Public relations professionals in the Ghanaian and Nigerian entertainment industries have stressed the vital role of honesty in managing artistes.
Speaking as panellists on The Chat on Channel One TV, These experts emphasized the significant impact that transparent communication can have on an artiste’s reputation.
PR practitioner, Meg Sagoe, sharing her insights advised, “In situations like this, I do not recommend lying. A good PR person should not lie …You should be able to make use of the information you have. If a video is going to come out, lying will only damage your credibility. Everyone will know that your team lies, which will affect your brand negatively.”
She continued, “It’s crucial to speak the truth. When something happens to your artiste, the team needs to be as honest as possible. Transparency among the PR person, the artiste, and the team is essential. We must lay everything on the table and acknowledge the truth. If an apology is needed, it should be genuine, and you must know how to spin the situation to your advantage without making it worse.”
Nigerian PR consultant Ifoeluwa Johnson shared similar sentiments:
“If you withhold the truth, it will eventually come out, as they say, ‘once two or more people have seen it, it will definitely come out.’ Therefore, it’s important to know how to present the truth effectively”. She said
She added, “The PRs involved in recent controversies made a mistake by handling things separately. You need to put your people in the spotlight and ensure their reputation is upheld, regardless of the situation. In today’s Gen Z world, where everyone has a camera, a video is bound to surface. The goal should be constructive storytelling that benefits both parties involved while maintaining a favourable image.”
The chat is hosted by Ekow Koomson every Saturday between 6:30 PM and 8:00 PM.
