NAVY PUBLIC RELATIONS (PR) –
CONSPICUOUS BY ITS SILENCE
Musings
By
VIKRAM KARVE
The Indian Navy is in the
news for all the wrong reasons.
Damaging news reports in
the media about sex scandals, wife swapping, extra marital affairs and
“stealing affections” in the navy are appearing at an alarming frequency.
These shocking news
reports appear in all forms of the media – in newspapers, on TV and also on the
Social Media, especially on Twitter – and they tarnish the good image of the
navy.
This morning I read a most
appalling headline in a newspaper:
NAVY OFFICER’S WIFE ALLEGES HUSBAND FORCED HER TO
HAVE SEX WITH OTHER OFFICERS
Indian Express: http://goo.gl/yM37z
On Page 7 of today’s Pune
Edition of The Times of India (15 May 2013) there is a sensational headline:
Another “Sex Scandal” hits Navy – Officer’s Wife
Says He Forced Her To Get Sexually Involved With Colleagues
Last month, on 12 April
2013, there was another news report in The Times of India about a sex scandal
in the Navy with the outrageous headline:
There have been other news
items about naval officers indulging in “stealing affections of brother
officers’ wives” and other such “conduct unbecoming of an officer”.
Such news items
flood the print, electronic and internet media and are widely disseminated and discussed
on the social media like Twitter.
During all
this, the Navy Public Relations (PR) remains conspicuous by its silence.
Since the Navy
does not tell its side of the story, people start believing whatever is
reported in the media.
The absence of
authentic information leads to speculation and rumours.
The image of
the navy is being badly hit by frequent news reports of scandals and scams.
Perception
matters.
A retired
naval officer like me wonders: “What is happening in the Navy? Something seems
to be terribly wrong, as there is no smoke without fire. Why are such acts of
Moral Turpitude happening again and again in a disciplined force like the Navy?
Such Sex Scandals indicate lack of discipline and absence of moral values among
officers. Has the Naval Value System and Service Ethos been forgotten? Have
Senior Officers have lost the Moral Authority to enforce the Naval Officers
Code of Conduct and ensure Ethical Behaviour by Junior Officers?”
As I talk to
fellow retired officers, we all agree that the high reputation of the navy is
being severely damaged and the good image the navy once used to enjoy has been
tarnished by these frequent news reports of sex scandals, scams and misdemeanours.
It is no use
being in “Denial Mode” and burying your head in the sand like an ostrich.
The saying “Silence is
Golden” does not apply to Public Relations (PR).
In Public Relations – SILENCE
IS NOT GOLDEN
The Navy must tell its
side of the story truthfully and it must do this with promptness and
accuracy.
Navy PR must engage with
the media in order to ensure that the media reports such news in a balanced,
fair, credible and transparent manner after hearing all sides of the story.
There is an urgent need
for Navy PR to be more visible and articulate.
Navy Public Relations
Officers (PRO) must appear on TV Channels promptly without delay the moment
such news is reported and the PRO must give the Navy version of the incident.
This will help the truth
to be established and obviate speculation, gossip and rumours.
There is a vital need for
Navy PR to optimally utilize the Social Media, especially Twitter which is
highly effective in disseminating news almost instantaneously.
Navy PROs must make their
presence actively felt on Twitter.
Alertness in monitoring
news of interest and prompt response on Twitter is a highly effective public
relations strategy. This will help project the navy point of view effectively.
In today’s technology driven
world, it does not pay dividends for an organization to be media-shy.
Being media-shy will not
be beneficial to the Navy, especially as far as its reputation and image are
concerned.
Today, the media is alert
and quick to report any news.
There is a rat race in the
media to be the first in reporting sensational “Breaking News”.
In addition to the print
and electronic media, social media like Twitter, owing to instantaneous speed
and tremendous reach, has a huge power to affect your reputation in a split
second with devastating effect.
In these modern circumstances,
whenever there is negative, scandalous or sensational media coverage, orthodox
PR strategies like “being in Denial Mode” or “burying
your head in the sand like an ostrich” or “mouthing inane platitudes” may be
counterproductive and may result in tarnishing reputation of the navy.
As I said
earlier, there is an imperative need for Navy PR to be speedy and more visible
and articulate.
We hope that the Navy PR
rejuvenates itself to achieve Synergistic Public Relations which will help
uphold the good image of the Navy.
VIKRAM KARVE
Copyright © Vikram Karve 2013
Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
Copyright © Vikram Karve 2013
Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
NB:
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Copyright © Vikram Karve 2013. All Rights Reserved
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A creative person with a zest for life, Vikram Karve is a retired Naval Officer turned full time writer and blogger. Educated at IIT Delhi, IIT (BHU) Varanasi, The Lawrence School Lovedale and Bishops School Pune, Vikram has published two books: COCKTAIL a collection of fiction short stories about relationships (2011) and APPETITE FOR A STROLL a book of Foodie Adventures (2008) and is currently working on his novel and a book of vignettes and an anthology of short fiction. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories and creative non-fiction articles on a variety of topics including food, travel, philosophy, academics, technology, management, health, pet parenting, teaching stories and self help in magazines and published a large number of professional and academic research papers in journals and edited in-house journals and magazines for many years, before the advent of blogging. Vikram has taught at a University as a Professor for 15 years and now teaches as a visiting faculty and devotes most of his time to creative writing and blogging. Vikram Karve lives in Pune India with his family and muse - his pet dog Sherry with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.
Vikram Karve Academic and Creative Writing Journal: http://karvediat.blogspot.com
Professional Profile Vikram Karve: http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve
Vikram Karve Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/vikramkarve
Vikram Karve Creative Writing Blog: http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/posts.htm
Email: vikramwamankarve@gmail.com
If your are a Foodie you will like my book of Food Adventures APPETITE FOR A STROLL. Do order a copy from FLIPKART:
http://www.flipkart.com/appetite-stroll-vikram-karve/8190690094-gw23f9
About Vikram Karve
A creative person with a zest for life, Vikram Karve is a retired Naval Officer turned full time writer and blogger. Educated at IIT Delhi, IIT (BHU) Varanasi, The Lawrence School Lovedale and Bishops School Pune, Vikram has published two books: COCKTAIL a collection of fiction short stories about relationships (2011) and APPETITE FOR A STROLL a book of Foodie Adventures (2008) and is currently working on his novel and a book of vignettes and an anthology of short fiction. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories and creative non-fiction articles on a variety of topics including food, travel, philosophy, academics, technology, management, health, pet parenting, teaching stories and self help in magazines and published a large number of professional and academic research papers in journals and edited in-house journals and magazines for many years, before the advent of blogging. Vikram has taught at a University as a Professor for 15 years and now teaches as a visiting faculty and devotes most of his time to creative writing and blogging. Vikram Karve lives in Pune India with his family and muse - his pet dog Sherry with whom he takes long walks thinking creative thoughts.
Vikram Karve Academic and Creative Writing Journal: http://karvediat.blogspot.com
Professional Profile Vikram Karve: http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve
Vikram Karve Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/vikramkarve
Vikram Karve Creative Writing Blog: http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/posts.htm
Email: vikramwamankarve@gmail.com
Twitter: @vikramkarve
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
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