Wes Pedersen (4/15):
I found PR Week challenging when it opened, although the Brit import editor -- Julia Hood's predecessor -- did have to ask me to "explain public affairs." In recent years, it's focus has been on the increasing number of talented women entering PR. The result, particularly when Julia Hood took on two jobs for Haymarket, has too often been repititious and, for the male reader, it has had the look of a brides' magazine. I have told this to Julia on several occasions, and she has always been receptive. PR Week's transition into a monthly was really predictable; it follows such examples as US News and World Report, which now is struggling as a monthly.
My feeling is the new monthly version of PR Week will have to focus on the technology, which remains astoundingly changeable and applicable to a time when the means of carrying PR's messages is being radicalized. Let us all wish it luck as it enters its new era as a monthly. I have told Julia Hood that in recent years I have found her commentaries so often the best features of the journal. She is a delight to know professionally and personally.
I wish her, and her publications, great luck in this era of professional trauma.
Checking PR Week's site, I see that it will have a weekly online version. I'm delighted that it will continue to offer news on that basis.
Arnie Huberman, Arnold Huberman Associates, Inc (4/15):
Congratulations, Jack - you've outlasted them all!
PR Pro (4/15):
Making a virtue out of necessity?
Fed Up In NYC! (4/15):
OVER PRICED advertising rates- slim content- it's only a matter of time when PR Month turns to PR Quarterly ... and so on ...
Ron Levy, NAPS Research Director (4/15):
Congratulations to the O'Dwyer staff! PR Week beat you in money, staff size and quality of paper.
If being upbeat is a virtue, then they beat you in aways smiling and almost never pointing, as you guys have often, to opportunities for improvement in PR.
PR Week beat you in size and vigor of the ad staff, and in parties, promo lit and promotional events like picking champions of this and that although I've always felt that the champions in PR are those who get hired and get awarded the accounts. So why did you win? Why are they, although they were good, now a monthly while you not only continue weekly but stand to grow because many in PR WANT news weekly plus the daily thoroughness you deliver?
It has to be your journalism. O'Dwyer has repeatedly reported on what WORKS, what works BEST, and WHO is succeeding bigtime. It's what matters most to readers and it has won for you. Some of the negative pieces have been in my view close to ridiculous, but who could deny a journalist as successful as Jack a right to blow off steam?
Congratulations. For the top job at many PR firms, we often see a contest between a sales type and a real master of PR, and I'm always delighted when the PR expert wins. In the same way I'm delighted that you've survived and thrived against tons of money, manpower and hoopla--a victory of journalistic skills and journalistic service to readers.
For advertisers, your advantage has been that readers look to O'Dwyer for news of how it is and what's winning, and that editorial environment is good for winning consideration of advertised offerings.
You could certainly improve greatly in the amount of my hair you show, and in not overemphasizing the hirsute qualities of the Publicis guy with the glorious name and mane. But there may not be much more you can do. Like a great restaurant, one can be very happy indeed with continuation of things as they are.
Wes Pedersen (4/16):
Ron, you have summed up the O'Dwyer vs. PRWeek situation in your own unique way, but it strikes me as unseemly for you to gloat over the semi-demise of Haymarket's print version.
I see no reason to chortle when any publication trying to cover PR hits the skids. I doubt if Jack is really doing flips in the air over partial loss of a competitor. I can tell you that he is at his best when he is challenging a worthy competitor. You will argue that PR Week was not worthy, but there was a time when it had quite a fan base.
It will now be a monthly in print and a weekly online. As you know, a rival monthly that we both admire is struggling, and I pray that it will continue to exist. I know that you do, too.
Ron Levy (4/16):
Wes says of me "you will argue that PR Week was not worthy" but anyone can see that the opposite is true. I specifically said "they were good" which is close to a direct opposite of "not worthy."
I said, also a positive statement about PR Week, that they beat O'Dwyer "in size and vigor of the sales staff" (Jack had editors handling advertising which I thought and told him was a mistake) "and in parties, promo lit and promotional events like picking champions of this and that."
I often urged Jack to do this and told him that if he'd have an O'Dwyer Hall of Fame it could become for him a Haul of Fame--and a well-deserved haul. What I'm citing here in quotes are direct quotes, accurate, in context and easily verifiable by looking at what I wrote.
I said "some of the negative pieces have been in my view close to ridiculous," and this obviously related to O'Dwyer, not PRW. Far from gloating, I did what experts do on TV and in newspapers after an election or ball game: I gave my analysis of why the winner won. Specifically I said in congratulating Jack "
It has to be your journalism.
O'Dwyer has reported on what WORKS, what works BEST and WHO is succeeding bigtime. It's what matters most to readers and it has won for you." That's my analysis, I've worked for nearly all major PR firms, companies and associations (like if you go down that list of Seminarians, nearly all those--and perhaps every single one, not "nearly"--have used NAPS so it's not crazy to consider me an expert on what PR people care about.
Importantly there is NOTHING--not one word nor hint--negative to PRW so I appeal to Wes that in fairness he should re-rad what I wrote and then retract. I differ with Wes in that he prays for PRW. His words are "I pray." I don't.
I've known Jack for many years, I deeply respect and admire him, and though I don't pray for PR Weeks future I do pray for Jack.
Wes Pedersen (4/16):
I fairness, I must tell you, Ron, that i interpreted your intent and it seemed very clear to me: you really do not like PR Week. I have been quite critical of PR Week, but again, your gleeful response to its comedown troubles me. You need not remind me that Jack is a great reporter (and digger).
I worked with him years ago to expose the indignities to which Denny Griswold, the editor of PR News, his only weekly competition then, had been by what seemed to us as a greedy relative.
Denny died without her alleged friends rallying to her cause, until Jack dug deep and exposed a horror story that still gives me an occasional nightmare. Had it not been for Jack, Denny's story would never have been told. (I had to hammer the NY Times to carry an obit. I believe there is a drama there worthy of the screen.)
Ron Levy (4/20):
REPLY TO WES: Wes, now that you've told us what you interpreted, consider whether your own sense of honesty--which I do not doubt--compels you to re-read what I wrote and to acknowledge that not only do I express no dislike for PR Week but I express ADMIRATION for PR Week.
Jack and the O'Dwyer staff won, beating a competitor that had more people, more money and more promotion.
The O'Dwyer staff won--and I think you should admire this as Much as I do--on the basis of superior journalism, better recognition of what readers WANT AND need to know, and better delivery of that information.
But not one word of what I said or thought reflected badly on PR Week or anyone else, nor did I "chortle" as you accused, so consider whether the mandate of YOUR OWN honesty is to (a) re-read what i wrote, and (b) take back any accusation that I put down PR Week, which I did not, or chortled which I also did not.
Come on, Wes. You made a mistake in what you said about me, I'm confident it was an honest mistake made after a quick reading, so you should retract at least briefly.
all the best (4/15):
PR Week's current lead story about car companies pulling back from the NY auto show is exhibit No 1 why this puppy should be put to sleep. Have PR Week editors been in a cave for the past two years?
No Tears Here (4/16):
If PR wants to be taken seriously it needs real journalism to keep it honest. The PR Week fluff hurt our business. Glad to see it go.
Wes Pedersen (4/21):
Ron, I do not believe that PR Week was in any position to continue as a weekly, and I have said that to PR Week on numerous occasions. But you built PR Week up to make sure it fell with a greater thud as your wrapped up your remarks. That is my opinion. I suggest that you not try again to change it. |