Ashley’s Blog

Yes, I can actually say that I am learning something about this PR business. But it isn’t as easy as it looks on Sex and the City. Perhaps as students we learn a new strategy and see one negative example and as creatures of habit, we latch on to those examples and guidelines. But it is not so black and white and that is the fine art to PR I think. You have to be humble… just because one company didn’t do the best job doesn’t mean they are a bunch of idiots. But it is easy for students after they have been shown a common pitfall committed by a major company to think all companies are making mistakes somehow and that we are the ones with all of the answers.

Or perhaps it also occurrs when we have been shown an effective tool, like blogging, and think that it is the answer to all PR problems. Even our teacher and blogging enthusiast, Robert had to point out that, while it is an amazing tool for some companies, it’s not for all.

That’s why it takes smart, analytical thinkers to be PR professionals. It’s not a plug ‘n’ play kind of business. You have to stop and reconfigure every idea for a situation or a target public. This is probably old news for other PR professionals, but I am really learning now that it isn’t a profession for everyone, and that this critical thinking is what separates professionals now.