Richard Edelman: It Depends What "Is" Is

Thanks for pointing me to Suw's post, BL. I think the question really is why Edelman even thought it was necessary to conceal the details about their sponsoring. The mistake is to think that it's only about who pays the bills - the lack of transparency is what broke their back on this one.

Its funny you should reference the infamous "is" ...and don't you just love the blogosphere even more knowing that we can all be held accountable for not only what we say "is" is one day but what we say "is" is another day or on another blog....

Here we can compare and contrast Richard Edelman on Suw Charman's blog in October 2006 to May 2005, answering the following question asked by Shel Israel:

Many of the tactics that you seem to think do not work anymore, are practiced by Edelman and its affiliates. Is this true? If so, how do you plan to make Edelman change over the next few years?

Some tactics used by PR firms are destined for the scrap heap, either because they undermine the integrity of the media or because bloggers will supplant them. Buying one's way onto a video news release issued by a "credible reporter" who uses his national celebrity to persuade local stations to run his 60-second segment will go the way of the dodo. So will exclusive stories for elite media, which agree to stringent conditions on interview subjects or date of release of story in return for sole access to a company's top executives. The limited release of unfavorable data, with a planned later release of the full story (note Bill Clinton's slow acknowledgement of his involvement with Monica Lewinsky to afford the U.S. public time to absorb the shock--attenuation through time and space) will also be undermined.

Here is what I am telling my people for new rules of the road: full disclosure, no use of names of front organizations, enter chat rooms only on identified basis, demand a seat at the decision-making table so you can be heard by those at C suite, listen and learn from cyberspace.

...We need to eschew the Clintonesque spin machine in favor of a more modern approach of truth will out."

Why there "is" even a couple of references to the master of "is." Context is everything...oh, maybe he meant truth spill out.

Pass the truth barometer....

Marianne

So does this tell is that Richard Edelman is a Republican?

Its funny you should reference the infamous "is" ...and don't you just love the blogosphere even more knowing that we can all be held accountable for not only what we say "is" is one day but what we say "is" is another day or on another blog....

Here we can compare and contrast Richard Edelman on Suw Charman's blog in October 2006 to May 2005, answering the following question asked by Shel Israel:

Many of the tactics that you seem to think do not work anymore, are practiced by Edelman and its affiliates. Is this true? If so, how do you plan to make Edelman change over the next few years?

Some tactics used by PR firms are destined for the scrap heap, either because they undermine the integrity of the media or because bloggers will supplant them. Buying one's way onto a video news release issued by a "credible reporter" who uses his national celebrity to persuade local stations to run his 60-second segment will go the way of the dodo. So will exclusive stories for elite media, which agree to stringent conditions on interview subjects or date of release of story in return for sole access to a company's top executives. The limited release of unfavorable data, with a planned later release of the full story (note Bill Clinton's slow acknowledgement of his involvement with Monica Lewinsky to afford the U.S. public time to absorb the shock--attenuation through time and space) will also be undermined.

Here is what I am telling my people for new rules of the road: full disclosure, no use of names of front organizations, enter chat rooms only on identified basis, demand a seat at the decision-making table so you can be heard by those at C suite, listen and learn from cyberspace.

...We need to eschew the Clintonesque spin machine in favor of a more modern approach of truth will out."

Why there "is" even a couple of references to the master of "is." Context is everything...oh, maybe he meant truth spill out.

Pass the truth barometer....

Marianne

I guess the correct answer has to be, it depends.

Damned right BL.

No how do you propose WOMMA deals with this and what does Edelman have to do? Trouble with that is the answers are obvious - if unpalatable for certain individuals.

WOMMA is nothing more than hot air if they don't sanction Edelman for violating the code of ethics. Especially since Richard Edelman says he helped write them.

Of course mistakes happen, and when they do, you take your lumps.

You have quoted me out of context. The Wal-Marting across America was a classic publicity stunt designed to appeal to mainstream media with a small new media component. I would appreciate your correction of your post. I do not expect bouquets from you or any others about this matter. We take it seriously and are acting accordingly. But it is just bad practice to take all of our work on Wal-Mart as a piece. In fact the RV tour had nothing to do with PaidCritics. Thanks for your consideration.

Richard: I did not mis-quote you. Here's your entire comment from Suw's post:
"Suw, I understand your disappointment with the firm. I am not trying to avoid responsibility for the problem; I am taking this as a serious matter which requires immediate attention. I do believe that PR can participate in a substantive and positive manner in the blogosphere. I agree that it means we have to change PR to be transparent, genuine, two-way (so we listen, not just talk). Where I disagree with your post is that this Wal-Mart program was astro-turfing. It was a publicity stunt aimed at the mainstream media with a new media component. We failed to be open about the identity of the photographer--our mistake whether in new or old media. We were entirely clear that the entire tour was funded by Working Families for Wal-Mart, with the travel writer receiving a fee for her time and the photographer simply his gas and food expenses.
I appreciate your sentiments that this is a long term education process for our people. I am prepared to make that investment. President Abraham Lincoln, when asked about a significant reverse suffered during the Civil War, said, "It hurts too much to laugh but I am too old to cry." Suw, we are in this for the long run. Mistakes have been made but we are going to get up and ski the hill again and again until we get it right.