"Public relations is essentially about developing and maintaining structured communications with stakeholders important to a business or organisation's operational and financial performance so they continue to support the business in their own ways."
Paul Hemsley
Another tragedy and chorus call for the Government
12 May 2010
The nation is shocked by the death the young James Webster, caused in all probability by drinking a bottle of vodka taken from his grandmother’s cupboard.
It is an absolute tragedy and without doubt we all feel for his grieving mother, father and sister.
Another young person dies. This week it was alcohol poisoning, and a few weeks ago it was a car accident.
In these tragedies we have become used to the chorus urging the government to "do something”. Now it’s arguing the age of purchasing liquor; a few weeks ago it was about raising the driving age. And just last week, PR Matters featured Jane Dodd’s blog talking about how to encourage changes to teen drinking habits.
It appears that if we don’t know what to do as parents or as a community, there is blind faith that the Government will solve it. This has now become a reflex action. In the latest case, doctor and mother of a student at the same college as the dead boy Margaret Abercrombie says: "…people look to the Government for leadership and that’s wholly appropriate.” She goes on to say, if there were a broader change in our behaviour and attitude to alcohol that would reduce the costs to society and the likelihood of this occurring again. This is a young man dying of alcohol poisoning, but I seriously doubt any amount of legislation could have changed the outcome for this boy, because as far as I can ascertain, teenagers have always, and will continue to, do silly things.
Perhaps it’s worth reflecting that one reason for people’s lax behaviour and casual attitude may be that for too long we have relied on governments, not personal conviction, for our frameworks and moral compass. In reality it might be argued that the more our government takes control of our lives, the less responsibility we feel we need to take ourselves.
James Webster consciously did a very stupid thing. He took vodka without his grandmother knowing; we’re told he was intent on doing something "naughty” that night; and he wasn’t upfront with his parents.
The fact is that alcohol, in some form or other, has been part of the right of passage for young people. For young James it was a dead end.
Let’s stop looking to government to provide life’s behavioural and ethical framework.
It is an absolute tragedy and without doubt we all feel for his grieving mother, father and sister.
Another young person dies. This week it was alcohol poisoning, and a few weeks ago it was a car accident.
In these tragedies we have become used to the chorus urging the government to "do something”. Now it’s arguing the age of purchasing liquor; a few weeks ago it was about raising the driving age. And just last week, PR Matters featured Jane Dodd’s blog talking about how to encourage changes to teen drinking habits.
It appears that if we don’t know what to do as parents or as a community, there is blind faith that the Government will solve it. This has now become a reflex action. In the latest case, doctor and mother of a student at the same college as the dead boy Margaret Abercrombie says: "…people look to the Government for leadership and that’s wholly appropriate.” She goes on to say, if there were a broader change in our behaviour and attitude to alcohol that would reduce the costs to society and the likelihood of this occurring again. This is a young man dying of alcohol poisoning, but I seriously doubt any amount of legislation could have changed the outcome for this boy, because as far as I can ascertain, teenagers have always, and will continue to, do silly things.
Perhaps it’s worth reflecting that one reason for people’s lax behaviour and casual attitude may be that for too long we have relied on governments, not personal conviction, for our frameworks and moral compass. In reality it might be argued that the more our government takes control of our lives, the less responsibility we feel we need to take ourselves.
James Webster consciously did a very stupid thing. He took vodka without his grandmother knowing; we’re told he was intent on doing something "naughty” that night; and he wasn’t upfront with his parents.
The fact is that alcohol, in some form or other, has been part of the right of passage for young people. For young James it was a dead end.
Let’s stop looking to government to provide life’s behavioural and ethical framework.
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Is it time to retire the EQC? (21 May 2013)When a communication breakdown undermines a key relationship (9 May 2013)
Too big to communicate (1 May 2013)
CEOs less trusted- why might that be? (4 March 2013)
Talking is not communicating (21 February 2013)
Cats and postal deliveries (31 January 2013)
The creeping disease of our language – hyperbole (6 December 2012)
Some lessons in media relations (29 November 2012)
Get with it, Mr Cunliffe, porkies are fine (21 November 2012)
Our own enquiry time as Sandy creates havoc (1 November 2012)
Communicating the poverty message (12 October 2012)
Politics, a game for the superhuman – or the Nixon solution (5 October 2012)
The potent weapon of bullying claims (29 August 2012)
All for one and one for all (31 July 2012)
Greenpeace a global business with the eye for the bottom line (26 July 2012)
The script for higher prices is written in the weather (20 July 2012)
A crass publicity stunt (12 July 2012)
Communication support for families in need (5 July 2012)
Descending to the depths of meanness (21 June 2012)
No thanks Minister (18 June 2012)
We’ve got a problem – let the shouting begin! Or is there a better way? (8 June 2012)
Speaking in headlines, merely for headlines (30 May 2012)
Exposés and rebuttals – are we any the wiser? (30 May 2012)
“The government should do something about that…” (7 May 2012)
Another Kiwi world champion (2 May 2012)
An abuse of power (27 April 2012)
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A perverse form of logic (16 April 2012)
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Keeping their own counsel may be best course of action (22 February 2012)
The tatty remnants of Occupy (26 January 2012)
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The spirit of communicating (21 December 2011)
Lessons from a “private conversation” (22 November 2011)
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A cardinal rule of crisis management lies in the dirt (9 June 2011)
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The age of intolerance (17 August 2010)
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How you respond is a measure of your mettle (30 July 2010)
The perplexing topic of food pricing (15 July 2010)
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Never mind the lost productivity. It’s a rich educational experience (23 June 2010)
The revenge of the people with red hair (27 May 2010)
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Clear messages from the golden age of advertising (4 March 2010)
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