Spin vs professional communications

Squeezing out the truth

For my Bachelor of Arts in Professional Writing, I majored in journalism, dabbled in scriptwriting and delved into media production. I must have been looking the other way when they offered electives in spin doctoring, political one-liners, hysterical headlines and publicity hounding.

Oops. From recent news articles about government ‘spin doctor brigades’ and ‘publicity battalions’, these appear to be prerequisites for government communications work. But hang on. We might say it’s half full rather than half empty, but we still call a glass a glass.

In fact, most government communications is about telling it how it is—making sense of the legislation, policy, programs, regulations and general business of government for those who pay for, and use, these public services.

So I couldn’t help myself. Here’s a little ditty in defence of government communications, to the tune of Aretha Franklin’s Respect…

What you want, baby, we got it
What you need, you know we got it
All we’re asking…is for a little respect, when you think of us (just a little bit)
Hey baby (just a little bit) when you think of us
(just a little bit) mister (just a little bit)

We ain’t gonna spin or lie, won’t even try
Ain’t gonna spin or lie, we’ll tell you why
All we’re asking…is for a little respect, when you think of us (just a little bit)

We’re gonna help you…remove the jargon
And make it clearer, into the bargain
All we want you to do for us…is show a little respect

When your words get…confused and funny
Guess what? We’ll sort it for you, honey

R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Find out what it means to be
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
A professional, you’ll see
We’ve got to have a…little respect (just a little bit)

Need some professional communications help? Contact us if you would like to talk about how we can help.