I don’t know if archbishops can be sacked. But surely the Catholic Archbishop of Perth should be, following revelations he lied about complaints made about a Catholic sect.

Hickey initially said he had not received complaints about sexual misconduct in the sect. Today, it transpires he was personally presented a report in 2000 about the sect.

In essence, he lied. An Archbishop lied.

At the end of the day, it was left to a Church spokesperson to handle the flak.

A PR nightmare. Your Prime Minister is in Japan having high-level talks with that nation’s leaders. At the media conference he gets asked about the behaviour of MP Belinda Neal, who allegedly has threatened restaurant staff and also been found guilty of kicking an opponent (while she was on the ground) during a soccer game.

Incredible. What must the Japanese think of us?

Rudd at least phoned her, presumably dressing her down and saying she had to get anger-management conselling. Not good enough in my books. Hardly decisive. But he can’t run the risk of putting half of his cabinet off side.

In reality Neal should be sacked, except that it would only be from the Labor Party and not from parliament – more’s the pity. 

Neal certainly has an image (PR) problem, apart from her behaviour. It seems she has a constant scowl on her face. Her language and intonation sound like they belong on the backstreets of the roughest neighbourhood.

What politicians don’t get it that people want firm leadership. If it was you or I assaulting someone, then allegedly abusing and threatening workers we’d be on a hiding to nothing from our employer and the law.

Honestly. What federal parliamentarian kicks someone when they’re on the ground?

These are the little incidents that mount and can contribute to a government’s undoing. People DO pay attention.

The Australian alcohol industry had the temerity this week to ask the Federal Government to conduct a campaign to educate parents about teenage drinking.

While governments have a role to play in this area, if anyone should be conducting the campaign it’s the industry. They’re the ones making wads of money from the product.

See also the PR Lab http://www.prlab.com.au

Matt Hayden does “sit down comedy” (he writes a blog). His irreverent swipes, however,  became national news this week when he said the leader of the WA Opposition may have mishandled a quokka (a small marsupial found on Rottnest Island off the coast of Perth.

While it has nothing to do with PR, it has everything to do with journalism (our close neighbour) and how easily the media is fooled (and how slack they are).

After apologising to Buswell, Matt said: “Now it has become news in the mainstream meeja.  Which I’d say makes the meeja the bloody joke, wouldn’t you?”

The incident highlights how easy it is to pass non-news as news, simply because journalists are too lazy to check their sources.

In a roundabout way, it’s encouraging for (ethical) PR practitioners, as it highlights another trend in the media: that they are becoming so short-staffed there is little time to check stories.

See also http://www.prlab.com.au

The decision by the Australian Olympic Committee to lift the ban on its athletes commenting on sensitive issues during the Beijing Games is sensible.

Why they had the ban in the first place is a mystery, as is why the sudden change of heart.

From a PR aspect, it will mean far less work “putting out bushfires” during the Games.

Denial of free speech never was an Australian “strong point” anyway.

More PR at http://www.prlab.com.au

A study released this week outlines the 10 most important things that PR (educators) should be focusing on.

Compiled by Tom Watson, of Bournemouth University, the study appeared in Corporate Communications: An International Journal.

While there were only 31 respondents, from an original 44 who were approached, the study used the Delphi method, which is “characterised by a structured process of questionnaires or rounds of discussion until a group consensus is reached” (Beretta, 1996; Green et al., 1999), sort of process of elimination. Not rigidly academic, but nevertheless has been used in various professional.

So, according the the “experts”, the 10 things we should be considering are: 

1. Public relations’ contribution to strategic decision-making, strategy development and realisation, and efficient operation of organisations.

2. The value that public relations creates for organisations through building social capital and managing key relationships.

3. The measurement and evaluation of public relations both offline and online.

4. Public relations as a fundamental management function.

5. Professional skills in public relations; analysis of the industry’s need for education.

6. Research into standards of performance among PR professionals; the licensing of practitioners.

7. Management of corporate reputation; management of reputation.

8. Ethics.

9. ) Integration of public relations with other communication functions; the scope of public relations practice; discipline boundaries.

10. Management of relationships.

Then came: Client/employer understanding of public relations, The impact of technology on public relations practice and theory, The role of public relations in community/social responsibility programmes, International issues in public relations.

More PR at http://www.prlab.com.au

Once iconic Aussie swimwear company Speedo took a dive yesterday by distancing itself from its Olympic sponsorship … and the ubiquituous Torch Relay, due in Canberra any time now.

Speedo said it only made swimwear and didn’t comment on politics.

It was joined by BHP, which has now toned down its involvement by saying it’s just making the medals.

Most of the companies I’ve already mentioned must be wondering if the negative publicity associated withe the Games is worthwhile. They probably figure “let’s just lay low for a while and the protests will subside once the Games approaches”.

But their long-term reputations may suffer. People will remember; not only for their actual association with the Games, but also for their weak-as-piss responses.

I wonder if these companies would have something to say about politics if they were prevented from operating in China?

Kevin Rudd’s 2020 ideas summit has been and gone. One weekend to brainstorm the direction for a nation. Well, it was, after all, only about producing some ideas.

It will be in the next year that action has to be taken.

Some people have labelled it as a PR stunt. However, I’m not that sceptical. Rudd has shown an open approach. Sure, there will be people who say certain groups weren’t represented. But it would be impossible to be totally inclusive.

Give ‘em a go. Give ‘em a year.

Well, it looks as though the Olympic Torch protestors have taken a commanding 3-0 lead, and the Games haven’t even started.

Following victories in Olympia (see 25 March comments), London (a tough game) and Paris, the anti-Games PR protest rolls on.

But what do the Chinese think about it? This, from their web site: 

 ”People along the Torch Relay route have extended the flame a warm welcome and the relay is proceeding successfully as planned … all Torch Relay cities have given strong support for the event.”

Predictably, hot on the heels of the Olympic Torch Relay protests by Reporters Without Borders at Olympia came the PR follow-up from sponsors (”Sponsors Feel Heat from protests”, 27/3). 

As expected from companies who are likely to be affected (tarnished) by their association with the Games, Lenovo and Samsung produced some mealy-mouthed words from a PR textbook, saying they had no role to advise governments on political policy, and that the aim of the Olympics was to bring sponsors together. Bullshit.

The aim of the Olympics these days is to sell product. And what better place than in the world’s fast-growing market, China.

It got worse, with Samsung’s Australian Director of Marketing (not the CEO) saying his company was a “responsible corporate citizen” (which can bring) “positive change by offering what we can as a worldwide leading technology company”. Yes, that’s right, product.

Good to know these companies have their priorities right. Then again, business is business, right? Not so sure Tibetans would go for that one.

This comment can also be found at the pr LAB