Ten years ago, Stuart Ewen’s book PR! A Social History of Spin was published. Ewen offers a stridently leftist take on the PR industry (he doesn’t like us), but it’s also a fascinating read.

One of my favorite parts is seeing what the newspaper editors of the early 20th century had to say about Ivy Lee [pictured], who is now considered, along with Edward Bernays, one of the “fathers” of the public relations industry. Describing one of Lee’s campaigns,

The Toledo Blade reported that “throughout the Colorado troubles, pamphlets, circulars and letters fairly rained down upon the newspapers. It was a flood, a deluge. If it converted or influenced anyone, we have not heard of it.

“A broad reading of the American press indicated that the stuff went into the waste baskets throughout the country just as it did here. It swelled the postal receipts and added to the tonnage of houses that buy waste paper. But as for education, there was no result at all.”

Fast forward to 2006 and the editor of the Silicon Valley Blade:

Press releases are created by committees, edited by lawyers, and then sent out at great expense through Businesswire or PRnewswire to reach the digital and physical trash bins of tens of thousands of journalists.

This madness has to end. It is wasted time and effort by hundreds of thousands of professionals.

Thanks for continuing to play such a “disruptive role in mainstream PR,” Tom. What’s your next big idea — the steam locomotive?

Technorati tags: PR, Public Relations, Marketing

From the AP:

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - Hooters Air, which featured women in orange short-shorts and tight T-shirts on flights, will be grounded beginning next month except for private charters out of Winston-Salem, N.C.

Bob Brooks, chairman of the Hooters restaurant chain, and president Mark Peterson told The (Myrtle Beach) Sun News for a story Wednesday that the company will focus on charters for tour groups and sports teams.

“The flying industry is in a terrible mess. … I’ve got a fair amount of money, but I don’t have enough to fix this animal,” Brooks told the newspaper. “Now I think the best thing we can do is basically put it to bed, at least for right now, until the industry changes.” …

A woman who answered the phone at the airline’s Myrtle Beach office said neither Brooks nor Peterson would give interviews and referred The Associated Press to The Sun News article. A woman who answered the airline’s customer service line said Hooters would take reservations until April 17. Neither woman would give her name.

Vanity projects can be very expensive — especially when they involve 737s.

Technorati tags: Advertising, PR, Public Relations, Marketing

Not really.

But think about it: Ben and Howard — they could be the Ben and Jerry of freezer-burned ethics.

A tasty match, indeed.

P.S. — Don’t feel bad, Howard. A Turkish suburb has to be at least as dangerous as where Hugh Hewitt is hanging out — and he’s on the front lines.

(Via Romenesko)

Technorati tags: Journalism, PR, Ben Domenech, Howard Kaloogian, Hugh Hewitt

Since people continue to ask us about Brian Connolly, who is neither a suspect nor “person of interest” in our Strumpette investigation, we thought we’d share a few of the many, many comments posted by Brian on Steve Rubel’s Micro Persuasion blog, which — along with Edelman — has been the focus of the Strumpette’s wrath.

Here’s Brian on:

Transparency –

A good sermon Father Rubel. But here are a few points to consider: transparency, empowerment and the unwashed mass … Do you close the bathroom door? Sorry but transparency has its limitations. Ultimately, you may feel freer peeing in the wind. But I do not want to stand by you while you do it.

Gatekeepers –

Steve, your value to your clients is more celebrity based than technical. You don’t make anything innovative, per se; you provide opinions. Is what it is. The fleeting nature of celebrity aside, ironically the very thing you espouse as the greatest thing since sliced bread (blogging), discounts your value with every new one launched.

Edelman’s Talkshop blog –

It looks almost totally design-less (not to be confused with minimalist). Not that there’s anything wrong with that. But, that can be confused with unprofessional. Anyway, if I were Richard, I’d probably want it to fall someplace within the Edelman brand family. Doesn’t appear that way.

We looked at a few more comments before we took a long break to contemplate hurling ourself over the side of a building. Lots of karma-killing negativity.

Kind of like that person Brian admits to knowing, but won’t reveal the identity of: Strumpette.

Technorati tags: PR, Public Relations, Strumpette

Sharon must have taken tips from Tom Cruise on how to rev up a movie publicity tour:

Sharon Stone is telling randy teenagers to have oral sex instead of giving up their virginity.

The Aids campaigning actress — who appears fully nude in new film, ‘Basic Instinct 2′ — says it’s safer than going all the way without protection.

She said: “Young people talk to me about what to do if they’re being pressed for sex.

“I tell them what I believe — oral sex is a hundred times safer than vaginal or anal sex.

“If you’re in a situation where you cannot get out of sex, offer something else. I’m not embarrassed to tell them.”

Personally, we recommend a regimen of vitamins, exercise — and cold showers.

Technorati tags: PR, Public Relations, Marketing