An interview with a top PR professional on how to better communicate the climate change and global warming battle messages

 

DAN BLOOM TO MR PR.: Sir, as a public relations professional, you have been trying to make sense of global warming from a communications perspective.

You say that global warming is by far the biggest long-term challenge that our world faces. You als say that this problem can only be addressed if it is thought to be important enough – and urgent enough – for people (both elites and mass society) to think and act differently about climate change than they have before, and to do so in concert with each other.

You say that you can only see that happening if the public relations efforts around climate change improve dramatically. That’s because right now, current communications – while no doubt earnest and sincere – are just not getting the job done (if, indeed, it can be done against the many daunting obstacles).

You say that getting the whole world to believe and behave differently is a tall order, but that’s what PR people do every day in the service of multinational corporations.

I think global warming should be a ‘call to arms’ for the PR profession, because you PR guys are  supposed to be better than anyone at the mastery of persuasion that’s so conspicuously lacking from existing climate change communications.
So what should the call to arms communicate and HOW WOULD YOU FRAME AND STATE THE MESSAGE. MR PR?





ANSWER FROM MR. PR:  The call to arms should be that ''we are running out of future'' and I would frame the message the same way. Time is running out. No more rose-colored glasses, boys and girls. We are in deep shit.


DAN BLOOM: Would you communicate the CALL TO ARMS via social media, through OPEDS in major newspapers, TV interviews, NPR and CBC radio interviews? How to coordinate all this messaging?

ANSWER: Social media, FB, Twitter, Blogs, Opeds, TV, radi, sure. The call to arms should be that ''we are running out of future'' amd I would frame the message the same way. Time is running out. No more rose-colored glasses, boys and girls. We are in deep shit.


DAN BLOOM:  Is there any PR group dedicated to doing this kind of messaging on a pro bono basis? their name? their address? or if not, could someone start one?

ANSWER: Look, ''we are running out of future''  and time is running out. No more rose-colored glasses, boys and girls. We are in deep shit. No PR group wants to do this, they are all chicken shit and interested only in making money and appearing on TV wearing ties and looking official. That's BS PR and totally useless. PR are the people who gave us this EXXON mess to begin with, all PR people are part of this problem of fake PR and lies, truth be told.





DAN BLOOM:   Such an ‘existential’ threat to our world’s future should command much more mainstream media coverage than it is currently earning. WHY IS THIS NOT HAPPENING YET?

ANSWER: Because ''we are running out of future'' And the answer is: No more rose-colored glasses, boys and girls. We are in deep doo doo.


DAN BLOOM:  Does the world and the media need a kind of ''stop the presses’ media play on climate change to help spur an imperative for action.? Your pov?

ANSWER: Yes. The  message should be that ''we are running out of future'' amd I would frame the message in a strong no shit way. ''Time is running out. No more rose-colored glasses, boys and girls. We are in deep shit.''




DAN BLOOM: Every day, many thousands of corporate communicators around the world help motivate the opinions and actions of billions of consumers we persuade on behalf of famous global brands. they COULD can apply THEIR vast experience and influential capabilities in the service of climate change awareness and activism. but how? WHO WILL CORRAL THEM INTO THIS WORK?

ANSWER: Nobody. Corporate PR is bullshit. They made this mess we are in , selling their souls for corporate money and posh lifestyle. PR guys are the probem. None of them give a shit.


DAN BLOOM:  With social media is becoming the world’s new central nervous system and fostering an emerging collective global consciousness, HOW CAN pr PEOPLE USE PR TO help inform, influence and inspire as never before. HOW TO BEGIN?

ANSWER: It's over for PR people. Corporate PR is bullshit. They made this mess we are in , selling their souls for corporate money and posh lifestyle. PR guys are the probem. None of them give a shit.