The Wire

Recently the spotlight has been thrown on the world of public relations by the ABC’s new comedy, Absolute Power. Stephen Fry’s character Charles Prentiss displays a distinct lack of morals or ethics as he spins news stories and rejuvenates a loathsome cast of clients, from wife-beating rock stars to Tory politicians. But is this an accurate portrayal of the PR industry? And how much does the PR industry influence the news and current affairs we receive and are journalists good at cutting through spin? Janet Pendleton lectures in Public Communication at the University of Technology, Sydney. Bill Birtles asked her if the impression we get of PR from Absolute Power is fair? Bob Burton from the group “PR Watch” also spoke to The Wire.