 60 against 40 male members. This is a testimony to the belief that the fairer sex is entering the PR industry more than their male counterparts. I don't have to go very far for an example , my PR class at University of Westminster has 6 males against 25 females. Now that hints at something...Doesn't it ?

Grunig says - '' Women in Public Relations tend to see themselves in the technical rather than the managerial role to a greater degree than men do.'' I have been wondering ....Why ? Stereotypes persist. The lame answers of a women being emotional , cry babies , sensitive , submissive and whatsoever don't appear to be a reason at all . Reason being that women has been strong and bold enough through all these years to push her way through every career she wanted to.

As I mentioned earlier , that majority of the workforce involved in Public Relations consist of women. But majority of the workforce on the top level do not consist of women. Women making it to the top is not just a matter of time anymore. Skeptics who believe that women lack ambition should know that they might be as many women as men who want to be at the top and as many men as women who lack ambition. The positive discrimination which is in place today is in favour of the prevailing norm- men. Positive discrimination on basis of genders has as a result given rise to 'women' issues which should not be stereotyped as they are.

Why women mean business by Avivah&Alison points out an interesting fact which I tend to agree with. The women not being able to rule the managerial posts and the discrepancies possessed by pay gap structure for women and men is not a 'women' issue. It is a strategic business issue. The managers and leaders need to gauge the challenges facing them on this issue.They are required to know how to manage effectively across genders.

I am just about to publish this post and that's when I realize that it is the International Women's Day today....So Wishing all the lovely ladies a very Happy Women's day ! ! !

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Can PR ever be ethical ?

Our class on ethics has by far been the most intriguing one for me. The runaway trolley example was incredible to trigger our thinking in terms of what is ethical and what is not. I must acknowledge that all the examples mentioned in class gave rise to a series of thoughts in me and made me contemplate..... Can PR ever be ethical ? Who is the best person to judge and answer this question ? Is it a personal choice and preferences ? In the simplest words I was confused and curious.

I spoke to a friend of mine who practises celebrity PR in Mumbai and asked him what was his personal opinion about this.

"I come from a journalistic background, a place where ethics have ruled over the decades. So while I manipulate as a PR, I also let my conscience do the talking. It keeps me far away from attempting the unethical." -Dale Bhagwagar, PR guru .

This made me think that who monitors those who always ignore the faint voice of their conscience ? Can ethics be taught or imposed on PR's who personally favour profit and power more than ethics ?

If there had to be only one question haunting public relations , it would be ethics. Ethics is a word which falls of tongues very easily these days , yet many people who use it have not taken the time to consider it's true meaning. Philosophers define ethics as a study of moral rightness or wrongness , which is limited by human ability to reason. I believe that ethics are intangible assets , an extension of one's psyche and are formed on the basis of one's own morals.

Great power comes with great responsibility. But the power of Public Relations comes with even greater responsibilities. In their book, Public Relations Ethics, Philip Seib and Kathy Fitzpatrick talked about five duties of public relations professionals.In other words , the five masters which an ethical PR professional must serve - self, client, employer, profession and society.But , sometimes there is one situation in which it seems that telling the whole truth is not the most ethical course of action . If telling the truth outright is likely to harm one or more publics , then it seems that it is probably more ethical to avoid that disclosure.After all , one of the few principles of ethics in any situation is to do no harm. Often, however a judgement call is required here and it is the application of such judgement that calls into question of ethics of the decision maker. In such a case would the cognivitist theory that there is always one right decision to make hold true ? Or is it the cultural relativism theory where in moral truths are subjective , dynamic , changing and constructed by society ?

The question is still unanswered and the topic remains debatable as ever. I would rather believe that there is no right or wrong. They are just courageous decisions. And such decisions after taking which you should be able to sleep peacefully at night. >

Fusion PR incorporating New Media !

Fusion PR incorporating New Media !

New Media is influencing all segments of market today and Fusion Public Relations is no more lagging in the race. Fusion PR's first ever screencast.

London, UK-February 27, 2009

• Fusion PR Pvt Ltd. releases it's first screencast "Is the PR industry slow in adapting to New Media ”  which discusses how well the public relations industry is adapting to  the growing new media . 


• New Media has opened up new distribution channels and is redefining the Public Relations industry. 


• A few industries are slower than others in adapting new media techniques. 


• Inspite of the buzz , 79 out of 100 top UK agencies don't offer New Media PR services.


• There is a steadily growing interest in new media , but the service providers remain niche.


• The market sectors and comapnies which adapt new media are reaping dividends. 


• Traditional companies are going to suffer in recession. 


• New Media training needs to be incorporated at all levels of management. 

Eventually , the market is going to understand the power of new media and the tide will turn. New media is here to stay. 

QUOTES

Thomas Lewis , Senior Consultant , Fusion PR 

“The ubiquity of broadband Web use, combined with ever-easier-to-use online tools and relevant, user-generated content is creating a unique opportunity for the PR profession to re-think what we do and how we do it.”

Richard Periera , Chief Editor , The Londoner

The presentation by Fusion PR highlights a variety of thoughts dealing with the way Public Relations industry has responded to the magnanimous boom in New Media technology . 

Shubham Khandelwal , CEO , Fusion PR 

The Public Relations industry has to be adept and current. And New Media is the talk of today. We are trying to evolve ourselves into organizations which are capable of tapping the incredible power of new media.This is just the beginning. The best is yet to come. 

ABOUT FUSION PVT LTD 

Fusion Pvt Ltd is a leading public relations solution provider led by a professional team. It has been Fusion’s constant endeavor to communicate innovatively to create powerful brands that command mindshare. The services we provide are undoubtedly distinct in nature but each of them creatively relates to our objective. Our services include -  Public Relations ,Event Management , Media Relations, Integrated Marketing  and Social Media Marketing . 

For more agency information , please visit our website www.fusionpr.in . 

 

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