Real PR Power

Real PR Power

By: Gwen McKinney

The art of winning friends and influencing people. 

That’s how public relations pioneer Ofield Dukes sums up the profession.

This is a man who has easily cleared more paths to progress in his long and storied career than an army of public relations professionals could attempt in their collective lifetime. Better yet, match one Ofield Dukes for 50 PR Powerbrokers and he still comes out on top! 

Fifty is the magic number that PR Week designated for its controversial July edition saluting the mostly white men and women who they decreed worthy of their listing of most powerful PR leaders. Not a single African American PR professional made the list.

A chorus of outrage ensued. And after a volley of emails that ended with me and PR Week Editor Steve Barrett agreeing to disagree, I let it rest – but not die. As one of my Linked-In pals suggested, why let power be defined by a magazine that makes their picks from big PR agencies and corporations based on the size of their ad budget to the book? That wasn’t just a question, but a call to action.

So to my Linked-In buddies who agreed to join me, this is the grand kickoff of our “Real PR Power” campaign.

To others, I say, “Y’all come too!”  Nominate, educate and help us salute deserving people whose work and impact deserve attention.

That takes me back to Ofield Dukes. The founder of the National Black Public Relations Society, he insisted African Americans stake out a voice and role in the profession. He has mentored more people than anyone can count and is a reliable stalwart for diversity in the industry and beyond. Having served as a communications counselor to every Democratic president since Lyndon Johnson, Ofield recently relocated from DC after 46 years to his native Detroit. There, he can be close to family as he wages a battle against Multiple Myeloma, a bone cancer that he describes as unpredictable “but not a death sentence.”  While his health is ailing, his spirit of sharing and believing remains immense. 

We talked recently when I reached out to ask him to join me on a panel to surface the Real PR Power nominees.  He graciously said, “of course.” While panel members can’t nominate themselves or be nominated, I reserve the right to use this kickoff of Real PR Power campaign to issue a round of applause to the inimitable Ofield Dukes, who embodies all that we want to convey.

A  speech he gave last year to communications students in Buffalo reminds me of his charm and magic. Cheers to Ofiled and look out for Real PR Power role models soon!