It has become common to shoot the messenger, but how helpful is it in terms of actually improving society and the planet, which presumably is the aim?Cannes Lions Festival of CreativityThis narrative continued with BBC Panorama’s three-part documentary series “Big Oil v the World”, which looks at PR campaigns intended to “sow doubt about the science of climate change”.
In this series, PR firms, including Harrison PR in the US – the first time I heard of this supposed environment PR specialist – are cited for campaigns on behalf of oil firms that obfuscate important arguments for taking action on climate change.over claims about the sustainability of their fashion products.
Edelman has come under attack again, this time for agreeing to work with Saudi Arabia to improve its international reputation. A lot of the pressure on PR and ad firms comes from their employees. In a market where there’s a real war for talent, workers may decline employers seen to be “unethical” or may refuse to work on certain clients.
Certainly PR and advertising are influential businesses and they can effect positive change. They tend to be staffed by young, creative workers with strong ethical positions.