This week's column climbs a hill: Capitol Hill, to be precise, with a focus on federally-oriented public affairs strategies. Whether the campaign involves getting messages
into the corridors of power or getting the messages out beyond the Beltway, the public affairs experts take communications to new political extremes. But are the following
examples a red-white-and-blue tribute to Good PR, or do they sink in the Tidal Basin of Bad PR?
| The PR Focus | Good PR or Bad PR? |
|---|---|
| EIN News reports the Republic of Congo hired Cohen & Woods International as its public affairs reps in Washington. Co-founded by Herman J.
Cohen, former assistant secretary of state for Africa, the agency already secured a meeting between Congolese President Denis Sassou-Nguesso and President Bush. Up next: trying to get Sassou-Nguesso a Nobel Peace Prize for conflict mediation in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo. |
GOOD PR: Nice touch with Bush, but the Nobel bit is a stretch due to Sassou-Nguesso's domestic human rights policy. But his public affairs reps
might see bittersweet justice in promoting his peacemaking skills. According to American Diplomacy, one of Cohen & Woods's previous clients was Laurent Kabila, the slain president of the Democratic Republic of Congo. |
| In a video teleconference last month with Training and Doctrine Command public affairs officers, Brig. Gen. Anthony Cucolo (the Army chief of
public affairs) stressed fighting the war on terror via the media. According to the Army News Service, Cucolo stated: "We need to fight misinformation, complacency and ignorance...When you are faced with misinformation, go after it and correct it." |
BAD PR: Cucolo also warned his audience, with no degree of warmth or irony: "I want those outside the Army who are talking about the Army to know
we're listening." But is the Army really listening? The fact the Army is still trying to get a grip on its public affairs mission more than three years after the official end of hostilities in Iraq is a dismal reminder that its public information campaign is still not resonating. |
| Online Journal reports a new conservative Christian group has been created to promote Israel in the court of popular opinion. Christians
United for Israel (CUFI) made its Washington debut on July 19 with the gala event "A Night to Honor Israel." Israel's U.S. Ambassador Daniel Ayalon was the guest of honor while greetings from President Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert were read aloud. CUFI also set up the "Israel Rapid Response" network to facilitate grass roots PR aimed at elected officials in Washington. |
GOOD PR: Some critics have noted CUFI's founder John C. Hagee's statements that supporting Israel will lead fulfilling the New Testament
prophecy's of Christ's return. Still, his generosity in considerable financial donations to Israeli charities and in coordinating the emigration of Russian Jews goes beyond mere evangelical babble. At a time when Israel's PR is being hurt due to the violent conflict against Hezbollah within Lebanon, CUFI's vigorous support of Israel is a stirring public affairs statement. |