Public affairs
Students investigate lobbyingMore than 50 international students came together to study the contentious issue of lobbying in the European Union.
Why a Scottish nation would be good for growthThe referendum on Scottish independence is approaching. Kenny Murray argues that a Scottish nation would be good for business, including PR.
Coca-Cola loses PR battle in ChinaLeon Emirali describes how Coca-Cola lost a PR battle in China and discusses the lessons taught about PR in the east.
Changing challenges for public affairsThe operating environment for public affairs people is now more multi-faceted and fast changing than at any time in its history, says Peter Wynne Davies.
Has government communication gone bonkers?Ruth Garland reports on her research project ‘Measuring “spin” in government communications’ which set out to analyse the text of government press releases to see whether they contained any empirical evidence of “spin”.
Lobbying sting leads to new calls for changeA Channel 4 investigation into politicians and the lobbying industry has led to renewed calls to regulate, as Jack Adlam explains.
No more heroes anymore?A television drama has revealed the hidden history of a British corporate public affairs manager’s key role in brokering the end of apartheid in South Africa.
A Century of SpinThe authors of a new history of public relations oppose PR because they’re anti-business writes Richard Bailey. They also argue that PR undermines democracy.
Death and taxesKarl Milner’s guest lecture at Leeds Metropolitan University was on the subject of stories.
Public Affairs industry’s Clause 4 momentRecent quarrels over APPC membership show a young industry coming of age. Nick Reach argues that the industry must work hard to repair the damage or risk tougher Government regulation.
Why is this lying bastard lying to me?The set-piece political interview is a great spectacle, argues Beth Moore.
Log on for the great debateEllee Seymour says that political dialogue and debate is being conducted on blogs. Here’s her guide to essential political blogs.
Smear 2.0Digital mudslinging is now a prominent feature of politics, says Ollie Christophers, who reports what happens when the blogs of war are unleashed.
Welsh Assembly yet to find its voiceThe National Assembly for Wales has an important message to get out to the public, but despite having two languages at its disposal, it seems to have difficulty finding its voice says Matt Warlow.
You say PR, and I say PASummer placement student Ulla Bartsch has discovered that public relations might involve getting people to buy one brand of cereal instead of another. But in public affairs, you are trying to influence public policy. She knows which she’d prefer.
Confessions of a good PR consultantClient handling skills are as much the key to success in public relations as they have always been in far older professions: medicine, law, architecture or, no doubt, even the very oldest, says Douglas Smith.
You don’t vote? Get the whips outI’ve just done a placement where there was scandal, fashion, paparazzi, whipping and a whole lot of celebrities. It wasn’t for a magazine and it wasn’t in a PR agency; it was at Westminster. Don’t stop reading, pleads Katie Matthews.
Junk the ads?Sadie Edwards wonders whether it’s fair to blame obesity on advertising.
What is Behind the Spin?
Behind the Spin is a magazine for public relations students and young practitioners. It is supported by the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and based at UK universities with CIPR-approved public relations degree courses. You are welcome to visit and comment; to contribute please contact the editor.
