The Drum Awards for Marketing - Extended Deadline

-d -h -min -sec

Cipr Coi PRCA

PRCA chief speaks out in favour of COI closure

Author

By The Drum Team, Editorial

June 27, 2011 | 2 min read

Membership body the PRCA has backed the Government’s decision to abolish the Central Office of Information (COI) a position directly opposed to that of rival PR membership organisation the CIPR which was against the decision.

PRCA chief executive Francis Ingham stated that PRCA believed that the Government’s closure of the COI was ‘absolutely right’ as the office had become “an appalling example of waste, inefficiency and blinkeredness.”

He continued: “Within our industry, its reputation for arrogance and indifference has become legendary -very, very few people will mourn its passing,”

The PRCA had formally called for the abolition or reform of the COI.

In our formal submission to the Cabinet Office review, we urged the Government either to reform or to abolish the COI. We are delighted that we clearly share the same sentiments.

“Those who weep for the COI do so from a position either of ignorance or of self-interest. Francis Maude has taken a bold and correct decision, and should be complimented, not criticised for doing so,” concluded Ingham.

The Government announced that it was to close the COI last week, with the Cabinet Office taking up responsibility for overseeing public information marketing campaigns.

“There is clearly a vital role for communications in Government as shown by campaigns on issues including family health, alcohol, tobacco and safety, and it is important to recognise the COI’s contribution to public information over the last 60 years,” Jane Wilson, CEO of CIPR said of the closure last week.

Cipr Coi PRCA

More from Cipr

View all

Trending

Industry insights

View all
Add your own content +