Publicizing Transparency in an Untransparent World

As PR professionals, we hear it almost every day: We live in a world of “transparency.” In order to survive, we’re told, businesses must become more “transparent.” We hear about how essential “transparency” is to building relationships of trust with the public.

Unfortunately, this noble concept is a dangerously vague one. Continue reading

Brand Lightning Rods: A new form of brand defense

When I heard Julian Assange call himself the “lightning rod” of WikiLeaks earlier this year, my head spun. I had always observed the uniqueness of Assange’s relationship with his organization, and his statement seemed to hit the nail on the head. The phrase’s meanings and penetration could be interpreted on a number of different levels. It was resonant and concise. It was metaphorical. Most importantly, it screamed of brilliant PR. Continue reading