Murray on PR: more to it than nice teeth…

I am a regular reader of Marketing Week. While I do not always agree with all the content, I had not previously found it to be objectionable – until today.

I found Iain Murray’s column (MW December 1) to be offensive in the extreme, not just because of its sweeping dismissal of the public relations (PR) profession as “one of those fluffy non-jobs” but also its sexist attitude with statements such as “…keeps many young women with nice teeth and good manners in work…”.

As I am sure you will have gathered I am, according to Murray, an “otherwise unemployable woman” in a “fluffy non-job”. I also happen to be a Cambridge University graduate and a qualified barrister. Murray may also like to note that I am also an ex-journalist, as are many of my fellow PR professionals .

Murray does himself, the industry he purports to write for, and indeed journalists (who he implicitly criticises) a great disservice by his outdated, misogynistic attitude.

I am proud of the role I perform in my organisation. I do not waste my time manipulating journalists, as they are also professionals with too much intelligence to be fobbed off with puffery, which it is not my job to supply.

One might legitimately start a debate about whether PR is more necessary now than ever. Sadly, Murray missed his opportunity to start such an adult debate.

Samantha Beams

PR and communications manager

Caterham

Surrey CR3