Blog
The Case Is Altered...
I’ve just come to the end of two weeks of jury service – spending day after day waiting to be called on cases. Obviously, one is not allowed to discuss any specifics, but as an educational process, as well as it being a civic duty necessary to undertake, it’s been a fascinating time to juxtapose the worlds of the law and PR.
The PR and media arenas demand quick thinking, gut reaction and clear choices. We have to be able to capitalise upon situations, under a clear strategic route, for the good of our clients, while turning the needs and demands of journalists round quickly in order to offer the best possible service.
The pace of the judicial system has, however, taken me by surprise. Everything is at a far more measured rhythm and the reasons behind that are clear. Decisions made in the courts have massive consequences for people - a far bigger impact than anything we might do in our professional lives in PR and for that reason, evidence has to be considered in far greater detail and process followed more rigorously. That is only right - the judicial system is a foundation block of our hopefully liberal, just and decent society and the role of the jury in that process is a critical one.
It does mean, however, that there is a lot of sitting around for the members of the jury. It is a world of second hand newspapers, endless cups of coffee and long, long delays. Such an atmosphere could breed an element of anger amongst people, but from what I have seen, it is an air of cheerful stoicism that binds the ranks of jurors. Everybody’s lives are touched by a common purpose, a common inconvenience and a common challenge to get to the courts despite the weather. Yet, people seem to implicitly take it on board that it is their civic duty to play their part in the judicial process. And it’s not often that we see the civic imperative play a part in a modern society where the pursuit of the self seems to be, sometimes, the chief driver.
So, it is humbling to be involved in that process, albeit briefly; to know that we have a greater role to play in society than just worrying about ourselves, our own people and our own immediate environment. It’s a big but welcome lesson – and one that I’ve found very positive. We just need to find a way of cutting back on quite so much downtime!
Richard
Let it snow…..
We’ve all faced the slings and arrows of outrageous weather over the last few weeks. But in a funny way, given the slow thaw we are seeing at
Not that I like to see old ladies falling over in the ice or inexperienced drivers playing bumper cars along unmarked roads that are more like rinks. What has been good to see is the emergence of the indomitable spirit, of people lending a hand and looking out for others. I’ve heard no end of good stories about blokes helping push strangers out of snow drifts, people checking on elderly neighbours and hospital workers sleeping on the premises to make sure A&E departments are manned.
On a more mundane level, the bad weather gives us a common point of reference – which is what really defines what academics call the ‘human condition’. What really counts is connecting with people. And the adversity we have all faced getting to work or stocking up on the essentials, has in many ways given us all an excuse to do this. Despite the wet socks and bruised backsides some of us have experienced in the snow, I say bring it on! Shaking up the norm is always a good thing and anything that gives us the opportunity to make new friends or contacts and see the world from a new perspective has to be a good thing.
After all, isn’t that what good PR is really about? Making new connections and forging relationships based in mutual understanding and respect? If the bad weather has helped us to do that, let it snow.
