Top >> Book_Reviews Book Review In The Court Of Public Opinion: winning your case with public relations published May 2005 James Haggerty, CEO of a public relations consultancy and an attorney with more than eighteen years’ experience in marketing, public relations and public affairs, brings us insight into the use of communications and public opinion strategies during lawsuits. Haggerty encourages companies to face the press immediately with a detailed plan of action, rather than waiting until the case ‘blows up’ in an avalanche of negative publicity. He says “communication is now central to the management of modern litigation. It can mean communication to external audiences such as the media, or to internal audiences like employees, investors, shareholders, and others with a vested interest in the organisation”. With the rise of business media, 24-hour news channels, and the Internet, it's not just sensational cases that are receiving public attention. Haggerty offers advice on public relations strategies that can help businesses and individuals save their reputations as well as their livelihood. In the Court of Public Opinion is the first book of its kind. Designed for lawyers and non-lawyers alike, it will introduce you to a proven system for operating in this new environment, where media, public opinion, and legal processes collide. Whilst the book primarily focuses on businesses, it also looks at the legal problems of high-profile individuals. From a PR point-of-view, Haggerty identifies the three most disturbing beliefs held throughout the period of a court case, as: The best response to the media during a lawsuit is ‘no comment’ We’ll fight this case in the courtroom, where it really matters Don’t worry, my attorney will handle the press The book not only addresses using PR to protect your reputation during a lawsuit, but also focuses on how businesses can use PR techniques to avoid lawsuits being filed in the first place, or to speed up the settlement process. Whilst In the Court of Public Opinion focuses primarily on PR in the face of a lawsuit, the lessons learnt can be readily applied to any situation in which a reputation is at stake and/or negative publicity is a possibility.   Available at Angus and Robertson www.angusrobertson.com.au

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