Paul McCarthy – The power of contacts, conversation and knowing the story
By Chris Haynes
The CIPR Sports Network recently spoke to veteran sports journalist and experienced communications consultant Paul McCarthy about his career, his transition to public relations and the changes and challenges he has witnessed in his two decades in journalism and 15 years in PR.
Starting in local papers, Paul was a chief football writer then columnist at the Sunday People then Sports Editor of the world’s biggest-selling newspaper, the News of the World. He now works with football clubs, governing bodies, high-profile individuals and big brands offering a range of communications advice.
Speaking candidly to David Alexander and Chris Haynes, he reflected on the shifting media landscape, the parallels between journalism and PR, the enduring importance of human relationships, and the principles that underpin effective crisis management.
Paul talks about the emergence of new media and how that should be balanced with traditional media, and how that has become more relevant since he moved from journalism to communications.
He also talks about the importance of senior counsel for clients and how to deal with it when advice is ignored. That can be fundamental when crisis strikes, controlling the message and the importance of utilising contacts to get your side of a story across in a human way.
