The role of the film industry has always been to entertain and educate. The best thing about public relations is that you can learn from everything and anything, all the time… including people-watching at the bus stop.
In the spirit of our chameleon-like learning habits, here are 4 documentaries we know you’d enjoy watching and learning from.
ENRON: The Smartest Guys In The Room
There was never a better documentary on crisis management, company culture and the role of the media during a crisis. The documentary based on a book by the same name follows the fall of ENRON.
ENRON was an American energy, commodities company that collapsed and filed for bankruptcy due to massive corruption and greed.
Where can you watch it: Amazon
The Century of Self
The Century of self is a 4 part BBC documentary that goes back to the 20th century at the dawn of mass media and details the history of communications in the United States. The documentary digs into the intersection of public relations and psychology, especially psychology as defined by Sigmund and Anna Freud and its use in communication by their nephew Edwards barneys who is considered the ‘father of public relations.’
It’s one of the most intriguing documentaries on public relations you’ll ever watch.
Where can you watch it: Youtube
Fyre Festival
The disaster that was Fyre Festival is one of the biggest public relations failures of the last decade. The documentary though tragically funny is a- what not to do during a crisis, especially in the social media era.
By the end of it, you’ll feel bamboozled, hoodwinked, led astray run amuck and outright deceived… but it’s for a good cause.
Where can you watch it: Stream on Netflix
Steve Jobs- one last thing
Many of us know Steve jobs as the revolutionary tech genius, a giant, an inventor, visionary and founder of Apple Inc. The documentary follows Steve jobs career through Apple, Next, Pixar and the main take away from this is how showmanship, branding and great marketing is just as important as the product. No one better to learn from than the man who created one of the most valuable and respected brands in the world.