WAL * MART

Back in June of 2012, the corporate giant, WAL*MART, ran into a bit of a sticky situation. 

The article with the full story can be found at the following link: http://business.time.com/2012/06/15/wal-mart-pr-rep-poses-as-reporter-to-infiltrate-union-meeting/

Stephanie Harnett, an employee of Mercury Public Affairs (a firm that represents Wal-Mart), posed as a student reporter to "infiltrate a closed press conference held by a pro-labor group opposed to Wal-Mart’s new store." She said her name was Zoe Mitchell and was a student at the University of Southern California. Unfortunately, Wal-Mart and her employer And this is not the first time this has happened. An anonymous tipster told TIME magazine that she was in a similar situation years prior to this incident,  when she worked for Wal-Mart through a public relations agency, they asked her to sit in on anti-Wal-Mart gatherings and sentiments. And since these orders came from the public relations firm and not Wal-Mart, the tipster was under the impression that it was a common practice of the corporation.  

The big problem emerged when Harnett later appeared in her public relations role and handed out business card that had her real name, and position printed on it… a.k.a. the organization she lied to, realized she lied.

My worry is, when did lying and spying become tactics of public relations? I understand why you would want to know what your enemies are plotting.  In my studies, I have been taught that honesty, ingenuity, and creativity make the company, not stealing ideas, lying, and spying on your opponents. It does not matter that Wal-Mart denounced the incident, it happened, they have been tied to situations like this multiple times and it is probably not going away. All this does for me is discredit their head-honchos. However, I will not lie, I will still shop at their stores…. Mostly because they are incredibly convenient.

What?! You know Wal-Mart is cheap and easy! The head staff and the public relation firms associated with Wal-Mart do not directly my shopping experience.

Until next time! Have a good weekend!