I was directed to a new WIKI today set up by Ragan called PR Rehab to discuss the things really wrong with public relations. One of the questions has to do with what is PR really anyway?

But there is one thing PR is not. And that is marcom. At least that’s what we here at Ragan thought until last year when Jack O’Dwyer, PR’s biggest defender, said it was OK to blur the lines. For those who don?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t know him, Jack represented the old school of PR?¢‚Ǩ‚Äùthe professionals who work the phones and pound the pavement to win media coverage for clients. He?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s advocated that position to anyone who?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢d listen?¢‚Ǩ‚Äùand even those who didn?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t. That?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s why it was shocking to read what was on a postcard-like promotional piece from The Aker Partners. Aker outlined its stance on the profession?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s ?¢‚Ǩ?ìhotly contested?¢‚Ǩ¬ù debate between PR and marketing communications. Aker wanted to dump the term ?¢‚Ǩ?ìPR?¢‚Ǩ¬ù to describe the industry and use the catchphrase, ?¢‚Ǩ?ìmarcom,?¢‚Ǩ¬ù as in marketing communications, instead. Unlike PR, Aker says, marcom doesn?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t have a negative connation. ?¢‚Ǩ?ìIt [PR] is still a respectable term, but one our changing world of communication has outgrown,?¢‚Ǩ¬ù the postcard announced.

While the PR Rehab Wiki appears to be a marketing tool for Ragan, it did generate some thinking, which I was deeply grinding through when an email arrived from PRSA National. This email, containing supposedly issues related to PR, seemed to be mostly about marketing:

What’s in a stadium name?: Plenty of recognition for sponsor, Arizona Republic, July 23, 2006, Jonathan J. Higuera.
http://tinyurl.com/zp2y7 (marketing)

Edelman exec joins Wal-Mart to supervise corporate affairs, Associated Press, July 24, 2006, Marcus Kabel.
http://tinyurl.com/zafjn (public relations strategy, a little marketing)

How to handle the jerk at work [Employee communications], Boston Globe, July 22, 2006, Bella English. (Free registration)
http://tinyurl.com/kwx7q (internal communications)

Retailers Seek Passing Marks With Back-to-School Tactics: This year’s hot list includes new clothes, electronic goods, Brandweek, July 24, 2006, Sandra O’Loughlin http://tinyurl.com/jshlx (marketing research)

Television Everywhere: How networks and advertisers are reaching viewers in stores, at gas pumps and in elevators, Broadcast & Cable, July 24, 2006, Allison Romano. http://tinyurl.com/konhy (marketing)

Will Better In-Flight Movies Buy Brand Loyalty?, International Herald Tribune, July 25, 2006, Joe Sharkey.
http://tinyurl.com/gpdzd (marketing, research – if you stretch)

Christian Retailers Put Their Print on Products: Christian perfume’s not your thing? Try golf balls. Or candy. This booming market has piles of products and a single message, Los Angeles Times, July 21, 2006, Stephanie Simon. (Free registration)
http://tinyurl.com/hljee (marketing)

Also
From High Above, Saintly Messages: Book Promos Target Expressway Drivers, Washington Post, July 22, 2006, Benedicta Cipolla. (Free registration)
http://tinyurl.com/fvvv9 (marketing)

Push Search Marketing Into Marketing, MediaPost, July 24, 2006, Bill Wise. (Free registration)
http://tinyurl.com/gs4ra (marketing and more marketing)

What Counts at the Box Office Is the Buzz: The amount of Internet buzz a movie generates is a strong predictor of its box-office take, but it hardly matters whether that buzz is good or bad, New York Times, July 24, 2006. (Free registration)
http://tinyurl.com/f77pv (public relations, perhaps because it mentions buzz, but a lot of marketing)

Perhaps two articles on public relations with the majority of these links from PRSA National pointing me to marketing issues! Have we given in and accepted that paid placements and marketing communications, marcom, are really the true nature of public relations? It seems that if you’re leading people to engage in traditional communication activities involving public relations, then you’re not really doing marketing. I spoke of this once before: “That?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s the difference between marketing and public relations. PR professionals work to explain the message, while marketers strive to sell the new product.”

Marketing has it’s place: I certainly have a TIVO, an iPod and drink tons of stuff from Starbucks. But public relations is about the business of listening to opinion, gauging our place in that discussion and adding to the conversation. Perhaps we do need a PR Rehab site or a PR 12 Step Program.