ENVIRONMENT has stopped using a PR company to get its message across. The department’s contract with CMA Public Relations ended last week and minister David De Lisle made the decision not to renew it.
All media enquiries will now be dealt with in-house and Deputy De Lisle said that while PR companies were a useful tool, the negatives often outweighed the benefits.
‘The department recognises that when labour resources are stretched, public relations advisors can play a constructive role in handling initial media enquiries, especially where a number of different journalists are seeking information on the same subject but perhaps from slightly different angles,’ he said.
‘In a department that frequently has six or more media requests per day, this service can be of great assistance.
‘However, departments are also under pressure to reduce budgets and, without doubt, there is a public perception that government uses public relations advisors to add spin to a message.
‘Therefore, the benefits of using advisors can be offset by other factors.’
Deputy De Lisle confirmed that the department might still use PR firms when dealing with specific topics and when it was launching campaigns.
Andrew Carey, managing director of CMA Public Relations, said the company knew of Deputy De Lisle’s doubts about whether PR companies were cost-effective and therefore was not surprised by his decision.
‘Our view is that with several enquiries coming in from five different news media each day, using a specialist media relations company to help is a time saver and therefore a cost saver as well,’ he said.
‘This is widely accepted by other States departments and also by business.
‘Of course, the department will be even busier now dealing with these enquiries on top of all the work they have to do already, but we wish them well with the new arrangement.’
Deputy Mary Lowe, who had previously questioned the need for States departments to use PR companies, welcomed the move.
‘I think Environment have made the right decision, because I feel that the senior management have the expertise to deal with media requests,’ she said.
‘We don’t always need a third party and it can be very time-consuming. At a time when we are asking people to put their hand further into their pockets for indirect taxes, it is inappropriate for States departments to spend money in this way.’
She said that hundreds of thousands of pounds had been spent on PR by States departments in the last three years.
‘I’m not against PR companies,’ she said. ‘There are occasions within the States when a PR company is a great asset.
‘However, for run-of-the-mill media releases I do not think there is a necessity to pay someone to repeat what a senior member of staff has said.
‘I think some of the money spent has been unnecessary.’
Article posted on 3rd October, 2007 - 12.00am
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