09-20-2011 32nd ANNUAL AMERICAN ROYAL BBQ SET TO KICK OFF It's the world's largest barbecue competition. It is recognized as the "World Series of Barbecue" featuring 505 Open Teams and 135 Invitational Teams. There is more than $100,000 in cash and prizes for contestants. More than 60,000 people are expected to attend. It's the 32nd Annual American Royal BBQ to be held this year from Thursday, September 29, through Sunday, October 2, in Kansas City. With that much prestige being focused on Kansas City and the reputation of the American Royal on the line one would expect that there would be an entire public relations team handling the communications details. Media outlets around the nation require information on a regular basis. So far there has been a major story about the AR Barbecue in the Wall Street Journal. The Food Network plans on sending a crew. However, the American Royal Barbecue pays nothing for its public relations activities. Instead, it is relying on the donated services of Jim Potoski, who is with Pulse Marketing and Advertising, to handle all its media and PR needs. For free. While PR is extremely important for the event, organizers feel that it is not actually worth paying for. It is an embarrassment for PR practitioners. The Kansas City Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America should protest the demeaning of its profession. While Potoski is considered a superb PR professional, it is ridiculous that an event of the caliber of the American Royal BBQ cannot actually budget some monies for PR efforts. Media outlets that do not get proper assistance in covering the event might start looking at covering other barbecue events rather than the AR. You can bet there are numerous paid people on the American Royal BBQ payroll with far less responsibility. It's sad organizers think so little of public relations.
09-21-2011 PR & SEX "BBQ and free PR.It's like sex... Why pay for it, when you can get it for free?"
DONATING SERVICES "I get this all the time. Our event is special and has a very worthy goal, we were wondering if you would donate your services?" Response, "Sure, just as soon as KCPL donates my electricity." --David Remley
09-22-2011 LOWERING THE BAR "In an economy where many communications professionals struggle to compete, Jim Potoski completely lowers the bar of financial standards. When a profit or non-profit organization makes money from an enterprise, outside interests such as Potoski must place some type of value on services and goods." ---Scott Simon
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