The Beginning

I have started a 10-week PR/corporate communication internship at Brunswick (exciting times), and during this programme I will be taking you through my journey of the PR world, by commenting on articles on ‘PR week’, as well as keeping abreast of the daily news using various newspapers.

So tie up your shoelaces and lets begin our journey!

Commentary on an Article from PR Week, 13/09/09

‘Blair cancels London book signing after security fears’

The first article that has caught my attention is the furore around Tony Blair’s book launch, partly because it is the Taj Mahal of all PR jobs and partly because two weeks prior I had watched a programme on one of Tony Blair’s first ever interviews after his step-down. It is an interesting watch, especially in terms of how the former PM handled the questions from a PR’s perspective. Although the interview is very open, and at first glance you raise an appreciative brow at Tony Blair’s attempts to openly discuss difficult topics on national TV, delving further it would emerge that ultimately he did not really answer Andrew Marr’s key questions; reinforcing his exceptional ability in dodging spitting flames, (maybe he could do Cameron’s PR if Coulson should step down-just a suggestion). Have a watch if you have the time, 'Tony Blair interview with Andrew Marr'.

Possibly the interview is a PR feat to gradually ease Blair into the public eye before the book launch, dipping your toes into a hot bath tub before jumping in. If that was the case, it appears it would have failed its purpose as demonstrated by the unrest at Dublin book signing, and the cancellation of the London book launch amidst security fears. The former PM states the cancellation was, ‘to avoid the inconvenience to the public it would have caused’, or more so to reduce the chips being hammered into his reputation-ok bulldozing in Blair’s case. Nevertheless, the cancellation was a good move, it is widely excepted that Tony Blair has fallen out with the people, but to create a situation to ‘air your dirty laundry’ would not be a wise move. Moreover, although it would have been the culmination to the PR drive in promoting Blair’s memoir, the shoe throwing in Dublin followed by the cancellation of the London book signing still did the job in headline grabbing media coverage. So it would seem Tony Blair did not do so badly by his book as I had expected, oh he is a slippery fellow isn’t he!

What do you think-is the furore around Tony Blair’s book launch a good thing or a bad thing? And how would you rate the PR drive around it?

'Blair cancels London book signing after security fears’   

http://www.prweek.com/uk/news/search/1027130/Hit-Miss/ 

'Tony Blair interview with Andrew Marr'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00tn4f