‘Doublethink’

George Orwell said, “Journalism is printing something that someone does not want printed. Everything else is public relations.”
Here’s my take on it:

Attention is a most valuable resource. There exists a hyper-competitive economy based on attention, fueled by social media. The end objective of both sensationalist Journalism and Public Relations is to grab as many eyeballs as possible, in such a competition! These days the former must court controversy and the latter must attempt to spin it. Additionally, a data-driven industry will make you see exactly what you want to see.

However, both share a mutual relationship and are equally capable of contributing to the greater good. The scope of either is not limited to controversy or whitewashing perspectives. Journalism can inform and change perspectives. PR can maintain a favourable view, coupled with the facts/truth. In the words of George Orwell himself, here I would neither agree nor disagree but ‘Doublethink”.

Doublethink means the power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one’s mind simultaneously, and accepting both of them.” 

Author: Digital Onca

Digital Onca is a blog that documents the concepts of Digital Marketing and Public Relations. Digital Onca is the effort to stay with the times, understand more deeply, more closely the working of a digital space that is steadfastly emerging around us. View all posts by Digital Onca