Symbiosis + two-way communications

There have been a few comments recently about the PR blogosphere being rather small and disappointingly inward-looking, and some academic criticism of the true nature of blog 'conversations.'

It is interesting, therefore, to see UK Minister of Communities and Local Government David Miliband commenting about Neville Hobson's post on 'The real symbiosis between PR and journalism.' The debate was notable in itself in that within two days it had attracted 41 comments - which is a conversation in my view.

But the intervention of Miliband certainly helps those of us who are aguing that social softwares are significantly changing the nature of public discourse. Twice a week Neville, who lives in Amsterdam, puts together a podcast with a chum who lives in America. On Sunday morning he posts a few comments on web log. Within hours he is being 'engaged' by the waspish Amanda 'Strumpette' Chapel, and a few other bloggers join in. By Tuesday, one of the rising stars of British politics has joined the debate.

Merely by joining the debate Miliband has shown an appreciation for the new medium that is more perceptive than many PRs who see blogs as just another command and control channel.

But, before thinking too carefully about the motivations of those concerned, or about the implications for the public sphere of such a levelled playing field, just read again the above paragraph about how this came together - and marvel.

The world is changing very quickly indeed...      

Comments

[Richard Bailey]

Small and inward looking? In five years of sporadic blogging about PR I've never known such an interesting week as this one.

You picked up on the main story. The other is the case of the Auburn PR student who has turned blogging into a global group discussion and into a live application form (in a successful demonstration of effective personal PR).

[Simon Collister]

All good stuff, Philip. I am surprised political parties haven't already gone overboard on the enormous benefits blogging etc has to offer.

[Philip Young]

Richard Bailey is talking about Erin Caldwell, driving foce behind Forward (http://www.forward-moving.com/blog/), which she describes as "an online resource that allows PR students to learn about important new tools they might not otherwise be exposed to. It also provides a place for them to discuss relevant PR issues - regarding both new media and traditional PR -- with other students and professionals of varying levels."

As Richard says(http://prstudies.typepad.com/weblog/2006/04/thats_the_way_t.html), it is an impressive effort.

[Serge Cornelus]

True, Philip - really interesting evolutions. In the meantime, I am waiting for the first important politician to appear on No Copy... :-)

[Philip Young]

And I'm waiting for someone to point out that Firefox really does have the plug-in I mentioned on Simon Says ... http://simoncollister.typepad.com/simonsays/2006/04/pr_and_cycling.html

[David Phillips]

Sorry Phil, I was going to make a quick point but it became an essay - so I blogged it.

Yes it is all changing very fast but I fear that the PR industry is not taking it seriously and have great reservations about the academic doubts.

These are re-focused by events such as the one I experienced yesterday.

I saw an automated newspapers - yup no editor, no journalists and no printing press.

It covered everything from the King of Nepal to John Prescott and even came up with new news angles.

Exciting, scary and a real challenge for both media and PR.