Re: "The Cobbler's Children Have No Shoes And PR Has No PR" (And
Another Thing... Feb. 9): I'm glad to see PR News
isn't afraid to throw a few tough punches, and I couldn't agree
with you more.
However, I think Judith Phair is getting a bad rap for not
naming Ketchum directly in her press comments and thrilled that
someone at PRSA actually thought the profession had ethics and
would publicly talk about what they are.
But the issue you raise is far bigger than the Ketchum scandal.
A profession will have trouble restoring trust when it probably
never had it in the first place. The Armstrong case hasn't made a
good situation bad; it's made a bad situation worse. If PR is to be
viewed as a profession, if we're to be trusted (if not by the
public then in the boardroom), if we are to retain and recruit the
best people, much must be done.
But I fear few want to take on the task.
Ken Kerrigan
Deputy Director,
Americas Public Relations
Ernst & Young
New York