The Rising Role of Women in PR: NO Glass Ceiling Any More

                           

The picture is from an article online, which was written by a female PR professional. Interestingly, the headline is very close to my topic: PR is no longer a male dominated industry.

Over the past 20 years, there has been a flood of women entering the field of public relations. Statistics from the US Department of Labor (1997) show that although women account for 58.7 percent of the US workforce, more than 65 percent of public relations specialists are women. In 1970, the number of womenin PR was at a mere 27 percent. Today, by some expert accounts that figure exceeds 80 percent. The male-dominated PR industry has become a history.

Let's look at some other examples which a glass ceiling doesn't really happen in PR:

• People I know:Sally Costerton, CEO of Hill & Knowlton and chairman of PRCA who just gave us a fabulous PRCA career day event hold in National Science Museum, one of the most glamous female PR practitioners I have ever known in life;
• Others:Jane Wilson is CEO for the CIPR, Gini Dietrich,the founder and CEO of Arment Dietrich, writes a killer blog called Spin Sucks, and is one of the hosts of the InsidePR podcast; Candace Kuss, the Director of Planning and Interactive Strategy Director at Hill & Knowlton.

Thanks other Candace gives me (Candice) a bright courage to continue my PR career path. Fair enough, I am sincerely delighted with these facts and figures in PR industry. No gender discrimination, what we should do is to try our best to be professional PR people. How wonderful is that. 

PR in Wartime: Media Control & Propaganda

Today we have a war video shown by our lecturer, about Jessica a female solider from American army was killed in manslaughter. Yes probably by American themselves. And massive report news about her death. It occurs to me that what does PR like during wartime? Public at that time could be manipulated by media, and media could be probably used by politicians. So what's the PR in the wartime? By the way, the posters I post are the selected posters by the Telegraph.The most famous war poster was Alfred Leete's 1914 image of Lord Kitchener pointing directly at the viewer. So successful was this image that it was adapted for American use in both World War I and II by JM Flagg. Yes political propaganda.I search some sources about PR in wartime, most of them are associated with propaganda,and tight media control comes the second.  For propaganda, 

We must remember that in time of war what is said on the enemy’s side of the front is always propaganda, and what is said on our side of the front is truth and righteousness, the cause of humanity and a crusade for peace.-Walter Lippmann

This is the vivid quote about propaganda. For more quotes about propaganda, please see the link War, Propaganda and the Media

During the wartime, politicians tried to make use of media (radio in the 1940s and televisions in the 1950s) to control the public. Hitler is the perfect example of propaganda.His speech was so powerful that thousands of citizens followed him blindly. Here is the video from YouTude:

        

Still, media control matters as well. Look at China in 1940s and 1950s, you will find that the tight government control in media is massive. I did an essay about government communication, I'd better show this here again. Tangshan earthquake happened in the rampant period of the Gang of Four who basically controlled the power of public opinion of the national publicity. Strict control for interviews from disaster areas includes not only forbidding to report the causalities but shoot causality pictures, even not to take photos about rescuing disabled personnel and so forth. The condition of Tangshan disaster was reported, taking People’s Daily and Liberation Army Daily for an example, however, the message was so weak and vague that there was no specific information on calamity. Most articles concerning inspiring slogans of famine relief were spotted everywhere, with strong political propaganda, like “promote production”, “Chairman Mao's revolutionary line guidance” and so on. (People’s Daily, 1976) 

If you are curious about wartime relations with PR and media, you could possible find a large amount of information, here I am just giving you a brief idea. Hopefully you are enjoying the brief :)

Reference:

Hitler Speech, YouTube, 2010, http://www.youtube.com/verify_controversy?next_url=/watch%3Fv%3DL2jqRwo5MHo

Xinhua News Agency, (1976), “Strong Earthquake Took Place in Tangshan, Fengnan area, Heibei province, Under the Guidance of Chairman Mao's Revolutionary Line People Carry Forward the Revolutionary Spirit of Humans Over Nature Relief”, People’s Daily, Vol.1 July 29^th

Global Issues, War, Propaganda and the Media, http://www.globalissues.org/article/157/war-propaganda-and-the-media

How Does PR and Marketing Influence on Fashion?

Snowing outside, this morning I become so lazy, lying in bed and reading. Recently I am interested in a fashion book called Fashion Marketing-Theory, Principles, & Practice, written by Marianne C. Bickle. I haven't finished yet but in the fashion PR chapter,I do believe that it is worthy reading the whole book.

In chapter 4 Public Relations, Promotion and Advertising, it introduces a various range of PR and marketing strategies, which helps readers to have an overall understanding of commercial tactics. Tom Ford says: as a fashion designer, I was always aware that I was not an artist, because I was creating something that was made to be sold, used, and ultimately discarded. His statement reminds me that fashion need to shout out and stand out, by using PR, marketing and advertising. Otherwise, fashion could be just unknown and unsung.Now his fashion business is truly a success, when I work in the office, the PR manager asked me to search info about our competitors, and Tom Ford is the no.1 on the list.

Speak of public relations in fashion industry, "the PR component of the marketing mix continues to be an important and valuable tool for fashion companies. Public relations provides stakeholders with current information regarding the company's product lines, marketing efforts, and interaction and assistance to the community through good works." In large fashion organisations typically they have a PR department. In fact, PR should be an integral section and get involved in marketing in every fashion organisation.

According to the book, print literature, press releases, and stockholders' meetings are three common forms of communication. For internet part it can count on fashion shows, new product lines, customer service and blogs.The author also mentions multiple goals to PR effort, including building positive and ever increasing brand awareness, communicating with stakeholders, instilling stakeholders' confidence, promoting a social cause, recruiting best talent in the world, etc.

In my point of view, in fashion industry PR and marketing are like twins, which are not easily separated from each other. Both are for brand and consumers, and some of tactics could be connected with both PR and marketing. Nowadays we have social media but we also create a new word called social marketing; I suppose in the future we will have public marketing or similar form to combine these two concepts together. No matter which way is for PR or marketing, the way is the best which can make them get the best benefit they can, for organisations' sake.

Reference:

Bickle, M.C (2011), Fashion Marketing-Theory, Principles and Practice, New York Fairchild Books

The Telegraph, David Beckham launches his underwear range at H&M, 2012 http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/news-features/TMG9055115/David-Beckham-launches-his-underwear-range-at-HandM.html

Clamour, Victoria Secret, 2009,

http://www.glamourvanity.com/glam-events/2009-victorias-secret-fashion-show/