PR and the press: It’s over, but let’s still be friends

The post includes my personal comments about a piece published in The National by a journalist breaking up with the PR industry, and a round of emails between the Middle East Public Relations Association and the journalist who wrote the piece:

The National published a harsh opinion piece on the 5th of May titled “PR and the press: it’s over, but let’s still be friends” written by Tala Al Ramahi. The break up letter hurt me a lot, because I didn’t see it coming. I always thought that the relationship between PR and Media is holy, just like marriage ... It has its ups and downs, bitter sweet you know. But then I put my emotions aside and thought about it and kind of realized the frustration Tala faces with PR people, or some PR people if I may say. There are some idiots out there; I feel her ... they call a lot, they nag, they don’t have news, they’re simply just not good at what they do. But isn’t this the case in every industry? I can’t break up with media because some journalists take advantage of me and ask me to write their features for them. We are meant to be together. We complement each other, just like the directors of MEPRA said in their email replying to Tala (included below), “Let’s not forget the good times”.

Our relationship is not a relationship between a man and a woman; it’s a relationship between Man and Woman. One could break up with the other, but will eventually get someone else. I truly hope that Tala doesn’t deprive the whole Public Relations industry from her, just because a bunch of unprofessionals are not doing it the right way.

The directors of the Middle East Public Relations Association (MEPRA) including Tim Walmsley the Regional Director of my current employer, Porter Novelli Middle East, couldn’t digest the public break up and wrote an email to Tala convincing her to give us another chance ... below is their email, and Tala’s reply to them:

From: Tim Walmsley
Sent: 06 May 2009 17:07
To: talramahi@thenational.ae
Subject: Re "PR and the press: it’s over, but let’s still be friends" - It's not over until it's over

Dear Tala,

We were dismayed to be informed of our break-up via the media in your opinion piece “PR and the press: it’s over, but let’s still be friends” on Tuesday, 5th May.

Nevertheless, for the sake of all our family of in-house and agency practitioners, academics and friends, we are ready to give it one more try. Even though it’s hard, let’s meet up and talk this through. Maybe we should try counselling, so that we talk openly without anger or bitterness, and relive the moments that brought us together and carried us so far.

Let’s not forget the good times. Surely you remember all those great stories that we have worked on together, that you would never had heard of if we had not informed you? And what about our future together here in the Gulf, where we have been trying so hard to reach new ways of communicating so that we can enter a new era of accountability, responsiveness and transparency?

Sadly and in truth, we admit there has been some bad behaviour, especially press release puffery. But, to be honest, this is mainly due to our ill-behaved younger brothers and sisters who are not part of the responsible Middle East Public Relations Association (MEPRA) family. Perhaps they should come along for counselling too. And sign our code of conduct so that they are not so naughty.

We know that we all have issues, but as responsible adults, we know too that this is part of growing up in a rough, tough world. As Tina Turner sang, “Let’s stay together.”

Yours concernedly,

Dave Robinson, Chairman, MEPRA

Rebecca Hill, Executive Director, MEPRA

Tim Walmsley, Director, MEPRA

P.S. If it would help the healing process, you can print our thoughts on your letter page too.

Tim Walmsley, Director

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From: Tala AlRamahi
To: Tim Walmsley
Sent: Wed May 06 17:37:29 2009
Subject: Re: Re "PR and the press: it's over, but let's still be friends" - It's not over until it's over

Dear Tim (and Dave and Rebecca),

Why are you making this breakup so hard for me? You can't imagine how hard it was to publicly come out and admit that I want out. Now, I am not so sure anymore.

Reading your email makes me recall the good ol' days of our relationship. Even though I've hashed out what's 'wrong', through our very public breakup (I'm sorry you had to find out this way- really!) , there were many things that I liked about you guys: you have a great sense of humor, are good with words, and also, some of you really are helpful and responsive in providing a public service to our friends and larger family in the Gulf.

That is the kind of relationship that should be developed between us. Unfortunately, there are people (from your family and mine) that have misunderstood the nature of the relationship that should exist between us. That is why I was mourning so publicly.

I guess it would help the healing process by allowing you to voice your feelings as publicly as I did mine, so the letters editor (our counsellor) has told me that your thoughts will be heard in our paper tomorrow, as they are as important as mine.

All the best,

Tala Al Ramahi

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From: Tim Walmsley
To: 'TAlramahi@thenational.ae'
Sent: Wed May 06 18:03:24 2009
Subject: Re: Re "PR and the press: it's over, but let's still be friends" - It's not over until it's over

Dearest Tala,
The first step is always the hardest, but by taking it hand in hand, we have started on a new journey together!
When is our next session? We definitely feel that our relationship can be saved...There's so much more we can achieve together if we try.

Dave-Rebecca-Tim