As someone working at an agency for the first time in their career, I had no clue what to expect going in. Especially coming in on the digital side and whose previous PR experience was only in collegiate sports PR.
Around the time I was hired, my mom convinced me to finally jump on the “Emily in Paris” bandwagon. Mostly because she knew I was starting at an agency, and for those who haven’t seen the show, “Emily” works in PR.
Emily in Paris (2020-current)
When PR is grandiose and romanticized
Source: IMDB
After watching the first few episodes and working at O’Connell & Goldberg for a few months, I quickly realized, in my case, what Hollywood (are streaming platforms still considered ‘Hollywood’ at this point?) got wrong. And some things that it got right.
In our case, “campaigns” were not these elaborate stunts, that all seem to fall into place in a 45-minute episode (though I’m sure it’s supposed to be a ‘few’ days). For example, Ami Paris’s “Love is in the Air” Campaign where Emily, an employee of the company (conflict of interest), goes off in a hot air balloon with her then boyfriend (bigger conflict of interest). The overall goal of the campaign is to promote brand awareness through real couples’ love stories, capturing genuine connections. A very cute sentiment.
In terms of campaigns, I’ve seen my colleagues conceptualize and launch them, but the process is vastly different.
In reality, the campaigns our agency runs are much more strategic in nature. They tend to extend over longer periods of time and have multiple stakeholders to satisfy. While some of our campaigns may have a ‘stunt’ feature, that is not always the entirety of the campaign. There’s also building awareness, distributing press releases, securing media, and often media training and event preparation with the client. And all of that happens before a ‘stunt’ ever takes place.
After going through the show, I was curious what other shows with a PR focus got right and got wrong. I enlisted the help of my colleagues, who are immersed in the world of PR to help break it down.
Flack (2019)
PR Bordering on deranged
Source: IMDB
From Lesli Cartya-Franco
Of all the shows about public relations, Flack might be the most unhinged. It follows Robyn, a crisis PR pro in London who must navigate celebrity scandals before they hit the front page.
What Flack gets surprisingly right is the pace: the constant juggling of fires and the mental gymnastics of protecting a brand while staying two steps ahead. The show captures the strategy behind a story, and the ethical gray areas PR professionals sometimes face when clients choose to go rogue.
But the show is an extreme dramatization meant for entertainment and intrigue. Most PR people aren’t sneaking burner phones into rehab or covering up crimes. They’re not doing drugs in a client’s bathroom (we hope). And the world of Flack has way more designer stilettos and haute couture than a publicist’s salary could afford.
Scandal (2012-2018)
When pr timelines are blurred
Source: IMDB
From Rachel Nehring
Olivia Pope and her gladiators in suits captured attention and gave viewers a glimpse into the fast-paced, high-stakes world of public relations. The show got a few things right—PR professionals are the first line of defense during a crisis, enlisted to control the narrative, craft messaging and ultimately manage reputations when tensions are high. Scandal spotlights the need for strategic thinking, clear communication and an understanding of how to work with the media to navigate crises effectively.
On the flip side, Scandal delivers a far more dramatized version of PR, one where “fixes” often happen overnight. In reality, reputation management is a long game. The real world of PR is centered on relationship building, thoughtful messaging and earning long-term credibility through transparency.
And while real-life PR pros may not always end the day with Olivia Pope’s signature glass of red wine, we can all agree it sometimes feels well-earned.
House of Cards (2013-2018)
When “PR” Crosses the Line
Source: IMDB
From Sarah Caro
House of Cards is definitely a popcorn-worthy political drama on Netflix, but when it comes to public relations, the show offers a highly dramatized (and ethically questionable) take on what the job can entail. Doug Stamper, Frank Underwood’s fiercely loyal Chief of Staff and fixer, takes on what could generously be called “crisis management,” but more accurately falls under manipulation, coercion, and cover-ups. He’s a one-man damage control machine, but instead of crafting talking points or issuing statements, Doug handles PR the old-fashioned way – through surveillance, blackmail, and intimidation.
From paying off potential whistleblowers to orchestrating disappearances, Doug’s version of PR is all about maintaining a tightly controlled image at any cost. While it makes for thrilling television and he is my favorite charter in the entire show, it wildly misrepresents what real public relations professionals do.
At O&G, we believe in protecting our clients’ reputations – but never at the expense of our integrity…or theirs. We don’t cross , blur, or event pretend the line doesn’t exist. Trust, transparency and ethical storytelling are our cornerstones – no backroom deals required.
Sex and The City (1998-2004)
Samantha Jones: PR Icon or Too Good To Be True?
Source: IMDB
From Ashley Arenal
When it comes to pop culture depictions of PR, few characters stand out more than Samantha Jones from Sex and the City. The show’s portrayal of our industry has sparked plenty of debate, even giving rise to the term “The Samantha Syndrome,” which highlights how PR professionals are misrepresented in media and the misconceptions that follow.
It’s easy to point out what Sex and the City gets wrong about PR. While we’re fortunate to experience some fabulous events, it’s not all an endless string of cocktail parties. Real-world PR pros are the ones behind the scenes, driving the research, strategy, messaging and coordination that transform an event into something truly buzz-worthy. Plus, many of us don’t subscribe to her “all publicity is good publicity” mentality and know that a solid crisis communication plan is always essential.
We talk much less about the positive aspects of Samantha’s portrayal of a PR pro.
At O&G, we raise a martini glass to the passion and drive Samantha brings to the job. She captures the energy and confidence needed to succeed in the industry and nails the idea that relationships are at the heart of great PR. Our team is proud to pair that same energy with the strategy, ethics, and storytelling it takes to deliver results that last long after the party’s over.
To Sum It Up
At the end of the day, entertainment industries will do what they do, provide attention-grabbing content to mimic real life.
And that’s what it is, mimicry.
Though, it has been said that copying is the sincerest form of flattery.
Does that mean that Hollywood strives to truly showcase the lives of PR professionals?
We’ll leave that up to you to decide.