Lessons from famous TV & movie characters that worked in PR
Some of our favourite PR TV and film/movie characters have shown us different ways to approach the profession. Let’s take a look at what we should have learned whilst we watched.
It isn’t difficult to think of a TV or film character that has portrayed the role of famous TV & movie characters that worked in PR. However, what might be more challenging is pulling out the essential lessons we could learn from how they do their jobs. We’ve chosen five lessons from our favourite characters in TV and movies for you to bring into your day to day work. I know… you are welcome!
PR Lesson 1: Read the room before communicating
TV Show: Succession
About the show: The series centres on the Roy family, the dysfunctional owners of Waystar RoyCo (a global media and entertainment conglomerate). A fight for the pole position in the line of succession ensues. The three siblings battle it out as the head of the company & family, Logan Roy, fights health-related issues.
Fictional PR Character: Siobhan ‘Shiv’ Roy, President of Domestic Operations in Waystar Royco Political Consultant Shareholder of Waystar Royco
“Send Out The Two Cover Stars For Toxic Male Monthly, And, Uh, Why Don’t We Get Ted Bundy Up There? Make It A Three-Way?”
Siobhan Roy, Succession
Shiv is the cultural thermometer her father’s company needs. Her ability to read the room is pivotal to their survival in the midst of the ‘Cruises’ sex scandal. Out of all the famous TV characters in PR, Shiv is the best source to learn this lesson she stands.
It would be tone-deaf to allow her two brothers to lead the line on this topic. Especially given the social climate in the wake of the #MeToo movement and other efforts raising awareness about the failure to properly deal with sexual harassment towards women. As a publicist, it is crucial for you to be cognisant of the tone and look of your communications. Failure to do so might end up with a hashtag of your own.
PR Lesson 2: Who you know trumps what you know
TV Show: Sex and The City
About Show: Set and filmed in New York City, Sex in the City, follows the lives of a group of four women in their mid-thirties and forties. The program displays the evolution of women’s friendship through different natures and ever-changing sex lives.
Fictional PR character: Samantha Jones, Public Relations Professional
“I don’t believe in the Republican party or the Democratic party, I just believe in parties.”
Samantha, Sex In The City
In the show, Samantha was a public relations executive who successfully managed her own firm. But the lesson here is not in becoming a socialite, it’s in having a social life. Unfortunately, we can’t all be flown out or taken to fancy dinners to meet the world elite like Samantha was. What we can do is build our community. There is no better famous TV character that worked in PR to learn this lesson than Samantha. Reaching out to others in the field to learn from, build with or educate is a pivotal part of growth. No PR practitioner can progress in their field to their full potential without forming the right relationships. Communicating in shared offices spaces, on sites like LinkedIn and social events can provide you with opportunities to grow and nurture relationships.
Applying a combination of the lessons we can learn from these famous characters in movies and TV is essential. Before we move on to our next fictional PR pro, could you imagine what a Samantha and Shiv dream team would look like?
PR Lesson 3: People before product, don’t get lost in the work and forget who it is for.
Movie: Jerry Maguire,
About Movie: Jerry Maguire (Tom Cruise) is a successful sports agent with the biggest clients, making the most money. Until one night he questions his purpose and comes to terms with what’s wrong with his career and life.
Fictional PR character: Jerry Maguire, Sports Agent
“In this age, optimism like that is a revolutionary act.”
Jerry Maguire, Jerry Maguire
Don’t wait for an epiphany to give you perspective. Jerry is very successful but the robotic nature of chasing money eats at him slowly and quietly. This erosion of will happened because his focus was on the wrong aspect of the work. For most of us it may not be an erosion of will, but burnout or a creative block. Remaining focused on your overall goal is the best way to avoid a mental crash. All great solutions come from understanding real-life problems, and to solve PR problems you have to understand people. A sense of purpose will provide the necessary fuel for a publicist to maintain motivation which is key to providing clarity in your approach.
PR Lesson 4: No one is an island, a good team brings you closer to the dream
TV show: Scandal
Fictional PR character: Olivia Pope, White House Chief Of Staff Lawyer / Crisis manager (Campaign Manager)
About TV Show: Olivia Pope, a former media consultant to the President of the United States starts her own crisis management firm to help clients avoid being ruined by scandal. However, she soon realises that her employees might be hiding darker secrets.
“Whatever happens, we do not give up. It is my name on that door, and I do not give up.”
Olivia Pope, Scandal
Teamwork makes the dream work. PR Crisis Manager Olivia Pope is ruthless, but nothing would get handled if it wasn’t for the dependable people in her team. They execute instructions as and when needed. This allows her to take comfort in the fact that things will be done to the standard she desires, enabling her to play to her strengths. Naturally, as a PR professional you may have to wear many hats, but it’s also important to learn how to delegate so you can let your skills flourish. Having a well-oiled machine for a team increases productivity and makes for an atmosphere that gets everyone ticking. Secure yourself with a strong team and no challenge is too big to overcome. She instills her team with the same confidence she carries with herself. This is undoubtedly one of the key lessons from famous a TV character that worked in PR, that all publicists need to take note of.
As a media consultant to POTUS, Olivia drafted her fair share of press releases. If you’re looking for the ultimate guide on how to write a press release in 2022, we’ve got everything you need to know to get started in our article.
PR Lesson 5: Control your narrative before the narrative controls you
TV show: Schitt’s Creek
Fictional PR Character: Alexis Rose
About TV Show: When filthy-rich video store magnate Johnny Rose and his family suddenly find themselves broke, they are forced to leave their pampered lives to regroup. They rebuild their empire from within the rural city limits of their only remaining asset – Schitt’s Creek, a town they once bought as a joke.
“If you want to cut your teeth as a high-profile publicist, you will need to get used to throwing things together in a crunch.”
Moira Rose, Schitt’s Creek
Perception is king in this industry and, as much as we cannot prevent mistakes, we can manage how they are perceived. Alexis perfectly demonstrates this during Moira’s red carpet movie premiere, which ends in a crow attack. She expertly owns the error in the following press conference organised to address the event. Now of course we may have more scrupulous scrutiny when explaining the mishaps that occur on a day-to-day basis, but it’s important to put your best foot forward when responding to the mistakes that you made. Be strong in your message about why it happened, and how you can prevent it from occurring again. Taking a tragic moment and making it a teachable moment is often the best way to handle such situations with grace.
Takeaway
Undoubtedly when public relations professionals make their way to our screens there tends to be drama. Always under pressure, it’s a great way for us to see how the campaigns they plan and execute take shape, as well as everything that goes wrong. These are just some of the lessons we’ve taken away from watching our famous PR characters in movies and films under the spotlight.
A combination of knowing how to read the room, network, remain people-centric, build a good team and control your narrative is key to being able to sustain and elevate yourself.
Written by Chinzupe Phiri
