Going Beyond the Reputation: Vegetables and PR

Posted At: February 28, 2012 1:30 PM
by Rachel Childers

Most Americans do it. They look at their dinner plates and instead of seeing a colorful array of of food, they see mostly tans and browns, leaving their plate a little bland.

According to an article by The New York Times, only 26 percent of Americans eat three or more vegetables a day. A gallop poll taken in 2011, said this number is declining.

Most Americans forget that they need to make vegetables a regular portion on their plate. Some only eat the right amount of veggies after a health crisis such as a heart attack. Others prefer to eat the ever popular french fries, which are technically vegetables, but lack their nutritional benefits. Many complain and say vegetables are expensive or they don’t have time to prepare them. Others simply say they taste bad. These excuses give vegetables a bad reputation.

In the same way, public relations professionals are sometimes seen as the vegetables on the corporate plate. Managers are hesitant about PR or don’t understand the benefits a responsible PR team can bring to their company. Some think that PR is only something needed after a crisis, or that they are spin doctors or liars—the PR equivalent of french fries.

Both PR and vegetables are more than their reputation suggests.

Vegetables and PR professionals are multi-taskers

Veggies provide many vitamins and minerals to help a body run smoothly. Broccoli, for instance, contains six of these vitamins and minerals. Most other vegetables are similar. They include iron, fiber, potassium, protein and a host of vitamins that many other foods can only dare to compete with.

PR professionals also bring a multitude of skills to the table. They provide communication from the boss to the workers, and from the company to the public, all while planning the year’s biggest event. They balance the chatter on social media while predicting possible company pitfalls. They increase the goodwill of the company by managing the brand reputation. They do all these things and more to ensure that everyone is well informed.

Vegetables and PR professionals maintain eyesight

Carrots are known to be high in beta-carotene and vitamin A, which are good for eyesight. A diet high in carrots, among other less famous veggies, helps to prevent the breakdown of sight over time.

PR professionals help a company see threats before they become dangerous. A major part of PR is monitoring what others are saying about your brand to prevent possible PR blunders. This is even more important now due to the popularity of social media.

Vegetables and PR maintain immunity

Vegetables like brussels sprouts and squash provide large amounts of vitamin C, which strengthens the immune system to keep the body healthy. PR does the same thing. Along with monitoring what is being said about the company, it works behind the scenes to fend off possible threats before they cause damage.

For instance, when someone says something bad about Comcast on Twitter, Comcast responds almost instantly to remedy the situation. This acts as an immune system to stop negative word-of-mouth advertising before it damages the image of the company, keeping the company safe from “infection.”

Vegetables and PR both provide hidden benefits that most people don’t expect. Vegetables can improve the health and function of the body, and PR, through monitored communication, can improve the health and function of a company. When it comes time to fill your plate, don’t forget your vegetables…or your PR team.