In the case of the way forward for the PR {industry}, it’s not AI I’m fearful about – it’s us.
Because the US election, I’ve seen numerous PR professionals champion the “energy of podcasts,” pointing to platforms like Joe Rogan’s as a solution to join with huge, engaged audiences.
Joe Rogan’s podcast, recognized for its sprawling, unfiltered conversations, has grow to be a cultural phenomenon, typically reaching thousands and thousands of listeners per episode. It’s not laborious to see why PR professionals are intrigued – it’s a platform the place concepts, personalities, and types could be explored in depth. Nevertheless, this attract isn’t with out pitfalls.
The latest dialog about Donald Trump’s look on Rogan’s present highlights the stress: whereas the platform guarantees unparalleled attain, it additionally carries vital reputational dangers for each the visitor and the host.
Rogan’s format is unpredictable, his viewers fiercely opinionated, and his questioning typically confrontational. Good luck touchdown shoppers on there – particularly ones daring sufficient to deal with the scrutiny of such an unfiltered platform as, properly, Donald Trump – not to mention making certain a story that aligns with their communications objectives.
This deal with big-name podcasts is symptomatic of a deeper concern in our {industry}: we’re chasing platforms with out totally contemplating how the medium shapes the message. It’s grow to be a recreation of numbers over substance, attain over resonance, and appearances over authenticity. I concern we’re doubtlessly sleepwalking right into a disaster.
Right here’s a high-profile instance of why I feel a urgent concern is evolving. This weekend, one thing struck me, not simply as a PR skilled however as a gamer and long-time viewer of Oompaville’s YouTube channel.
Oompaville, in any other case often called Caleb Hunter Phelps, is a creator recognized for his commentary movies with vital attain, and was chosen because the platform for YouTube’s largest influencer, MrBeast (aka Jimmy Donaldson, pictured), to deal with a barrage of great allegations.
Let’s not sugar-coat it – the allegations towards Donaldson’s firm MrBeast Industries are grave:
- Inappropriate engagement with minors.
- Office bullying and mistreatment inside his firm.
- Misconduct involving staff and collaborators.
- Faked lotteries and charity initiatives for promotional functions.
- Censorship of adverse feedback and makes an attempt to manage public notion.
- Unsafe working circumstances on initiatives, together with lack of meals, medical care, and applicable help.
- Collaboration with people accused of inappropriate behaviour.
- Misrepresentation of content material, together with allegations of utilizing CGI and staging challenges.
- Exploitation of members in challenges via undue stress to carry out.
- Lack of transparency relating to monetary and operational practices.
For a model that targets a younger, impressionable viewers, these allegations demand transparency and accountability. So why did MrBeast, who hardly ever grants interviews, select to reply via a fellow YouTube creator, somewhat than a journalist or main media outlet?
The reply: he didn’t select. His crew did. They rigorously and strategically chosen a creator doubtless perceived as a “gentle contact” – somebody who might seem to carry MrBeast accountable, with out delivering hard-hitting scrutiny.
As a PR skilled, that technique stinks. If a model messes up, the playbook is straightforward: personal it, be clear, apologise the place crucial, repair it and transfer ahead.
What we’re seeing as an alternative is spin disguised as accountability. And audiences are calling it out: evaluation of the video’s feedback reveals they are not fooled:
- 50% criticised Oompaville for softballing questions or failing to problem MrBeast, with an additional 25% suggesting bias, together with assumptions that Oompaville was paid.
- 30% described MrBeast as overly polished and inauthentic, whereas 35% supported him for his philanthropy. One other 35% expressed scepticism or unease in regards to the response.
- 40% famous MrBeast dodged necessary points, whereas 30% criticised his PR-heavy responses as evasive.
- Solely 20% felt he confirmed real regret, with 40% believing he shifted blame.
- 15% recognized Oompaville as a strategic, easy-choice platform.
Think about if a CEO of a serious company took this method to allegations of this gravity. Would 20% seeing real accountability be sufficient? Completely not. This isn’t about MrBeast merely sitting down with a creator he likes. It’s a calculated determination from a media empire with vital sources and experience.
Latest experiences revealed that MrBeast Industries has engaged Hiltzik Methods, a company communications and disaster administration agency beforehand related to Harvey Weinstein, to advise the corporate and its founder. This partnership is not any accident. Neither is the selection to deal with these allegations on Oompaville’s channel.
Media exclusives are nothing new; they’ve been a PR staple perpetually. However when confronted with allegations as critical as inappropriate office behaviour, misconduct and censorship, selecting a creator with restricted journalistic expertise feels much less about transparency and extra about controlling the narrative.
MrBeast Industries says it’s taking steps internally, together with sensitivity coaching, nameless reporting mechanisms, and plans to rent management roles like a chief HR officer and basic counsel. These are essential for a rising model. Nevertheless, inner reforms have to be matched by exterior accountability – and that is the place the PR technique falters.
In conventional media, established norms – TV and print exclusives, embargoed releases – steadiness transparency with model technique and a certain quantity of management. However within the digital age, YouTube creators are gatekeepers of affect, and we lack a typical set of norms to make sure accountability.
The selection of Oompaville because the response platform, whereas savvy from a attain perspective, raises purple flags. The true downside isn’t MrBeast and even his response, it’s the mechanism behind it.
We want industry-wide requirements for these conditions – new norms that replicate the seriousness of the allegations. Very similar to the frameworks we depend on for conventional media exclusives, these norms ought to be certain that platforms are chosen for his or her skill to problem and query, not for his or her skill to guard a model’s picture.
If PR professionals fail to deal with this concern, we danger sleepwalking into an period of superficial accountability. That’s dangerous for the {industry}, dangerous for shoppers, and dangerous for the general public.
We should proceed to deal with fostering belief via real transparency, even within the face of fierce criticism. Audiences are extra discerning than ever, and so they’re demanding accountability. We owe it to the way forward for our {industry} to get this proper.