A brief window into PR's dark arts
This week I was in London freelancing at my old office and happened to be invited to a major PR firm’s drinks party. I’ve only ever had any dealings with their technology practice but their reach stretches a lot further. The firm has a whole public affairs division and a history of taking on controversial clients ranging from tobacco companies to governments. It was still surprising to see an admission of its darker dealings up on the wall as part of one of its employee profiles. Beneath a smiling photo, she had written:
“As a non-vegan, non-animal rights activist, I spent three months interning at the US headquarters of PETA…my undercover internship taught me what makes them tick.
Working in the firm’s issues and crisis management practice, she was admitting to getting herself placed into a campaigning organisation to learn how to combat them. It’s not shocking that this kind of thing goes on but that the company felt comfortable with it being announced in 100point print on the wall in their reception.
