Comments on: Statement from Ragan Communications on Black Lives Matter

By: Taryn Williams Clark

Taryn Williams Clark — Tue, 09 Jun 2020 15:54:22 +0000

While this is a step in some direction, what I really want to know are what clear action items is Ragan planning to implement and execute to ensure they: Advocate for Black rights in meaningful ways. Commit to using their platform to ensure that people of color in our profession are heard and included. How they plan on learning more about the issues impacting, and infecting, our country, as well as your experiences.

By: Clement Sadjere

Clement Sadjere — Mon, 08 Jun 2020 23:06:10 +0000

Black lives matter debacle has exposed the deceit of our modern society. It is a deep-rooted problem that may take ages to get uprooted. No child grows up to hate another. A child learns from his/her parents about these things and sadly, society does not see anything wrong with it. I have experienced it as a person and George Floyd’s death has shown that these things have eaten deep into the fabric of the society.

By: Ronald N. Levy

Ronald N. Levy — Mon, 08 Jun 2020 18:52:39 +0000

A PR problem is not so much with weirdos who send hate mail but is more importantly with others, perhaps millions, who may resent a company helping blacks, the poor, Arabs, Jews, gays or some other minority.

Some people may feel “I wish they’d either charge less or else spend the money helping my people, not THEM.”

We can detect the sensitivity of brand managers if we see that after they spend money on a shoot with minority models, a brand manager may want the pictures to be used only for media that reach mainly minorities. The brand manager may not want the product to be associated among non-minorities with minority people, a “product for them.”

Fortunately we can make management happy by getting around this—and without bringing up the subject or sending an email that may one day be read aloud in a congressional hearing. Notice that following the PR Daily story on “How to communicate during civil unrest,” a comment suggests that “even more beneficial than a BLACK LIVES MATTER program could be a program on SAVE BLACK LIVES.”

Aha! Even among people who may feel that blacks, the poor or another group of people “get too much already,” a program may win especially massive goodwill if it helps a minority but also protects the health of everyone else.

“What’s in this for me?” is not a filthy question. Many voters may favor not so much the candidate or company that sounds the most logical but that seems to promise the most benefit “for me.” When promises sound credible, the biggest promises tend to win. When a PR program is to help a group, the program may be appreciated most by those who see that they may also benefit.

The public’s self-interest is neither a disgrace nor uncommon.