28/Sep/2005
impropaganda
An untruth where both parties are happy to go along with, or a publicity act or media story which uses a flexibility with the facts, the half-facts and the objective focus of a situation, which is sustained by a shared value between the communicator and the audience.
28/Sep/2005
punk PR
A publicity act or communication not in accordance with good sense or taste
28/Sep/2005
pseudo relations
A communication lacking any substance (rather than the expression, ‘This is just a public relations exercise'.
28/Sep/2005
flashturbation
Excessive use of flash animation techniques in design, particularly on web sites. Can also refer in general to excessive use of techniques in design which do not assist the communication process.
28/Sep/2005
horse shit
Similar to bullshit but is defined as unjustified, flawed, or extravagant extrapolation in using a statistic to substantiate a case. Inspired by the Victorian mathematician who predicted that if the then volume of horse traffic continues London would be under 9 feet of horse manure by 1970.
29/Sep/2005
hibris
is the effective harnessing of positive arrogance to generate self belief in support of achieving your goals. Hibris is the opposite of hubris - excessive pride leading to nemesis. It should be noted that both words sound similar and are closely related.
29/Sep/2005
jomoore
managing information such as with the timing of an announcement so that its significance is masked by other major, possibly negative, events. For example, ‘let’s jomoore the timing of this story’. Derived from the media exposure of the UK Government adviser whose memo was leaked advising colleagues to immediately issue bad news in the aftermath of the September 11th terrorist attack.
29/Sep/2005
wimbourne
to inadvertently create something new by juxtaposing two different elements. Derived from UK Press Gazette where newspaper sub editors inadvertently create humorous connections through two unrelated stories developing a common synergy by being next to each other.
29/Sep/2005
crook suckers
created by writer Julie Burchill to describe people in authority with liberal tendencies who place greater emphasis on showing tolerance to and supporting the needs of criminal elements rather than their victims.
29/Sep/2005
September 10th
Used in the context of, “that’s so September 10th”. Used to dismiss anyone with a perceived petty issue, or behind the times. Obviously derived following the terrorist attack on the subsequent day which has been described as a defining moment in the 21st century.
29/Sep/2005
swire effect
used to describe the snowballing effect of viral email communications. After Claire Swire who sent her City lawyer boyfriend, Bradley Chait, an email about oral sex. He sent it on to a friend and then got copied around the world.
29/Sep/2005
rooligan
exuberant sports fan who goes to extreme lengths to mark and celebrate their support of their team at a match. In contrast to the conduct of hooligans who display anti-social behaviour, the rooligan upholds wider society values and is not violent or aggressive to opposing fans.
29/Sep/2005
precall
the ability to read the future by elaborating on future scenarios and working back from them to provide new and fresh insights to guide our current activity. Unlike prediction which works from the present and looks forward, ‘precall’ works back from a future scenario. Inspired by Speilberg’s film ‘Minority Report’ which featured both the ability of a group of individuals, Precogs, to see into the future, but also the talents of the Precrime police in interpreting these future visions.
29/Sep/2005
w-o-m
acronym for word-of-mouth' - 'The most effective form of marketing promotion. Created by a third party perceived to be neutral or trustworthy imparting advice or a recommendation. w-o-m should be regarded as a communication tool which can be managed as part of the marketing communications mix.
29/Sep/2005
the Riesfeldt syndrome
named after the Paderborn zoo-keeper in Germany, Friedrich Riesfeldt, who on April 23rd 1998 while giving his constipated elephant Stefan an enema was buried alive under an avalanche of pachyderm poo. Used to signify anyone who has been done badly by an object of adulation, care or respect.
29/Sep/2005
soft zero tolerance
used to describe strategy of law enforcement agencies targeting their resources and applying zero tolerance at ‘soft’ targets, such as middle class areas, or using fixed speed cameras to catch motorists at marginal levels above the limit.
29/Sep/2005
environmental autism
inability to perceive reality from the views of the wider world. A problem faced in managing public relations communications as it fundamentally requires recognition that an organisation needs to manage its affairs with regards to its relationships with its different stakeholders, and take into account the views of these different publics.
29/Sep/2005
blamestorming
group meeting where instead of generating ideas through brainstorming participants air grievances, blame and negative thinking. Consequently, can be destructive for developing ideas or progressing the common interests of the group.
29/Sep/2005
PR-able
industry phrase used to describe information which has potential to be used in public relations work, particularly with regard for being a news story.
29/Sep/2005
Wile E. Coyote effect
used to describe a trend where a graph curve abruptly falls off, just like the cartoon character falls off a cliff.
06/Jan/2006 - 07/Jan/2006
'Mugabe'd'
(as in, I've been Mugabe'd) To inadvertantly exchange pleasantries with someone you despise. (I was Mugabe'd the other day by my friend's loathsome ex-boyfriend, when he said hello to me while I was getting on the bus.)
Created by Sarah Sherman of Fuse PR
12/Jan/2006
Affluenza
‘Placing a high value on acquiring money and possessions, looking good in the eyes of others, and wanting to be famous.’ (Source: psychologist Oliver James)
01/Feb/2006
Gethined
–or to be more precise "to be Gethined" which is a phenomenon frequently experienced after lunch with PR luminary, Gethin Bradley, FIPR and Life President of the Motor Industry Public Affairs Association. It reflects the skills of a PR person in keeping the wine flowing without the notice of guests so that when they come to leave the occasion they find themselves having drunk much more than they thought - hence they've been ‘Gethined’.
19/Feb/2006
Peltzman effect
– the inverse effect of an act. Inspired by the economist Sam Peltzman, who in 1975 published a paper demonstrating that drivers drive more dangerously after mandatory seat belt laws were introduced in the United States. Drivers evidently drive more dangerously leading to rises in pedestrian and cyclist fatalities. (Think about times when your car is not working properly and how you tend to drive more cautious as a result.)
