PR Unmasked

One of the fun things about how law enforcement officers, particularly detectives, often depicted in movies is that their lives are non-stop action: one harrowing car chase scene after another, intense interrogations with suspects, angry moments with caring and supportive bosses, and life-threatening confrontations with the bad guy or gal that result either in the villain's arrest or death. The detective walks away the hero; the wrongs have been righted or, at the very least, answered; and people are comforted that justice has once again prevailed. Who wouldn't want to lead that kind of life? Sign me up.

Assuming that kind of lifestyle is even close to being true, there are some key aspects of it that movies tend to omit. For instance, what about all the endless and definitely unglamorous paperwork that comes with being a detective? Written records of cases must be kept and maintained. That all falls on the shoulders of the detective. Then, there is the caliber of villain. Almost never is it some mastermind criminal seeking to pull off the crime of the century or rule the world. More often than not it is some petty thug. I could go on about this more realistic depiction of a detective's life, but my point is if one is considering a career in law enforcement, then they must have a good understanding of what they might be getting into. The same is true of a career in public relations.

Some movies would have you believe life as a PR megastar is nothing but one black tie dinner after another, tons of weekends in Malibu or the Hamptons with A-list celebrities, and living in homes that one only sees in magazines. In many movies or television programs, all one as a PR pro has to do is make one or perhaps two phone calls and suddenly you are the host of a major fundraiser at the Lincoln Center where you spend the evening drinking champagne, having people give you their business cards and asking you to call them, and your event is the buzz of the town and dominates the media. No question about it. That sounds great. But how can I put this gently? It is not real. The fact is in the real world of PR, being in the fast lane usually means you are driving in the far left lane of your city's beltway.

My intent in this holiday season is not to burst anyone's dream, particularly if they are considering pursuing a career in law enforcement or public relations. They are honorable professions and can and do provide a valuable service to society. But as in the case in any aspect of life, it is important that one remove their rose-colored glasses when considering life as a professional communicator. In future entries I will be talking more about the communication profession as it is rather than how we might like it to be. The two are not always the same and it is important to remember that.