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PR and Medical students strike
By Editor on May 27, 2006 in cases, industry
Today’s HT City in Delhi carried a front page story on whether the ongoing Indian medical students strike has a PR agency behind it. If yes, who’s funding it? Is the strike stage-managed, the article asked.
The article puts a little smile on my face, as it would have to many in Public Relations India. For one, that it’s a PR story. Secondly, the journalist is shocked that a PR agency could be behind all this strike.
OK, the big question he asked was who’s funding the PR agency. He mentions about a Gurgaon based PR agency that will lobby- do the government affairs bit- for the striking medicos. My first guess was Genesis. Ok so they must be charging how much? Couple of lakhs. So big deal? The medical students fraternity doesn’t have a couple of lakhs in their fund?
But if we leave out the issue of who’s funding the PR agency, I don’t think there is anything wrong in hiring a PR agency. After all, what is PR? The medicos needs someone to represent them, and they want somebody who’s professional to do it properly for them. I think some journalists tend to become over-sensitive whenever they hear anything about PR. The truth is today everywhere in the world or in India PR is omnipresent. You cannot escape public relations.
Like we were taught in our PR institutes, it is just a way of putting your acts together and present yourself as best as you can. Everybody does PR. We all do- with everyone, every moment that we live.
Technorati tags: PR, Public Relations, India, India Public Relations, India PR, Marketing, Client Servicing, Media Relations, India Resource, Open Source PR, AIIMS, Medical Students
On May 27, 2006, ln said:
it’s good step if the striking docs hire a PR agency. n it’s very true that everyone , everywhere does PR.
On May 28, 2006, Albert Krishna Ali said:
Nothing’s wrong with hiring a PR company for a political campaign. But allegedly, Genesis PR sent out fake sms-es about 96 students collapsing and the media not being allowed to cover that. Now THAT is wrong. They allegedly also sent fake sms-es saying one student had died of the hunger strike. THAT is wrong.
On May 28, 2006, Priya Shah said:
I completely agree. Non-profits and charitable organisations use PR agencies or have an in-house PR person, so why shouldn’t the students be allowed to hire their own PR guns?
On May 29, 2006, Twilight Fairy said:
The funds are being collected thru “chanda”. At least in the coporate sector. Don’t know about medicos. In my organisation alone 60K was collected on friday for saturday’s rally.
On Jun 2, 2006, perception said:
What about the media fraternity! We all know how well big media houses use money to write on something or choose not to. In this case, PR is just a professional service.
On Jun 2, 2006, pov said:
Seems like just another political campagin funded by the opposition party. Why just blame PR for promoting a good cause then
On Jun 3, 2006, Cosmic Voices said:
well, i hear the escorts is one of the major funding agents for the protest.
Nice investment. I fund your protest and you ensure that the OPDs are closed and the patients come to my hospital. I suck their money and give you a small percentage.
On Jun 3, 2006, Anonymous said:
No Genesis cannot be that PR agency.Genesis is only good at churning out lot of fluff well formatted documents but thats the end of it. They can talk - nonstop nonsense for hours ans end. Their CEO is a living example of that. The bugger can crap and at the same time deliver a motivational speech on crap. The poor Ceo, must have had such a tough time during his hotel industry days, when he would be dying to open his mouth and vomit words. Poor man would have done better, had he chosen to join one of our political parties. He can be more crappier than the Narendra Modi’s and Togadia’s of the world.And he would look better in those half pants in the rss h.q delivering 28 hrs non stop talkathon. But thats where the man’s balls end. He is the typical shrunk balls CEO. All talk and gas, no substance or idea as to strategy on ground. No those buggers at genesis wouldnt even dare, they cant deliver. The mess they made of the birlas against a one man Lodha.For once one knew, why the Birlas were drowning. When you bet money on the wrong horse, thats what happens. The idiots tried to do releases from delhi at 6.30 in the evenings, when the case was everyday done and shut at 4 in Kolkatta. What bums.Nope, they are good when it comes to gasing the mnc clients. Buddy the journo who wrote this article didnt do his job properly. He should have researched about genesis before alleging. His compass would have done better if he had suspected a certain Mr. Cherian or a Dipak Talwar. Even a Vaishnavi, which has a whole load of all media hands. Media hands who have grown on the ground, who have digested the abuses and manhandling of journalists who really had started believing they are the 4th e’state. But these guys toiled in rain and shower and went on knowing that these stupid journos at the end of the month receive not even a fourth - 4th of the pay packet they pocket. A trained dog is always allowed to bark at the master till it does the master’s bidding otherwise. Thats exactly how journos are perceived by the PR people. Sorry to deviate, but yes a Vaishnavi with its hardened media hands would have been a better hand. Genesis never. Tie wearing sissy buggers neither cut ice with the govt ministry or with the media, unless genesis made good use of its women battalion to penetrate both these bastions. Please do not thrust greatness on wrong shoulders Mr. Thapa. Nepal has just gone democratic. Dont start jumping to conclusions thereof. too shoddy and too premature. And what after that story. You couldnt even prove your point thereafter and do further articles to substantiate your point. Dont bite what you cant chew. That shows pathetic journalism of assunption. Sh Sh . Ver Poor Mr. Thapa. Better Luck NExt Time.
On Jul 31, 2006, Benita said:
Hi. As a PR practitioner, I think its good for the industry that people are becoming aware of the strength of PR. I have my doubts though about Genesis being their PR agency. In any case, who ever it is, KEEP IT GOING GUYS!!