Hot air mass has multiple layers
Lately we've been lamenting how the City of Portland has in its employ a virtual army of public relations types -- at least one for every politician, it seems, and multiple flacks for every bureau. As if that weren't extravagant enough, it gets even crazier when the hired mouthpieces aren't up to the task of selling what the bureaucracy is offering, and they have to run out and hire outside consultants for marketing.
That's what Sustainable Susan and the folks in the city's legion of planners are about to do. Here's the notice that they're about to award a $40,000 contract for someone to come up with "market research and strategic marketing communications" for an upcoming city publicity push that would include "a multi-year waste prevention campaign [and] messaging to integrate and connect climate change to [the Bureau of Planning and Sustaniability's] residential programs." The successful bidder will also be asked to "[t]est effectiveness of current program collateral."
The full request for bids is here.
With all the spin doctors already on the city pad, do we really need to drop another 400 Benjamins on this?
| Posted at 10:13 AM | Permalink |
|
Comments (8)
On a similar note, I saw in Sunday's Oregonian an article about the Port doing publicity campaigns, since air travel is down so much. WTH? Why on earth would the airport need to spend money on marketing? Either you're flying out of Portland, or you're not. Why would the Port spend public money to advertise the airport down at Pioneer Square???
Posted by Larry K | July 27, 2009 11:06 AM
There's an airport down at Pioneer Square?
Posted by PMG | July 27, 2009 12:52 PM
A decade ago, I proposed to Portland's auditor that he conduct a serious communications audit of all the bureaus' external efforts: PR staff, polling, brochures, paid and non-paid advertising. That's what serious institutions do, whether corporate or nonprofit. My idea was brushed off with a "that's an interesting idea" response. Well, it's more than "interesting." There are clearly plenty of examples of questionable activities. And have you ever seen results of a city-sponsored poll that actually changed business as usual?
Posted by Don | July 27, 2009 3:38 PM
Cleverly cloaked as a PR expenditure:
The recipient has already been chosen. It's another way to spin money to someone Sam owes money either for favors or extortion.
Posted by RANZ | July 27, 2009 3:47 PM
Jack, just drop Ben on Sustainable Susan. That should be enough.
Posted by lw | July 27, 2009 9:31 PM
"There's an airport down at Pioneer Square?"
Yes. In my nightmares. I have that "landing by acrobatic flight through downtown Portland" about once every three months.
Posted by rockland | July 28, 2009 4:11 AM
I have one where I'm in a large plane, and it's flying around very low, and then driving along on city streets. Haven't had it in a while, but it will be here again, I'm sure.
Posted by Jack Bog | July 28, 2009 4:19 AM
I have one where I'm in a large plane, and it's flying around very low, and then driving along on city streets. Haven't had it in a while, but it will be here again, I'm sure.
Would that be the Google Maps Street View dream?
Posted by PMG | July 28, 2009 10:41 AM