Commentary on Mad Men shenanigans

First published on the Capstrat website 7/28/10.

This blog post is in response to Allison's article 'Mad Men Shenanigans.' I have a different interpretation of the episode. What follows is a rebuttal to Allison's article on the Public Relations episode of Mad Men.

I love the show and I love the commentary on the industry. I also love the idea of a debate!

I am not so sure the publicity stunt was unethical - though there were plenty of unethical situations surrounding the story.

There are three press pitches referenced in the episode.

1. The interview of Don in Ad Age.
2. The story about the two women fighting over the ham in the Daily News.
3. The interview of Don in the Wall Street Journal.

I think the PR reference is related to all three of the news stories - and not as much about the publicity stunt.

1. Don interview #1: This reporter made up facts because Don didn't give him a story. Inexcusable.
2. The ham story: This reporter had a story - albeit fabricated - but took a bribe and reported on a story as if it were fact. Reporting on fiction as fact is inexcusable - unless there were plans to reveal the full story at a later date (and that was def. not the case). Taking a bribe is also inexcusable. But the stunt itself was okay. It's okay to stage a situation to get attention. IT IS NOT OKAY TO REPORT ON IT AS FACT.
3. Don interview #2: This reporter was called in to do an interview after Don realized that:
   a. he couldn't lower his standards to deliver creative that would make the Janzen client happy and
   b. to give a real story and boost awareness of his new agency.

Peggy, Pete and Joey got lucky the ham incident didn't turn into a story about the story, but it also sounds like the client made some missteps in their rollout strategy. Two of the four stores that carried the hams were in Jewish neighborhoods. It also sounds like the client dictated the creative to the point that Peggy and Joey thought the work was compromised - but that is probably just the egos of the Sterling Cooper Draper Price employees talking.

I think the lesson here is that if you call in the press, you better be:

• prepared to deliver a story
• you better be certain the reporter you speak with will do his homework
• sure you contact a reputable reporter

Perhaps the Daily News - in 1960 - could be equated to blogs today?