I saw a documentary film this weekend that is, among other things, a terrific study of publicity/journalism, damage control and the natural life-cycle of a story.
The movie is called My Kid Could Paint That and it follows the story behind a 4 year old and her artwork.
Not only is it a great film and one which will undoubtedly leave you debating and discussing its conclusion, it also should be watched by everyone in our field.
The issues of media access and strategic planning in terms of owning the angle, damage control, and the natural arc of a story (i.e. where will the story go after initial coverage) are wonderfully illustrated.
I don’t want to give away spoilers, so I will leave it at that. But, take a look! (I saw it On Demand but it’s also available on NetFlix and in most DVD rental spots). Once you’ve seen it, drop me a line because I’d love to discuss the PR aspects in detail.