I was talking to a few people about this and the majority of them said that there is a genuine lack of awareness in our culture, of the profession itself.
The complexity in defining what the PR industry is all about and what it actually does, and the fact that it often seems like a unexplained, unsolvable secret society, reinforces its obscure status. For those of us who have studied the nature of PR and what it entails, we are all aware of the fact that there is no straightforward definition when describing what the PR industry involves. It is generally perceived as more of an activity, in its easiest terms. Nevertheless, this lack of awareness is more evident within minority groups, which additionally expresses why Asians are under-represented.
I feel that the PR industry needs to do more to expose and 'PR' itself within a wider, multi-cultural society.
5 comments:
Tradition has it that, we as Asians, are obliged to follow the Doctor Lawer profession. To be honest with you, i dont even know much about the Public Relation Industry. Just think, should the PR industry start to expose itself and, like you say 'PR itslef' within our communities more, then just think, maybe we will start to see a rise of Asians within this industry.
And come to think of it, it would be good to see more of 'us'represent the industry.
I think there is no need for the PR profession to promote itself amongst Asians. Maybe 10 years ago, it would have been a good idea.
At the present, the PR industry is really becoming professional. We are amongst the first few future PR professionals in this world, that get a Masters degree in PR, and when you take look on the demographics of our class, the Asians represent the majority of students in our class and many of them think of working in London after they will have graduated.
I guess, in 10 years the demographics within the PR industry will have changed significantly concerning the representation of ethic minorities.
PR should definitely 'PR' itself. But I am not saying that it should target a specific community, I think this will come naturally and we just have to wait. The problem with the industry is that people have many bad things to say about it without even knowing what it's all about. The main issue that we have to face here is the reputation one. Starting to show and explain what the industry does and how it does it might be a better 'PR campaign' which thereafter could reach the audiences we wanted to talk to.
Hi Pav,
On the 23 October 2006 the Guardian (Office Hours, p.1) published an article by Eve Ahmed, 'Looks Like Trouble' which discussed the subject of 'appearance' and the likelihood of being hired in PR.
Good looks, particularly for women, according to the article, plays a notable role in being chosen to represent PR agencies. 'People like people who look like themselves' and 'birds of a feather flock together'. The PR industry is, on the whole, all about looks. How ethnic minorities fit into the scheme of things in regards to looks is a question worth investigating.
One PR company advertising PR jobs in the Guardian, 2006, was bold enough to request the only well spoken Oxbridge types need apply. So, the class factor may be added to the equation.
I've read a number of newspaper interviews with senior directors from the media/communications industries. It appears that many are from the middle classes. The do not have 'modern' degrees e.g., Media studies. These people have traditional degrees. I've noted that many, but not all, speak patronizingly about students leaving university with modern degrees. Many stated that they perfer to employ students with degrees in traditional subjects like English Language. They were happier to employ people with similar educational backgrounds, quite 'like themselves'.
Racism alone cannot be the only reason for the lack of ethnic minorities in PR. It's a combination of things. I think that appearance, class and race factors, put together, has a considerable impact on the recruitment of ethnic minorities in the PR industry.
The CIPR is well aware of this issue but I don't believe it really knows how to deal effectively with the situation.
Clive
Following on from what Clive has said, does anyone feel that the PR indusrty basis it's decisions (when recruiting people) based on how they look?
If this is so, then could racism be an issue?
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