Charlie's Winning PR Strategy?

For a while, there was so much Charlie Sheen news that one had to wonder if CNN stood for Charlie’s News Network.

In most cases, PR professionals would be asking themselves, “Who’s his publicist?” or “What agency is he working with?” But as it became painfully clear, Sheen’s recent media blitz was orchestrated by Sheen himself, apparently on his own terms.

Media outlets unaccustomed to such unfettered access lined up to talk with the actor about his falling out with CBS and its hit show, “Two and a Half Men.” Sheen happily obliged, welcoming reporters into his home and showing a willingness to discuss just about anything. He also set up a Twitter account, “winning” more than 3 million followers in short time.

When Sheen began talking to anyone and everyone, however, it became clear that a good PR person or two (and a half) would’ve come in handy. By not seeming to turn down interview requests, Sheen cut PR out of the equation but also exposed himself to a large amount of unflattering coverage, much of it with high-profile media outlets.

Many of those outlets drew criticism, not only for giving Sheen a platform, but for not knowing when to say “enough is enough.” While Sheen probably would have ignored advice from a PR representative that likely would have called for selective media interviews, his over-indulgence is a great example of the need for a sound PR plan. If not for major news events like the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, and the unrest in Libya, we might still be drinking tiger blood non-stop.

Written by: Chuck Dianis