Open reply from Colin Farrington

I was sent an email by director general of the CIPR, Colin Farrington, asking me to clarify the situation over the demise of a weekly PR Business. This blog and ...the world's leading... among others have reported rumours about the CIPR's involvement in the affair.

I asked Colin if I could re-print his email in full to ensure accuracy and he kindly agreed. There is an adumbrated version on CIPR president, Tony Bradley's blog, but here is Colin's email in full:

"I think I should correct your’s and other statements appearing on ‘blogs’ today (which shows that I do read them!).

The CIPR did not withdraw, nor threaten to withdraw, free use of its member database from ‘PR Business’. Indeed we have made clear that we welcome a wider range of publications in the public relations business. We will continue to make the database available to the new monthly for a trial period at least (as we would to any new publication with a strong pedigree).

Like everyone I am sorry to see the demise of the weekly. When the business plan was first discussed with me over a year ago I did however raise concerns about the ability to raise advertising to support it. Of course that is a matter for the investors.

I have however received an apology from the owners of ‘PR Business’ for the personal nature of some of the comments made about me in last week’s issue. As these appeared some time after the beginning of our recent discussions with the management of ‘PR Business’ regarding their change of format this obviously had no influence on our discussions. Business and editorial matters are rightly dealt with entirely separately.

I would be grateful if you would make this clear as soon as possible."

Always happy to help! And editor Eirwen Oxley-Green has posted her thoughts here (and here too) on the issue.

Comments

[Richard Bailey]

Interesting stuff, Simon. Sounds like Colin needs some lessons in public relations: you'd think he'd be in the right place for that (heading the Chartered Institute of Public Relations) but few people tell the truth to the boss. Remember The Emperor's New Clothes?

[Simon]

I think we've all been there.... haven't we??

But don't forget that the CIPR is a membership organisation... we aren't paid employees. Our subs fund the organisation!

What I found most interesting was that apparently PR Business apologised to Colin for the mag's tone. But not the tone of the editorial but Antony's column!