Press Release…..check, online marketing…..check, urgent call to my graphics guy…..check.
I know all you PR pros think I’m going to map out the launch of a great new product or introduce plans to publicize a new client, but guess what you are all wrong. I am making my list and checking it twice for a political campaign. I was referring to the fine line between PR and politics.
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A few weeks ago I made the gigantic step of running for Delegate to the Democratic National Convention. This was a very thought out and calculated move on my part, however, to my surprise as a neophyte at running personally for any elected office, I found that politics and PR have major similarities. The adrenaline that flows through my veins at the start of a brand new PR campaign was the same rush I felt as I prepared myself to run for Delegate ( a prestigious position and highly sought after since the Democratic National Convention is in my home state of North Carolina).
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With the heated debates and issues that will affect us all on the table I’m not going to get into any of them here with you PR divas (I’ll save that for another post)! I’m just letting you fellow practitioners in on an amazing discovery that the way we do politics is very similar to the way we do PR. Not only do politicians use people in PR on their campaigns but now with the rise of Social Media it may be beneficial to the politician have a publicist from the start work with the manager of the campaign to craft a similar launch to what PR pro’s do for non-political clients. It takes a strategic thinker to successfully pull off a successful political campaign as well as PR campaign. The stakes are similar and the outcome based around the same principles. A great publicity campaign can win votes, the level of persuasion a publicist has is sure to secure more votes for the client. Open your minds and increases the odds for your favorite politician and volunteer for a political campaign no matter what side you are on…for starters and I am sure the experience will be mutually beneficial.
And as far as my campaign…..I WON! I am a delegate to the 2012 Democratic National Convention. You see there is a thin line between PR and politics and we PR diva’s just may make the difference in any election.
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Joy Cook is a PR Pro, Digital Engagement Strategist, and Director of Communications for a Non-Profit agency in North Carolina. When not busy conquering the world…..she Tweets and Blogs. Joy is a on the University of North Carolina at Greensboro Alumni Board of Directors and Chairs the Spartan Legislative Network. Also, she is a current Institute of Political Leadership Fellow and White House Tweetup veteran. This Change Agent and Dot Connector is most affectionately known as…”The Network Queen!” Connect with Joy: www.joycookpr.com like me on Facebook and follow on Twitter @JoyCookPR
