Slashdot Mirror
Paul Graham on PR
ralejs writes "Paul Graham takes on PR. From the article:'Why do the media keep running stories saying suits are back? Because PR firms tell them to. One of the most surprising things I discovered during my brief business career was the existence of the PR industry, lurking like a huge, quiet submarine beneath the news. Of the stories you read in traditional media that aren't about politics, crimes, or disasters, more than half probably come from PR firms.'
As always, it's an interesting, surprising and slightly provoking read."
I'm not trying to be a troll here, but how is this surprising? The rich and powerful run this country by owning the media and Congress. Nothing new to see here, move along.
Ads? What ads?
Lawsuits!
put the what in the where?
When did suits leave? Why'd they leave? And what kind of suits are we speaking of (business, swimming, wet)? Because if swim suits left, I wish someone would have told me.
...the existence of the PR industry, lurking like a huge, quiet submarine beneath the news.
This is good analogy, as I suspect that most PR reps (both male and female) are quite adept at looking after the parts of clients that are long, hard and full of seamen.
A topic that the Slashdot editors are intimately familar with!
Hokey statistics and ancient misconceptions are no match for a good thought in your head, kid!
My favorite quote from our ex PR firm: "That is what they said, now I am going to tell you what they meant."
This was in response to a focus group clearly stating they did not like something and the PR people were trying to spin it to positive. I never listened to them again.
Actually, Paul Graham just told the submitter to run that story. This article is a "press hit."
It was all a show of how PR can still work in the anarchistic WWW.
What if slashdot is just a PR firm for Linux? Think about it......
mp3's are only for those with bad memories
Don't tell my boss that!!
As I sit here in my heavily faded t-shirt, black jeans and sneakers.. At least I keep my goatee trimmed.
I'll tie it to the tech community.
About eighteen months ago, I was being fitted for a new suit for a friend of the family's wedding at the Men's Wearhouse. When they found out what I did for a living - and the fact I got to lounge about at work in golf shorts, jean shorts, and sandals (which is how I went in there), they pointed out that the tech industry was reponsible for the lack of professionalism in the business community and the dot-com bubble bursting was one of the best things which could have happened because the "geeks & nerds" wouldn't have as much leverage as to where they worked or what the dress code would be (because things would have to loosen up to acquire adequate talent).
My response? "You mean you have less business because we can wear the same type of clothing at any hour of the day - we don't have a set of work clothes and non-work clothes; and if we had to wear suits, we'd have to drive a lot more business suits your direction, right? And on top of that, we don't even have to take everything to the dry cleaners, either. Do a wash and we're ready to go."
----- daggers emitted from their eyeballs -----
The suit: nicely done.
The looks on their faces: priceless.
Huge eyebrows are out?
Andy Rooney
- None can love freedom heartily, but good men; the rest love not freedom, but license. -- John Milton
Yes, I'm sure that's the reason you are unemployed.
What Graham is talking about is very important. Media Analysis is something anybody who wishes to be able to follow a reasoned existence should study.
Old Nim Chimpski catches a lot of flak for being a pinko lefty, if you ignore that for a moment and learn from him how the news is made, selected and gets to you. Well.
There is an old saying...
Man! I love that saying, it is utterly true in every punnish way I can think of! (And I can think of many)
It also applies to news.
Say "manufacturing consent" or noam chomsky to Google for a lot more.
Only quoting, so please don't consider it as Godwin material.
Goatee trimmed!
Sellout...I was just twisting my chin dreads when I read this.
Writers imply. Readers infer.
So the question you need to ask is: Why is Paul Graham trying to educate us about PR firms? Maybe he's coming out with a book about the cattle-like treatment the populace gets.
Success is as dangerous as failure, hope as hollow as fear.
Someday I hope to meet an attractive woman in a bar that is a PR shill for torjan condoms.
Do you have any openings now?
There: Something at a specific location.
Their: Owned by someone.
Please make sure your english compiles.
> I got to lounge about at work in golf shorts, jean shorts, and sandals (which is how I went in there)
You went in wearing 2 pairs of shorts but no shirt?
The first thing the "PR" industry did was to change their name from "BS". A pile of dung will still smell the same by any other name...