Bad PR Nomination

THE bodies representing public relations in Ireland should consider hiring one of the PR gurus they represent.In the space of a few weeks, they have managed to spectacularly tarnish their own images and infuriate a large portion of the public.The short-listing of an animal cruelty campaign for a PR Excellence Award saw the Public Relations Institute of Ireland and Public Relations Consultants Association disregarding overwhelming opposition to deplorable activities such as hunting and coursing.The RISE campaign mysteriously made it on to their shortlist despite being criticized for spreading misinformation and showing disrespect towards public officials, both contrary to PR codes of conduct.Condemned as malicious and despicable, the behavior of supporters included throwing eggs at a state car, jeering politicians, telling a minister to go to hell and sticking threatening leaflets on vehicles outside a church.Claims made during the RISE campaign were variously described as nonsense, wrong and completely erroneous. The same could be said for the decision to shortlist it for an award it thankfully failed to win.Philip KiernanIrish Council Against Blood SportsCo. Westmeath, Ireland