A group of professional public relations experts denounces the threats that journalists suffered Thursday during the press briefing by James William Awad, the organizer of the party which went wrong on December 30 during a flight between Montreal and Cancún.
Posted at 2:44 p.m.
Before the press briefing, an associate of the controversial businessman, Sarah Anton, wanted to prevent journalists from asking more than one question, on pain of being fired. “If you continue with your follow up you will be expelled from the press conference, ”she said during the meeting.
An association of public relations immediately let it be known that it condemned this attitude. “When we see such a threat in a press briefing, we have no choice but to denounce it, it’s a practice that is unacceptable,” said Patrick Howe, president of the Quebec Society of Public Relations Professionals and the Consulate office.
His association brings together “professionals who are committed to ethical and deontological practices” in public relations, he explains.
“We can have our disagreements with journalists, with their insistent and repetitive questions, but we recognize that the media have a role to play in our democracy, insists Patrick Howe. It is not by threatening to expel them from a room if they ask more than one question that we will achieve more transparency and collaboration between all. »
He also said he was overwhelmed to have heard James Awad take advantage of the press briefing to promote. “His first comment was ‘I want to sue Sunwing’, then his second was ‘Enjoy it, we’re opening the promo on 111 Private Club for Valentine’s Day’,” he laughs.
“Laughable attitude”, says the FPJQ
The president of the Professional Federation of Journalists of Quebec also deplores the way James Awad and his staff conducted this meeting.
“It’s a laughable attitude showing that he understands absolutely nothing about the principle of a press conference,” said Michaël Nguyen. Fortunately, this is an isolated case and it is reassuring that this type of behavior harmful to the public interest is more often than not anecdotal here in Quebec. »
In a message to The Press, James Awad said he had “not heard” the remarks in question. “The journalists were very happy in the end. People asked more than one question and no one was kicked out,” he says.
Contacted by The Presshis partner Sarah Anton, who threatened to expel journalists, did not answer our questions.