Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Open Letter to APCO and Cassidy & Associates



It is time to embrace transparency and engage the blogosphere on a consistent basis. I have not had a chance to read the now famous article by Ken Silverstein, I will be saying more when I have had a chance. Right now I want to talk to APCO, Cassidy & Associates, and all those who have not worked out that the rules of PR engagement are shifting. The era of front organizations and astroturf is over. The era of crony journalism is ending. Only those who make change their friend rather than their enemy will be able to protect their clients' interests.

This is a good thing, and should be embraced. Money not spent on crony journalism and crony politics is money that is freed up to do legitimate community outreach. This is a good change for our industry and our clients.

As for Ken Silverstein and Harper's, I can only say that what goes around comes around. If you do not want to live in a world where Matt Drudge or some similar character can insert a mole into your organization for the purpose of collecting information with which to embarrass you, then it would be better not to sail under false colors.

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