The one and only Kit Chan has joined Hill & Knowlton, one of the world’s five largest public relations firms. The established singer starts her new career as a campaign strategist in September. Are high visibility and influence good substitutes for relevant PR training and experience?
“One reason is that in this profession, you can get away without formal PR training and professional accreditation. Employers hire PR personnel based on the candidate’s writing skills, media experience and event management. Hence, it is easy for anyone who has these abilities, to claim to be a PR professional. Such flexible entry requirements have long been a subject for debate in the industry.”
(Quick Guide to Public Relations, IPRS)
I wonder if this means that from here on out, we’re gonna see a posse of celebrities crossing over to join the PR industry? I vaguely recall reading somewhere that Diana Ser also joined/started a PR consultancy not too long ago. Well it’ll be interesting to note how this will work out for Kit.
3 responses so far ↓
priscilla // 6 September, 2007 at 10:27 am |
If the celebs have the relevant experience in PR and professional training / education and decided to not work in entertainment industry but to do PR, I am fine with that. But for celebs who have absolutely no formal experience or training, unless they start from the bottom and learn their way home, it’s hard to tell if they’ll do well.
If they don’t have either and are just there because of the ability to “influence” – I think that’s an interesting move but I am not sure how that would work out for both the agency and the clients.
So, let’s wait and see.
yes, Diana is with IMSG, another agency in Singapore.
Jon Hoel // 13 December, 2007 at 3:09 pm |
Hi Stanley,
My friend Michael Netzley recorded an interview with Diana recently, where she talks about media training http://prjunctionpodcast.com/?p=83
Stan // 13 December, 2007 at 4:35 pm |
Hello Jon,
Thanks for the shoutout. I will definitely need to listen to the podcast. (Office PC sound card’s screwed up and I can’t fix it)