Courtesy Markhillary/Flickr

This week’s buzz on the Web: it’s a very heated debate between Richard Edelman (of eponymous firm Edelman PR) and Jason Calcanis, journalist and CEO of tech company Mahalo. Jason sent an email to his subscriber base proclaiming that “PR is dead,” Richard posted a thorough response on his blog, and the internet community quickly chose sides.

Having represented franchise companies with a handful of employees to some of the bigger names in consumer products, I can appreciate both points of view. Ultimately I’m ruling in favor of Richard…but do we have to choose?

Jason offers some great, inexpensive tips for small business owners: be the brand; network often; always carry marketing materials with you…but these tactics shouldn’t take the place of a designated PR team. It’s impossible for CEOs to be everywhere at all times and know everyone; while exhausting, that’s what publicists are expected to do. We’ll craft well-written announcements and reach the right media the moment you have good news. We’re trained to give impartial consultation when a crisis hits. Public relations pros know that the job is exactly that – relations – which take effort, time and sometimes expenses to build. Public relations greats will share Jason’s best tips with their clients while offering innovative, strategic campaigns that deliver the most bang for the buck. As long as the public enjoys unique ways of interacting with their favorite brands and our industry adapts to meet these needs, I truly believe PR will remain alive and well.

Courtesy Markhillary/Flickr

This week’s buzz on the Web: it’s a very heated debate between Richard Edelman (of eponymous firm Edelman PR) and Jason Calcanis, journalist and CEO of tech company Mahalo. Jason sent an email to his subscriber base proclaiming that “PR is dead,” Richard posted a thorough response on his blog, and the internet community quickly chose sides.

Having represented franchise companies with a handful of employees to some of the bigger names in consumer products, I can appreciate both points of view. Ultimately I’m ruling in favor of Richard…but do we have to choose?

Jason offers some great, inexpensive tips for small business owners: be the brand; network often; always carry marketing materials with you…but these tactics shouldn’t take the place of a designated PR team. It’s impossible for CEOs to be everywhere at all times and know everyone; while exhausting, that’s what publicists are expected to do. We’ll craft well-written announcements and reach the right media the moment you have good news. We’re trained to give impartial consultation when a crisis hits. Public relations pros know that the job is exactly that – relations – which take effort, time and sometimes expenses to build. Public relations greats will share Jason’s best tips with their clients while offering innovative, strategic campaigns that deliver the most bang for the buck. As long as the public enjoys unique ways of interacting with their favorite brands and our industry adapts to meet these needs, I truly believe PR will remain alive and well.