Eons ago, when I told my father I rather be in PR than journalism, you could tell he was disappointed. As an old time newspaper and radio man who  lived for the fact that the media held power to account and allowed the  truth to prevail then  you can understand why he furrowed his brows at my decision. In his world PR was the anti-christ, the  antithesis of good reporting.

Back then of course PR wasn't viewed as a serious and rigorous area of study. Three degrees, one firm and several heated conversations after I feel that before he died (8 months ago)  I was  finally able  to convince him otherwise. His continuous debate with me about the merits of my work grew less impassioned, more reasoned. As time went by his brows stopped being furrowed.

As I look on aghast at the current economic free fall,  as I see how our political leadership  has  surrendered to expediency and how principles get tethered on a foundations of sand, I am glad both professions exist side by side.

We need the media to hold leaders accountable whether in government or  business and we need PR to stand for  truth, continuous dialogue, transparency and outreach. 

I think, in the end, my father would have agreed.