In Ireland, it appears that the path from the newsroom to the corridors of power is becoming a well-worn trail. Irish journalists are trading in their press badges for government ID cards faster than you can say “conflict of interest”. It’s a trend that raises eyebrows and questions about the cosy relationship between the Fourth Estate and the powers that be.
Let’s face it, folks. These scribblers-turned-advisors are about as qualified to handle political PR as I am to perform brain surgery. Sure, they can string together a decent sentence, but when it comes to managing the image of a politician? That’s a whole different ballgame. Here’s the kicker: In America, they get it. They understand that what a politician needs isn’t someone who can write a snappy headline, but someone who can navigate the treacherous waters of public opinion. Do you know who’s equipped for that job? Someone who’s spent years wrangling temperamental celebrities and keeping their public meltdowns out of the tabloids. And let’s not forget about those PR wizards who’ve been in the trenches, managing brands and navigating the minefield of corporate communications. These people have been juggling egos bigger than Ireland itself and keeping multimillion-euro brands from imploding faster than a politician’s promises after election day. They’re the ones who know how to spin a story so well, that it’ll make your head spin. That’s the kind of savvy Ireland’s political scene is missing, and boy, are they missing out.
But in Ireland? They’re handing out these cushy advisor gigs to journalists like party favours at a political shindig. We’ve got a veritable conga line of former reporters now whispering in the ears of ministers – we all know the names. It’s like they’re playing musical chairs, except when the music stops, they all end up with six-figure salaries.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying these ex-journos are bad people. But let’s call a spade a spade. They’re trading in their watchdog status for a chance to be lapdogs. And who can blame them? When you’re offered a Government salary that pays four times more than your old newspaper one, it’s hard to say no. But here’s the rub: This revolving door between journalism and government isn’t just about career advancement. It’s creating a media landscape where reporters are more interested in auditioning for their next gig than actually holding power to account. They’re pulling their punches, softening their stories, to land that sweet, sweet advisor role.
In the land of saints and scholars, we’ve created a system where our watchdogs are more interested in getting belly rubs from the people they’re supposed to be barking at. And so it is a far cry from the hard-nosed, take-no-prisoners approach you see in American political PR. It’s time to wake up and smell the coffee. If we want our politicians to have real PR pros in their corner, we need to look beyond the newsroom. Because let’s face it, handling a politician’s image is less about writing press releases and more about putting out fires. And in that game, experience with high-maintenance clients trumps a journalism degree any day of the week. Until then, we will watch as our media landscape becomes a training ground for future government yes-men and women. And that, my friends, is a headline no one wants to read.
