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'How to handle a local protest group' - dodgy PR conference

undercurrents | 08.09.2004 22:36 | London | Oxford

Pr spin

How to handle a Protest group!
Undercurrents has just been sent a brochure for the www.hawksmere.co.uk group who are hosting a conference on 'Sucessful PR' and an interesting topic is 'how to handle local protest groups'. The briefing will be led by Wynford Emanuel,Director of Warwick Emanuel PR.

The one day conference is a bargain at only 700 pounds. November 16 at the holiday inn, Regents park london W1P 8EE 9am to 5pm if anyone is interested in showing them just how a protest group can be 'handled'.

undercurrents

Comments

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Greeenwash

09.09.2004 00:13

They are based in Cardiff and seem to specialise in Greenwash projects including carbon trading stuff.

mark r pen

good pr firm though

09.09.2004 09:11

either the're good or the venue don't know they're 'controversial'

this is the subsection from their website:
 http://www.hawksmere.co.uk/auto/events/21989.html

Dealing with local protest groups

* Why protest groups are sucessful at media management
* How forward planning can reduce opposition
* How your crisis management plan should work
* Strategies for turning public opinion in your favour

the short answer to the first one is that protest groups are honest people working for something they believe in (for no pay), while people who need pr conferences are scammers trying to steal from you and your neighbours.

bobby

PR

10.09.2004 10:59

In truth, the world of marketing and PR is relatively easy to navigate through. It is right to say that honest people campaigning on an honest issue will always outdo the professional PR people in the minds of the people. (I speak really of local, small protest groups as opposed to people such as Reclaim the Streets etc - to use one example) That is because PR people underestimate how socially connected protest groups are, how quick they are to react and how well organised they are (in general).
Also, PR people will always try to demonise the protest groups, which always backfires. It is because they think that is their only option.

£700 for a PR conference, if it is full, shows how good the organisers are at fooling those who want to be fooled!

And I say all this as someone who originally qualified in marketing to a postgrad level (ooh my sins!!)

Jay