Public relations tools and tactics extend far beyond creating relationships with consumers. PR has the power to influence entire countries of people and the governments they employ. This week’s wrap will explore the ways in which people and their governments are, or perhaps should be, utilizing PR.
The Syrian refugee crisis has put its surrounding European countries in a very important position. Faced with the overwhelming number of refugees, countries have started to deny entrance. The United Kingdom and its political leaders in particular, including Prime Minister David Cameron, took a strong stance against the cause in recent weeks. According to BBC, Cameron spoke out against taking in refugees claiming that taking “more and more” people was not the answer to the “current migrant crisis.” The British public, including prominent British celebrities, took to social media to share their discontent with this decision, sharing emotional pictures, videos and testimonies marked with #refugeeswelcome. Cameron has since made statements saying that Britain will “fulfill its moral responsibilities.”
If you can’t imagine yourself in one of those boats, you have something missing. They are dying for a life worth living. #refugeeswelcome
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) September 3, 2015
Earlier this summer Virginia teen Ali Shukri Amin, just 17 years old, plead guilty to the charge of helping 18-year-old Reza Niknejad travel to Syria, connect with and supposedly join ISIS. CNN reported that Amin used the twitter handle @Amreekiwitness to “provide advice and encouragement to ISIL and its supporters.” The teen also plead guilty to passing messages between ISIS contacts and to aiding in the transfer of money to the terrorist group using bitcoin. The U.S. government continues to use social media to track down and prosecute terrorists as well as to “hone in on foreign targets.” U.S. Attorney Dana J. Boente went on record as saying “…those who use social media as a tool to provide support and resources to ISIL will be identified and prosecuted with no less vigilance than those who travel to take up arms with ISIL.”
This week, the Australian government is faced with two sexual abuse scandals in multiple schools throughout the country. Geelong Grammar, a school Prince Charles attended for a short time, is the subject of an investigation as they are accused of silencing victims of sexual abuse within its walls. Former students reported facing expulsion if they came forward with allegations of the abuse. According to BBC, the current Principal of the school has issued statements saying that he “absolutely condemns any form of abuse” and that he “greatly” regrets that former students didn’t receive the care they deserved. Additionally, in the city of Melbourne, Rabbi Zvi Telsner has stepped down in response to an uproar concerning “his behavior towards victims.”
What do you think these countries can do to better manage their image in world media? Share with us in the comments below.
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Brian Mulligan is an Intern at WordWrite Communications. He can be reached at brian.mulligan@wordwritepr.com or on Twitter, @brian_mulligan1
