March 2019 e-Report
- President's Pen
- Chief Executive's Report
- PRINZ News
- Industry News
- Partner News
- Welcome to our new members
President's Pen
Are kiwi PR practitioners as bad as the media are making out?
Everywhere I’ve turned this past month, PR seems to be under the gun. First there was an editorial on Stuff which claimed that the College of Midwives and senior health officials discredited an Otago University study because they didn’t agree with its findings. According to the Stuff report, “the ministry drafted a misleading media release” to spin the result.
A few days later there was another opinion piece on Stuff claiming that the role of a Government department’s 52 PR people was to “make sure the public – the taxpayer – didn’t understand the reality of what was really going on, and particularly what wasn’t being achieved”.
A third assault on our integrity was made in the NZ Herald, reporting an Australian court hearing where “a public relations expert asked an indecent assault complainant if their allegation against a prominent New Zealander would disappear if he was wired $700,000”.
Add to that the appalling (and at the same time totally compelling) behaviour of the two PR women in the TVNZ On Demand series “Flack” – where lying, obfuscation and client cover-ups combine with cocaine-snorting to put PR in the worst possible light. Worse still, their behaviour is treated as the norm for the industry, with no balancing ethical practitioner in sight.
As a PR person who has been around the traps for a long time now, I’d deluded myself that this sort of outdated view of PR had disappeared. But this recent spate of media attention indicates people’s opinion of us as an industry is worse than ever.
How could it come to this? Are kiwi PR practitioners as bad as the media are making out?
Let us fervently hope that none of our members took part in any of the reported behaviour. If they did, they deserve a severe drubbing with a copy of our Code of Ethics, followed by writing each of the five principles out 100 times. Particularly the first principle: Advocacy and Honesty, which includes three key points: that we should be “honest and accurate in all communications – and act promptly to correct erroneous communications” and that we must “Avoid deceptive practices”.
I know I’m preaching to the converted reading this column. But we can all play our part when people comment on these stories or joke about us paid liars (not funny at all, is it?), and quote back our code of practice at them. It seems like we’ve never needed it more than we do now, being under attack from all sides.
Felicity
Price, FPRINZ, ONZM
Email
Chief Executive's Report
Validate your expertise with APR
If you’re looking to validate your expertise and further your practice consider enrolling in the 2019 PRINZ Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) programme. Applications close on Friday 15th March but we won’t be checking them until Monday morning if you need the weekend to submit.
We consistently get great feedback from members who have completed the programme about the positive impact APR has had on their PR career. Claire Pedersen-Croll, Communications and Stakeholder Manager at NZTA completed her APR in 2018 and had this to say about the programme:
I wanted to send a note to say thank you for accepting me onto the APR course. I’ve found huge value in every step – even the viva voce! – and appreciate the opportunity to extend my professional learning. I know you all put a lot of hard work and preparation into this course. I’m so pleased that I’ve done it and relieved that it’s over! It has been hard work but is the most rewarding professional development I’ve done.
Please contact me directly if you want to discuss an application.
Also, a reminder that invoices to renew your PRINZ membership for 2019 are in the process of being sent and we appreciate you giving it your prompt attention. Thank you for your ongoing support of PRINZ.
Elaine
Koller
Twitter: @PR_InstituteNZ
PRINZ News
It’s time to renew your membership
Thank you for your ongoing support of PRINZ and your valuable contribution in advancing the public relations and communication management profession in New Zealand. Your membership is due to expire in two weeks on 31 March 2019, and it is now time to renew.
For the current individual members, we have sent you a reminder along with an invoice for your membership renewal and we appreciate you giving it your prompt attention. You will be able to pay the invoice via credit card online by clicking ‘renew now’ below. Or you can pay via bank deposit (our account details are on the invoice). Once the payment is received, your membership will be automatically renewed and will run until 31 March 2020.
For the current group members, please discuss your membership renewal with your group key contact person.
If you have any queries about the membership, please feel free to contact Violet at violet@prinz.org.nz.
Modernising PRINZ Governance - last chance to have your say
PRINZ is reviewing its governance – the way our members direct the things we as an organisation do.
The National Council (aka the PRINZ Board) believes it needs updating - and we’d appreciate if you could please take a few minutes to give us your opinion and suggestions.
Based on your feedback, a proposed governance structure will be shared with members in April 2019. Members will then be asked to vote on the final structure at the Annual General Meeting in May 2019.
Find out more or have your say now
Are you really you?
Have you got a new job or contact details? Update your PRINZ profile here to make sure your details are correct. Please contact us if you would like further assistance.
Update your profile details now
Industry News
Trust at Work - 2019 Acumen Edelman Trust Barometer
For over 18 years, the Trust Barometer has provided insights into trust inequality, the transforming media landscape, societal expectations of organisations and employee engagement.
Partner News
PRINZ warmly thanks its valued partners. Click here to read more.
- Isentia: Managing media during a crisis
- Research First: Paying homage to the B word
- AON: Professional indemnity insurance
Welcome to our new members
Adrian Old, Isentia New Zealand
Alanna Elliott, Mercury NZ Limited
Aleisha Blake, University of Canterbury
Althea Lovell, Goode PR
Amie Hickland, New Zealand Transport Agency
Andrew Taylor, Housing New Zealand Corporation
Anna Stefanatos, Philip Morris International
Cecilia De Souza, Teaching Council
Chris Baylis, Ministry for the Environment
Connie Rowe, New Zealand Transport Agency
Dana-Rae Little, Thames-Coromandel District Council
Georgia Nelson, Antarctica New Zealand
Hannah Adam, Auckland District Health Board (ADHB)
Hanno Willers, New Zealand Transport Agency
Hans Landon-Lane, Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives
Helen Shaw, Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development
Jamie Graham, Isentia New Zealand
Kristen Edwards, Medicines New Zealand
Linda Stirling, Ministry for the Environment
Liv Young, Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development
Lorraine Brown, Tertiary Education Commission
Lynley Lischner, Porter Novelli NZ
Mark Hotton, SBS Bank
Michael Havell, Isentia New Zealand
Nicole Barlow, Auckland District Health Board (ADHB)
Penny Kibblewhite, MainPower NZ Ltd
Polly Atkins, Meridian Energy
Stephanie Jones, New Zealand Transport Agency
Stephen Day, NZ Walking Access Commission
Tracey Kelsall-Morris, AA Insurance
Vicki Gan, Auckland University of Technology (AUT) – student
Victoria Scott, Meridian Energy
Victoria Rogers, New Zealand Transport Agency
Zach Robinson, Auckland University of Technology (AUT) – student
Zoe Wood, Housing New Zealand Corporation