 Joe Honick |
The world wonders what is going on in America. President Trump has made a political career out of insulting and demeaning hundreds of people in all sorts of federal and non-governmental positions and doing the same where he travels abroad.
Trump's toxic rhetoric has contributed to a nosedive in respect for America and its people.
It's time for the powerful voices of PR to create an organized effort to improve the country’s image, in much the same manner as they do for industry and other clients.
It’s no longer a question of IF the need exists. The question is whether there is sufficient understanding of what must be done and how serious it is.
The effort need not be a direct challenge to the president or politics in general.
There are countless things to say about America, a country that Trump disparages each time he crows that only he can make it great again.
The PR program must avoid the excesses of “cheerleader” promotion.
The focus should be on the things shaping and building communities across the nation, that can't break through the media clutter of 24/7 Trump.
The PR spotlight should be trained on those unsung companies, nonprofits and individuals who strive each day to better the lives of people here in the US and throughout the world.
The PR community can no longer stand silent while the president shreds the reputation of the country that we all love.
It will take some coming together of leading creative people with the stature sufficient to get others to join in a unified campaign, give it a name and get it rolling.
Time is running short. What are you waiting for?
***
Joseph J. Honick is an international consultant to business and government and writes for many publications. He can be reached at [email protected]
A huge PR opportunity looms for a firm that is willing to take some heat by promoting Immigration & Customs Enforcement... Disgraced New York mayor Eric Adams couldn't wait to make another pilgrimage to Israel to stick it to his successor Zohran Mamdani... Hats off to Berkshire Hathaway’s Warren Buffett for writing his always engaging and witty annual reports over the years.
The ADL plans a Mamdani Monitor to track down any whiff of antisemitism from the policies and appointments made by his administration. It should have given him a chance to live up to Election Night promise... Brendan Carr, Alden Global Capital, Alphabet, Meta and Elon Musk make Reporters Without Borders' roster of Press Freedom Predators.
Andrew Cuomo's political career is not dead yet... Steve Bannon says Republicans should learn from Zohran Mamdani and his Working Families Party and Democratic Socialists of America, instead of mocking them... Internet advertising model is on the way out, says Tim Berners-Lee... Gannet rebrands as USA Today Inc. What about its other 200 papers?
Thomas Jefferson warned about the dangers of an imperial president who would deny an election loss in a bid to cling to power. Sound familiar?... Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says reporters don't need his permisson to take a photo of the Pentagon's 9/11 memorial, as long as they are not on the job... Kirkland and Ellison lawyers need some negotiating tips. 
Shareholder activitism is poised to hit an all-time high for 2025... Kamala Harris’ “107 Days” reads like an autospsy of her failed presidential run. Democrats need to look forward, not backward... The Reagan Foundation dishonored The Gipper by providing PR cover to tariff-loving Trump.
