PR is a ‘lightning rod of mistrust,’ says industry heavyweight

That’s what he told a crowd gathered in Dubai for the recent International Public Relations Association World Congress and reiterated in an interview with The Holmes Report.

The Holmes Report asked Lord Bell why he feels PR has reached this dubious plateau. His response is intriguing inasmuch as it provides a nuanced view of a much broader issue afflicting the profession: Its reputation within business and society.

Lord Bell sees “no solution to [the] issue,” of public relations’ reputation challenges, he told The Holmes Report‘s Arun Sudhaman, believing that: “We [have] become the lightning rod for that mistrust. It is something we have to learn to live with. That makes us an easy target for the media.”