The Journalist Q&A from the June 27 issue of PR Week is with P.J. O'Rourke, who is one of the most talented and humorous writers I've ever read. It's almost impossible to pick a favorite from among his books, but if pushed I'd have to say Holidays in Hell.
Anyway, back to the interview with PR Week. O'Rourke's take on PR is, as usual, hilarious AND insightful. Here's the exchange:
PRWeek: Have you, over the course of your career, formed an impression of the PR industry?
O'Rourke: Yes, and a glowing one. My wife was a PR executive. So I have nothing but the highest esteem for them.
PRWeek: Is that the main reason you have high esteem for them?
O'Rourke: No, they're also instrumental in promoting my books. I got a product to sell here, you know. The thing is, being in PR is like being a lawyer, except you don't have any of the tricks and legal stratagems or force of the law. It's like having all the duties and responsibilities of a lawyer without any of the power, without being an officer of the court.
Well said. If you've ever tried to acquit someone in the court of public opinion, you know that of which he speaks. The rest of the online interview (which is longer than the dead-tree edition) is well-worth reading.
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