Communications Clinic

The Communications Clinic is an Irish communications company on Adelaide Road in Dublin, set up by former employees of Carr Communications. The company's work involves public relations, interview and media coaching.[1]

History

The company was set up by Terry Prone and Tom Savage.[2] Many other staff from Carr joined the business, including Hilary Kenny, Anton Savage and Gerard Kenny.[3] Tom Savage is also Chairman of the RTÉ Authority, having had an extensive career in public relations and media previously.[4] Terry Prone is currently the chairperson of the company.[5] In 2010, the company aimed to have over twenty employees.[6]

Clients

The Clinic's portfolio includes the Gaelic Players Association,[7] over fifteen "major corporate clients",[6] and Fine Gael. In 2011 they worked with presidential election candidate Gay Mitchell and worked with Taoiseach Enda Kenny for his State of Nation Address.[8]

Controversy

In November 2011, The Communications Clinic was the subject of substantial media attention following the suicide of a former employee, Kate Fitzgerald. This came following an article printed in The Irish Times, under the pseudonym "Grace Ringwood", printed on 9 September 2011 where she detailed her struggle with depression and work. It later emerged, in an article written by Peter Murtagh, that by this stage she had already committed suicide.[9]

Following the revelation that Kate Fitzgerald was an employee of the Clinic, the paper redacted the online version of her article.[10] Editor Kevin O'Sullivan apologised to the Communications Clinic, stating "the original piece were not factual. It is clear that their publication was significantly damaging to the staff and management of her employer, the Communications Clinic".[11] Following these events, Fitzgerald's parents said they felt "deeply hurt" by the paper's actions and a media debate ensued.[12][13] The parents of Kate Fitzgerald brought a complaint to the ombudsman regarding the Irish Times article. The ombudsman upheld the complaint.[14]

References
  1. O'Mahony, Claire (4 July 2011). "Learning to talk the talk". The Irish Times. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  2. Keane, Conor (19 February 2008). "Carr Communications rocked by third top-level resignation in two weeks". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  3. "How the leading PR firm came asunder". Irish Independent. 6 March 2006. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  4. "Biographies: Tom Savage". The Communications Clinic. Archived from the original on 16 January 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  5. "Biographies: Terry Prone". The Communications Clinic. Archived from the original on 16 January 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  6. Hennessy, Niamh (16 June 2010). "Communications Clinic records profit of €150,000". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  7. "Presentation and Communication Skills". Gaelic Players Association. Archived from the original on 17 January 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  8. Sheahan, Fionnan (28 November 2011). "Enda may use 'Toy Show' slot for speech to nation". Irish Independent. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  9. "She radiated talent, energy, beauty. She took her own life at the age of 25". The Irish Times. 26 November 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  10. See p16 LEGAL REDACTION The Irish Times 9 September 2011
  11. O'Sullivan, Kevin (3 December 2011). "The Communications Clinic". The Irish Times. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  12. O'Shea, James (18 December 2011). "Irish Times and Fitzgerald family clash over suicide of daughter". Irish Central. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  13. "Irish Times responds to criticism from parents of Kate Fitzgerald". TheJournal.ie. 16 December 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  14. "Finding on Mr and Mrs Fitzgerald and The Irish Times". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2020-10-23.
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