After receiving an email (mass mailing) from the Inaugural Committee, I was prompted to visit the new WhiteHouse.gov website. As much of a web-head as I am, I cannot ever recall feeling so interested in doing so. What a surprise.
The first line was: Change has come to WhiteHouse.gov followed by the introduction, "Welcome to the new WhiteHouse.gov. I'm Macon Phillips, the Director of New Media for the White House and one of the people who will be contributing to the blog."
One of the reasons that President Obama has been an effective campaigner and an effective politician is that he and his campaign people have understood the communications model. Much of the general public does not understand that public relations as a profession has many faces, and unfortunately, often the outdated model of the publicity hound is the only image that is evoked when one hears the words, "public relations."
However, Public Relations as we practice it and as we live and breath it is a practice of communications, to support and communication the goals and vision of an organization. It includes social responsibility, and looks at the relevant stakeholders that both are impacted by and impact the firm. At its' most effective and professionally responsible level, it is what socially responsible businesses implement.
Tactically, this level of Integrated Marketing Communications includes all relevant, effective modes of communication channels. From a business marketing communications perspective, I've been fascinated by how the Obama Campaign to elect him for President has employed these strategies.
Looking at the new WhiteHouse.gov website, I would say that the level of professional Integrated Marketing and Public Relations has arrived, and it is about time that the bar has been raised.
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